Players Racquet for 10 Year Old

S

SC Tennis Player

New User
Need some help out there. I'm looking for a low weight, head light players racquet for my 10 year old daughter. She has outgrown her Volkl Tour 6, and per her coach is ready to step up to a more advanced racquet. Preferably something in the 100 to 103 sq. inch head size. A few racquets that come to mind are the Babolat Pure Storm, the Wilson nCode nPro Surge and the Volkl Catapult 8 V-Engine.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
 
The O3 Tour actually looks good, and has gotten decent reviews everywhere as a player's racquet. It's 11.6 oz strung, as listed on the TW site. That's generally pretty light for a player's racquet, and it's got the head size your daughter wants. It's also 7 points head light.

The Tour 6 your daughter uses is under 9.8 oz strung. That's light. If you're searching for a player's racquet, all of them are generally around the 11.5-12.5 range.

If you can, it'd be worth trying at least demoing the O3 Tour, and seeing if it's immediately too heavy for your daughter. It's certainly a racquet that can suit her game even at higher levels.

The headlight racquets usually feel lighter than the weight suggests, so it's probably not too much of a problem.

The O3 Red seems an ideal choice for moving up, it's also gotten good reviews. It's a little bit up at 10.5 oz strung. But keep in mind it's still not a player's racquet, since that's what you're aiming for.
 
Check out the Babolat Junior AeroDrive or Junior Pure Drive, 26 1/2 inch model. My son, 11 just got the AeroDive Junior and loves it. I like it also, it hits well. Headlight 100 sq. in. head, fits your criteria.

Aside from the fact Nadal and Roddick (kids love those guys) use the full size model another really great thing about this virtual adult model is the price.

Good luck.
 
Phil, Based on your description of a player's racquet. (i.e. in the 11.5 to 12.5 oz. range) that may not be what exactly what I'm looking for. She's strong, but not quite that strong! I believe that the "tweener" catagory may be more appropriate.

Anyone have any experience with the V-Con 17 midplus??
 
Does she aim for drives or want to use lots of spin?

Try the O3 Red, like Phil said at the end. Light enough to easily adjust to at 10.5 oz strung. It also provides the pop and is a good all around tweener. I'd hand her an O3 Tour to just see for herself if it's too heavy, it's worth a shot at least. :P
 
Volkl V1 midplus (any model) seem to fit your description. They are widely liked. Do a search here for more reviews.
 
If your wanting to stay with a jr racquet the Fischer Rally 1.55 is quite possibly the most powerfull jr racquet made (and also the one of the most expensive at $155.00) Unfortunately we have not been able to find one here in the US and are going to have to try and get one from a friend in Australia. His 10 yr old son plays with one and they claim it is a monster. We're ready to junk our jr Babolats and give this "beast" a try.
 
I she is ten and you want to but her a tweener, I would say that it is to early. Buy a junior racquet... Maybe Wilson Hammer type r.
 
She should give Fischer Pro Impact FT a try. Its 102 sq in head at 11oz. It swings reletively light, that should help a bit. She should be able to supply plenty of power with it. Also you can get it on **** for around $50-60, same price of a good jr racket.
 
She has fully graduated into a full size racquet, thus I'm really not looking into the junior's. I should probably mention that she is a top 10 player in our section and I'm hoping to get some form of sponsorship from a racquet supplier.

As a former Prince user, I think I will take the advice on the O3 Red. At $220 per, I could definately use some "help" from price.

Thanks, and keep the suggestions coming!
 
O3 Tour and O3 Red

Be advised that the O3 Red (tweener) seems to be more head heavy. If you try the O3 sticks, be sure to have her demo both, especially if she prefers a little head light. While the O3 Tour is a bit heavier on paper, the O3 Red may give her a "heavier" feel while swinging since it is a bit more head heavy. Have her try both if you go in that direction.
 
At 10 years old, forget the jr. racquets but she will still need a lighter player's racquet. Try the Volkl Tour 10 Midplus V-Engine, the discontinued Wilson 7.1 Zone.
 
I had the same dilema when my son grew out of junior racquets. We tried the Wilson Surge but it was too heavy. So I eventually found the Volkl Tour 8 SE. It's a light racquet with player racquet specs and characteristics.
 
Mark beat me on the Volkl Tour 8 SE. My son is ten and is using this with some success. It's discontinued though. Wonder why no one suggested the HM 300G (not because I have one for sale ;-)) I think TW has some new demos for just $70. The new $100 plus rackets will drop price very soon so no need to buy them now.
 
Hit with the O3 tour yesterday, my first experience with it. Let me say, compared to all my player's racquets, that it feels light as a feather. It serves very, very well.

The only thing I noticed that was a bit odd about it was that it had an abnormally thin beam, even compared to the estusa. Perhaps that could lead to stabillity issues, but I didn't experience any.
 
