A person who wants to play tennis well must own a quality racquet. Therefore, choosing a racket is always one of the biggest concerns. In addition, the tennis racket must be suitable for one’s playing style to optimize their strength and eliminate the weaknesses.
Moreover, when it comes to a tennis racket, the racket’s weight is the first consideration. And if you are confused about whether to choose a heavy or light tennis racquet, this article contains all the necessary information to make the right decision.
An Overview: What Is Heavy or Light Tennis Racquet?
Determining whether a racket is light or heavy does not depend on the feeling, but experts have measured and had a hierarchy for it:
- Light tennis rackets: this kind of racquet weighs less than 10.5oz (approximately 285g). Usually, its weight is between 9 – 9.4 ounces.
- Heavy tennis rackets: the heavy ones usually weigh over 11.5 oz (approximately 325 grams).
Honestly, it depends upon your level and physical state to decide which one is the most suitable between a heavy or light racket. Hence, the following section will give you some differences between these two.
Heavy or Light Tennis Racquets: What Are the Differences?
As mentioned before, the first difference is their weight. Moreover, this is also the reason for the more significant dissimilarity between these two types.
Control
Light tennis racquet
Generally, a lighter frame of a racket allows you to react faster. Indeed, when holding lightweight gears, it helps a lot to swing and maneuver easily. Moreover, many rackets with lighter weights feature larger head sizes and stiffer frames. So, if the players focus on making accurate contact, this kind of racket is recommended.
However, it tends to give less overall stability. That’s the reason why lightweight rackets aren’t appreciated in professional tournaments.
Heavy tennis racquet
Honestly, a heavy racket can offset the deficiencies of the light one. Indeed, this kind of racket is not easy to control. Yet, as players get used to it, a heavy racquet can create overall control and stability, helping players have a significant performance.
Power
Light tennis racquet
However, although it brings players better maneuver, a light racket can’t provide much power in every shot. Moreover, due to the lightweight, the generated power depends mainly on your arm’s swinging force. Thus, it consumes many players’ energy, so they might get exhausted quickly trying to make strong shots.
Heavy tennis racquet
On the other hand, it can provide you more power. Yet, the caveat is that players need sufficient muscles to propel a heavy racquet at the necessary speed to make a powerful swing. By playing with a heavier racket, players can also build their strengths as well.
Shock transmission
Light tennis racquet
In addition, due to its lightweight, it won’t absorb the shock caused by the ball as much as heavier rackets do. Hence, your arm, especially the elbow, will suffer more eventual stress injuries when the ball hits the string bed.
Heavy tennis racquet
According to tennis experts, a heavy-weight racquet transmits less shock than a light one. Therefore, it’s ideal to choose a racquet that’s heavy enough to suit your strength but not make you feel exhausted during the game.
Which Racquets Is Better for You: Heavy or Light Tennis Racquet?
Before determining which, one is better, let’s sum up their pros and cons:
Light tennis racquet
Pros:
- Easy to control.
- More maneuver.
Cons:
- Less power.
- More shocks.
Heavy tennis racquet
Pros:
- More power.
- Less vibration.
- More stability.
Cons:
- Slower racket speed.
- Easily cause the arm to be fatigued
In fact, which one is better depends on the level and the physicality. So here is the note: make sure you have the arm strength to hold on to it during your games. Moreover, you might consider your arms’ ability to move when you need to react swiftly.
Based on the pros and cons of the two types of rackets, it is recommended that:
- Beginners: Players have just started and probably been playing for less than a year. When playing, beginners are more concerned with their strokes and making contact with the ball than with the direction of their shots. Thus, a light racquet is an ideal option for this level.
- Intermediate: Those who play tennis for 1-3 years are considered intermediate level. Most intermediate players are concerned with where their shots are going and where they are positioned on the court. So, at this level, players can continue with the light one option or wish to switch to a medium-weight racquet (10.5 to 11.5 oz).
- Advanced: At this level, the racket seems more like an extension of your arm than a piece of equipment. When playing, advanced players concentrate more on tactics, strategies, and momentum. Furthermore, the heavy racket will suit the best with advanced players or stronger players. However, some of them still choose a medium-weight racket; it might be due to their habits.
Conclusion
Indeed, most of the deciding factors for which racquet you should choose: heavy or light racquet depends on you. Therefore, clearly defining your level and the style of play will make it easier for you to select.
In summary, this article gives you the necessary information to distinguish these two types of the racquet, along with some advice for deciding which one is more suitable for you. If you find it helpful, share it with your friends!
