Tennis is a sport loved by all ages, and the fantastic thing about the sport is that there is at all times one thing to enhance on it doesn’t matter what your degree or age bracket. The dynamic vary of motion required helps your joints work by way of a variety of motions, and overlaying the court docket can be a great type of cardio in order a type of train while you’re over 50 it is best.
Native tennis golf equipment provide senior leagues so you’ll be able to play with individuals of an analogous age and skill and I’ve performed in opposition to gamers who’re effectively into their 70’s who nonetheless hit a number of occasions every week.
Nevertheless, not all racquets go well with the senior sport, and that heavy stick you have got been utilizing since your twenties is perhaps negatively impacting your sport. However what sort of racquet is finest for an older participant? Are there any particular fashions designed for seniors? Or can they use any racquet?
Not too long ago I obtained the next query by way of electronic mail asking simply that and I’ve determined to republish it right here together with my reply.
I’ve simply learn your article about selecting a tennis racquet. I might simply love your recommendation, please.
I need to purchase a brand new racquet for my 76-year-old husband.
He solely began enjoying tennis when he gave up cricket, 45ish however simply loves his tennis, performs doubles on common, 3 times every week For the previous couple of years he has been enjoying with a Wilson Hyper Hammer 7.3, given to me 17 years in the past, and sometimes with a Head Liquid Metallic Radical, candy type score L4, if which means something to you.
He is 6’2″ is match and slimmish, had a hip alternative 18 months in the past however that’s now no drawback. He does complain about his shoulders a bit – an excessive amount of bowling or golf – however primarily he’s sturdy and energetic and I see no motive why he should not have 5 and even ten extra years of tennis in him.
So I would love to present him a racquet that might be enjoyable for him and maybe additionally give him an edge by way of newer expertise/design. Any recommendation or ideas?
The Downside With Making an attempt To Discover a Racquet Suited To The Senior Sport
The issue most older gamers run into when looking for a racquet is that there are not any producers on the market who’re designing or advertising racquets purely for older gamers.
Regardless of the very fact hundreds of thousands of gamers north of 60 play weekly throughout the globe, it is nonetheless a distinct segment market inside a distinct segment market.
So with out having the luxurious of having the ability to choose from a choose bunch of frames designed for the senior participant, you are pressured to both be taught extra in regards to the physics concerned with a racquet or simply take a punt on a body you just like the look of and hope for the most effective.
If that sounds such as you, then under are some recommendations on what kind of racquets you have to be on the lookout for.
What To Keep away from and What To Look For in a Racquet?
For an older participant, I would suggest staying away from racquets that both fall into the very heavy or ultra-lightweight class. For too mild, for a male that might be something underneath 280g unstrung and for a feminine 270g. For too heavy, something above 350g for a male or 340g for a feminine.
The overall guidelines I take advantage of on the subject of racquets are as follows:
Lighter racquets are extra vulnerable to twisting on off-centre impacts than heavier racquets. So when you play singles and face youthful guys, a body that is too light-weight goes to imply you get pushed round too simply.
Lighter racquets are extra manoeuvrable and are simpler to swing.
Lighter racquets are typically stiffer which suggests extra shock is transferred to the joints in order that they’re much less arm pleasant.
Heavier racquets, usually, are tougher to swing and can trigger you to fatigue faster.
Heavier racquets imply extra mass so extra energy, all different issues being equal.
Heavier frames are typically extra versatile and take up extra of the vibrations from off centre hits.
I do know loads of male gamers solely use heavier sticks as a result of that is all they’re used to and it is an actual man’s racquet. So my restrict of 350g will appear far too low to lots of people. However surprisingly they do not look as enamoured with their 14 oz beast of a body when gamers with lighter racquets are blowing them off the court docket 😆
With these issues in thoughts, the aim is to search out the heaviest racquet you’ll be able to deal with correctly, for the kind of tennis you play and for the length you’re on the court docket.
How have you learnt a racquet is simply too heavy? If in match play, if you find yourself on the run and are constantly late on the ball then your racquet might be too heavy or has too excessive a swing weight.
Or when you really feel drained after swinging the racquet throughout a hitting session, or after serving for a few units – it is too heavy.
How have you learnt a racquet is simply too mild? That is tougher to identify, however when you really feel like you have got a scarcity of stability and are struggling to in opposition to gamers who hit a heavier ball, then the racquet is simply too mild.
One other signal a racquet is simply too mild is when it causes elbow or shoulder points attributable to being too simple to swing. A racquet can grow to be virtually too playable and your method will undergo.
Take into account The Kind of Tennis You Are Taking part in
Should you’re enjoying singles in opposition to youthful gamers that wish to hit the duvet off the ball, then utilizing a lighter racquet that’s designed for manoeuvrability and simple swings—not stability will trigger you to wrestle and get overpowered.
For leisure doubles, you’ll be able to often get away with a barely lighter, bigger head dimension, ‘energy’ oriented racquet. They lose stability however as a result of the doubles sport is not actually about energy, the added manoeuvrability and swing velocity works effectively up on the web.
What Specification Ought to An Older Participant Go For?