Went through this last year for my daughter. Switched from a head IS2 on her 11th birthday or thereabouts. The IS2 was a great first full size racquet but proved to be too flimsy when she started playing kids that hit bigger balls. After a lot of demoes she settled on the Prince Warrior OS. It was a little tough at first to keep those swings accelerating, and she constantly has to be reminded of the importance of not being late. But six months into it I can say that moving to the heavier frame was successful and the right thing to do. All I can say is demo a lot of racquets and good luck. Would also advise to not spend too much money on a racquet at this stage.
 
Ten is still a kid, but will soon be growing so fast that a junior racquet would not be a worthy investment.

I'll go old-school and recommend the POG.
 
I think you need a very fast swing to handle the O3 Tour. My 14 tourny playing son loves it but my 50 year old swing can't generate enough swing speed to like it. I use the Wilson n Code 95. I think the best transitional racquet for her is the discontinued Wilson 7.1 Zone. I just sold 3 to a junior in Canada who loves them. My son used the 7.1 between the ages of 10- 13. Volkl's MP V-engine 10 has a lighter swing weight.
 
Why do you guys think that the weight would be a problem?

My older son (he is 11 now) is using Ti Radical with lead tape for the last 2 years.
I got my younger son LM Prestige MP for his 8th birthday.
Both of them have no problem swinging heavier racquet (about 11oz).
Having kids hit with heavier racquets teaches them to use the weight of the
racquet and not to muscle it too much.
Regards, Predrag
 
edge said:
11oz. IS a light racquet!
Click to expand...

11 oz IS NOT a light racquet.
There are heavier racquets , of course, but it cannot be said that it is light.
Also if you check my recomendations, LM Prestige MP is 11.9

Regards, Predrag
 
Predrag Dude, in terms of player's racquets, 11 oz. is light. I'm not talking head heavy tweeners. We are recommmending player's racquets, right?
 
Thanks to all for the advice. We were at a tournament this past weekend, and the proshop had both the O3 Tour and the O3 Red, and the Shark MP. The unstrung Shark had a good feel to it, but the strung demo I held seemed extremely head heavy. (Very strange!) Both the Tour and the Red had a good "feel" to them, but the thinness of the Tour may be too radical of a change compared to the Tour 6. The plan is to demo the Red and see how she likes it. (I cringe at the thought of buying two of these at $220 a piece!!)

Does anyone have experience with purchasing racquets on e-Bay from any of the Canadian tennis shops? Their prices are significantly better than the "standard" US pricing.
 
I love buying form **** because its soo much cheaper. Sometimes i even make connections where i deal outside of **** with the sellers. I pay mainly through money order. Just look at the guys feedbacks. Usually the more they have the better. The only ones i'd watch out for is the people with less then 50. Thats when i wonder how much i need the item or how much i want it.
 
My son(13) tried the O3 Red and didn't like it. He said it was good on serves but lacked feel/control on the groundstrokes. Being 10 you would probably not want to get her racquets that are more than 11oz strung.
 
erik-the-red said:
Ten is still a kid, but will soon be growing so fast that a junior racquet would not be a worthy investment.

I'll go old-school and recommend the POG.
Click to expand...

I second that. Not POG MP.

POG OS.
 
There are a lot of 10 year olds at my clinics who are really good. One uses a babolat, I think it is the zylon one. Another just got the flexpoint radical mp. And another has the ncode 95.
 
I've been looking at the specs for the Shark DB. Similar to the Shark but a little bit lighter. Think I'll wait until that comes out in the next month or so.
 
Don't remember the specs on it, but my son loved the sweetspot on the Volkl V8...said the sweetspot covered the whole stringbed. It ended up being too powerful for him (he's a tall, strong 14 year old) but it could suit your daughter very well.

My wife (5'1", 105) is trying the Red O3 and likes it very much so far. I agree w/you about wanting some help from Prince if she decides on it... ;-)
 
For those of you that provided input and suggestions, we went with the Head LM Heat. Had pretty much all the specs that I was looking for. 27" Length,~100 sq. inch head, not too heavy, with a pretty low swing weight. Anyone out there familiar with this racquet? She has hit with it the past couple of days and says she "loves" it. I was a little concerned with the 18 mains string pattern. Could someone provide me some insight on 16 vs. 18? i.e. advantages vs. disadvantages.

Thanks
 
While your daughter is probably very in shape and strong, unless she is very tall for her age I suggest one of the more advanced Junior Sized Racquets. My sister is ranked high nationally in 18's and she uses a racquet that weighs 11 oz. I suggest the Babolat PD Junior
 
A 16 main string pattern will give you a more open pattern which provides you with more spin and pace. An 18 main pattern will give you more control but will lessen your spin. Overall string pattern doesnt make spin or pace, technique does. Guga uses an 18x20 pattern and gets unbelievable spin and pace on the ball, basically open or dense is a preference
 
try a babolat pure drive junior! it does a great job for youn kids, or you mioght want to try any HEAD junior cause they are awesome!
 
tangies08 said:
While your daughter is probably very in shape and strong, unless she is very tall for her age I suggest one of the more advanced Junior Sized Racquets. My sister is ranked high nationally in 18's and she uses a racquet that weighs 11 oz. I suggest the Babolat PD Junior
Click to expand...

