Convincing Parents to Buy Me a New Racquet

[NovakWannabe]

What techniques do you guys use to convince your parents to get a new racquet?

[Babb]

Wait until Christmas or your birthday. Then there's no way out for them. Otherwise, offer to pay for part of it yourself.

But if you have the money, buy the thing yourself and make your parents proud.

[iplaybetter]

pay for it myself ;)

[kPHAT]

say mom/dad my tennis pro says that i need to buy a new one

[NovakWannabe]

say mom/dad my tennis pro says that i need to buy a new one

Actually my coach talked to my parents about it. They just don't think I'm good enough, even though I beat my friend (who has played for 11 years, compared to my 2) 6-1.

[thejackal]

why do u need a new racquet? think hard about the reasons and tell them to your parents. if they're good reasons then they'll probably try to buy you one. if not then it is unlikely that they will support other aspects of your tennis (like mine were to a certain extent). in that case try to find a job and pay it off yourself.

[Curveball]

Grandma...
If that fails, try to see if they will at least match you and you pay 1/2 or 1/3, and they pay the rest. They may just want to see that you want it bad enough to work for it.

If they just can't afford it, then give them a break. They may need to worry about serious money issues. Lots of families are suffering extremely tight financial situations. Call around to the local courts and ask the pros if there is anyone selling some good equipment.

I know a lot of people buy nice racquets, use them a couple times and want to sell them cheap for various reasons.

[tennisbean]

Also, try e-Bay. My friend got this extremely legit Prince racquet for $60 bucks after shipping (the thing was amazing but the idiot lost it a couple weeks thereafter). With the economy sliding as it is, it would be the most considerate to make these purchases for yourself. Don't worry about lightly used racquets, they're still pretty useful.

If you're confident that it's in your parent's budget and that they just want to see you spend some money, here's what you do. Assuming you're playing in a season right now, at the end of practice, smash your racquet until the frame breaks in two against the pavement. Then say some kid hit this rocket serve and the racquet flew out of your hand and broke. That entire thing actually did happen; some kid hit a ridiculous flat serve when I wasn't ready, and the racquet flew 20 feet from my hand and the frame cracked from something or another. I never told the story when asking for a new racquet, so you can cash in on it

[Gmedlo]

Offer to sell your current racquets to buy the new ones.

Just wondering... what racquets are you switching to and from?

[NovakWannabe]

Offer to sell your current racquets to buy the new ones.

Just wondering... what racquets are you switching to and from?

Switching from a Wilson N5 to a Head MicroGel Prestige Pro. I'm getting offers of $85-$90 for my N5.

[Moz]

Switching from a Wilson N5 to a Head MicroGel Prestige Pro. I'm getting offers of $85-$90 for my N5.

Have you tried crying your eyes out in a shopping mall while pointing at your father shouting "he beats me with his belt, he beats me with his belt, can anyone imagine how bad that felt?"

Then offer to be quiet if they buy you the racquet.

[chiru]

Have you tried crying your eyes out in a shopping mall while pointing at your father shouting "he beats me with his belt, he beats me with his belt, can anyone imagine how bad that felt?"

Then offer to be quiet if they buy you the racquet.

hahahahaha

[TB45]

you should just buy it yourself.

I tell my mom and dad what i want online at TW.
Then I order it with their credit card.
I immediately pay them (right after sending in the order) to build up my credit score with them. :)
Its that simple.

[2ndserve642]

every 5 seconds be like can i have a new raquet and they eventually give in :o

[chlsmo]

If you play competitively you should also make sure you get at least two.

[NovakWannabe]

If you play competitively you should also make sure you get at least two.

Okay.

So that means that the grand total will be:

400 (two Prestige Pros)
35 (Head 6 pack bag)
20 (stringing)

Grand Total: $455 without tax. No effing way are my parents gonna pay that much!

[vndesu]

save up.
i dont think your that desprate for a racket are you?

if you want a racket try loook at for sale or trades.

[NovakWannabe]

i dont think your that desprate for a racket are you?

Well I am, I got my N5 when I was 10, before I hit my growth spurt. Now I'm 13, alot bigger and stronger. My N5 is too powerful and waaay too light for me now.

[vndesu]

ok well if you need a new racket, just sell and save up.
when i wanted my fxp prestige i didnt ask my parent and i had to save up to get it.

im only 16 and hav no job
trade or sell.

