My partner needs a racket

[ddonk]

She's a 2.5 or 3.0 (self-rated, we don't live in the US) intermediate player with good athleticism but no big tennis background.
She has good movement and decent power, but could use some help with topspin generation from her racket.

I think I'll suggest she demos the following rackets, but thought I'd check if I'm overlooking good options.

Babolat Pure Strike
Babolat Pure Aero
Vcore 100
Ezone 100
Head Extreme MP

 

[anarosevoli]

Give her something lighter also, like Pure Aero Team or Extreme MP L. If a woman beginner should play with a normal 300 g racquet I don't know for whom the at least 3 lighter categories are intended (Babolat: Team > Lite > Super Lite. Head: MP L > Team > Team L (not to mention PWR)).

 

[Curtennis]

These are still fairly advanced racquets.
How about Ezone 107?

 

[A_Instead]

Get the VCore 100L

 

[socallefty]

The most popular racquet with women (and juniors) seems to be the Pure Drive. They also have 107/110 ver size versions good for beginners - 2.5s would not be called intermediates.

 

[Grizzy]

It's my opinion she should get a cheap racquet like the Head SP Spark Pro ($65 CAD). That's the racquet my girlfriend bought and it's good enough for her. It's a fun little light racquet and it comes pre-strung. Good enough for someone that is just learning the basics. Until the player themselves develops proper technique, it's not even worth talking about a racquet helping with topspin until a player is a 3.0-3.5 and has learned some of the basics around technique.

If they keep playing tennis and improving, they can later demo higher quality racquets and find something suitable for their developing game. My first racquet, I didn't even understand what felt good or bad in a racquet. Took a while playing to appreciate certain racquet qualities.

 

[ddonk]

Thanks for all the tips ppl, much appreciated!

 

[Tranqville]

It's my opinion she should get a cheap racquet like the Head SP Spark Pro ($65 CAD).

Another option is to get a used racquet or good new racquet on sale (previous generations of the current model).

 

[Yamin]

Blade 104v7 is my blanket recommendation for under 3.5 or anyone that doesn't mind an oversize.

 

[socallefty]

Those who haven’t played much or developed proper technique like the bigger sweet spots of oversized racquets. Since they are aiming for the whole court and not smaller targets, they don’t need the precision of smaller head sizes.

 

[GodlessEndeavor]

Give her something lighter also, like Pure Aero Team or Extreme MP L. If a woman beginner should play with a normal 300 g racquet I don't know for whom the at least 3 lighter categories are intended (Babolat: Team > Lite > Super Lite. Head: MP L > Team > Team L (not to mention PWR)).

OP mentioned his partner has good athleticism, so I'm not sure that's necessary.

The problem with light racquets is they get pushed around if playing against people who hit faster than you, which can result in discomfort or even injury.

 

[Grizzy]

OP mentioned his partner has good athleticism, so I'm not sure that's necessary.

The problem with light racquets is they get pushed around if playing against people who hit faster than you, which can result in discomfort or even injury.

Have you seen two beginner women tennis players play a match with each other? Pushing is certainly a word I would use for it. Pushing someone around... not so much...

 

[ichaseballs]

buy a head racquet under $100

 

[GodlessEndeavor]

Have you seen two beginner women tennis players play a match with each other? Pushing is certainly a word I would use for it. Pushing someone around... not so much...

No one said the OP's partner will only play beginner women, so that may not be relevant even if it's true.

 

[GodlessEndeavor]

Edit: Wrong thread.

 

[Modal]

Ezone 100, Pure Aero 100. Get a proper racket, get proper technique and she will be 4.5 in no time. Do not get cheapo pre strung rackets. Do not go above 100 inches for head size. Yes she might shank a little more and she might get some tennis elbow but it's all part of the process. Maybe it's gonna hurt a little at the start but she will progress at a good pace.

 

[stapletonj]

also, a 16X18 or 19 widely spaced mains pattern is better for beginners than an 18X20...

 

[Tranqville]

she might get some tennis elbow but it's all part of the process.

What are you talking about? Health is the biggest priority in recreational tennis.

 

[GodlessEndeavor]

Ezone 100, Pure Aero 100. Get a proper racket, get proper technique and she will be 4.5 in no time. Do not get cheapo pre strung rackets. Do not go above 100 inches for head size. Yes she might shank a little more and she might get some tennis elbow but it's all part of the process. Maybe it's gonna hurt a little at the start but she will progress at a good pace.

I agree with this, except for the part that says tennis elbow is OK.

I think starting with one of those racquets is fine for a lot of beginners, as long as they're getting lessons for proper technique and they're physically fit. If they are very unathletic I'd go with softer racquets for more tendon protection.

 

[sureshs]

Get her a cheap racket first and see if she sticks with the game.

 

[Modal]

What are you talking about? Health is the biggest priority in recreational tennis.

Tennis elbow is overblown by the tennis community as some kind of plague or cancer. It's not. Go talk to any physio or doctor and they are going to give you some forearm exercises and tell you to take some painkillers. They are never going to tell you to go to surgery unless you are a pro tennis player then in that case the load that your arm is under is leagues above any recreational player. You are going to get tennis elbow or some elbow soreness whether or not you are using a ProKennex and hitting the sweetspot every time with perfect technique as long as you are training a decent amount. Hence part of the process. For the average recreation player that doesn't hit the gym, it's your muscles and tendons that aren't used to the load so soreness is inevitable. If that's the case then go hit the gym or at least use a flex bar and do some forearm exercises. She is decently athletic so I shall assume her technique isn't horrendous and doesn't arms the ball every time, and her forearm can handle some load. If you are concerned about tennis elbow the least you should worry about is your racket. If you are recovering correctly (sleep, nutrition, stretching etc.), using the strings that aren't uncomfortable and use correct technique, use a flexbar, then you can look at your racket. I never said to actively try to get tennis elbow, obviously avoid it if you can but it is pretty much inevitable. Getting some pain and soreness on the outside of your arm is not "unhealthy". In that case, going to the gym and training for strength and mass is the equivalent of smoking a pack a day from an overall health standpoint.

 

[Modal]

I agree with this, except for the part that says tennis elbow is OK.

I think starting with one of those racquets is fine for a lot of beginners, as long as they're getting lessons for proper technique and they're physically fit. If they are very unathletic I'd go with softer racquets for more tendon protection.

I never said getting tennis elbow is ok. I would appreciate if people on this thread don't strawman, but what did I expect from TT or any internet forum for that matter . A rackets softness is not going to protect your tendons or your forearm. That mostly has to do with vibration frequency which in that case I would go for rackets with dampening technology that actually works (Wilson) or rackets that are filled with foam (Technifibre) with a softer string set up. A softer a racket is the more its going to deform compared to a stiff racket so you actually have to swing harder to get the ball over the net which is not what you want for a beginner. They will generally arm the ball more with their wrist, elbow and shoulder. Couple that with shanks (generally softer rackets have a smaller sweetspot and heavier on the whole which is not what you want to couple with suboptimal technique) and you will be guaranteed to have tennis elbow within a session.

 

[AmericanTwist]

Prince 16x18 size 100 frame. Target stiffness low 60s to around 65 RA. Wilson ultra 100L is also a good choice though 16x19 as are Dunlop frames.

 

[jimmy8]

Try wilson shift 99 300 - great spin from the way racket bends

 

[Tranqville]

As @Trip would say, choose equipment that does not make tennis harder than necessary. Tennis is already a difficult, technical sport. Let's make sure our equipment makes it a healthy, happy, and long-term sustainable experience.