8 year olds with full size racquets...

[tennis24fun]

I see kids barely 4 and half feet tall hitting with full size (27") racquets.
What's the logic behind that? Do they do it because they want to get power advantage over those with junior racquets?

[TennisCoachFLA]

Talk to 10 coaches and you might get ten different opinions. Some say kids should stay with small racquets a long time for control. Others say get them into larger racquets as soon as you can or their strokes will be all wristy. Racquet manufacturers have recommendations for racquet length based strictly on the kid's height....but this does not really work.

I think it depends on each kid. Some seem to have better form with larger racquets than other kids at the same size. Every kid has different arm lengths, strength, etc.

My daughter was using a 21 inch racquet with great results. But one day her strokes became wristy, seemingly overnight. We switched her to a 23 inch racquet and immediately she hit like a little pro again and used the extra length for leverage and power.

Last week she picked up some kids 25 inch racquet and tried it....no way, you could see the time to move up is not here yet.

So treat each kid as an individual. Observe them with various length racquets. A good coach/parent will know when it is time to move up.

[Solat]

well said, i think that racquet control is easier to learn with the suitably sized racquet. However I also believe in pushing kids to use the biggest racquet they can achieve the good technique with

[nonick]

my daughter is 8.5 years old and yesterday her coach said she needs a bigger havier/longer racquet. She had a 25inch prince diablo. I just ordered microgel prestige (http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCHEAD-MGPRESTJR.html).We will see how fast she is going to outgrow this one.

[RanchDressing]

big racquets make the kid have poorer stroke....
havent you ever seen them? they end up using their wrist like a pivot point for the racquet.

[ag200boy]

i know an 8 year old boy who uses a 27.5 in APDC+ and he plays amazing with it!
id say NTRP 2.5-3.5, he hs serious potential

[waxnator]

I've coached some of the younger kids (some probably even younger than 8) and I've noticed that kids who come with bigger racquets have much more success after switching to the junior racquets. I think the problem is that a lot of kids that age don't have the coordination and strength to properly use bigger racquets.

If they aren't going to be successful to some degree, they're not going to like it. Start them with the small and get bigger as they get some more experience/confidence.

[BigTennisFan1]

All things being equal, what you want is a regular size racquet. The racquet will have a greater degree of rotational inertia and therefore encourage a proper swing, which is what you want. A shorter racquet (which also weighs less) is prone to be swung poorly, not only 'wristy' but also since it carries less momentum, to be muscled more (and twists of the body to compensate etc.).

I am an opponent of junior racquets for that reason.

However, on the other end of the argument: If the racquet is too heavy, the student may develop a tendency to hold it in a more western-grip, which develops bad habits that are very hard to break ... sometimes impossible to break.

In order for the student to play with a full-size racquet, which is what they need, you need to make sure you have two things: 1. Proper swing technique taught by a competent coach and 2. not to be too heavy.

hope this helps.

[Gob_]

i'm training a bunch of kids to use full size racquets when they're small then once they get old enough i give them junior racquets. this is because i'm all about the mental game and to their opponent these regular sized children look huge. their strokes are awful and they swing out their arms and get injured very badly but the intimidation factor can't be ignored.

[Jackie T. Stephens]

i'm training a bunch of kids to use full size racquets when they're small then once they get old enough i give them junior racquets. this is because i'm all about the mental game and to their opponent these regular sized children look huge. their strokes are awful and they swing out their arms and get injured very badly but the intimidation factor can't be ignored.

Thats the answer :)

[TennisCoachFLA]

i'm training a bunch of kids to use full size racquets when they're small then once they get old enough i give them junior racquets. this is because i'm all about the mental game and to their opponent these regular sized children look huge. their strokes are awful and they swing out their arms and get injured very badly but the intimidation factor can't be ignored.

Your humor hits a little too close to the true thinking of some nutty parents/coaches.

Maybe give them really big adult tennis shoes to wear to complete the intimidating look!

[Deuce]

In baseball, kids don't use adult-sized bats.
In hockey, kids don't use adult-sized sticks.
In golf, kids don't use adult-sized clubs...