[Freedom]

Spring is here. Mow lawns, rake bark, plant flowers...people will be glad to pay a kid to do that sort of work for them.

[racquet_jedi]

Have you tried crying your eyes out in a shopping mall while pointing at your father shouting "he beats me with his belt, he beats me with his belt, can anyone imagine how bad that felt?"

Then offer to be quiet if they buy you the racquet.

Hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!:lol::lol:

[chlsmo]

Okay.

So that means that the grand total will be:

400 (two Prestige Pros)
35 (Head 6 pack bag)
20 (stringing)

Grand Total: $455 without tax. No effing way are my parents gonna pay that much!

Sell your XBox or whatever.

[iplaybetter]

Well I am, I got my N5 when I was 10, before I hit my growth spurt. Now I'm 13, alot bigger and stronger. My N5 is too powerful and waaay too light for me now.

i put some lead on it and string it tight while you save up for your new stick, also buy it lighly used here, i spend like 95 on my second 335, good as new

[Brendan]

wait till ur birthday or christmas. But if your parents are in a bad financial situation, dont even bother because your parents have more important things to worry about.

If your a competitive player you kinda need 2... but ya just work for it.

[NovakWannabe]

Sell your XBox or whatever.

Indeed. Why didn't I think of that before?

$455 - $160 (11 GameCube Games + Gamecube) - $90 (Selling my N5) = $205

That's A LOT more managable! And like someone else said, I can mow people's lawns and do chores around the house! Thanks y'all!

[Djokovicfan4life]

Well, you could (gasp), get a job!

[eric892]

I sell my current racquet to buy a new one.

[Gmedlo]

Switching from a Wilson N5 to a Head MicroGel Prestige Pro. I'm getting offers of $85-$90 for my N5.

I can see where your parents are coming from with the "not good enough" comment. If I were your parents, unless you were a 4.5, I would be very reluctant to buy you a racquet like that, especially if your finances don't help the situation.

By the way... I lost to a player using an n5 in a tournament. Use some lead for now, it's a very manageable racquet.

[NovakWannabe]

I can see where your parents are coming from with the "not good enough" comment. If I were your parents, unless you were a 4.5, I would be very reluctant to buy you a racquet like that, especially if your finances don't help the situation.

By the way... I lost to a player using an n5 in a tournament. Use some lead for now, it's a very manageable racquet.

My N5 is waaay to light for me. I've demoed more tweener-ish racquets: KBlade 98, MG Extreme, NPro, and the K95 16/18 (yes I know that's not tweener!). All of them felt too light except for the K95. The only complaint I had with the K95 was that it did not provide enough topspin for me, even when using my Western forehand. The MG Prestige Pro was slightly lighter, yet above 12 oz, and it had an open-er string pattern. It was sort of a God-send. Any other racquets that I should demo? Please stay within the Head, Wilson areas please!

[chlsmo]

My N5 is waaay to light for me. I've demoed more tweener-ish racquets: KBlade 98, MG Extreme, NPro, and the K95 16/18 (yes I know that's not tweener!). All of them felt too light except for the K95. The only complaint I had with the K95 was that it did not provide enough topspin for me, even when using my Western forehand. The MG Prestige Pro was slightly lighter, yet above 12 oz, and it had an open-er string pattern. It was sort of a God-send. Any other racquets that I should demo? Please stay within the Head, Wilson areas please!

Western Grip + More Open String Pattern Than the K95's 16x18 = New Strings Every Other Day. I probably would not let your parents know about that little piece of info if costs are an issue.

[NovakWannabe]

What racquets do you reccomend I demo then? I would rather they be in the Wilson or Head lineup.

[chlsmo]

If you need to save money, why not look into racquets that were recently discontinued. Use the racquet finder that TW features. You could probably find some tweener or players racquets for <$100.00 fairly easily.

[Korangster]

i got a mg prestige mp for 120 off of EoBoAoY. that was an awesome buy. try that

[Tennisplayer92]

For everyone who says he should get a job, hes 13. Child labor laws ring a bell? Then again, you could always go to a local tennis clinic and offer to help for a generous 205 bucks an hour.

[Forehand Forever]

Have you tried the MG Prestige Pro yet? If not then you shouldn't buy 2 right away. DEMO THEM FIRST

[Voltron]

Okay.

