Help me please

ten10

Rookie
I am a female, 44 yoa, 5'2" (plus) 103 pounds. Just got bumped to 4.5. Didn't start playing tennis until 2004, inherited an abandonded Liquidmetal 2 not knowing anything. Singles player only. Lefty, 2hbh

I'm probably going to get my *** kicked at 4.5 but want to make it respectable. So I've decided I need a new racquet. Almost anything I hit with is better than what I have. So far I've tried.

K Surge
K zen team
Can't get enough depth with these racquets

Head MG Extreme
Seemed doable one day, then started off with a Head radical (orange) the next day. Love my forehands for a half-hour straight, backhands, couldn't hit solid. Switched to the Extreme again, then my forehands wich were strong, deep, easy to place with the Radical were flying with the Extreme.
Yesterday hit with the Radical again and backhands were solid, great, no problem.

I've also hit with a blue Babolat Pure Drive. Within an hour of hitting I was able to make the racquet work for me.

I know very little about tennis, raquets, tension, etc. I read and reread all the info--I must say I can't keep it all straight. I think men are better researchers in this area.

Question: Where to go from here. I feel like anything I pick from what I've tried will be an improvement, and I can make it work for me. Except the Wilson K's don't seem to cut it for me. Can't get any pop w/my serves--of course I have to through all 103 pounds of body weight into my serves playing at 4.5.

I'm a scrappy player, get to EVERYTHING, never give up on a ball. I did find when the pro had me in very defensive scenarios, I could hit a solid crazy shot with the Extreme much easier than I could with the Radical.

Any help is appreciated--heck I don't even know if I have the name of the racquets right, but I think so.

Also, how does the demoing program with TW work. Should I try that. I can't demo the Heads and Babolat's side by side here because they are at different tennis centers.:-?
 

ten10

Rookie
You started playing at 41 and are now a 4.5 player....sure.:roll:

Yes, and before last week you could count the number of private lessons I had on one hand. I taught myself on a backboard 3 years after giving birth to twins. So, roll your eyes all you want.

And, yeah, thanks for your help.8)
 

ten10

Rookie
how about this one.http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCWILSON-KFOURM.html
it seems to be the ideal women players racket

:)I'm so excited, thanks. It is definately worth trying. I like that it is a little longer--although shorter than the 27.5 Liquidmetal 2. Has the string pattern and stiffness I seem to prefer. While my bh is stronger than my fh I did notice it was taking me more time to adjust to the raquets I was demoing (length probably). Like I said, every raquet was better than my current one (and I do mean 1). I don't have unlimited funds to demo raquets and pay a pro to hit with me for an hour 2 times a week to see which is the best fit. I have great placement ability left to right, but with some of the truly "player" raquets, I don't seem to be able to keep the ball deep enough for singles rallies at 4.5 and can't get the pop I need.

Sorry for babbling. I know a better raquet will help me, but when the club pro has a deal with Head, you're kind of at their mercy...

I'd love to hear from other women players at or near my level. What they like and why.
 

tzinc

Semi-Pro
Demo Demo Demo

You can use the TW demo program or you can go to different stores and demo racquets.

The point is some will work for you better then others - as you have already discovered - there is no such thing as a perfect woman's racquet.

It's worth the effort.
 

ten10

Rookie
Demo Demo Demo

You can use the TW demo program or you can go to different stores and demo racquets.

It's worth the effort.

Do sports stores allow you to demo racquets or are you mostly talking about tennis clubs and centers.

So far with the racquets I've demoed I hit for at least 30 miutes, sometimes longer, before hitting with another one. Usually trying out 2, 3 max on a given day. I'm trying to see what I can make the racquet do, adjusting my timing etc. to get used to new weight, swing speed, etc. Is this reasonable, or should I hit 5 or 10 minutes with one, and then switch to another, and then another, and then back to the first.

Any advice is appreciated.
 

meowmix

Hall of Fame
TW's demo service is pretty good. You get up to 4 rackets shipped to your front door for 12 bucks (that includes shipping back to them). Essentially, you're paying for shipping.


