My current tennis racquet is old and worn and a bit too light, and has been with me for over ten years. In part inspired by the U.S. Open and because I’m gonna have to change strings soon anyway, I’ve decided it’s time to get a new racquet!
I’m a sporadic player (once every 1-2 weeks), and I’m not very good, but I can get the ball over the net, and I can generate decent pace on my forehand. My serves leave a lot to be desired, though. I’m about 6 feet tall, and my current racquet is 9 ounces, I think. My budget is around $50-70.
Any tips on what kind of racquet I should get and how to get the best deal? Should I go carbon or graphite?
The best thing to do is go to a tennis store that allows you to borrow demonstration racquets - most, if not all, tennis stores will allow you to do this. You need to work out what weight, which is largely governed by your swing speed. I suggest you try something in the 10 - 10.5 ounce range and see how that goes.
Then there is head size. Most decent players go with a mid-plus, typically 95 square inches. But you could compare an oversize at about 110 for comparison. Agassi played with an oversize and it didn’t seem to do him any harm. You can often get both MP and OS versions of the same racquet. The OS will have more power.
Your budget is pretty low for a new racquet, although you might succeed by buying last-year’s models. This page shows a range of sale racquets, some in your range. You can also click on each and see specifications and read reviews.