So that means that the grand total will be:

400 (two Prestige Pros)
35 (Head 6 pack bag)
20 (stringing)

Grand Total: $455 without tax. No effing way are my parents gonna pay that much!

:edited for stupidity:


Wow, you've got it easy kid, here's what I had to pay for:

Head Prestige MP X 3 $450
Stringing: about $105 for first string-job :edit: apparently at 2 am I can't count very well :lol:
Revo 4K: $550
Bag: $60

So that's $1165(which is a huge understatement of the cost, because I pay for all my string), want to guess how I payed for it? I actually worked and used my paycheck. So get out there like the rest of us and find a job, don't just whine that your parents won't throw $500 at you whenever you want it.


Sincerely,

Volt

[meowmix]

No offense, but do you REALLY think that the n5 is too powerful? You say that practically everything you demoed was too light, that even with a Wilson k 6-1 16*18 you can't generate enough topspin (BTW, that thing generates MASSIVE topstpin), and you have to stay within HEAD and WILSON.
1. have you ever thought about your technique? You should be able to generate topspin with any racket. String patterns won't increase/decrease topspin by any huge amount. A Wilson k 6-1 definately hits massive topspin, esp with a western forehadn
2. Why head and wilson? Why the latest models? Why not try a Prince Diable MP, a Donnay Pro International MP, a Gamma G325, a Prince NXG MP, a Volkl VE 10 MP, among other rackets? They're all HALF the price of the prestige pro, and the same weight (give or take .1 ounces and I severely doubt you care about .1 ounces)
3. Do you really need two? You're 13 for goodness sakes! You're not playing tournies, or planning on going pro! You can't possibly be that good because the most you can boast is that you can beat a friend who's played 11 years (when'd he start and how long has he taken lessons? He/she must be considerably older than you). You don't need to worry at all about needing a second frame. You're not in a position where you're breaking strings left right and center. You don't need a second MG Prestige Pro at your level! All you need is a backup racket and it seems your n5 will suit you perfectly.
4. You don't need a 35 dollar bag. Save yourself 28 bucks and get a TW 6 bag. It's got a lot of room, is bigger than any head 6 bag I've ever seen, and quality is pretty darn good.
5. 20 bucks for stringing? Where? Get your racket off TW and unless you only play with gut (I SEVERELY doubt that), get something cheaper. Try Technifibre NRG2, Gamma TNT2, Isospeed basline, any of those cost under 10 bucks.

All in all, you do NOT need to get your parents to spend 450 bucks. I'm a high school player and let me tell you, my total equipment totals under 200 bucks. I play with 1 of my main rackets (gamma Ipex 7.0 MP for 70 bucks), a backup (Head LM4- 25 bucks in pristine condition off a friend) and a cracked n5 (same as you eh?). My friend restrings at half the market price for me, 15 per string job with really good string. My tennis bag is a TW 6 bag that I got for 7 bucks. I beat the living crap out of players who sport massive 12 bags and wave around 200 dollar rackets. In the end, it's not the equipment that matters, it's the player. All you need for the moment is a single good racket. Go out and get yourself a perfectly good racket for under 100 bucks and hit the courts. When you have something other than beating your friend to boast about (ex. winning a tournie, doing well in a tournie, making a high school team, etc), then get another racket or two. Until then, your biggest worry is getting your game into shape.

[TenniseaWilliams]

Totally agree with meowmix. That said, start a thread called "conning my parents into buying me a new racquet" and see what happens.

[TenniseaWilliams]

Wow, you've got it easy kid, here's what I had to pay for:
Head Prestige MP X 3 $450
Stringing: about $130 for first string-job (I do it myself, so I'm just putting down cost of strings)
...
Sincerely,
Volt

Dude, those are nice string sets at $43 each...what am I missing?

[Zhou]

Dude, those are nice string sets at $43 each...what am I missing?

Even natural gut is not that expensive.

[nadalfan!]

My only guess would be a hybrid of some sort.... But that is still majorly expensive.

[Zhou]

Well he is doing it himself and Natural Gut is the most expensive string on the market.

[nadalfan!]

Haven't found a string that is 43 dollars yet.....

