Racquet for Small Woman

[kdh1980]

Hi there,

I'm 42 years old, 5'3" and around 133 lbs, playing in 2.5 recreational league. I'm reasonably fit for my age, but that's not saying much, is it?

I've been using an old Dunlop predator extra-long. It's becoming harder for me to wield, because of length and weight. Of course there are other issues at work here because of aging.

Can anyone recommend a lightweight racquet that will provide some power? My budget is < $100. I have a fairly short, slow swing.

I've thought about the Head Intelligence i.S6 OS, but haven't seen any women review the racquet, only men.

 

[BigK35]

Stay away from the i.S6 it is racquet for garenteed tennis elbow. You should use the heaviest racquet you can comfortably play with.

I say try the Dunlop 300g or 400g

-BigK35-

 

[mark rodgers]

You might want to consider a Volkl Catapult 1, 2 or 3. See www.volkl.com. You'll get the least weight and most power from the Catapult 1. Look at the specs and see what you like. They're a little pricey but if you look on **** there are several for sale. The only other ones I saw was the Yonex RQ Ti-200. It's meant for 2.5 to 4.0 players for $99.99.

 

[kdh1980]

Thanks to both of you for the suggestions. My current racquet is causing soreness in my forearm, so I think the weight is the issue there.

I understand that lightweight racquets don't help add power, but can I go a little lighter without sacrificing power completely? That's what I thought the i.s6 was designed to do.

 

[LoveThisGame]

You may be able to pick up a Catapult 2 for a price that meets budget since it is being replaced by a newer generation Catapult 2.

Yes, you want to play with the heaviest racquet which is comfortable for you to swing. But you want a weight which you can readily put in motion. You have mentioned some good analyses of your needs. From this, I suggest lighter weights and without checking, I suspect the Dunlops mentioned may be too much. The older Ti.S6 still is made for the big box stores, has a good price there, and may be another good fit.

 

[kdh1980]

I read some reviews on the Ti.s6 and that does sound like a better fit than the i.s6. I think the is.6 may be up a notch from where my game is today. It looks like Ti.s6 will meet price needs as well. Thanks very much for the recommendation!

 

[mctennis]

I agree with the Volkl recommendations. Easy on the arm and nice power without having problems later.

 

[Steve H.]

kdh1980, both of the S6 models are very light and head-heavy. There's a lot of power but it comes at the price of shock and torque -- you see a lot of players using these frames who are also wearing arm braces. If you never hit the ball hard you might get lucky, but why chance it?

A slightly heavier, evenly balanced and low-swingweight frame would be a lot safer, and still be much easier to swing than your old Dunlop. The Prince ThunderCloud is a good choice for a player like you, or else maybe the Prince TT Scream oversize. Don't be put off by the "ratings" -- if you play regularly, you should be able to handle one of these and it might even help you improve.

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

My wife is 5'2" and weighs about 105 and uses a Prince Air-Launch mid. She likes it.

 

[StupidCupid]

Honestly, I would recommend widebody Yonex racquets that weights less than 9.5 oz unstrung. Try getting one thats made in Japan, such as the RQ Ti 2000. Yonex will not send their better designs to be made anywherelse. But, if you feel you have some room for improvement, get the RQ Ti 1700. You should find some good bargains at ****.com

Or, you can test drive a Prince ThunderCloud. This one is on sale almost everywhere. Avoid all Head Titanium racquets.

In my opinion, Volkl specializes in building players racquets mostly. The only versatile one is the V1 classic. But, its also rather expensive.

 

[brtennis]

Don't get the TiS6. It's an arm killer.

The spec in the TW site for TiS6 lists 8.9oz. It is true if made in Austria. It is very likely that you'd get the one made in China, which weighs only 8.0oz. Yes, 8.0oz, or 226g.

I suggest something around 10oz even balance or 11oz and somewhat headlight. In either case, the swingweight will be around 300 or slightly lower. Use the racquet finder in the TW site.

 

[Rickson]

I use the intelligence IS6 and it definitely doesn't give me any elbow problems. The IS6 is rather light for me and I will be switching to a heavier racquet, but the maneuvarability is good and the swing speed is fast. The stick is a little head light to handle fast volleys, but you probably don't go after super fast shots at the net anyway. I definitely recommend the Head IS6 for a petite woman with a fast swing.

 

[Shane Reynolds]

I think you would enjoy the Fischer GDS Rally FT but the price seems to go up and down daily here. My local dealer is clearing out the Volkl Cat4 so you might be able to look around and find a good deal on that one. I would also recommend you take a peek at the Babolat Pure Drive OS and the Wilson H5 MP (which is a great deal at $90). There is nothing wrong with the i.S6 but some people are sensitive to racquets that are that stiff and that light; if you're not attached to it now, it might be best to try others first that are not as likely to cause a problem. Good luck!