It seems like you're going to be going with Head rackets (the newer ones) or you could get something off TW's liquidation for about the same price. If you feel like getting just onto the market racket, go for it. Or, you could get something that's been on the market for a year or two, and costs about 100 bucks less (like something in TW's liquidation section). I'd try the following rackets:
Head Microgel Radical TEAM (the team's lighter than the one you tried and should be more powerful)

Head Microgel Instinct (slightly more powerful than the radical)

Prince 03 Hybrid Shark (a lot more powerful than the racket above and can be found for less than 60 bucks)

Dunlop M-fil 400 (comprable to the Babolat Pure Drive you tried, just 100 bucks cheaper- caution the Babolat PD and the 400 are VERY stiff. A lot of people report tennis elbow from these)
 

meowmix

Hall of Fame
ten10;1928090 I don't have unlimited funds to demo raquets and pay a pro to hit with me for an hour 2 times a week to see which is the best fit. .[/QUOTE said:
You don't need to pay a pro to hit with you. Get a halfway decent friend and hit with them. You'll get exactly the same result as hitting with a pro- finding out which racket works best for you.
 

ten10

Rookie
You don't need to pay a pro to hit with you. Get a halfway decent friend and hit with them. You'll get exactly the same result as hitting with a pro- finding out which racket works best for you.
You wouldn't believe how hard it is to find people to hit with. I work all week, off at 1:00 p.m., and my 6 year old twins are each in a couple different activities (b/g). There are not a lot of women my age playing 4.5 singles who have a job too. I hit with one person usually once a week if we're lucky. So, unfortunately, to get the kind of volume and fast-paced hitting I'm likely to come by at 4.5, I have resorted to booking 45 or 1/2 hitting session with a pro twice a week until I get this worked out.

Maybe I'm just going about this all wrong. Just look at my OP. I'm proud of where I've been able to get to with limited resources, time, knoweldge etc. I'm hoping I can hang with the 4.5 women. Hoping to find a racquet which will be more of a help than a hinderance. As I've said, everything is better than what I've got. I just hate the idea of taking a $200 gamble. But I don't think I've got the time it would take to do all the demoing and research. UGH!
 
I am a female, 44 yoa, 5'2" (plus) 103 pounds. Just got bumped to 4.5. Didn't start playing tennis until 2004, inherited an abandonded Liquidmetal 2 not knowing anything. Singles player only. Lefty, 2hbh

I'm probably going to get my *** kicked at 4.5 but want to make it respectable. So I've decided I need a new racquet. Almost anything I hit with is better than what I have. So far I've tried.

K Surge
K zen team
Can't get enough depth with these racquets

Head MG Extreme
Seemed doable one day, then started off with a Head radical (orange) the next day. Love my forehands for a half-hour straight, backhands, couldn't hit solid. Switched to the Extreme again, then my forehands wich were strong, deep, easy to place with the Radical were flying with the Extreme.
Yesterday hit with the Radical again and backhands were solid, great, no problem.

I've also hit with a blue Babolat Pure Drive. Within an hour of hitting I was able to make the racquet work for me.

I know very little about tennis, raquets, tension, etc. I read and reread all the info--I must say I can't keep it all straight. I think men are better researchers in this area.

Question: Where to go from here. I feel like anything I pick from what I've tried will be an improvement, and I can make it work for me. Except the Wilson K's don't seem to cut it for me. Can't get any pop w/my serves--of course I have to through all 103 pounds of body weight into my serves playing at 4.5.

I'm a scrappy player, get to EVERYTHING, never give up on a ball. I did find when the pro had me in very defensive scenarios, I could hit a solid crazy shot with the Extreme much easier than I could with the Radical.

Any help is appreciated--heck I don't even know if I have the name of the racquets right, but I think so.

Also, how does the demoing program with TW work. Should I try that. I can't demo the Heads and Babolat's side by side here because they are at different tennis centers.:-?

You sound similar in size (she is 5'1", 101), NTRP and style (except being a lefty) to my girlfriend and she uses the Babolat Drive Z Lite. She has it strung at 60 lbs. using a Babolat VS 17/Hurricane Tour hybrid. She has a solid baseline game, gets great depth on her shots, has a very good serve (mid 80's) and can play at the net although she doesn't like it. The Drive Z Lite is light enough for her physical size but still has good pop. Below is the link to it on TW. Demoing racquets is a mixed bag because the strings are usually in pretty bad shape from my experience so you do not get at true feel for the racquet. Good Luck!:mrgreen:

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

onkystomper

Hall of Fame
I would reccomend the Babolat Pure Drive Cortex strung with a multi. It will give you lots of help with depth and is a very solid racket that will give your serve pop. People talk about a lack of control but if you hit a solid stroke it is easily controllable. If you are the type of scrambling player you say you are it is very forgiving and pretty much hitting the ball on the stringbed will let you hack it back one way or another & then when you have control of the point you can easily put the ball away.
 

