The Tennis Thread

[Arnoldtoo]

Thiem / Tsitsipas from the O2 just getting under way. Without the pandemic I'd probably be there. Last year in London, so may never get the chance again.

Anyhoo; should be a good match.

 

[ajspurs]

Yeah looking forward to this. Thought it was starting tomorrow so felt lucky to get a message from a relative informing me it was just starting!

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Yeah looking forward to this. Thought it was starting tomorrow so felt lucky to get a message from a relative informing me it was just starting!

Good stuff so far. Difficult to pick a winner.

 

[Aay_Jay_Dee]

Anyone know rackets? I’m a casual player - more beginner than intermediate. Was looking at rackets and Head SI T6 keeps coming up as perfect for a beginner. Anyone tried it? Would love a babalot as they are beautiful or a Yonex. Anyone had any experience of either of these?

Also heard you have to restring as soon as you buy? Is this true?

 

[ajspurs]

Anyone know rackets? I’m a casual player - more beginner than intermediate. Was looking at rackets and Head SI T6 keeps coming up as perfect for a beginner. Anyone tried it? Would love a babalot as they are beautiful or a Yonex. Anyone had any experience of either of these?

Also heard you have to restring as soon as you buy? Is this true?

I think for a beginner something like the Wilson clash will feel nice, has a low flex rating and is comfortable to use, feels soft to hit with. I don't have knowledge of that head racket so I wouldn't know Babolat and Yonex do have some beautiful rackets, I recently purchased a Babolat actually but not to use as my primary racket, more like a play/experimental one. Not sure I would recommend one for a beginner as there are more comfortable, less stiff and easier to use rackets out there for sure. One of the most if not the most popular racket this year has been the Yonex Ezone 98 which is a nice racket but again there are maybe more others suited to a beginner.

My favourite one to use has been the Head Gravity Pro, very nice feeling on impact, soft or 'muted' as some may say and is low powered, which means it's control oriented but also means you can really swing out with it without fear of hitting long so I'll be getting one as soon as my local tennis shop reopens! The 'pro' version is a little heavier than the rest but they do an MP version which is supposed to be nice too.

I've only tried so many rackets but I do think the Wilson Clash is a nice one. And trust me I know, doesn't look as glamorous as a Babolat or Yonex but I was pushed to use it by the guy at my tennis store and it was really nice to use to be honest, a good racket to improve with. I'm lucky as my shop is 5 mins away from me and I can demo rackets from there. There are sites that you can demo rackets from so maybe that's worth a try.

In regards to strings I would just try the factory ones out first and see how you get on. I would have them restrung but that's because I've played enough to know what I like and what suits me

 

[Aay_Jay_Dee]

I think for a beginner something like the Wilson clash will feel nice, has a low flex rating and is comfortable to use, feels soft to hit with. I don't have knowledge of that head racket so I wouldn't know Babolat and Yonex do have some beautiful rackets, I recently purchased a Babolat actually but not to use as my primary racket, more like a play/experimental one. Not sure I would recommend one for a beginner as there are more comfortable, less stiff and easier to use rackets out there for sure. One of the most if not the most popular racket this year has been the Yonex Ezone 98 which is a nice racket but again there are maybe more others suited to a beginner.

My favourite one to use has been the Head Gravity Pro, very nice feeling on impact, soft or 'muted' as some may say and is low powered, which means it's control oriented but also means you can really swing out with it without fear of hitting long so I'll be getting one as soon as my local tennis shop reopens! The 'pro' version is a little heavier than the rest but they do an MP version which is supposed to be nice too.

I've only tried so many rackets but I do think the Wilson Clash is a nice one. And trust me I know, doesn't look as glamorous as a Babolat or Yonex but I was pushed to use it by the guy at my tennis store and it was really nice to use to be honest, a good racket to improve with. I'm lucky as my shop is 5 mins away from me and I can demo rackets from there. There are sites that you can demo rackets from so maybe that's worth a try.

In regards to strings I would just try the factory ones out first and see how you get on. I would have them restrung but that's because I've played enough to know what I like and what suits me

Thanks for the tips. It’s crazy how much difference a racket makes. I used to think the more expensive a racket is the better it is but actually the more expensive ones it might not even be suitable for me!

yeah think I need to graduate from beginner rackets before hitting the heights of Babalot and Yonex.