It defies all logic for an average sized kid under, say, 12 years old to use an adult-sized tennis racquet.

Kids are smaller than adults. Their equipment, therefore, should be smaller, too. As the child grows, the racquets get bigger, too.
It's simple logic.
This is done - rather obviously - to keep the same relative proportion between person and racquet (or bat, club, etc.) consistent through the years, taking into account the size and weight of both the person and the racquet.

[TennisCoachFLA]

In baseball, kids don't use adult-sized bats.
In hockey, kids don't use adult-sized sticks.
In golf, kids don't use adult-sized clubs...

It defies all logic for an average sized kid under, say, 12 years old to use an adult-sized tennis racquet.

Kids are smaller than adults. Their equipment, therefore, should be smaller, too. As the child grows, the racquets get bigger, too.
It's simple logic.
This is done - rather obviously - to keep the same relative proportion between person and racquet (or bat, club, etc.) consistent through the years, taking into account the size and weight of both the person and the racquet.

Exactly, could you imagine if little league kids played on a field with the dimensions of Yankee Stadium? Or 8 year olds played football on a 100 yard field with adult size pads?

Why is it that tennis is the only sport where kids are expected by many parents to play with full size equipment on a full size court at 6 years old?

[BradBaughman]

I see kids barely 4 and half feet tall hitting with full size (27") racquets.
What's the logic behind that? Do they do it because they want to get power advantage over those with junior racquets?

For what its worth my son has used a full size racket from the start at 5 1/2 -6 yrs old and by the time he was 8 1/2 -9 his rackets were being strung at and up to 67 lbs, most would say that was to tight but we've never had and injuries and he has always hit through the ball . Are logic was hit the ball correctly and learn to control the ball early. Most kids are getting these power rackets need them to get and edge and it is helpful when your young!!

[BigTennisFan1]

Exactly, could you imagine if little league kids played on a field with the dimensions of Yankee Stadium? Or 8 year olds played football on a 100 yard field with adult size pads?

Why is it that tennis is the only sport where kids are expected by many parents to play with full size equipment on a full size court at 6 years old?

Dear TennisCoach, I will explain it to you: First, children play on exactly the same size tennis court as adults. Your point about field size in football etc. is well taken, but it does not apply in this situation.

Energy into a tennis ball is governed by E=1/2*m*v*v, where m is the mass and v is the velocity if the racquet hit in a line.

Meaning if you are trying to put enough energy into the ball to get it over to fall near the baseline, the "v" is your velocity as the racquet head hits the ball. Because the swing is a circle, or close to it, the velocity is the speed at the tangent of the circle and the energy is governed by E=Iww, where w is the angular velocity, and I is the moment of intertia.

Kids arms are shorter than adults, and when you put a shorter racquet into a short arm, in order to generate equal momentum, the kid has to swing much harder.

However, with a fast swing, come errors and, as you know, kids just dont make up for the issue by swinging harder, they instead change the grip to change the trajectory of the ball to compensate for lack of I in the above formula.

If the tennis courts for kids were smaller, and the ball itself lighter, then, proportionally speaking, you would be right.

However, the ball weighs the same and the court is the same, and there you are.

Try taking a junior racquet yourself and play: you will see you have nothing on the ball and especially if you shorten your arm.

The golden 'suggestion' (not a rule) should be: when you are strong enough to hold an adult racquet without resotring to a western grip, you are ready to play with one.

I am sure this can be debated, but these are my opinions only.

[BradBaughman]

Dear TennisCoach, I will explain it to you: First, children play on exactly the same size tennis court as adults. Your point about field size in football etc. is well taken, but it does not apply in this situation.

Energy into a tennis ball is governed by E=1/2*m*v*v, where m is the mass and v is the velocity if the racquet hit in a line.

Meaning if you are trying to put enough energy into the ball to get it over to fall near the baseline, the "v" is your velocity as the racquet head hits the ball. Because the swing is a circle, or close to it, the velocity is the speed at the tangent of the circle and the energy is governed by E=Iww, where w is the angular velocity, and I is the moment of intertia.