[CyberInferno]

Wow, you've got it easy kid, here's what I had to pay for:

Head Prestige MP X 3 $450
Stringing: about $130 for first string-job (I do it myself, so I'm just putting down cost of strings)
Revo 4K: $550
Bag: $60

So that's $1190(which is a huge understatement of the cost, because I pay for all my string), want to guess how I payed for it? I actually worked and used my paycheck. So get out there like the rest of us and find a job, don't just whine that your parents won't throw $500 at you whenever you want it.


Sincerely,

Volt
Even natural gut is not that expensive.
Haven't found a string that is 43 dollars yet.....
Agreed. Even walking into a local store here and buying Babolat VS only costs $35 for a full set.

I personally love the hybrid sets (Hurricane + VS) for $25.

[Korangster]

maybe hes gettin a reel

[Zhou]

He said first string job though.

[Supernatural_Serve]

Learn to enjoy a Head LM Radical for $70. Consider it an exercise in the important skill of compromise.

[brianR2193]

NW, if you're 13 i really wouldn't worry about getting that expensive of a racket. You might be really good but you probably haven't played enough to know any real big differences between rackets.

I know where you're coming from because i had some junk prince from dick's for about $50 and it was way to light sucky and i ordered an aerogel 200 which i love, but you probably should not worry so much about how you look right now. My coach uses an ntour 95 which is $75 now and he schools everyone.

Seriously just buy some less expensive racquets and a bag because they actually help you play better, i'm not talking about some cheapo one but a solid racket that was discontinued, because it will take your mind off the racket and help you think about the game. New rackets might look good and you may think you play better with them but at your age i don't think it will matter.

[Zhou]

I am 14 and I do feel a major difference between rackets and can tell when my strings are dead...

[brianR2193]

what i'm saying is that the older rackets are not worse than the new ones and... i think he could tell if his strings were dead. Zhou you may have lots of money for your expensive rackets and hybrids but not everybody does.

[RestockingTues]

He said first string job though.

He must think very highly of himself. 110 for labor?

[Zhou]

what i'm saying is that the older rackets are not worse than the new ones and... i think he could tell if his strings were dead. Zhou you may have lots of money for your expensive rackets and hybrids but not everybody does.

I agree with that. I used an n5 for well over 3 years before switching. I only have 2 rackets... and my strings are only 13 dollars.

[Voltron]

Dude, those are nice string sets at $43 each...what am I missing?

I use gut, but something tells me I probably calculated that wrong. ;)

[Zhou]

Try $105, not 130.

[NovakWannabe]

Well, maybe I could try the LM Prestige or something?...

[TenniseaWilliams]

I use gut, but something tells me I probably calculated that wrong. ;)

Didn't mean to start a pile on, and it was a minor factor in your numbers anyway. Had it been earlier in the evening I might have pointed out that including the stringer was probably rubbing his nose in it a little.

And since I distracted the thread with my math skills, I will try and make it up to the OP by pulling a Moz:

Complain to your parents about elbow pain after using your old head-heavy frame with your new, longer swing. Find some web references to back you up, shouldn't be that hard to find quite a few comments in your new point of view...

[max]

I'm 44 years old. This is a very humorous thread. In the era I played hs tennis, everybody pretty much had one (wood or steel or aluminum) racquet. The school paid for a coach and balls; no "uniforms" or t-shirts or such things. . . but that really didn't affect much. If you broke a string, you borrowed somebody's racquet until yours was fixed.

I'd advise a job: not just for the immediate money, but for the ability to look into the face of the real world and understand more about life as it is lived. . . a job in a hardware store is a real education in itself.

You know, those wood frames only cost about $50 or so.

[IanRichardson]

If you cant get your parents to buy you a new racquet just deal with it. It seems like they already buy you tennis lessons, which are not cheap. If they wont do it there is likely a good reason for it, so dont give them a hard time about it. Just use what you have. Over a billion people in the world live on less than $1.00 a day, and you are on an internet message board on a 2 thousand dollar computer complaining asking how to get your parents to buy you some overly expensive racquets for a person your age.

I would wait until I got into high school and then got the latest and greatest before I started playing varsity. If you are 13, I assume you will be entering high school next year? Well if you need the racquets you are talking about and are as good as you say then go out and make the varsity team as a freshman and your parents will then see maybe you are good. Otherwise, they are right and you are wrong as parents tend to be.

[pr0n8r]

Well, you could (gasp), get a job!