Will give the Wilson Clash a look

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Anyone know rackets? I’m a casual player - more beginner than intermediate. Was looking at rackets and Head SI T6 keeps coming up as perfect for a beginner. Anyone tried it? Would love a babalot as they are beautiful or a Yonex. Anyone had any experience of either of these?

Also heard you have to restring as soon as you buy? Is this true?

Get some demo rackets and try them out. The best racket for beginners and veterans has more than anything got to be one that feels good to the player.

I've used Prince for years, but wouldn't recommend one to you cos you might simply not like the feel of it. And let's face it; it has to look sexy too!

Try a few that are decent bats - unless you're an absolute beginner you won't get one for £30 - find one where you hit some balls and think 'Ooh I like that!' and go for it. Over time you'll refine your preferences, but at the start it's more about perfecting the shots than the racket.

As for restringing a new one ... again over time you'll learn what string tension suits you, tighter or looser within the manufacturer's recommended range, and what strings you like, for more or less spin maybe, but to begin with I wouldn't bother. Good, long time players often buy an unstrung frame and have it strung just as they like it, but it doesn't sound like you're at that level just yet.

Enjoy!

 

[ajspurs]

Thanks for the tips. It’s crazy how much difference a racket makes. I used to think the more expensive a racket is the better it is but actually the more expensive ones it might not even be suitable for me!

yeah think I need to graduate from beginner rackets before hitting the heights of Babalot and Yonex.

Will give the Wilson Clash a look

Yeah it definitely can do, but you really just want to find one you're comfortable hitting with so you can work better to improve your technique It may be so, I mean the first time I played again after years off I played with someone who was new to tennis and he had a £30 racket, I had a £150 Babolat Pure Drive Roddick, very stiff racket and strung at a very high tension. I asked him to use mine and see how it felt and I used his whilst he did so, I then found myself playing better with his racket! That's when I knew I needed a racket with different characteristics. The cheaper rackets can tend to be super flexible and therefor easier to play and learn with. That's why the Clash can be such a good racket as it's not cheap like that but is very flexible and has the build of a better quality racket.

Babolat and Yonex may do rackets that are better suited to beginners that I'm unaware of, I'm just not sure many would point you in their direction, especially Babalots as they're renowned for being stiff, overly easy access to power and not greatly control oriented rackets.

Good luck!

 

[tototoner]

That's his Aussie Open over then

 

[Arnoldtoo]

That's his Aussie Open over then

I guess he could still make it, but you've got to think it's unlikely.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Good first round match on now - Sinner / Shapovalov. They I doubt they will play each other in the first round of a major again!

 

[ajspurs]

Bloody hell, Thiem looks lost here!

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Bloody hell, Thiem looks lost here!

Found himself in that set. Good game to watch so far!

 

[aliyid]

Found himself in that set. Good game to watch so far!

Quality game so far, Kyrgios is playing to a high level. Starting to see a few cracks now but will be interesting to see if he can keep his head when the pressure starts ramping up.

 

[ajspurs]

Found himself in that set. Good game to watch so far!

Yeah great game. As good as a player Thiem is, you kind of feel like the outcome is dependent on Kyrgios. If he continues to hit big, use the crowd well and keep the fancy stuff to a minimal then he could really see this out. Thiem has upped his level though.

 

[aliyid]

Wow ? only Kyrgios would try a tweener at that stage of the match

 

[Arnoldtoo]

All the talent in the world, but the top two inches definitely need work still!

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Great match. Thiem the deserved winner in the end.

 

[Partizan]

Wow...Nadal up by two sets in the QFs but Tsitsipas mounts an epic comeback to win the match in 5 sets. No doubt Tsitsipas was aided by the w/o in the previou round as he looked fresh until the end but still incredible focus and determination to come up with that performance.

Only second time someone's done that to Nadal in his career.

 

[Arnoldtoo]

Wow...Nadal up by two sets in the QFs but Tsitsipas mounts an epic comeback to win the match in 5 sets. No doubt Tsitsipas was aided by the w/o in the previou round as he looked fresh until the end but still incredible focus and determination to come up with that performance.

Only second time someone's done that to Nadal in his career.

Thoroughly deserved too. Good match to watch.