Kids arms are shorter than adults, and when you put a shorter racquet into a short arm, in order to generate equal momentum, the kid has to swing much harder.

However, with a fast swing, come errors and, as you know, kids just dont make up for the issue by swinging harder, they instead change the grip to change the trajectory of the ball to compensate for lack of I in the above formula.

If the tennis courts for kids were smaller, and the ball itself lighter, then, proportionally speaking, you would be right.

However, the ball weighs the same and the court is the same, and there you are.

Try taking a junior racquet yourself and play: you will see you have nothing on the ball and especially if you shorten your arm.

The golden 'suggestion' (not a rule) should be: when you are strong enough to hold an adult racquet without resotring to a western grip, you are ready to play with one.

I am sure this can be debated, but these are my opinions only.

They have adult rackets that are as light as a junior racket and with a little work you can suit the grip to fit your little ones hand ,, ive never been for a junior racket if their strong enough to swing it ,put them on a full size and put them to work!!!

[Kirko]

I see kids barely 4 and half feet tall hitting with full size (27") racquets.
What's the logic behind that? Do they do it because they want to get power advantage over those with junior racquets?

Ken Rosewall's father strated him off at 6 with a racket "sawed" to about the lenght of a racketball racket to hit agaisnt the "wall" ; just to get a "bead" on hitting the sweetspot. he also "forced bhim to learn to play right handed. playing lefthanded was considered the "the death knell" in those days; according to "Teach" Tennant a premier coach in olden days.

[BigTennisFan1]

They have adult rackets that are as light as a junior racket and with a little work you can suit the grip to fit your little ones hand ,, ive never been for a junior racket if their strong enough to swing it ,put them on a full size and put them to work!!!

Correct, though even if two racquets have the same weight, the longer one will generate greater angular momentum, translating into more power into the ball (imagine a racquet an inch long versus 10' ... swing them at the same speed, which one will send the ball flying?).

Adult size racquets are highly recommended right when you are able to wield them.

[BradBaughman]

Correct, though even if two racquets have the same weight, the longer one will generate greater angular momentum, translating into more power into the ball (imagine a racquet an inch long versus 10' ... swing them at the same speed, which one will send the ball flying?).

Adult size racquets are highly recommended right when you are able to wield them.

ive had my son on a adult racket as soon as he could swing it and he's done ok through the years!!

[tacoben]

A boy in my daughter's group lesson was recently advised by the coach that the adult racquet he was using was too much for him. The coach pointed out three different lenghts and his was found to be the longest at 27.5". The racquet was also head heavy making it difficult for the boy to get over the ball on his forehands, and it appeared that he was dragging the racquet on the ground whenever they were doing drills. Personally, I believe that it is the discretion of a coach to determine if young person is able to handle an adult racquets since kids have varying builts and strengths. Kudos to the coach for pointing this out.

[BigTennisFan1]

ive had my son on a adult racket as soon as he could swing it and he's done ok through the years!!

as soon as he can handle the weight, that's the course to go.

[Gob_]

I think we should have kids use heavy racquets to begin with, and if they can't handle the weight, they can use two hands on both sides like Santoro!

[TennisCoachFLA]

Dear TennisCoach, I will explain it to you: First, children play on exactly the same size tennis court as adults. Your point about field size in football etc. is well taken, but it does not apply in this situation.

Energy into a tennis ball is governed by E=1/2*m*v*v, where m is the mass and v is the velocity if the racquet hit in a line.

Meaning if you are trying to put enough energy into the ball to get it over to fall near the baseline, the "v" is your velocity as the racquet head hits the ball. Because the swing is a circle, or close to it, the velocity is the speed at the tangent of the circle and the energy is governed by E=Iww, where w is the angular velocity, and I is the moment of intertia.

Kids arms are shorter than adults, and when you put a shorter racquet into a short arm, in order to generate equal momentum, the kid has to swing much harder.

However, with a fast swing, come errors and, as you know, kids just dont make up for the issue by swinging harder, they instead change the grip to change the trajectory of the ball to compensate for lack of I in the above formula.