No matter what you do, do NOT get a job until you absolutely have to. It's not worth getting a job to get a new racket.


You will have less time to play tennis. Then before a tournament or match, your manager calls you and says he needs you to come in, and when you say you have a tennis match, he laughs.
When you play tennis, you will be tired, and maybe stressed because of work.
You have your entire life to work. Don't be in a hurry to start.


I could go on, but you get the point. Have you considered choosing a less expensive frame with similar playing characteristics to the MG Prestige? A POG mid makes players look like the real deal, imo =P

[CyberInferno]

No matter what you do, do NOT get a job until you absolutely have to. It's not worth getting a job to get a new racket.


You will have less time to play tennis. Then before a tournament or match, your manager calls you and says he needs you to come in, and when you say you have a tennis match, he laughs.
When you play tennis, you will be tired, and maybe stressed because of work.
You have your entire life to work. Don't be in a hurry to start.


I could go on, but you get the point. Have you considered choosing a less expensive frame with similar playing characteristics to the MG Prestige? A POG mid makes players look like the real deal, imo =P
He's too young to get a real job anyway.

By get a job, people are saying he should mow lawns, wash cars, repair computers, etc. Do stuff that doesn't require having a boss.

[pr0n8r]

^ He can apply my advice in a couple years, when the question comes up =D

[baseline08thrasher]

Just say that your coach says you need to buy a new one, to play at your highest level. Also say that your game needs a racket suited to your gamestyle and the one you have now isn't helping you.

[xnarek]

You want a new racquet cuz its cool using a new one or you feel that it will improve your game? Or have u just been using an old one for a long time? o.O

[m1stuhxsp4rk5]

save money and buy your own thats what i do

[MIGHTY MANFRED THE WONDER]

What's the big deal? Call your Rep and have him send them out.

[NovakWannabe]

I'm not that good... I'm just a Champ Level ZAT Player (according to my coach) in B14s TX. Well, my game is starting to suffer because of my N5 is light and head heavy causing my forehand to become wristy. My mom's a hand therapist so she understands.

[LeftySpin]

i offered to pay for most of it and i used ****....trust me you just need to look at then info really carefully, all of my racquets i bought myself, but also its just a matter if getting lucky....i ran across someone who was selling a brand new yonex rqs 11 for $100...thats like half price, so just keep ears and eyes open, once a hot deal passes by they cannot refuse it

[MIGHTY MANFRED THE WONDER]

Kidding about the rep....
A racket- If you don't buy used (for right now) you are just stealing from yourself

BUYING USED- A guy who seems to know a lot on this board is Jolly Rodger
He can be helpful if you ask, I think he has written an extensive thread on how to pick a racket for you/ your game- Search for like, BUYING RACKET, FITTING RACKET

-IN GENERAL-
Go to local Pros... Pro shops-Your coach can put in touch with guys he/she knows- This is to try out rackets Some charge a little, sometimes free if you are not asking for the hotest/latest- they also sell used, but not likely the demo, since then they would have to replace it from stock.

Once you have an idea on what racket- Look down at the bottom of this board- TONS of barely used rackets available cheap- with honest sellers.

These sellers are best because they know tennis, buy up every new thing that comes out (Thinking they found Excaliber -or- they have tons of $$$ and just have to have what some pro plays this week)- and they give up on them just as fast. These sellers are really particular when they buy- particular when they sell, usually no junk unless they advertise as junk- Mostly "Played three times- tiny, tiny scratch"

Just tell them your tale of not much dough, and they will come down some in price- believe me, the other advantage to buying off this board is they are suckers for encouraging tennis in kids, and really would like to get something for the rackets rather than have them laying around.
Just be patient- sometimes you can offer a lower price and just say "'If you don't get any bites- I am ready to buy at $XXX right now, if you want"

Wheeling and dealing is a life skill that goes way back before money- it is good practice to learn how to negotiate and deal honestly with others; You will need it when you buy a car, and lots of other times- sure as heck you need it more than AP Calculus.

[max]

Wax your dad's car for $10. Let the neighbors see you, then walk over and offer to do theirs for $10.

Then say, gee, I'd like to mow your yard this summer. Some will say no, others might well say yes. If you're under 16, this might be a good route to do. No one, call it prejudice, will let 15 year old boys watch their kids, so that route is blocked for you.

