TW Women Beginner - Demo Racquet Suggestions?

M

Miles267

New User
Am trying to get my wife into tennis. She's currently using an older Head Flexpoint Airflow 7 racquet (228g) with a 16/19 string pattern and beam is 28/31/28 mm, 4 1/4 grip. head size 115 in2.

She doesn't OK w/ this racquet (no choice), but complains that it feels too heavy and unstable in her hand (twists). Also, it's a fairly wide racquet and seems very unforgiving. Seems any mis-hit near frame just dies or goes wild.

Was seeking any advice on (4) current racquets I might demo for her from TW as a starting point to ultimately select a better fit for her. I'd consider her a 2.0 with potential to become a 2.5 quickly.

Thanks in advance.
 
J

jaap deboeck

Rookie
Try a wider beam and 100"+ head. Be sure not to get handle that is too big. Most women use a 4 1/4. You can alwyas add an overgrip.

The Yonex 100S,now at sale price is fine. The Dunlop 400 Tour is maneuverable as well. Please, ignore what most testers and posters here suggest; they often rave about small heavy sticks that even touring pros do NOT use! Thus the test/review section here is often laughable for the 80% of players tha are not really advanced. Use any multifilament 17 gauge string at 50 pounds. These are all nearly the same despite the playtesters' and many poster commentary. Isospeed Control 16 or Professional 17 is a very soft string that won't hurt your arm.
 
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Lukhas

Lukhas

Legend
^I agree with most of the post: multifilament/gut, big and easy to move racquet under 300g STRUNG. However, I'd rather say 16 gauge and 55lbs tension, pre-stretch depending on the string (if it's a pure multi). Big racquets are pretty powerful and eat strings, so 50 in a "thinner" gauge, especially in multi, may prove to be too powerful. Not over that 55lbs limit though.
 
J

jaap deboeck

Rookie
Prestretching makes twine stiffer. Pros do it with gut often, but recreational players are NOT advised to do so.

There is SO much misinformation, well-meaning, here that it is hard to begin to rectify it all. Example: strings do NOT go dead etc. Most recreational players string FAR too tight. A 12 pound difference in tension adds less than 1% in power but is far softer on the arm. Additionally, for most players a thinner gauge twine is preferable unless they are big breakers. 85% or so of recreational players are NOT!
 
The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight

Legend
Miles267 said:
Am trying to get my wife into tennis. She's currently using an older Head Flexpoint Airflow 7 racquet (228g) with a 16/19 string pattern and beam is 28/31/28 mm, 4 1/4 grip. head size 115 in2.

She doesn't OK w/ this racquet (no choice), but complains that it feels too heavy and unstable in her hand (twists). Also, it's a fairly wide racquet and seems very unforgiving. Seems any mis-hit near frame just dies or goes wild.

Was seeking any advice on (4) current racquets I might demo for her from TW as a starting point to ultimately select a better fit for her. I'd consider her a 2.0 with potential to become a 2.5 quickly.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

In my opinion the greatest beginners tennis racquet ever made is the Head TI S6.

It's super light , super long , super big and super powerful.

It's actually the most popular racquet ever made and you can pick it up new for $50.00.

Trust me the second you hold it in your hand you will see what all the fuss is about
 
K

keithfival

Professional
Any version of the Blade Team -- KBlade Team, BLX Blade Team, Blade 104. My wife loves it. I would recommend it to any beginner, big sweet spot, soft, easy to swing, great control and feel. Ultimate beginner frame.
 
Lukhas

Lukhas

Legend
jaap deboeck said:
Prestretching makes twine stiffer. Pros do it with gut often, but recreational players are NOT advised to do so.

There is SO much misinformation, well-meaning, here that it is hard to begin to rectify it all. Example: strings do NOT go dead etc. Most recreational players string FAR too tight. A 12 pound difference in tension adds less than 1% in power but is far softer on the arm. Additionally, for most players a thinner gauge twine is preferable unless they are big breakers. 85% or so of recreational players are NOT!
Click to expand...
Thanks, I play with multi. And yes I believe that pre-strung multi (besides s-gut and the ones with a core) maintains tension better and is preferable if you don't break strings enough to change it often. Moreover, higher gauge boosts control at the cost of power. Usually beginner racquets are powerful with big headsizes and open string pattern. Hence the combination of higher gauge+pre-stretch and few more pounds to mitigate multi's and the frame's usually higher power. I hope I know what I'm saying, you're free to disagree, but saying "yeah that's wrong" leads nowhere.
 
M

Miles267

New User
Went ahead with 4 demos from TW from those recommended for my wife to try out. They arrive this week in time for her Tues lesson. Will post feedback this week. Appreciate the suggestions.
 
esgee48

esgee48

G.O.A.T.
If you can get them, Prince Hybrid Hornet MP or OS. She can grow with the MP into 4.5. Also 2nd the recommendation on the Ti.S6, but it's harder to use at higher levels because of inherent power.
 
DustinW

DustinW

Professional
The Babolat Pure Drive Lite is a great option. It is super easy to use and will grow with her as she progresses.
 
S

spinovic

Hall of Fame
FWIW, my wife really likes the Donnay X-Dual Silver 99. I'd say she's similar to what you describe - a beginner who could probably improve pretty fast if she could get on the court more.
 
S

stapletonj

Hall of Fame
these are all great racquets.
however, it is human nature to want to look like the pros.
a lot of women pros are playing yonex, I suggest she try out one of their more flexy sticks in an oversize.
The psych. advantage alone may help her attitude, etc., whihc, at the 2.0=2.5 level is woth a million bucks.
 
L

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Dunlop 5Fifty Lite, sold here on TW in the Dunlop sale section. Get her a bigger grip, as those tiny grips just promote more twisting in the hand.
 
A

azrael201

Rookie
also still on the hunt for a racquet for my beginner gf. she surprisingly liked the blade 98 more than 104.

she liked the LM radical too which i see TW has for cheap. gonna have her try some more demos. she really wanted to use the Tec Trebounds which no one has demos of
 
M

Miles267

New User
My wife has been hitting w a pro who uses the Wilson BLX Steam. Liked it. Seems geared toward more advanced players. Wasn't even on my demo list.
 
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