What racquet should I get for my wife?

[copper]

Hi,
My wife just started taking tennis lessons to better her game. She has played on and off with the same Wilson Pro Staff Classic 4.2si for the last ~8 years. I would consider her a beginner.

I would like to get her a nice new racquet for a special occassion coming up. Considering money is no object, I would like to get some opinions here on what I should get her. Is the Wilson a good racquet and can I get something better? What accessories can I add on that are a must? I know nothing about tennis so any help would be greatly appreciated!

Copper

 

[SFrazeur]

We could use some information about your wife. We will need to know at lest; her hight and age.


Also, may I suggest getting a list of racquets to demo, letting her demo them and she can then

pick the one of the she likes.

 

[copper]

She is 5' 7" and about 130lbs.
34 years old.

Thanks.

 

[newnuse]

She is 5' 7" and about 130lbs.
34 years old.

Thanks.

You forgot to include measurements....


What type of player is she? What's her goal? Is she going to play once every blue moon or is she pretty serious about it?

 

[copper]

You forgot to include measurements....


What type of player is she? What's her goal? Is she going to play once every blue moon or is she pretty serious about it?

Don't worry about the measurments...nothing will get in the way

She pretty much is taking lessons because she "likes playing", found a friend that plays, and it gets her out of the house. I don't think she it planning to become a pro.

 

[newnuse]

Don't worry about the measurments...nothing will get in the way

She pretty much is taking lessons because she "likes playing", found a friend that plays, and it gets her out of the house. I don't think she it planning to become a pro.

Was interested in her measurements for more selfish reasons

Sounds like a weekend rec player playing for fun. If that's the case, I would just get the latest Wilson version of this racket. Unfortunately, I don't know the lineage of this model. Maybe some other blokes here can help with that.

She is used to playing with the Wilson. I wouldn't get her anything that is very different since she won't be used to it and probably won't like it.

Wilson is a fine brand. Pretty sure they are the most popular in the USA

 

[copper]

Was interested in her measurements for more selfish reasons

Sounds like a weekend rec player playing for fun. If that's the case, I would just get the latest Wilson version of this racket. Unfortunately, I don't know the lineage of this model. Maybe some other blokes here can help with that.

She is used to playing with the Wilson. I wouldn't get her anything that is very different since she won't be used to it and probably won't like it.

Wilson is a fine brand. Pretty sure they are the most popular in the USA

Is there any point to getting her a new racket? Especially if I'll be getting the same model, just newer?

 

[newnuse]

Is there any point to getting her a new racket? Especially if I'll be getting the same model, just newer?

It's not the same model. They don't make that model these days. The racket makers stop making one model, but they come out with a similar model.

For example:

Wilson
1. ProStaff 6.0 85"
2. PS Tour 90
3. N-Code 6-1 Tour 90

The first racket to come was the 85". They went to the PS Tour 90 (might be using the wrong name).... the current model is the NCode.

The NCode is sorta like the grandson of the 85". They have some similarities but are different rackets. The Ncode would be more similar to the 85" as oppose to say another line of Wilson rackets (which would be very different)

 

[jonolau]

Hi,
My wife just started taking tennis lessons to better her game. She has played on and off with the same Wilson Pro Staff Classic 4.2si for the last ~8 years. I would consider her a beginner.

I would like to get her a nice new racquet for a special occassion coming up. Considering money is no object, I would like to get some opinions here on what I should get her. Is the Wilson a good racquet and can I get something better? What accessories can I add on that are a must? I know nothing about tennis so any help would be greatly appreciated!

Copper

She's a lucky wife, buying her a present for a special occasion!

When it comes to ladies and racquets, this is where lines get blurred ... I would suggest that you bring her to the shops to let her choose her own colours.

Either that or if you want to surprise her, buy one first with the assurance that you can bring it back for an exchange.

Is she a strong lady? What do you think her swing style is like? Is it long and loopy or does she chop at the ball?

 

[Redflea]

Get her the one that she says feels best when she demos it.

I would not get her a new racquet as a surprise...choosing a racquet is a very personal, subjective decision. She might not like it at all, or hit as well w/it as her current racquet.

I would surprise her with a nice card and a few racquets to demo, with the promise that once she finds one she likes, it's hers. Arrange w/her pro to help her demo them...buy her an extra lesson or two.

Good luck...very nice idea on your part.

 

[AndrewD]

Copper,

If your wife likes what she's using now I wouldn't bother with anything different although the up-dated version would be a nice gift.

What I would suggest, given that money is no object, is springing for a natural gut re-string (regardless of whether you buy a new frame or not). My girlfriend is only a beginner but she's never used anything other than gut and I really do believe it has helped her get a better feel for the ball (especially topspin, which can be hard for beginners). One string job lasts for at least 6 months before it needs replacing so, in the long-run, it's quite cost-effective and gives her a more comfortable hit than any sythetic could.

 

[Ano]

Hi Cooper, Readflea have given you good advice.

You could ask your wife to demo Wilson W Line (designed exclusively for woman), such as W4 or W6. You can find the racquet I mentioned in Tennis Ware House website.

 

[copper]

Thank you all for the great advice!
How does demo-ing work exactly? Do I have to bring my wife to the store or will the store allow me to bring the racquets home for her to demo? It seems strange to order 5 raquets and then returning 4 of them. Is this a common practice?

THANKS!

 

[bluegrasser]

Prince 03 Red...

 

[jackson vile]

I recomend that you stick with a racket that is as simular as possbile.

But really I would demo 4 different brands that are in the same lvl/line, so try a wilson, babalot, yonex, Dunlop ect.

When choosing from the other brands you need to consider what she is after, I have fought with my wife for a long time.

Finally I made a customized racket for her, I think it sucks but she does really well with it.


But just take my word for it, get here a racket for now that is closest to what she has now, then let her demo some that are like what she is after.

 

[tennis-skater]

id say get like 5 demos stick them in a box and then have her hit w/all them and let her hit with them then if she doesnt like any of them take her to the store. but women+shopping=empty wallet. but id reccomend that when you go to the proshop that you talk to them and they'll be able to reccomend rackets