Setup a car wash with the tennis team; 5-6 guys. Put in the time, split the money equally.

Mighty Manfred above has it right: adults will "take pity" on you and are naturally going to want to help you out, maybe even suggesting things you can do for them. . . they can remember what it's like to be in your shoes. I agree with the "wheeling and dealing" skill development Manfred's talking about. Don't take any rejection you might encounter personally: just consider it a process of throwing suggestions out to people, and if they don't bite, the next one will. Salesmanship is an extremely VALUABLE life skill. . . much more valuable than the Advanced Whining At Parents Skill, and much better for your personal dignity.

[MIGHTY MANFRED THE WONDER]

Man, I would love some guys to come along and offer waxing my car at my house for money- and I would pay a lot more than $10 for wash/real careful wax.
Just have someone show the ropes- (like keep wax off the black rubber and chrome) And you have a business for the cost of some rags, a can of turtle wax, and effort.
All anyone can say is "no, thanks" and that is NOT going to happen when you can show them you know what you are doing.

[2ndserve642]

do chore around the house for money

[Gyrik]

No offense, but do you REALLY think that the n5 is too powerful? You say that practically everything you demoed was too light, that even with a Wilson k 6-1 16*18 you can't generate enough topspin (BTW, that thing generates MASSIVE topstpin), and you have to stay within HEAD and WILSON.
1. have you ever thought about your technique? You should be able to generate topspin with any racket. String patterns won't increase/decrease topspin by any huge amount. A Wilson k 6-1 definately hits massive topspin, esp with a western forehadn
2. Why head and wilson? Why the latest models? Why not try a Prince Diable MP, a Donnay Pro International MP, a Gamma G325, a Prince NXG MP, a Volkl VE 10 MP, among other rackets? They're all HALF the price of the prestige pro, and the same weight (give or take .1 ounces and I severely doubt you care about .1 ounces)
3. Do you really need two? You're 13 for goodness sakes! You're not playing tournies, or planning on going pro! You can't possibly be that good because the most you can boast is that you can beat a friend who's played 11 years (when'd he start and how long has he taken lessons? He/she must be considerably older than you). You don't need to worry at all about needing a second frame. You're not in a position where you're breaking strings left right and center. You don't need a second MG Prestige Pro at your level! All you need is a backup racket and it seems your n5 will suit you perfectly.
4. You don't need a 35 dollar bag. Save yourself 28 bucks and get a TW 6 bag. It's got a lot of room, is bigger than any head 6 bag I've ever seen, and quality is pretty darn good.
5. 20 bucks for stringing? Where? Get your racket off TW and unless you only play with gut (I SEVERELY doubt that), get something cheaper. Try Technifibre NRG2, Gamma TNT2, Isospeed basline, any of those cost under 10 bucks.

All in all, you do NOT need to get your parents to spend 450 bucks. I'm a high school player and let me tell you, my total equipment totals under 200 bucks. I play with 1 of my main rackets (gamma Ipex 7.0 MP for 70 bucks), a backup (Head LM4- 25 bucks in pristine condition off a friend) and a cracked n5 (same as you eh?). My friend restrings at half the market price for me, 15 per string job with really good string. My tennis bag is a TW 6 bag that I got for 7 bucks. I beat the living crap out of players who sport massive 12 bags and wave around 200 dollar rackets. In the end, it's not the equipment that matters, it's the player. All you need for the moment is a single good racket. Go out and get yourself a perfectly good racket for under 100 bucks and hit the courts. When you have something other than beating your friend to boast about (ex. winning a tournie, doing well in a tournie, making a high school team, etc), then get another racket or two. Until then, your biggest worry is getting your game into shape.

Holy cow! Your equipment costs 200 US dollars? Im guessing everything in the US is more expensive, because my equipment costed me about (let's see, 500 divided by 8...) $62.50 (USD)+30 divided by 8 (3.75)= $66.25 USD! Sure, maybe it's not as good, but seriously: I've found that unless you're using a racket that's for people 3 years younger than you (literally), your skill level depends a lot more. Also, I agree that people don't need to squeeze out that last bit of efficiency unless they're going pro or something. In fact, sometimes using an older model which is "unpopular" or "for lower levels" can give you better results. For example, I play much better with my Head Liquidmetal 4 (second hand) than those "pro" rackets that all my tennis coaches use. Don't go to the shops and go: "Can you recommend a racket for me?" because they'll just show you the latest, most expensive models and go: "Oh, this is perfect for someone with your build!" or something because what shops and companies want is MONEY.