Loco4Tennis

Hall of Fame
i agree with the poeple that mention the babolat, its a very nicely balanced racquet and seems to fit most people right off the bat
its a good racquet and its showing this by the amount of people who use it
also consider the fact that you did already try one and you seemed to like it
 

HyperHorse

Banned
Or you could just get 2 Prince Turbo Sharks...
They're cheap...
String em up with a powerful multi and you'll be good to go in 4.5 league
 

ten10

Rookie
You sound similar in size (she is 5'1", 101), NTRP and style (except being a lefty) to my girlfriend and she uses the Babolat Drive Z Lite. She has it strung at 60 lbs. using a Babolat VS 17/Hurricane Tour hybrid. She has a solid baseline game, gets great depth on her shots, has a very good serve (mid 80's) and can play at the net although she doesn't like it. The Drive Z Lite is light enough for her physical size but still has good pop. Below is the link to it on TW. Demoing racquets is a mixed bag because the strings are usually in pretty bad shape from my experience so you do not get at true feel for the racquet. Good Luck!:mrgreen:

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpageRCBAB-BDZL.html
Thanks, and you answered a question I had about the strings. Although the Head MG Radical was strung the day before I demoed it. And the Babolat Pure Drive looked really "fresh".

I feel like I have some good feedback now, from you, stomper, loco4tennis and horseman. I'll head back to the tennis center with the babolat's this week. The pure drive I played with just took a little while to "tame". Depth certainly wasn't a problem with it. There was no dampner on it. I didn't notice that, but the person I was hitting with did--we switched racquets for a few minutes. I'm kind of curious about the Prince 03 White, but reading comments is VERY confusing. Not suprising, people are all over the map. Someone suggested the Wilson K Four, but, I'm a little afraid of the open string pattern. I don't hit with a tremendous amount of topspin, I tend to muscle through my shots a bit flat, I think (how I grip the racquet).
 

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
Do what you can to avoid "the $200 gamble" since it will obviously cost you some unnecessary dough and you'll need some time to backtrack when a frame that you buy-to-try doesn't work out. I've used the demo program at TW in the past, too and I love it. Nothing else compares with a good demo session or two when you're looking for a good fit from a racquet and the TW frames come to you for a whole week. Since you're only paying the shipping, I think it's a bargain.
 

braypro

New User
I am a proponent of playing with an advanced frame is best for most people because it helps them get better in the long run. ie encourages better mechanics. This said even though you want results right now, if you want to play for the next 30 years, i would highly reccomend a racket such as the k95 or prestige 95. They are listed for more advanced players but like i said, i think these are the types of rackets that are best even if your still learning. For example, pete sampras was quoted as wanted to teach his children with a wooden racket to encourage development of good technique. Wood rackets are typically very heavy and small headsized compared to today's typical rackets. I have also seen very young kids learning the game who weigh maybe 85 pounds and use a racket that would seem too advanced for them. However, my observation is this is clearly not the case because I can look and see how they have adjusted to the racket and they play with it fine and it is helping them with their form and timing. Basically i would say decide how much immediate results mean to you and if you want to sacrifice slightly for a couple years, buy a racket rated around a 5.5 player.

Last comment-no offense intended :)-becoming a 4.5 on your own and in how many years? ummmm...okay......were you a very good athlete in high school or college.....let me just say good job......and also that that is very rare:-|
 

ten10

Rookie
I am a proponent of playing with an advanced frame is best for most people because it helps them get better in the long run. ie encourages better mechanics. This said even though you want results right now, if you want to play for the next 30 years, i would highly reccomend a racket such as the k95 or prestige 95. They are listed for more advanced players but like i said, i think these are the types of rackets that are best even if your still learning. For example, pete sampras was quoted as wanted to teach his children with a wooden racket to encourage development of good technique. Wood rackets are typically very heavy and small headsized compared to today's typical rackets. I have also seen very young kids learning the game who weigh maybe 85 pounds and use a racket that would seem too advanced for them. However, my observation is this is clearly not the case because I can look and see how they have adjusted to the racket and they play with it fine and it is helping them with their form and timing. Basically i would say decide how much immediate results mean to you and if you want to sacrifice slightly for a couple years, buy a racket rated around a 5.5 player.

Last comment-no offense intended :)-becoming a 4.5 on your own and in how many years? ummmm...okay......were you a very good athlete in high school or college.....let me just say good job......and also that that is very rare:-|
I think I understand what you are saying, but........there's got to be a law of diminishing returns when you take my age, size, frequency of play (2 times a week if lucky--more in the summer), and seriously limited funds into account. I don't think I'll ever have "good technique" or "good mechanics".

There is no way I should be a 4.5, but I am. I have drilled alot. I LOVE cardio tennis. But I use the same grip for every shot. I don't have a second serve, or a dropshot. Until last week I didn't know where I was supposed to be making contact with the ball (or at least I learned what I had been doing was all wrong). I'd say it was dumb luck, but I played 27 singles matches this year, lost 2. Most easily. 6 matches against benchmark players of varying ability and won all those.