I like to recommend discovering a racquet that falls into the next specification:
For a male:
100 sq inch to 110 sq inch head dimension
290g – 330g unstrung
4 – 10 factors Headlight
For a feminine:
105 sq inch to 120 sq inch head dimension
280g – 320g unstrung
3 – 8 factors headlight
The explanation I like to recommend headlight is as a result of they’re extra forgiving on the arm than head heavy racquets. Headlight has extra weight within the deal with and due to this fact absorbs extra shock.
With headlight, you do should work a tougher to place tempo on the ball. However that could be a worthwhile trade-off for damage prevention.
Swingweight Makes a Massive Distinction
Up to now I’ve solely talked in regards to the static weight, however one other factor to think about is the swing weight. You may discover a racquet that’s heavier than I like to recommend, however attributable to its headlight properties, it may be simpler to swing than a lighter body that’s head heavy. That is why you must at all times attempt to demo a racquet earlier than you half together with your money.
Attempt To Demo If You Can
Whereas this submit gives you some thought of what to search for, in the end a participant does have to experiment and discover out what works for them the most effective, not simply go off what I or any person else says.
Ideally, you must at all times demo a racquet earlier than shopping for one. If you would like me to suggest some demo packages on your location then drop me a remark under or contact me and I can level you in the precise route.
Shoulder and Arm Pleasant Racquets
Within the query I obtained by way of electronic mail, shoulder ache was talked about. The overall consensus right here is that lighter racquets move extra of the shock of impression on to the consumer, which is not good for the shoulder or elbow. Whereas a heavier and extra versatile body does extra to soak up the shock.
You probably have a gradual swing and assume lighter is the best way to go, it’s price taking into consideration {that a} mild racquet is perhaps too simple to deal with and trigger arm issues.
There’s, in fact, a degree the place heavy turns into “too heavy” so like I discussed aim is to search out the heaviest racquet you’ll be able to deal with correctly, for the kind of tennis you play and throughout your hit.
Evidently, your private expertise stands out as the reverse, however usually, a heavier body is simpler on the arm.
Strings Change Playability A Lot
An enormous consider playability and arm friendliness is the kind of string you employ. Should you’re a senior participant with extra traditional sort strokes trying to protect your arm, then I might keep away from any string constructed from polyester.
As an alternative, a softer multifilament string can be the best way to go. Pure intestine is your best option and though it is costly, it does maintain it is rigidity higher than some other sort of string and can final a very long time when taken care of.
The opposite alternative I might suggest can be Ashaway MonoGut ZX. However once more, when you have the prospect, then mess around with completely different strings and tensions.
Really helpful Racquets
So what racquet is the most effective for an older participant? Can I like to recommend any particular frames? Not with out understanding extra specifics about your sport and your present racquet, however I can level you within the route of some manufacturers which are extremely regarded and ones I’ve seen loads of older gamers utilizing.
The issue with recommending particular frames as cure-alls is that no two gamers are alike. To offer any racquet the ‘finest’ title is considerably deceptive as what works for one participant won’t work for another person.
A traditional instance of this was at my tennis membership the place one participant swore by a Prince racquet that had alleviated his tennis elbow. One other participant was having related issues with elbow ache and went out and acquired the identical racquet.
What occurred? Properly, you’ll be able to most likely guess, it made his elbow worse. Most suggestions are made on purely anecdotal proof. You will discover some older gamers that swear by sure frames just like the Babolat Pure Drive which has a infamous status amongst gamers for inflicting shoulder ache, but for others, it is made their sport ache free!
So what model and frames do you have to be taking a look at? My first suggestion is to try frames within the ProKennex vary of racquets.
ProKennex will not be massively well-known on the ATP or WTA Excursions with Andreas Seppi one in all their solely sponsored gamers. However they’re extremely regarded for producing a few of the most snug and forgiving frames in the marketplace.
Browse ProKennex Vary
I’ve hit with the ProKennex Ki Q+ 5 Professional and it is one which may be very widespread with older gamers and when you learn by way of a few of the evaluations on Tennis Warehouse it is used extensively by loads of senior gamers.
One other model with a strong status on this space is the German model, Volkl. Volkl is without doubt one of the extra widespread manufacturers for senior gamers as a result of loads of their designs are oriented round combatting tennis elbow.
The V Sense vary is one to look into with the Volkl V-Sense 3 proving widespread amongst loads of older doubles gamers.
In doubles, you hardly ever face somebody who hits a heavy ball and may push you across the court docket so the mix of energy and luxury within the V-Sense lineup works effectively for lots of gamers.
Browse Volkl Vary
The ultimate suggestion is not a model, however a selected body, the Head Radical Oversize. It packs a 107 sq. in and is available in at 320g however has a manageable swing weight and has a low-ish stiffness score of 64.
The ultimate factor to recollect is that everyone reacts in another way to gear so what feels horrible to some may really feel fairly snug to others. So like I’ve talked about a number of occasions, do demo racquets and mess around with completely different configurations to see what works.
In case you are a senior who’s a step slower and really feel such as you want extra energy or one thing arm pleasant and many others, inform me what racquet you’re utilizing, and what you need to change within the feedback under and I’ll let you already know if I can provide you with any body ideas.