One more thing (not addressing meowmix): What is wrong with your old N5 (or something)? Lightweight rackets can actually move faster, and remember that power=mass times velocity squared, meaning that velocity is more important than mass. If you are complaining about the surplus power, either hit softer (a good method is to merely do the same stroke in slow(er) motion), or adjust the racket face. If hitting low balls, merely work on your topspin. Or are you saying that you'd rather spend your parent's or your own hard-earned money than put in a little more practice? I highly doubt that you are in some super-difficult tournament where you don't have enough practice time, and you are not able to compete next year or something. Even if you are, we all have to make sacrifices sometimes, so why not sacrifice something yourself rather than make your parents do it? (BTW if you try to earn the money yourself, it would actually take longer than putting in the extra practice).

[NovakWannabe]

My coach thinks that I have outgrown my racquet, and that I can supply my own power. And UPDATE: My dad said he was probably gonna buy me a new racquet, and the three racquets I'm going to demo are the MG Prestige Pro, MG Radical Pro, and the K6.1 16/18. I've already demoed the K6.1, just the others now. Maybe even the Babolat Aerostorm...

[autumn_leaf]

My coach thinks that I have outgrown my racquet, and that I can supply my own power. And UPDATE: My dad said he was probably gonna buy me a new racquet, and the three racquets I'm going to demo are the MG Prestige Pro, MG Radical Pro, and the K6.1 16/18. I've already demoed the K6.1, just the others now. Maybe even the Babolat Aerostorm...

all the racquets you mentioned are really recent...it surprised me when i found out that the price of racquets really correlates (or is similar) to the price of electronics. the newest thing is sold at a premium and within a year the price (unless it's unique and gets a cult following) drops when new models gets pumped out.

you do play with a light stick, but i don't get how you can say you don't get enough top spin from a 16x20 pattern... i know kids that get topspin off of 18x20. thinking this is more of technique problem than anything else.

you're also looking at player sticks now and the weight difference is quite a bit. i would start weighting up your current stick with lead/magnetic strips or whatever to see what you can handle in a match. no point in a few amazing games and running out of gas half way through.

people talk about great racquets (classic racquets) on these boards all day long, some may even be having an affair with them ;) . racquets like the donnay has been very well received and the costs are far more reasonable than anything i ever seen new.

in the end i know racquet addiction, i've splurge on racquets, but never on something brand new (recent model) that cost $200.....and if your parents are paying for it then you better be doing a lot more chores around the house if you aren't already.

[Gyrik]

in the end i know racquet addiction, i've splurge on racquets, but never on something brand new (recent model) that cost $200.....and if your parents are paying for it then you better be doing a lot more chores around the house if you aren't already.

Of course, your parent's financial state must be considered. For example, my sister uses a ... $7.50 USD racket (it's tiny though, because she's still 9).

[TenniseaWilliams]

My coach thinks that I have outgrown my racquet, and that I can supply my own power. And UPDATE: My dad said he was probably gonna buy me a new racquet, and the three racquets I'm going to demo are the MG Prestige Pro, MG Radical Pro, and the K6.1 16/18. I've already demoed the K6.1, just the others now. Maybe even the Babolat Aerostorm...

Congratulations! You figured out the right way to do it, convincing everyone you are ready. And thanks for the interesting thread, gotta love hearing all the "I walked to practice and back in 10ft of snow and it was uphill both ways" stories.

Choose wisely, grasshopper! Perhaps one day it will be NovakIsScaredOfMe

[xnarek]

Hey guys(and girls), how come ppl dont use flexpoint anymore? i see people using babolat, especially the high-ranked ones.
I remember when i changed from my year 2000 racquet to a flexpoint, the 2000 racquet(head) felt like brick!

[ndtennis]

Hey guys(and girls), how come ppl dont use flexpoint anymore? i see people using babolat, especially the high-ranked ones.
I remember when i changed from my year 2000 racquet to a flexpoint, the 2000 racquet(head) felt like brick!

Yea i used the felxpoint for less than a year then switched to fischer...like it so much better

[xnarek]

Damn, less then a year? Fischer isnt really a common racquet, i guess that shows how much different people vary