subject: What Makes A Tennis Racket Right For You [print this page] Tennis rackets come in numerous shapes and sizes and can cost anywhere from a few bucks to more than a thousand. In the old days they were all made from wood and buying a racket also included purchasing a wooden frame to lock over the racket when not in use. This kept the wood from warping.
Modern rackets are rarely made of wood and appear significantly larger than their predecessors. They are commonly made of a lightweight material, often a composite. Their larger size and composition make them more forgiving than they once were and they make the game easier to play well.
Rackets come in a wide price range and decent, cheap tennis rackets can be found either online or at your local sporting goods outlet. Before going out and spending several hundred dollars on a really nice piece of equipment it might be a good idea to start off with something inexpensive, just to see how you like playing the game. If you decide it's not for you then you won't be out too much in the way of an investment.
Inexpensive, however, doesn't mean that it has to be a piece of junk or hamper your playing ability as a beginner. There are some very useable rackets out there that can be had for not much more than twenty dollars, although to get something more serious you're going to have to get into the two hundred dollar range. I don't think tennis pros buy their own rackets (as they're generally supplied to them by the manufacturers) but the rackets they use, when sold at retail can go upwards of a thousand.
Buying a junior tennis racquet can be even more reasonable and these models will be smaller in size and also sport a smaller grip as well. The size of the grip (measured as the circumference of the lower handle) is an important factor. A grip that is too large can cause problems with the user, especially carpal tunnel or tennis elbow.
People who play tennis enjoy it a great deal and can play well into their senior years. You don't have to have a great deal of speed to be a decent tennis player (although speed always helps). Older, experienced players who have maintained their perception and accuracy can be viable opponents to younger players lacking in experience. They can keep the younger player running back and forth all day with accurately placed shots. That's a fun thing to watch!
If you have access to a court but haven't yet tried the game give it a shot. A racket and a tube of balls don't have to cost much and you may find a new love. Playing tennis is good fun.
