by Simon Wright

Created on: May 19, 2008

There is no 'one size fits all' ideal weight for a tennis racquet - it depends on the user. Pete Sampras, for example, liked a heavy racquet and had his customised to weigh 14 ounces. Other professional players would find that weight of racquet uncomfortable to wield and therefore opt for lighter set-ups.

The standard weight for an off-the-shelf tennis racquet tends to be about 11 - 12 ounces. I've played with both heavy and light graphite racquets and my personal preference is for a fairly light racquet, of around 11 ounces. I find it less of an effort to play three straight sets of tennis with a lighter racquet but then my build is more Michael Chang than Pete Sampras!

Obviously, also, if you're choosing a racquet for a kid, they will find it easier to swing a light racquet than a heavy one. I remember when I started playing tennis, I couldn't play a single handed backhand as my full-sized racquet was too heavy for my kid-sized wrist. I compensated by developing a double-handed backhand (like my hero, Jimmy Connors) but it's an example of how the weight of a racquet can influence a child's tennis development.

I've heard it said that racquets that have a heavy handle but light head are best for avoiding tennis elbow, so if you've had problems with your elbow then this may be a factor to consider.

Other than that, however, it's mainly a case of personal preference. Players like Sampras like a heavy racquet because, potentially, you can generate more power off your shots. Whilst that sounds like every player's dream, it requires a combination of strength and technique. I think for most amateur players the key is just getting the ball over the net more consistently and, for that, you need a racquet that is comfortable to play shots with.

On a practical level, most of us will not be in a position of buying a customised tennis racquet. Therefore, it will be a case of looking at the racquets that are available in your local sports store. The chances are that the weight ranges will be quite narrow, so your choice might be about whether to go with a 11 ounce racquet or a 12 ounce racquet, rather than a more extreme 10 ounce versus 14 ounce choice.

If you're unsure which weight of racquet will be best for you, then there are a couple of things that you can do to help you make your choice. Firstly, if you've signed up for a tennis club, then you might be able to ask some of your fellow club members to allow you to pay a few practice shots with their racquets. (In my case, I had the opportunity to try out the racquets that my father and brothers had including a wooden racquet from the 1960s that must have weighed at least 14 ounces!) The second option is to ask for advice in the shop. The problem with this is that the sales assistant may be biased towards steering you to an expensive racquet, or may not actually play the game.

Good luck in finding that ideal racquet!

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