Nice try. I already suggested the Aero Pro Drive Junior and it was promptly shot down because it was a junior racquet. Take a closer look, it's only 1/2 inch shorter than it's adult racquet counterpart. It weighs less as well. Is the 1/2 inch and lighter weight that big a deal? Many smaller adults would do well with this stick. I stand by this and your recommendation for a 10 year old no matter how good they are. If it's to light add a little lead tape. If playing with a racquet that says junior on it hurts the ego no amount of tape can fix that. :) Best of luck, p.s.
andfor

p.s. oh yea, those 1/2 inch shorter Babolat Aero and Pro Drives only run about $80 bucks here at TW!
 
andfor,

No need to get hostile! She's been using a full length racquet for 2 years. What's the point of going to a 1/2 inch shorter racquet?? Because Nadal and Roddick use "sticks" with the same paint job? I've been to my share of local and sectional tournaments and other than beginners, very few, if any, use junior racquets. No teaching pro in his right mind would recommend a "short" racquet for an advanced junior player.
 
i guess some of you may be surprised to know that at least one of the WTA players use PD Juniors. all this talk of players frames and tweeners frames is pretty meaningless IMO..i think if the question of what players frame is good for a 10 year old, the answer would be none of them..certainly not a POG or even a Volkl T10MPVE..the answer is that none of us know this kids ability..kids at 10 have all kinds of different capacities to swing racquets fast..i wouldnt worry about sponsorships and such...i'd get some help from a good teaching pro. my .o2
 
To clarify the issue. She does have an excellent teaching pro, and it is he who is recommending a heavier "thinner" frame racquet (compared to the Tour 6). I agree, the sponsorship is trivial, but it means something to her where several of her peers are "sponsored". They wear that stencil on their strings with pride. The bottom line is we found a racquet that she is extremely happy with.

NBMJ, I need to ask, who is the WTA player that uses a junior racquet??
 
SC so i guess you've got this all covered then..that's good.. dont hold me to the name, because her coach gave them to me for stringing, but i am thinking it is Marrisa Ervin. there were 3 i strung and the frames were short. one got straight VS Team, one got VSTeam/ALU and the 3rd straight ALU..
 
SC Tennis Player said:
andfor,

No need to get hostile! She's been using a full length racquet for 2 years. What's the point of going to a 1/2 inch shorter racquet?? Because Nadal and Roddick use "sticks" with the same paint job? I've been to my share of local and sectional tournaments and other than beginners, very few, if any, use junior racquets. No teaching pro in his right mind would recommend a "short" racquet for an advanced junior player.
Click to expand...

Never was hostile but I do find it strange that if you have an excellent pro you pay your hard earned money to you find a need to come here and ask questions he/she could answer. So I was not hostile just sarcastic and joking. You should lighten up and get a little better sense of humor.

The 1/2 inch shorter stick is a good platform to build from being that it's lighter weight. Is 27 inches the proven length for an advanced junior? 1/2 inch shorter shouldn't be a deal killer but if everyone else is not doing it then it must not be right. Anyway, sounds like you and your excellent pro have a handle on everything. Best of luck.
 
SC Player,

You're the one that is seeking the advice and got offended by nothing. I have a 12 years old so I read this thread with great interest. That is until I got somewhat disgusted in the end by your unappreciated responses....
 
talktennis,

Yes I did create this thread to seek advice, and yes I did thank those who provided that advice. (see my previous posts). I got very "turned off" by the poster who stated that I "shot down" his/her suggestion. In my opinion not agreeing is not "shooting" him/her down. Plain and simple, I was not in the market for a junior size racquet! He/her then questioned my reasoning for seeking advice on this board and also made derogatory comments to my daughter's "excellent" coach and the way I spend my "hard earned money". Maybe I do need to lighten up, but I didn't appreciate the "flavor" of the digs. I apologize to you and the other readers of this thread if I have came off as unappreciative.
 
Oooooooo good one..........

No, no, no....you won. You came here clearly not needing advise. We know this because you said your daughter has an "excellent tennis coach". But you did come here so you could brag about your sectionally ranked daughter. You knew what racquet you were going to get her before you even typed your question. I made a little dig at you and you good all twisted up over it. You win because saps like us fell for trying to give advise to a guy who never needed it in the first place.

I will say with all sincerity good luck to you, your sectionally ranked daughter and her excellent coach.
 
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