If the tennis courts for kids were smaller, and the ball itself lighter, then, proportionally speaking, you would be right.

However, the ball weighs the same and the court is the same, and there you are.

Try taking a junior racquet yourself and play: you will see you have nothing on the ball and especially if you shorten your arm.

The golden 'suggestion' (not a rule) should be: when you are strong enough to hold an adult racquet without resotring to a western grip, you are ready to play with one.

I am sure this can be debated, but these are my opinions only.

The equipment must all fit together. Many countries use mini tennis to start kids off, Henin learned this way.

The low compression balls are much lighter, the courts shorter, thus the smaller junior racquets fit in with the total package.

Hitting a regular tennis ball with a junior racquet is awful. Like hitting a wiffle ball with a full size bat.

[MasterBruceTennis]

I have a great deal of experiences with children.
First, "fit" grip size is the most important factor.

At 8, boys and girls, they usually have no problem with light (under 11 oz) racquet, though pay careful selection of frame’s balance and stiffness and strung tension to fit their physique and mentality.

Do whatever you can to make them comprehend and believe: “power is not an issue.” By hitting against the wall, mini tennis, bouncing, aiming, …

Don't squeeze the racquet too tight at all times.
Take a break every 80 (noo more 100) balls.

Once they can strike the ball with more relax and confident manner, then everything else will start to work.

[BigTennisFan1]

The equipment must all fit together. Many countries use mini tennis to start kids off, Henin learned this way.

The low compression balls are much lighter, the courts shorter, thus the smaller junior racquets fit in with the total package.

Hitting a regular tennis ball with a junior racquet is awful. Like hitting a wiffle ball with a full size bat.

TennisCoach, we seem to agree on this issue.

[TennisCoachFLA]

I have a great deal of experiences with children.
First, "fit" grip size is the most important factor.

At 8, boys and girls, they usually have no problem with light (under 11 oz) racquet, though pay careful selection of frame’s balance and stiffness and strung tension to fit their physique and mentality.

Do whatever you can to make them comprehend and believe: “power is not an issue.” By hitting against the wall, mini tennis, bouncing, aiming, …

Don't squeeze the racquet too tight at all times.
Take a break every 80 (noo more 100) balls.

Once they can strike the ball with more relax and confident manner, then everything else will start to work.

I think some would debate your power opinion. Some coaches believe that the little ones should swing away and hit everything hard, aim be damned. Power first. Others say control first.

Mike Agassi went power first. He set up 3 ball machines and had them firing at once. Andre was told to crush the ball and try to hit every single one over the fence. His father wanted him to have power. At 10 or so he worked in his control.

Sampras's coach Fisher did it in a similiar way.

Henin went the opposite. She played mini tennis, developed a controlled game with amazing aim early on.

As with many things, the debate has evidence that each way can work.

[MasterBruceTennis]

To clear the point.
"Power is not the issue" meant that they have enough power.
They do not have to 'swing' out of proportion.
Relax, comfort, confidence are important for them. imho.

[tennis24fun]

To clear the point.
"Power is not the issue" meant that they have enough power.
They do not have to 'swing' out of proportion.
Relax, comfort, confidence are important for them. imho.

Agree with this one. Could of things I see wrong with full size racquets for 8 year olds is that 1. Developing control/feel for the ball is going to be challenging for them as they are playing with inherently powerful racquets for their size. 2. Learning the proper and full swing is going to be a problem as the weight is unwieldly and the swing is not going to be smooth as with junior racquets.

Once they learn the swings and develop to control the spins properly, then would be the time for them to take up full size racquets, imo.

[BigTennisFan1]

Agree with this one. Could of things I see wrong with full size racquets for 8 year olds is that 1. Developing control/feel for the ball is going to be challenging for them as they are playing with inherently powerful racquets for their size. 2. Learning the proper and full swing is going to be a problem as the weight is unwieldly and the swing is not going to be smooth as with junior racquets.

Once they learn the swings and develop to control the spins properly, then would be the time for them to take up full size racquets, imo.

