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How to navigate the slew of new sticks at your local club
By: Ben Court
[ Updated: Sep 12, 2008 - 11:21:08 AM ]
To provide players with greater control and power, each year racket manufacturers trot out new models that boast NASA-worthy technologies and designs. The barrage of technical jargon can be overwhelming, even for tennis-shop owners. “The best way to find the right racket for your skills is to test it out before you buy it,” says John Swetka, manager of Swetka’s Tennis Shop, in Mountain View, California, one of the country’s top stores. Like many shops, Swetka’s offers demo programs that allow customers to pay $40 to try one racket a week for up to four months. (When you find the perfect stick, your cash goes toward the purchase.) As confusing as it may be, the manufacturers’ arms race actually does give you one advantage: It’s easier than ever to find deals on older models. And when you do buy a racket, rest assured that it will serve you for many years—assuming you don’t go Andy Roddick on it and smash it into a net post. ben court
FINE Dunlop M-Fil 300, $100 Best known for making the wooden wands John McEnroe played with in the ’80s and the graphite blasters Steffi Graf used in the ’90s, Dunlop was disappearing from tennis courts until 2005, when it released the highly lauded M-Fil series. Dunlop now has newer technologies though, and that makes the M-Fil 300, the most popular in the series, a steal. The 10.3-ounce racket is made of carbon, T-fiber, and tungsten, which absorbs vibration far better than a $40 clunker from Wal-Mart. These materials, and the 98-square-inch head, best suit intermediate and advanced players looking to put extra zip on their ground strokes. dunlopsports.com
FINER Wilson K-Zen, $190 After three years of research and development, Wilson released its new K Factor line this past spring. It features four control-enhancing innovations: A nanotech-engineered frame boosts strength, small wings on each side of the hoop add comfort, a new yoke adds stiffness, and a compact center improves handling. Weighing in at 11.1 ounces with a 103-square-inch head, the K-Zen is in the middle of the forgiveness range, providing a mixture of power and control so that even off-center hits don’t sail out. wilson.com
FINEST Prince O³ Speedport Red, $250 The Prince 0³ series, launched in 2005, features extra-large string holes that increase racket head speed and the size of the sweet spot. To make the high-tech rackets, two molds are sandwiched together, eliminating the need to drill string holes, a process that can weaken the frame. In the Speedport, the string holes take aerodynamic inspiration from the air-intake ducts on F-18 fighter planes: They’re rectangular rather than oval. The sticks are available in three head sizes (105, 110, and 118), with the smallest model, the 9.9-ounce Red, recommended for slightly advanced players seeking control. princetennis.com
