Tennis Equipment - Racquets, what should you use? Dangers and more.

With the advanced technology of today and the use of space age materials to make tennis equipment, players are performing better than ever. Today, an average tennis player can create more power and move with greater ease than ever before. The addition of power and control in racquets has allowed players to perform beyond their physical capabilities. This technology, though beneficial for some, may, at other times, be detrimental to a player's tennis development. Manufacturers try to "sugar coat" their tennis frames with promises of more topspin, power like the pros, and other such gimmicks. Hopefully, this article will give you new insight on the complex task of selecting a frame.

Benefits in racquets of the nineties:

• High powered tennis frames can create more racquet speed which will result in more power.

• Stiff frames can provide more control due to the lack of flex in the head and shaft of the racquet.

• Lighter and stronger material allows players to swing faster, thus creating more speed which results in more powerful shots.

• Unlike the wooden rackets in the past, some frames today are flexible in material allowing for better feel.

• For players with little strength or muscular endurance, frames can create power with less biomechanical effort.

• Sizes of frames - Some oversize models allow players to take full swings and still center the ball in the middle of the stringbed because of increased sweetspots.

• In stretched racquets such as the Yonex SRQ series at 28 inches in length, longer frames can increase a player's reach when hitting balls far away.

Tennis coaches and very avid tennis players, through trial and error, have developed a good understanding of frames and suitability. Many people, however, do not have the luxury of time and experimentation. In order to explore what could happen to a person who does not have a very extensive tennis background, I recently visited a very well known sporting goods store in Canada to perform an experiment. I walked into the racquets department and proceeded to ask for help in choosing a tennis frame. The sales person was very enthusiastic and immediately brought me two frames. The first frame apparently created loads of topspin and was an unbelievable racquet. So, I asked how the frame could create so much topspin. The answer given was that the frame was very light and that the strings could really bite into the ball, producing the spin. I smiled and asked about the next frame. The next frame apparently was full of power and could create amazing speed on the ball. I asked him how the frame was able to do that. He said that it was quite stiff and that no energy was lost when the racquet made contact with the ball. I smiled and then thanked him for his time.

What did I learn from my ten minute visit, and how could it effect a person who did not know racquet technology?

First of all, the first racquet (name intentionally withheld) shown to me was extremely light, very thin, and flexible. I can understand how a player could swing and have the potential for great racquet head speed. When contacting the ball, this would create great spin speeds. The salesperson neglected to tell me that the lightness of the racquet could cause problems in receiving hard and heavy hit balls. To clarify, mass in a frame is important in order for the speed of incoming balls to be diffused or dampened at the point of impact. This means that a player with an arm outstretched and far from his body could take the shock and impact energies directly into the arm segments. Some people may argue that the lighter frame does enable the creation of racquet speed which will, in itself, counter the effects of the fast incoming ball. So, what happens when you return someone's bullet serve? Players using this very light racquet will always need to take a full swing in order to avoid shock. Balls today are hit so much harder that players must stretch and block back many shots, thus some mass is needed for stability.

The next frame (name also withheld) was indeed powerful and, if used properly, could create speed. But, the stiffness of the frame was not explained to me in enough detail. The frame was made of kevlar and other composite materials, had some mass, and was very stiff. The salesperson neglected to tell me the reasons why the frame was so powerful. Power ratings are often determined by manufacturers using machines that measure loss of energy when a tennis ball contacts the frame (flexibility). Energy is lost when a frame flexes, so the stiffer the frame the more powerful its label, and vice versa. My analysis was that the frame was very stiff and, because of this stiffness, the head and throat had very little flex. A frame that does not flex is powerful because that energy is not lost at the point of impact. In the past, wooden frames would flex and energy would be lost upon impact, along with some control. So what happens to the shock impact? Much of the impact is absorbed in the next closest segment, which is the wrist or elbow. Yes, the "sweetspot" takes some of the shock but most of the force is directly transferred to the arm. The result is often a tennis-related injury such as tendonitis. Professional players can use stiff frames with more safety because their forearms (extensors and flexors) are extremely strong and can withstand the shocks created.

Biomechanical Development vs. The Role of the Racquet

Customizing Tennis Frames

• Lead Tape - makes racquets heavier and changes balance points of a frame

• Synthetic and leather grips - builds up grip sizes and improves "feel" when holding the frame

• Strings - many strings react differently on impact. Some stretch (elastic) while others are more durable (resilient)

• String tensions - one of the most important areas of customization, loose for power, tight for control

• Stringalings - help keep the string tension constant and allow for more durability

In conclusion

As a general guideline, young juniors who are beginners should be using very flexible frames, and more advanced juniors should use less flexible frames. Stiff frames are recommended for players who are physically mature and who have proper biomechanical linkages in most strokes. Lastly, always try to choose a frame for the right reasons, and never just because Pete, Andre, or Monica uses it.

If you have any equipment or developmental questions please feel free to contact me. Thanks for all your e-mail from around the world. It is great to see that Tennisserver.com is read internationally! Keep the e-mail and faxes coming, and thanks for all your support.

Best Regards,

Reggie

The Tennis Server is pleased to announce that Dennis Van der Meer, president and founder of the United States Professional Tennis Registry, has asked Reggie to be a presenter at the year end U.S.P.T.R.'s International Tennis Symposium in Hilton Head, South Carolina, September 25-28. He will be speaking on junior development using material from his "Kids' Book of Tennis...over 150 tennis games..." Reggie hopes he will see you there!

This column is copyright 1997 by Reggie Vasquez Jr., all rights reserved.

Reggie Vasquez Jr. is one of Canada's leading tennis coaches for juniors. He is actively involved with Tennis Canada's grassroots player development. A frequent and enthusiastic speaker at tennis conferences, he is certified by the U.S.P.T.A., Tennis Canada and the U.S.P.T.R.. For almost 7 years he was a head coach for the Canadian Davis cup Captain's Academy at the Canada's National Tennis Center. He has been a Tennis Canada - National Youth Tennis Center Leader for over 8 years and is presently a head coach of an Elite Tennis Academy. He has experience working with juniors from the absolute beginner to the international caliber tennis player. Reggie is also a published author on junior tennis. His personal web site has additional information on his book, the Kids' Book of Tennis. The Kids' Book of Tennis can be ordered directly at a discount using this link to the Amazon.com online bookstore.

Questions and comments about these columns can be directed to Reggie by electronic mail at reggie@tennisserver.com.