Looking for beginners racquets, advice needed please

[robbo1970]

Hi,

I'm looking at some beginner racquets, around the 300g weight and something that will be pretty durable but doesnt need to be high spec.

I've seen the following and just wondered if you had any views on which might be the best value....just based on any knowledge or experiences you have with the brands.

The list is thus:

http://www.**********.com/shop/tenn...wilson-six-one-comp-tennis-racket-735265.html

http://www.**********.com/shop/tenn...r60/head-nano-ti-tour-2010-tennis-736696.html

http://www.**********.com/shop/tenn.../head-nano-ti-elite-tennis-racket-982347.html

http://www.sportsdirect.com/wilson-k-power-hybrid-tennis-racket-742230?src=google


All budget racquets I know, but my wife wants something that is decent enough for her beginner level, but will do ok as she improves. My initial thought was towards the Head Nano Ti Tour, but the other two have just caught my eye as well.

I appreciate these are not the sorts of racquets you would normally see on here, but your help with other threads has been really good and I would always appreciate your thoughts over the store owners

Many thanks

 

[RyKnocks]

None of your links work, but if you're looking for a great beginner racquet on a budget, look no further than the Head LiquidMetal Radical Mid Plus. You can get the Over Size version if you want more power and a bigger sweet spot.

Yonex also has some good and cheap offerings with the RDiS 300 and RQiS 2 Tour.

 

[dman72]

None of your links work, but if you're looking for a great beginner racquet on a budget, look no further than the Head LiquidMetal Radical Mid Plus. You can get the Over Size version if you want more power and a bigger sweet spot.

Yonex also has some good and cheap offerings with the RDiS 300 and RQiS 2 Tour.

LM MP? For a beginner? No. The OS is a bit more realistic, but definitely not a first choice I'd make for a woman just beginning as it lacks much pop.

I would start with Liquidmetal 4 or 8 in the head line (4 is a 102 head size but packs a lot of punch), or prince 03 shark or something like that.

 

[robbo1970]

Thanks for the feedback...not sure why the links aren't working though.

I am in the UK and the racquets I was looking at were a lot cheaper than the Liquid Metal range. We are talking 'proper' beginner here.

I was looking at the Head Nano Ti Tour, the Head Nano Ti Elite and the Wilson K Power Hybrid in particular.

They are all circa 290 - 305g, so enough weight for her to get some power without hurting her weakling arms and durable enough to survive the odd tantrum.

I would look to get them re-strung. The Heads seem to go from 52 to 62lbs. I've normally had my racquets strung taught so I can hardly depress the strings with my thumbs, do you think stringing to 58/60 will be ok for these racquets and will get that hard, taught tension?

Many thanks

 

[RyKnocks]

It's gonna be hard to get opinions on racquets like that here simply because no one here uses those types of racquets. Honestly, any of those racquets will probably suit her. If she decides to take tennis a little more serious then you can start asking her about what she wants out of her frame and invest in something a little higher end.

 

[dman72]

It's gonna be hard to get opinions on racquets like that here simply because no one here uses those types of racquets. Honestly, any of those racquets will probably suit her. If she decides to take tennis a little more serious then you can start asking her about what she wants out of her frame and invest in something a little higher end.

Or just hit the used shops and classifieds and get something better there. You should be able to get a decent game improvement racquet or tweener used for under $50 US (whatever that translates to in pounds).

 

[robbo1970]

Thats fine, I thought that might be the case, but it was worth a shot.

Those racquets are only about £22 here so I can see how they go. Like you say, if she gets into it a bit more she might want to upgrade.

 

[olliess]

LM MP? For a beginner? No. The OS is a bit more realistic, but definitely not a first choice I'd make for a woman just beginning as it lacks much pop.

I'd always had the impression that LM MP or OS would be good racquets for a really athletic beginner who was committed to playing long-term (in which case they wouldn't really "outgrow" the racquet. Even with those caveats (not saying the OP's wife necessarily fits those categories) do you think they are basically unsuitable beginner racquets?

I am in the UK and the racquets I was looking at were a lot cheaper than the Liquid Metal range. We are talking 'proper' beginner here.

I was looking at the Head Nano Ti Tour, the Head Nano Ti Elite and the Wilson K Power Hybrid in particular.

They are all circa 290 - 305g, so enough weight for her to get some power without hurting her weakling arms and durable enough to survive the odd tantrum.

But yeah, that appears to indicate a different beginner status!

 

[TennisCJC]

dunlop 4d 300 - good for beginner and good for more advanced levels. Racket has long main strings - drop the tension and it will play like an OS and still be easier to handle. 4d 300 is on sale for good price.

 

[dman72]

I'd always had the impression that LM MP or OS would be good racquets for a really athletic beginner who was committed to playing long-term (in which case they wouldn't really "outgrow" the racquet. Even with those caveats (not saying the OP's wife necessarily fits those categories) do you think they are basically unsuitable beginner racquets?



But yeah, that appears to indicate a different beginner status!

I think the MP is definitely not the best choice for a beginner considering with today's technology the game can be much easier to learn with a bigger sweetspot and a little more pop. It's also a little rough on ther arm on off center hits.

The OS is okay for that purpose but it's so flexible and under powered compared to other game improvement and tweener sticks that I'd still go with something with a little more pop.

 

[olliess]

The OS is okay for that purpose but it's so flexible and under powered compared to other game improvement and tweener sticks that I'd still go with something with a little more pop.

Makes sense.

Anyway to the OP:

We went through this same process about a year ago, and my (skinny, non-athlete) wife didn't like the (heavy, ugly) Radical OS at all. We ended up going with a Head Raptor OS -- a fairly standard, 9.x oz 107 sq. in., nice-looking recreational racquet, with those 3 aspects (light, big head, attractive) being the main keys to satisfaction. I don't think any other similarly-specced racquet would have played much differently for her, so I'm guessing all of the choices you've been looking at should be fine.

The only complaint I have with this racquet is the factory strings (it came pre strung with Sonic Pro -- wtf?!?)

 

[robbo1970]

Ironically my wife is light, has a big head and is attractive too

 

[olliess]

LOL! Yours too?

 

[Torres]

Wilson BLX 6.1 Tour 90.

I see loads of 3.0s and 3.5s with those.