The opposite is the case, for 8 year olds: the swing is a lot smoother with a full size racquet than with junior racquets. See my previous posts regarding transfer of energy. Kids with junior racquet will tend to slap the ball and play like badminton. A regular tennis ball is just too heavy to hit properly with a junior racquet.

Maybe if you are 3 or 4 or 5 you are right, but not at 6, 7, 8.

[TennisCoachFLA]

The opposite is the case, for 8 year olds: the swing is a lot smoother with a full size racquet than with junior racquets. See my previous posts regarding transfer of energy. Kids with junior racquet will tend to slap the ball and play like badminton. A regular tennis ball is just too heavy to hit properly with a junior racquet.

Maybe if you are 3 or 4 or 5 you are right, but not at 6, 7, 8.

Very true. The older kids will start slapping at the balls if they use racquets that are too small.

[TennisCoachFLA]

To clear the point.
"Power is not the issue" meant that they have enough power.
They do not have to 'swing' out of proportion.
Relax, comfort, confidence are important for them. imho.

I understand, but again it depends on which coach you talk to.

I see way to many kids who bunt the ball back to the coach or parent. The coach or parent feels that this rallying back and forth with gentle strokes means the kids are playing tennis....or maybe they just don't want to run. Many of these kids never develop real pop to their games. It is hard to take a kid who has been doing nice controlled strokes down the middle for years and then tell them to swing as hard as they can and torque their entire bodies into their shots.

Rick Macci never rallys. He stands at the net and feeds balls at various speeds. The kids literally blast away as hard as they can. Rick says he does not care if it hits the net or goes over the back fence. He wants a power stroke, complete rotation of the body, a ball that is on a rope, and the control comes naturally over time with repetition and mastering proper spin.

Personally, I hate the soft rally control method. When you say, "They have enough power", that is totally relative. Sure most kids by 7-8 can easily hit a ball baseline to baseline. They can probably hit the ball over the back fence.

That is not true power. A tennis pro knows true power when they see it. It is not just distance, its that special force and pop that the true talents have. And many coaches say you have to develop that as early as possible, even at the expense of control, especially with the girls.

[PimpMyGame]

My son is now 10 1/2 and up until about a month ago went through the ranks of a 23", 25" and finally a 26" racket. He then picked up a couple of my rackets that I dont use (Wilson T6 95 sqin and Head FXP Radical) and loves using them. No wrist injury so far and I'm happy to say he prefers the heavier FXP to the tweenier T6. (I'll admit to having a secret objective to having him play with a player's frame by age 12 but I'll steer him subconsciously on that one.)

It's all about enjoying the game isn't it?

[MasterBruceTennis]

I understand, but again it depends on which coach you talk to.

I see way to many kids who bunt the ball back to the coach or parent. The coach or parent feels that this rallying back and forth with gentle strokes means the kids are playing tennis....or maybe they just don't want to run. Many of these kids never develop real pop to their games. It is hard to take a kid who has been doing nice controlled strokes down the middle for years and then tell them to swing as hard as they can and torque their entire bodies into their shots.

Rick Macci never rallys. He stands at the net and feeds balls at various speeds. The kids literally blast away as hard as they can. Rick says he does not care if it hits the net or goes over the back fence. He wants a power stroke, complete rotation of the body, a ball that is on a rope, and the control comes naturally over time with repetition and mastering proper spin.

Personally, I hate the soft rally control method. When you say, "They have enough power", that is totally relative. Sure most kids by 7-8 can easily hit a ball baseline to baseline. They can probably hit the ball over the back fence.

That is not true power. A tennis pro knows true power when they see it. It is not just distance, its that special force and pop that the true talents have. And many coaches say you have to develop that as early as possible, even at the expense of control, especially with the girls.

I totally understand your point.
When we see a child like that, we know it.

I believe OP's concern is adult racquet over junior for power advantage.
so, i was trying to tell OP that use the adult racquet is okay. Also, pay attention to other racquet issues, which will result power advantage for his son.
Get him a racquet and play first.
Then it is for his coach and OP to decide which way they want to train the boy's power. IMo.

[TennisCoachFLA]

I totally understand your point.
When we see a child like that, we know it.

