Back Into Tennis Recreationally After 15 Year Hiatus--What Racket?

[globe9]

I played tennis at the club level from age 8 to about 16. I was an alright player, nothing special. By my later teenage years, tennis took a backseat to other things and I stopped playing almost entirely. My final 2 rackets were a Wilson Pro Staff 4.5 Si and a Prince Spectrum Comp 110. I favored the Prince, I think b/c of the 110 head. The Wilson was a 95.
Well about a week ago, a good friend called and asked if I wanted to play with her. She has recently taken up tennis. I said sure. I brought the Prince and the Wilson. She was demoing 3 rackets(2 Princes and a Wilson) We started hitting and something just wasn't right. Well both my rackets were last strung in probably 1995 I suspected that was the issue and borrowed one of her demo rackets, the Prince Hornet OS I believe. I couldnt believe how much lighter that racket felt to my old ones. Technology must have come a long way since 1995. I did pretty well with that racket.
Well, I have now caught the tennis bug again and would like to buy a new racket or 2. It's been so long since I've done this though, I would like some advice.
I will probably only be playing recreationally with friends. This will be more for exercise, fun than hardcore competing so I'd like to keep the budget to around $100. A little over is ok, but I don't want to spend $200 on a racket. I still have some power, but control is an issue. I'm 5'8" and a female. I always preferred OS rackets. I've looked around a little and the Head Liquidmetal 8 has caught my eye. What else should I.be considering? My grip is 4 1/8 if that makes a difference. I am familiar with Wilson, Prince, Head, Donnay. I've seen Babalot mentioned on here a lot as well. Back when I played, Babalot was only.known for grips LOL.
Please any advice, tips, help will all be appreciated. Thanks

 

[gtshark1]

The Prince EXO3 Hornet is a nice racquet in your price range. It's the current technology.

Oversize- http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Prince_EXO3_Hornet_Oversize/descpageRCPRINCE-XO3HOS.html

MidPlus- http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Prince_EXO3_Hornet_Midplus_100/descpageRCPRINCE-XO3HMP.html

 

[globe9]

Thanks for the fast reply. Will check out that Prince Hornet. How is the Dunlop Aerogel 400? Any opinions on the Head LM 8? Any others?

 

[Larrysümmers]

get yourself a warrior from prince or a bab puredrive

 

[Turbo-87]

I have hit with the Hornet Mid Plus and it is a decent racquet for under $100. It is very manueverable and it does everything quite well for a racquet at that price point. I played with the Prince O3 Shark 110 and I also liked that one a lot once I had it strung a little tighter. It is a bit more to handle than the Hornet and it has a little bit more power. I played better with the Hornet because its lesser power let me take fuller swings, which I liked. It was also better at controlled volleys for me.

 

[LeeD]

Your percieved difference is only about the weight. They made lightweight rackets 30 years ago, 20 years ago, 10 years ago, currently, and will in the future.
But every pro woman except for maybe Cibulkova plays with a low 11oz racket, not light, not heavy.
Every company makes at least a couple of rackets with that spec. Go with what you like the color of (seriously).
Dunlop makes a 500 which I use, I like the yellow and black. I have 3 of them, strung with 16 gauge at 52 lbs.

 

[globe9]

My perceived difference was indeed the weight. It was very noticeable. That was my perceived difference, I'm sure the rackets of today are better than my $200 Wilson Pro Staff that I think I bought in like 1991 though, or am I wrong? Should I just restring the Prince and Wilson and call it a day? I personally think I'd be better off with a new racket, but maybe I'm wrong.

 

[LeeD]

A new racket makes you want to go out and hit tennis balls, always a good thing. ProStaffs were excellent for good players, but considered too hard to hit for the average player with the extra weight and small sweetspot.
Figure, a tennis racket can only cost under $200. What price for your happiness and health, exercise and outdoor fun?

 

[globe9]

That's pretty much how I feel too. I think I'll bring my 2 old rackets to Goodwill and get a new one or two. The hard part will be trying to settle for just one. I like buying sports equipment lol
I think I need something with a larger head size so will be concentrating on rackets with over 100 heads. I can spend more than $100 if that extra $20 or $30 will get me a much better racket. Will check out the ones already mentioned here. I've been drawn to the Head Youteks on TW b/c I like orange lol and they look like nice rackets. I think they offer several in my range. Would that be worth checking into?

 

[LeeD]

For sure, shopping for rackets is one of the few luxuries in life that we can all afford, sort of.
Look into as many rackets that interest you as you feel interested in, then settle on one, go play tennis. A large head only helps your groundstrokes and volleys, second serves and overheads.
I have 3 Dunlop500's, 3 Dunlop200's, 1 HeadLMRadMids, 3 PrinceTTExtendedOS's, and I don't even consider myself a racketholic.

