10 Best Tennis Rackets in the Philippines 2023 | Babolat, Head, and More

One thing to consider is the racket’s head size. This part of the racket determines how easily you can hit and receive the ball from the opponent. The general size of the racket’s head is from 85 to 135 square inches. There are mid-sized, midplus, and oversized rackets that measure from 85 to 95 sq. in., 95 to 105 sq. in., and 105 to 135 sq. in. respectively.

For beginners, an oversized racket is recommended as it has a larger surface area to hit the ball, which increases the margin of error and can provide more power to the shots. Players don’t have to put too much force when using it, too. It is recommended to buy a racket with a head size of 100 sq. in. or higher. 

On the other hand, advanced or experienced players have the option to choose a mid-sized racket or a midplus as it is easier to swing and control because it is lightweight. It is also easy to maneuver, so players can easily react on the court. It is recommended to use a tennis racket with a head size from 97 sq. in. to 100 sq. in.

Choosing a tennis racket with the right grip size can affect your performance. It is important to know your grip size before buying a racket. A grip that is too small for your hand requires more muscle strength to keep it from twisting in your hand. A grip that is too large can make changing grips hard and requires more muscle strength. 

Wrong grip size can lead to injuries like tennis elbow problems. To see if the tennis racket has the right grip for you, your index finger of your non-hitting hand should fit between the ring finger and palm. If it does not fit, the grip is too small, and if there is space between your finger and palm, it is too big. You can also use an overgrip to get your ideal grip.

Light rackets are very handy and easy to use, which are recommended for beginners. However, a racket that is too light may not be ideal for beginners as they need full control so that they can hit the ball well. Therefore, the recommended racket weight for beginners is around 260-280 grams for women and 280-300 grams for men. 

However, if you are an advanced player, the ideal weight for you is a heavy one. A heavy tennis racket requires good control when playing, especially during smashing and swinging. It is recommended to choose rackets yourself, so you can have a good comparison if a heavy racket really suits you.

Balance is important in a tennis racket for you to play well. A tennis racket can be head-light, head-heavy, or even balanced. A head-light tennis racket has most of the weight in the handle, which makes it easy to maneuver. This can also produce enough power for you to hit powerful shots. This is also good to prevent injury since most of the weight is in the handle.

With head heavy rackets, most of the weight is in the head of the racket, which gives more power when the ball is hit. However, a head-heavy racket takes more effort to maneuver, swing, and control than a head-light racket. There is also a high risk of injuries since it can put much strain on the wrist, elbow, and shoulder. This is ideal for people who generate less power.

The last one is the even balanced racket, where the weight is distributed evenly in the head and handle. It has enough power in the head and can be easy to swing. However, this still is based on your preference. Most players prefer to use a head-light tennis racket than a head-heavy or even balanced racket.

An adult tennis racket has a standard length of 27 inches, but it can range from 26.5 to 29 inches, the legal maximum length in a tournament play. A longer tennis racket can provide more reach on groundstrokes and add more power, especially when serving the ball. 

However, it also has a higher swing weight, so you need to exert more effort to maneuver the racket. If you want to have a longer tennis racket than the standard size, be sure to get one that is light, so you can still easily maneuver it.

For aggressive players who have powerful control over their smashes and swings, a thick frame won’t do well because the racket is already powerful. Male players are not advised to choose a racket with a thick frame because of their natural strength. Thick frames, however, are best for female players to match the strength of male players.

On the other hand, because male players are not suitable with thick frames, it is ideal to use thin frames. Thin frames offer firm control over the racket, which perfectly supports their natural powerful strength. To put it simply, rackets with thick frames are best for female players, while rackets with thin frames are ideal for male players.

The string pattern can affect your game, so it is important to consider this when buying a tennis racket. The common string patterns are open string patterns and dense string patterns. The first number refers to the vertical strings called mains, and the second number refers to the horizontal strings called crosses. 

For the open string patterns, the most common are the 16x18 and 16x19. The string spacing is larger if you get this kind of tennis racket. This means the squares are larger, which makes it easier to hit the ball with depth, power, and spin. You can easily spin the ball and have a higher launch when you are serving or hitting the ball.

For the dense string patterns, the most common is 18x20. You can easily see the difference of this kind of tennis racket because the holes are smaller, and the strings are tighter, creating a denser pattern. This means you can have more control and be more precise when hitting the ball. You can hit with a low trajectory to drop the ball inside the line.

Knowing the material used in the tennis racket can help you choose which one to buy. Most tennis rackets are now made with graphite because they are strong but lightweight. You can hit with more power and have good control of the ball. Tennis rackets made with graphite are ideal for beginners and advanced players.

Boron and Kevlar are also used in tennis rackets because they are lighter and stiffer than graphite. However, the stiffness can cause a lot of shock and vibration to the arm and shoulder. This is not ideal for beginner players since they cannot consistently hit the ball on the sweet spot and may cause injuries.

Titanium is another good material that is used in tennis rackets. It is super strong and ultra-light making it easy for you to swing the racket and hit more controlled shots. It can also take a greater impact because of its stiffness. This is ideal for players who are power servers.