I believe OP's concern is adult racquet over junior for power advantage.
so, i was trying to tell OP that use the adult racquet is okay. Also, pay attention to other racquet issues, which will result power advantage for his son.
Get him a racquet and play first.
Then it is for his coach and OP to decide which way they want to train the boy's power. IMo.

I see your point. I hope to see more of your posts in the future.

You present your opinions and experiences very well.

[tennis24fun]

Thanks for the posters' advice here, paying heed to that, my barely 9 year old son started hitting with a full size adult racquet and he loved it.:)
He was hitting with racquet below for most of this year.
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCWILSON-WKTOUR26.html

Now he's on to an old tweener stick of mine, Head Liquidmetal (10.3 oz). He loved it more than other powerful tweeners. He's able to take a good cut at the balls with full swings and is able to deal much better with the weight of the balls coming from me and other kids in his drilling group. I guess his transformation to the adult racquets is complete. He's gone from 23" two years ago to 27" now.

Most of the kids in his group hit with Babolats and he's nagging me to get him a Babolat too. Any ideas on what full size racquets work well with kids 9-10 year old?

[MindFlare]

I wish my raquet was full size when I was 8. Imagine all the girls I could of got...

[spam]

Thanks for the posters' advice here, paying heed to that, my barely 9 year old son started hitting with a full size adult racquet and he loved it.:)
He was hitting with racquet below for most of this year.
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCWILSON-WKTOUR26.html

Now he's on to an old tweener stick of mine, Head Liquidmetal (10.3 oz). He loved it more than other powerful tweeners. He's able to take a good cut at the balls with full swings and is able to deal much better with the weight of the balls coming from me and other kids in his drilling group. I guess his transformation to the adult racquets is complete. He's gone from 23" two years ago to 27" now.

Most of the kids in his group hit with Babolats and he's nagging me to get him a Babolat too. Any ideas on what full size racquets work well with kids 9-10 year old?

Try the Head Migrogel extreme strung mid tension -not too heavy mid plus nice balance- my 10 year old does well with it

[tacoben]

Most of the kids in his group hit with Babolats and he's nagging me to get him a Babolat too. Any ideas on what full size racquets work well with kids 9-10 year old?

My 9 yr old daughter, who will play her first Novice tournament next week, is playing with the Babolat Junior Aero which is 26.5" in lenght. She's been playing with it for the last 3 months. I got her a back up racquet as well, the Roddick Puredrive Junior, also at 26.5". I got both for $79 each locally from a pro shop.

[tacoben]

BTW, here are the links:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCBAB-BAPDCJUN0.html

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCBAB-BPDRJUN.html

[Pro_Tour_630]

OK my turn,

My son who just turned 6 first started playing tennis at age two with a babolat ball fighter 19inch, then the babolat ball fighter 110 21inch:confused:, then to a prince diablo turbo cut to 23. He is now using a 25inch kneissl Jr.

Few weeks ago my friend came to our court with a head heavy 27.5 inch Head TiS5 comfort 1/4 grip, one of the lightest adult size frame I believe. My son wanted to hit with it and I said no, but he insisted. The first ball I fed him was to his backhand (I was at net and he was on the service line). He hit the ball so hard that it hit me in the face. I thought it was a fluke, I fed him the next ball and the kid hits me in the chest with amazing power and form. The adult frame gave him more power and improved his form but only for the first few shots, after that he was late. He was late as well at net and he was hitting the ground with the top of the frame on serve. After that I made him switch back to his 25 inch frame with 0 grip.

Every kid is different in how they develop. There is a talented 7 year old in the group who swings away with a 27inch 11oz frame naturally with a one hand back hand:confused: go figure.

[Bjorn99]

Tennis is a running game anyways. Everyone can hit the ball well these days. It is how you arrive to it, that counts.

But I agree small is better for the small. And big is better for the big. The new tennis balls that are lite and soft are the best innovation EVER in tennis. Make use of them.

They are amazing for adult beginners as well.

