by Edmund K

Created on: May 16, 2008

Oversized tennis racquets have enjoyed a rapid rise in popularity from the late 1990s to the present day. No longer are they criticized by tennis enthusiasts as being frames suited only to beginning players.

There are currently three main racquet sizes on the racquet market today. These are the midsize, midplus, and oversize models. While no true approved standard is enforced, midsize racquets are currently 90-95 square inches, midplus racquets are around 95-105 square inches, and oversized frames are anything larger than 105 square inches.

The pros of an oversized racquet are largely centered on its power. An oversized racquet can generate more pace, especially on ground strokes. An oversized racquet has more string bed surface area, and therefore a larger hitting zone (sweet spot) than smaller midsize or midplus models, making it more forgiving for new players. In addition, many oversized racquets have a more open stringing pattern, meaning that they can generate spin more easily than smaller head sizes.

The cons of an oversized racquet are mainly its control. Racquets with larger head sizes are generally slightly more difficult to control, especially on off center shots. This is due to the larger torque exerted on the handle the further the ball strikes from the midline of the frame. While this difference in control is not as important to recreational players, to more competitive players or professional players, control is of paramount importance. This is especially apparent at the net, when reflex volleys are particularly harder to execute due to the increased size. Furthermore, oversized racquets are more cumbersome, despite advances in racquet technology. A player with a single handed backhand will find it far more difficult to swing with an oversized racquet than a midsize frame. For older players, an oversize racquet is more forgiving on the joints and muscles than a midsize racquet.

In essence, whether a player will benefit from an oversized frame is largely determined by the player him/herself and the type of game that they wish to employ. A heavy hitting baseline player may find that an oversize model greatly improves their game, while a serve and volley player may find that an oversize model is just too cumbersome and clumsy at the net.

This can be most readily observed in the greatest tennis rivalry of the 1990s, between 14 time grand slam champion Pete Sampras and 8 time grand slam champion Andre Agassi. Sampras won 20 of 34 career meetings with Agassi.

The

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