Help me decide top end Racquet!!!!!!!

D

davidw89

New User
This morning i tried out my mate's Babolat Pure Drive Plus Cortex Racquets and i absolutely loved it. So i've decided to buy a high end racquet now.
Here are the criteria:
It must be midsize because i have been using oversize and i dislike it.
It must have the largest grip size (5/8)
Preferably newer racquets released this year

here are the questions that i need answered:(it's been driving me nut).

When i go checkout, i need to "configure" my tennis racquet.
First off, the Custom Hybrid Stringing. I assumed that expensive racquet comes pre-stringed and ready to use but if that isn't the case, which one would you recommend for me(i want best:p) and do they string it for you?(so that when i receive my racquet i can use it straight away)
Secondly, how am i suppose to know how much tension i want? What should i put in here?
Also i need a Tennis Overgrips (maybe 2). Do all the brand work on all racuet or do you have to get specific ones? What's the highly recommend one when it comes to comfort?(yes i need a recommendation)
And lastly, which racquet would you recommend for me?(willing to spend over $200)

A little about myself, i am a beginner but i am going to start heavy training. Iam 1.85ish so prefer a longer racquet but that doesn't matter. I pla nto play in tournament once i hit that level. I need something that will last me.
 
VGP

VGP

Legend
Whoa.... take a deep breath and demo some frames. TW has a good demo program.

TW also has a link on selecting a racket. Those are merely guidelines to follow, but a good place to start.

Also, try out as many of your friends frames as possible. If they've got a particular setup (string choice/tension, overgrips, weighting) ask them why they chose that and what they get out of it.

In the end, you need to decide what you're looking for in a racket. Do as much research as you can.
 
furyoku_tennis

furyoku_tennis

Hall of Fame
IMO you should demo around and find a setup that you like...what might be right for one of us might not be right for you. besides, its not about how much you spend on the racquet, its more of what fits your play style.
 
drakulie

drakulie

Talk Tennis Guru
david, forget about head sizze. You already said you loved the Pure Drive Plus. So why not get one of those??

Anyway, I would recommend you demo a few frames before making this decision.

good luck!!
 
A

akoni

Rookie
saying something is a girl's racket is all subjective. a lot of women play pure drives, but you don't hear anyone calling it a girls racket. plus the headsize is 100sq in just like the PD. seriously, you sound like a beginner who is just getting into tennis. i would demo some rackets and get one that is the heaviest you can handle, midplus, and syn gut. take that and go practice your strokes. nothing more foolish than a beginner playing a $200 stick strung with poly and losing to another beginner with his/her $70 pre strung racket.
 
netman

netman

Hall of Fame
davidw89 said:
i've been told that's a girl's racket and the headsize is pretty big
Click to expand...

I guess that makes the Pure Drive a girl's racquet as well. :)

Since it sounds like you are just starting out, it will be sometime before the racquet has any significant impact on your game. You can get great deals on older model TOTL racquets at closeout here at TW. Pick one and start there. Spend the money you save on lessons. Its a much better investment than the latest high dollar racquet.

-k-
 
Salsa_Lover

Salsa_Lover

Rookie
I think for you a K95 would fit your needs.

I would recommend a K90 but as you are a beginner, maybe you could start with a K95 Team that is light enough for a beginner, and then once your technique improve you can add weight to the racket with lead tape.

I did started and learned on a 90 inch heavy racket and I am truly happy with my choice anyway.

There is also a K 95 X version that is longer and could fit your needs too.
 
tzinc

tzinc

Semi-Pro
DEMO racquets. Try your friend's again. If you like it maybe get that one. Find out his string and tension. Do some research (lots of info on this site and on the net) on string types and tensions.
 
iradical18

iradical18

Professional
Chill out and take the time to demo a few frames. It's really not going to matter that much at your level anyway but you still want to find the one that feels right for you. I take it from your post that you're one of those guys that needs to buy top of the line everything for some reason, even if its unnecessary. Keep in mind that there are plenty of racquets at TW that are lower priced and would fit you quite well, you can use the extra cash to pick up some other tennis essentials like a ball hopper for practicing your serves, over grips, balls, shoes, or some new threads.
 
D

Dyne

New User
If you're someone who just started out I suggest you spend money lessons rather than a top-end racquet. I've been playing for a little over a year and I still haven't gotten a top-end racquet yet. And what's there not to like about Oversize if you're a beginner? Larger sweetspot, headsize, power, etc.

I started off using a $30 racquet that was on clearance -- Prince Powerline Classic Ti. -- and I have to say it's one of the BEST racquets I've ever played with. Sadly I broke the strings on it the other day.

But really, spend money on some lessons and / or demo racquets. A racquet doesn't, and won't ever, make anyone better than what lessons can do. After you get better you're just going to want a different racquet that fits your style better anyways.
 
D

davidw89

New User
drakulie said:
david, forget about head sizze. You already said you loved the Pure Drive Plus. So why not get one of those??

Anyway, I would recommend you demo a few frames before making this decision.

good luck!!
Click to expand...

good point because i don't know whether it suits me
demoing would be nice but that's like $100 here
 
D

DJG

Semi-Pro
It is a nightmare if you cannot demo. For beginners, I would probably also lean towards a Babolat racquet as a high-end purchase. Plenty of pop, decent feel and it has the all-important coolness-factor as well :)
 
D

davidw89

New User
Yeah but everyone has that :( (in my tennis club)
What about Prestige Mid or Prince O3 Speedport Racquets or Wilson K Facto
leaning toward prestige mid size plus (or pro)
String= Babolat VS Team (natural gut)
 
anirut

anirut

Legend
davidw89 said:
Yeah but everyone has that :( (in my tennis club)
What about Prestige Mid or Prince O3 Speedport Racquets or Wilson K Facto
leaning toward prestige mid size plus (or pro)
String= Babolat VS Team (natural gut)
Click to expand...

Why not order a PK Redondo or the Avery M3 COntrol from TW, as you want a high-end stick that's unique.

I'd doubt anyone at your club will have any of the above rackets. You will be the only UNIQUE guy as you wish. I'm serious.

OK, there's nothing wrong with a beginner wanting to play high-end "player" sticks. You only have to work much, much, much harder at your game, that's all. If you can cope with being a total loser among your peers for about a year (or more), there're (probably) rewards after that.

Enjoy.
 
L

loathsome

New User
Try this for yourself before u decide, using your friend's babolat, during a rally, how often can u find the sweet spot ? considering that you are a beginner, i would guess not often. So you might as well purchase a cheaper racket and work on your technique first.

Owning the latest most expensive rackets do not make you a better player, once in awhile i will hit the courts with my old donnay racket and am still able to beat people with their so called good rackets.

Dun take me wrongly, but i dun think you will fully appreciate the feel and power from using natural gut. You will be better off getting a racket from the close out section on TW, such as Wilson's N6-2 rackets or Head's Liquidmetal 4 for a longer reach and get them strung with a reasonably good string like Prince's Syn Gut or Multi Syn Gut strung at mid recommended racket tension and work from there
 
Anton

Anton

Legend
How tall are you?
How old are you?
How much do you weight?
How athletic are you?
Do u ever get elbow/shoulder/wrist pain from tennis?

Out of the pros, who would you want to play like?
 
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