Need suggestions on racquets to demo for teen

[ChristinaLucia]

She's 13 and will play in high school next year. She's 5'10" and about 112 pounds. She has huge hands, and will need a 4 1/2 for grip size

So far she's hit with a Babolat Pure Aero, Babolat Drive Team and the Wilson Clash. Of these, she liked the Drive the best. Her coach uses Babolat and she loves the color blue, so this might be influencing her.

I'm planning on ordering her a few to try from TW and just looking for suggestions on what to try next.

I might pick up a Drive Team in the meantime and I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on strings and tension to try when I order.

Thank you for your help.

 

[Trip]

Sounds like her racquet decision is already made, and from the sounds of it, I'm sure she'll be telling you soon enough what kind of string her coach wants her to be using as well... If you have any say in the matter, for the sake of her arm, I would try and keep her on non-poly strings as long as you can (if that's even possible) -- so natural gut, synthetic gut or multifilament. If a hybrid or god forbid full-bed poly enter the picture, try and have her string as low as she can get away with while still maintaining enough control.

Hope that helps. Best of luck.

 

[KC!]

2022 Yonex Ezone 100L would be another racquet you might have her try. The Yonex Ezone is quickly becoming one of the most used racquets on the college/pro tour.

 

[oldmanyellingatcloud]

Head Speed MP (not sure how helpful one of the lighter Speed options will be since they're stiffer and have thicker beams)
Dunlop FX500LS

 

[jimmy8]

Wilson Shift 99 (300 grams) - amazing blend of power, control, feel, spin.

Recommend Head velocity 1.30 16 gauge natural color at 53 lbs.

 

[dr. godmode]

If she's excited about the Pure Drive and wants to use it, I'd say job done. It's all personal preference anyway and that racquet would totally be suitable for her. IMO if you can buy a racquet that makes her more excited to play tennis, do it. Lack of motivation/excitement is the enemy of girls sports. The Pure Drive won't get a ton of love on these boards because us nerds think it's "uncool" due to widespread popularity. The reality is that its a great racquet and almost every racquet these days is great. I would personally avoid the Clash for her because its not the most consistent playing once you get to higher levels.

For strings, the cheapest nylon at 53lbs would work just fine. If she breaks that quickly, put a soft polyester like Head Lynx in the mains (vertical strings) at 51/53lbs.

 

[Trip]

If she's excited about the Pure Drive and wants to use it, I'd say job done. It's all personal preference anyway and that racquet would totally be suitable for her. IMO if you can buy a racquet that makes her more excited to play tennis, do it. Lack of motivation/excitement is the enemy of girls sports. The Pure Drive won't get a ton of love on these boards because us nerds think it's "uncool" due to widespread popularity. The reality is that its a great racquet and almost every racquet these days is great. I would personally avoid the Clash for her because its not the most consistent playing once you get to higher levels.

For strings, the cheapest nylon at 53lbs would work just fine. If she breaks that quickly, put a soft polyester like Head Lynx in the mains (vertical strings) at 51/53lbs.

Best advice so far other than mine (how modest of me!).

She already seems set on the Pure Drive Team, so let her have at it. As Beckett so astutely noted, I would just support her positivity towards the racquet and playing in general, then just try and keep the string setup as comfortable as you can, and she should be good to go.

 

[ChanterRacquet]

If you’re dead set on ordering some demos, just grab the other blue ones: Ezone 100(L?), FX 500 (LS?), Ultra v4 100 (L). They’re all good, though I can’t help but say I hated the Ezone, other two are golden.

I would just wonder at 5’10”, even though she’s 13, does she need the regular weight versions? Or is she long and lanky and that’d just make swinging that much harder?

 

[Steve Huff]

At 5' 10" tall and only 112 #, I'd guess she hasn't developed a musculature she will start getting soon. So, I'd at least try a couple of arm-friendly rackets from Pro Kennex ki Q+5 and Head Gravity MP L. If these don't have enough power, I'd check out the Yonex Ezone 100 and the Babolat Pure Drive.

 

[ChristinaLucia]

I can't tell you all how much I appreciate your thoughts! I had her coach order the Babolat Drive Team in the meantime and I will have her demo the others. Her sister will hit with her but they are using my husband's 20+ year old racquets so we will definitely put more than one racquet to use.

 

[stapletonj]

Demo some of the ezones and vcores..... there are a lot of female role models on the tour playing with these. However, you can go wrong with a pure drive either

 

[jimmy8]

Demo some of the ezones and vcores..... there are a lot of female role models on the tour playing with these. However, you can go wrong with a pure drive either

Yes, like Hsieh Su Wei!

 

[AmericanTwist]

Definitely try out the Wilson ultra 100L....stiffer frames have easy power but you can hone strokes better with softer frames and get more spin. Softer frames also keep balls in better than stiffer frames. Oh yeah this frame is also blue! Lol... stick with syn gut, natural gut first, but if you want to try poly, try it in a hybrid with syn gut or natural gut.

Yonexes and Dunlops are also good choices... Pick a medium flex 62-65ra frame to demo. 98-100 head size.

 

[TennisHound]

You don’t want to go too heavy too quick just so she doesn’t strain her shoulder.

 

[stapletonj]

I meant CAN'T go wromg, sorry