So, accepting my own limitations and committment to the game, I gotta go with an immediate improvement over my current racquet--not one that will help me be a better player when I'm 74. I am able to use "players" racquets, but I doubt I could play an hour and a half match with one--well, I could, but I'd be so gassed after the first 45 minutes that my opponent would just be able to have their way with me after that.

Finally, swam growing up and 2 years of highschool. No college athletics. Have always kept fit jogging, aerobics, rollerblading, until my twins. Then I didn't want to do anything that seemed like exercise. Tennis is a fun game. It's how I get my Ya-Ya's out! Not in it for the clothes though. Have been made fun of since I started for the 1 racquet, no tennis bag--I have none of the trappings of a "tennis star", which is just fine, cause I'm not one!

If I do get a new racquet, I think I will get a tennis bag, or at least a cover--maybe it will come with one!!
 

braypro

New User
you seem to have a good head on your shoulders and the ability to pick the game op quickly. If you don't think an advanced frame is the right choice, well, I would just recommend you purchase an affordable stick probably a couple years old that is a little beyond what your level is now. Also, the comment about you being tired playing a match with an advanced frame. I don't know if you would or not. I think after the first match or two, you wouldn't even feel the effects of the racket anymore and it would all be about your stroke and strategy improvement. Lastly, if you were able to improve this quickly, then maybe in two more years you could be one of the best women in your region and I would think at that point you would be happy to have developed decent mechanics. Two times a week to play is good enough to slowly improve your game (to add another afterthought.) Good luck and it sounds like you know more about the game than you give yourself credit. Keep us informed
 

Pusher

Professional
I think I understand what you are saying, but........there's got to be a law of diminishing returns when you take my age, size, frequency of play (2 times a week if lucky--more in the summer), and seriously limited funds into account. I don't think I'll ever have "good technique" or "good mechanics".

There is no way I should be a 4.5, but I am. I have drilled alot. I LOVE cardio tennis. But I use the same grip for every shot. I don't have a second serve, or a dropshot. Until last week I didn't know where I was supposed to be making contact with the ball (or at least I learned what I had been doing was all wrong). I'd say it was dumb luck, but I played 27 singles matches this year, lost 2. Most easily. 6 matches against benchmark players of varying ability and won all those.

So, accepting my own limitations and committment to the game, I gotta go with an immediate improvement over my current racquet--not one that will help me be a better player when I'm 74. I am able to use "players" racquets, but I doubt I could play an hour and a half match with one--well, I could, but I'd be so gassed after the first 45 minutes that my opponent would just be able to have their way with me after that.

Finally, swam growing up and 2 years of highschool. No college athletics. Have always kept fit jogging, aerobics, rollerblading, until my twins. Then I didn't want to do anything that seemed like exercise. Tennis is a fun game. It's how I get my Ya-Ya's out! Not in it for the clothes though. Have been made fun of since I started for the 1 racquet, no tennis bag--I have none of the trappings of a "tennis star", which is just fine, cause I'm not one!

If I do get a new racquet, I think I will get a tennis bag, or at least a cover--maybe it will come with one!!


Congrats on the 4.5.

My wife moved to 4.0 when the new ratings came out-she's 46. Must be a computer glitch. :)

She's using a hand-me-down frame from our son- an N6.1. That frame with string and overgrip weighs in at 12.5 oz. Thats the earlier model of the current Wilson K95. She seems to have no problem playing with the extra ounce or so over some of the lighter frames.

But in reality, the frame you hit should have little effect on shot depth or even serve-its all in the player. The KSurge you mentioned is a rocket launcher so if you weren't getting depth then you need to look elsewhere for the problem. At 4.5 you should be able to handle almost any frame and make any adjustment necessary-thats what 4.5's do.

No one can tell you what is best for you-even the racquet geeks on this forum won't really have a clue. My wife chose her racquet like she does most everything else-the color and price.
 

shell

Professional
ten10, I'll give you my thoughts for what they are worth. I am similar in size and rating to you but have been playing much longer. It sounds like you are still tweaking your technique, while also looking for a perfect racquet.
I have never hit with the PUre Drive, but have heard about it's control issues. Seems like it is a powerful racquet. You might be wary of it. Don't go for the quick fix, expecially since you seem able to afford consistent lessons.
Might I suggest a few sticks - maybe something in the light players range. Fischer M Speed Pro #1, or maybe a Volkl V1 Classis which you could lead up if needed. Or many others in that flex range and weight range (light but customizable).
They will give you good pop if hit solid, force you into good technique and should be able to grow a bit with you.
At 4.5 you will need to be aggressive but consistent, volley with touch and depth and serve with good placement and spin. Of course, you can do these will all racquets, but finding you fit is worth some demo time.

Good luck in your search.
 
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