So, you’re in the market for a new stick.

Selecting the weapon of choice can be confusing, as companies push their new technologies, and players give ringing endorsements of their racquets in their post-match press conferences.

Who do you believe?

Answer – Yourself!

You know your game and your swing better than any company or any player.

Here are a few things to consider when buying a racquet:

How much power is right for you?

Most beginner to intermediate level racquets have a bigger frame and therefore, a bigger sweet spot. –This makes for a powerful racquet. They also have more weight in the head to aid the swing. These racquets tend to be on the light side (less than 10 oz), and on the stiff side. Stiffness refers to the degree of feedback and vibration from the frame when the racquet makes contact. Stiff racquets help the player hit through the ball. (Examples: Head Team Radical, Wilson Team Blade Oversize)

Most advanced racquets have a smaller, thinner frame with a smaller sweet spot. These racquets may work for the player who has trained for years, developing a tuned, precise stroke. Because an advanced player’s stroke is more powerful, it’s beneficial to have a more flexible, less powerful frame. When an advanced player hits with a big, light powerful racquet, the ball may carry off the strings more, providing less control. Advanced players’ racquets are usually heavier, between 10.3 and 12 ounces. (Examples: Wilson Six-One Tour, Wilson K-Blade mid-size, Head Prestige)

That’s not an exact formula, as some net players prefer a little more power because their strokes are shorter.

What’s the right string pattern for you?

If you’re a big strong player with a big full stroke, chances are, a wide string pattern will work better for you. When the strings are further apart, they will grip the ball more, allowing for more spin and control, even when you’re slugging away.

If you’re still learning the strokes, or don’t have a ton of physical size and power, then a tighter string pattern may suit your game better. When a string pattern is tight, it puts more string on the ball, with less spin. These patterns work well at net, since the hits are naturally more solid and require less work to get the ball over the net.

What brand are you partial to?

This is an important question, because most brands have at least some common denominators in all their racquets. Some brands might have a more solid feel. Some have a standard grip shape (round, square or flat). Some you might find to be easier to maneuver. For example, Head racquets might have a solid feel with less feedback. If you’ve improved, and want to move up to a new racquet, you might want to stay with the same brand, to keep some of the qualities you like in your older racquet.

Remember, ultimately, this choice is not up to the head pro at your club, or the experts at Tennis Zone. In the end, this is YOUR decision, because you know your game and preferences better than anyone else.

Of course, we’ll always be there to help!