[tenniscrazed]

Strings, and racquet technology is as ever evolving as a microsoft document. Given that, it is again individual. A 5'6" 11 year old (bb's son) can handle an adult racquet. Yet Jan Silvas son should be in a junior 25" inch especially with the ever destroying one handed backhand. Hmmmm I smell carpal tunnel (what's that you ask???. :)

[EndLy]

started my bro at age 9.5/10 (don't remember) with a lm radical mid+.. he grew into the racket fairly quickly .. kind of undersize for his age now (about 4'8" 75lbs, 11yo)
he has excellent form.. and hits the ball with pretty good pace for his age(he loves djokovic and models his strokes after him) .. only has problem slicing which is understandable because he's still growing up and his arms aren't that strong yet
well anyway, everyone has their own take on it. me personally would just throw them a standard racket. others might take it slow and let them develop physically before that.

but, see how your son is progressing, and if he's strong enough he can probably handle the racket correctly

[TennisCoachFLA]

Strings, and racquet technology is as ever evolving as a microsoft document. Given that, it is again individual. A 5'6" 11 year old (bb's son) can handle an adult racquet. Yet Jan Silvas son should be in a junior 25" inch especially with the ever destroying one handed backhand. Hmmmm I smell carpal tunnel (what's that you ask???. :)

Theres a name we have not heard in a while. Wonder how our buddy Scott Silva is doing.

[TennisCoachFLA]

Tennis is a running game anyways. Everyone can hit the ball well these days. It is how you arrive to it, that counts.

But I agree small is better for the small. And big is better for the big. The new tennis balls that are lite and soft are the best innovation EVER in tennis. Make use of them.

They are amazing for adult beginners as well.

I don't agree at all that everyone hits the ball well these days....if you are talking the juniors. Many are bunters, with little pop to their shots. Too many grow up with coaches and parents that believe kids should stand in one place and rally with slow, controlled text book strokes.

To many soft hitting kids with robotic looking strokes for my tastes.

[Bjorn99]

I have heard the philosophy of letting the kids hit for the fences, and my two kids that I teach, I originally, for two years had them hitting for the fences. But you know, unless they are going to be the number one player in the world, it is a strange way to have a kid grow into the game.

Not that it is necessarily a bad thing, but it makes having fun and rallying real hard.

But again, if a kid can't move properly, by the time he is older, he can hit as hard as he wants and he won't make it all that far.

But hit for the fences or let em rally, I still say let a small person have small equipment. No way anyone can change that argument for me. And having ten year olds running around the entire court and playing matches, well, it just doesn't make much sense to me. But whatever turns their crank I guess.

[tennis24fun]

I have heard the philosophy of letting the kids hit for the fences, and my two kids that I teach, I originally, for two years had them hitting for the fences. But you know, unless they are going to be the number one player in the world, it is a strange way to have a kid grow into the game.

Not that it is necessarily a bad thing, but it makes having fun and rallying real hard.

But again, if a kid can't move properly, by the time he is older, he can hit as hard as he wants and he won't make it all that far.

But hit for the fences or let em rally, I still say let a small person have small equipment. No way anyone can change that argument for me. And having ten year olds running around the entire court and playing matches, well, it just doesn't make much sense to me. But whatever turns their crank I guess.

so Bjorn99, do you mean to say 10 year olds should not be playing much tournaments?

you make an interesting point - on this issue of tournament play, I see a lot of kids (mainly the parents) with a diamatrically opposite approach. there are some very good 9 and 10 year olds I see who hardly involve themselves into USTA tournaments vs. there are some 7-8 year olds who keep on playing tournaments after other with hardly any wins.

btw. after demoing for a couple of hours my son picked a regular Babolat, that was $200 hit directly at my pocket :neutral:

[BradBaughman]

Strings, and racquet technology is as ever evolving as a microsoft document. Given that, it is again individual. A 5'6" 11 year old (bb's son) can handle an adult racquet. Yet Jan Silvas son should be in a junior 25" inch especially with the ever destroying one handed backhand. Hmmmm I smell carpal tunnel (what's that you ask???. :)

he using a wilson 93 tweeked about and once and a half heavier,, but i would start all kids in a full size and have them choke up a bit,, save the money