Is it time to focus on technology?

[hhollines]

I've been very conservative with my daughter in terms of her racquet and strings. She is 12 yrs. old (sectional/nat'l level) and she has never been injured and my thought has been to keep her with a light racquet and soft strings. She uses the Babolat Pure Drive lite (10.3 oz. strung weight) and Wilson NXT Control 16 strings (60 lbs.).

She is a skinny, light, athletic player, who hits with a lot of topspin for a girl (not a traditional flat girl hitter and she handles pace pretty well). However, not that she is getting stronger, is it time to look at a heavier racquet for more plow through and a hybrid type string pattern to take advantage of her topspin? Or, is it still too early to focus on the technology side of tennis?

Any thoughts, suggestions . . . weights on her existing racquet? move up to the Babolat Pure Drive? I hear about the new Wilson Stream 99 which could be perfect for a spin hitter like her . . . any thoughts would be appreciated.

[OHBH]

A racket with more plow would be a fine idea but definitely do not use poly strings. Poly is just asking for a injury. You really don't need poly until you are 5.0 adult player. Most of the amateurs on these boards are fooling themselves trying to use poly like pros do. Poly helps keep the ball in play but most folks simply overswing a poly corrects that mistake. Using a correct fluid swing and controlling the ball with technique would improve just about anyone's game without the arm damage.

[hhollines]

Originally Posted by OHBH

A racket with more plow would be a fine idea but definitely do not use poly strings. Poly is just asking for a injury. You really don't need poly until you are 5.0 adult player. Most of the amateurs on these boards are fooling themselves trying to use poly like pros do. Poly helps keep the ball in play but most folks simply overswing a poly corrects that mistake. Using a correct fluid swing and controlling the ball with technique would improve just about anyone's game without the arm damage.

Thanks OHBH. To save money and get more plow through, would adding weight to her existing racquets (conservatively) make a difference? I'm leery of the ploy strings so thanks and my #1 goal is to avoid injury and she is injury free. I'm just trying to begin to use technology slightly to her advantage.

Any thoughts on a better string or string pattern than the Wilson NXT Control 16?

[OHBH]

A few grams of added weight in the hoop and handle is a much cheaper and easier alternative to buying a new racket, especially if she already likes the feel of her current racket. If it isn't broke, don't fix it. Right? Regarding strings, definitely stay away from poly. But if you want increased spin there are plenty of syn guts and multis with more spin than NXT control. Wilson Hollow Core, Wilson Sensation, Technifibre NRG2, Gamma Asterisk Spin 16 is really good, and all are arm friendly. Go with the thinner gauges and they will play even better as well.

[hhollines]

Originally Posted by OHBH

A few grams of added weight in the hoop and handle is a much cheaper and easier alternative to buying a new racket, especially if she already likes the feel of her current racket. If it isn't broke, don't fix it. Right? Regarding strings, definitely stay away from poly. But if you want increased spin there are plenty of syn guts and multis with more spin than NXT control. Wilson Hollow Core, Wilson Sensation, Technifibre NRG2, Gamma Asterisk Spin 16 is really good, and all are arm friendly. Go with the thinner gauges and they will play even better as well.

Thanks so much. That's what I'm going to do (i.e., add a few oz. to her existing racquet). She likes her current racquet. I'll also try the sny guts or multis. Thanks for the warning regarding poly strigs . . . that stuff scares me especially for juniors.