 

[Ramon]

I returned to tennis from a 14 year hiatus a little over a year ago, and I can't stop playing! It's funny how muscle memory comes back after so many years. I'm playing the same style I did several years ago, and even though I picked up a more modern racquet last year, I gravitated to an older style racquet that's more similar to the ones I used in the past.

I don't know much about oversized racquets, but I can tell you that TW's demo program is very convenient. The local pro shops didn't have all the demo racquets I wanted to test. For $5/racquet at TW, I was able to test out 4 racquets at a time for a week, and they came in a box with a postage-paid return label. I would do it again.

 

[tyu1314]

with your $100 budget, you can buy most good used players racquet or tweeners.
Check this forum at the buy and sale section.
If you hate the racquet , you can just sell it the same price, and pay extra for shipping.

 

[globe9]

I was thinking about getting the Head Youtek Radical lite as it was on sale. Also like the orange color. Unfortunately, they don't have my grip size of 4 1/8 at TW. It's oversized, but not ridiculously so. May try and find it somewhere else online. Still keeping options open and at $90, I may buy something else as well

 

[movdqa]

A coworker told me that she was going to buy a racquet to hit with her daughter and I asked her about her experience level (beginner with some experience but very fit) and I just gave her a Flexpoint Radical Team that I had in the closet. I think that it's in the 10-11 ounce range, Oversize, decent power on the baseline and reasonably forgiving. She enjoys using the racquet and plays regularly now.

BTW, the racquet was in very good shape. I traded a Redondo for it a long time ago for my daughter to use and she doesn't use it anymore so it was gathering dust. If you look in the "post pictures of your racquets" thread, you'll see that a lot of players here have a large collections of racquets - more than they could possibly use. Some of us give these away to friend and some sell them. You can probably pick up something usable for $100 or less. If you have any tennis nuts that you know (at work or in your circle of friends), you might ask them to recommend a racquet for you - sometimes they will just give you something perfectly good that they aren't using anymore.

This works for computers too.

 

[movdqa]

How about the Microgel Radical Oversize? $90 and they do have 4 1/8.

 

[Larrysümmers]

^that is a great choice. tons of power but the racket is very control oriented. i cheat on my prestige mid with this racket from time to time

 

[globe9]

Great, will look into the Microgel. What are the differences between that and the Youtek I mentioned? They are similarly priced. My friend just bought the LM 8 so I'm gonna get to try that one too.

 

[Mig1NC]

I returned to tennis from a 14 year hiatus a little over a year ago, and I can't stop playing! It's funny how muscle memory comes back after so many years. I'm playing the same style I did several years ago, and even though I picked up a more modern racquet last year, I gravitated to an older style racquet that's more similar to the ones I used in the past.

I don't know much about oversized racquets, but I can tell you that TW's demo program is very convenient. The local pro shops didn't have all the demo racquets I wanted to test. For $5/racquet at TW, I was able to test out 4 racquets at a time for a week, and they came in a box with a postage-paid return label. I would do it again.

This ^

Do what your friend was doing. Pick a selection that you think will fit what you are looking for in a racquet and get demos.

For $20 to try 4 racquets for a week, it's a good investment and can save you from spending $100 on a racquet, to learn you don't like it, then buy another for another $100.

 

[ryydman]

Prince O3 Hybrid Hornet Oversize

 

[000KFACTOR90000]

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Prince_O3_Original_Red/descpageRCPRINCE-PO3R.html

 

[Barnes68]

Globe, I like the LM 8 for a beginner or someone who is just getting back into the game. Tons of power.

 

[globe9]

Ok, so far I'm looking at Head LM8, Head microgel, head Youtek radical lite, and Prince 03 Hornet OS. Will try out the LM8 this weekend as friend just bought that. I guess Wilson doesn't have many beginner rackets?

 

[movdqa]

I think that Wilson has a ton of beginner racquets.

Head has a relatively smaller line though and I think that more players know the individual Head frames and how they perform because there isn't a huge amount of variety. The Radical is a generally good recommendation for a wide variety of players and the OS or Team models great for beginners.

 

[globe9]

Played with the LM8 tonight after work. I like the look of the racket. It felt good in myi hand. It seemed more like a control type racket than a power racket, which is kinda the opposite of what I thought the LM8 was. The racket came strung. My friend did not have it strung. It was strung during the manufacturing process I guess. I wonder if this effected the power? Just seemed kind of flat coming off the strings. Could this be a valid point? Overall though, I did like the racket.

 

[movdqa]

I had a look around for specs on your Prince - it appears that it's more of a players racquet at near 13 ounces. The LM is a lot lighter and you need to swing the racquet faster to generate pace or add lead tape to get more plowthrough. It looks like you're used to playing with heavier frames and you get power from moving the additional mass. Many newer racquets are lighter and you swing them faster to get pace/power.