by Edmund K

Created on: May 16, 2008

With the current range of tennis racquets available, it is often difficult to make the right decision when buying one. This difficulty has been compounded greatly in recent years with the plethora of different racquet technologies extolled by the leading racquet manufacturers.

The past decade as seen heated competition rise between racquet manufacturers as each attempt to market new racquet materials to the public. Aerogel and Hot Melt technology from Dunlop competes against Liquidmetal and Intelligence technology in Head racquets, while Wilson's nanotechnology in its nCode line competes against Babolat's Woofer and Cortex technologies. With all the hype and marketing surrounding each frame, it is not surprising that the average consumer is confused when it comes to buying a new racquet.

This article will explain some of the technical terms involved with the tennis racquet to help the reader pick one that is suited to them. After all, with modern racquets costing 200 dollars or more, it is very important to make the right decision when purchasing a racquet. Simply put, the easiest way of determining whether a racquet is for you is by trying it out. Most tennis stores offer demo racquets, and make sure that you try out a range before committing to a particular frame.

Despite all the marketing and publicity associated with racquet manufacture today, every tennis racquet frame is still governed by several principles, regardless of whatever groundbreaking space-age material is used in their construction.

1)
Headsize - Go with the headsize that suits your game. Current racquet headsizes range from 90 to 125 square inches. In theory the larger the headsize, the greater the power with reduced control, while the smaller the headsize, the greater the control and the lesser the power. Generally players with single handed backhands and with a strong net component to their game will benefit from a smaller headsize, while players who hit double handed backhands and play from the back of the court may well find larger headsizes suit the game better.

2)
Balance - The balance of a racquet is very important. Racquets that hold more mass in their head than the handle will provide additional power, while reducing control. A racquet with more mass in the handle will enhance maneuverability and precision while decreasing the power one can generate.

3)
Stiffness - A stiffer racquet will increase the power of the frame, but will be harder on your arm, while a more flexible racquet will have

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