How to choose my next tennis racquet?

[ji2o0k]

I did a search and found some helpful threads but was really looking for some input from the tennis pros on RFD for my particular situation.

Currently using a Wilson Hammer6 (picked up from RFD recommendations!) and was curious if I wanted to buy a new racquet, which one should I look at?

I would guess that my rating is between a 3.0 & 3.5.

My forehand is consistent, I can direct the ball no problem and can hit it with some power. Backhand is not as consistent, can hit the cross court backhand with power. I can serve, it is pretty consistent but not much pace on the ball.

My swings are somewhat long and I hit pretty flat.

I am hoping to demo a few racquets but have no idea where to begin. Any websites that can help me or what do you recommend?

I have only used Wilson racquets.

Any help is appreciated!

[Sunny_X]

you may want to provide more detail information :

what do you mean consistent

what do you mean My swings are somewhat long

what string and tension you have on the Hammer 6

which part of the game are you looking to get some help from the new racquet

[ji2o0k]

thx Sunny for the reply, much appreciated. I'll try and answer the questions in red font.
you may want to provide more detail information :

what do you mean consistent
When I play singles, I rarely hit it out or long. This is esp. tru on my forehand, less so backhand.
what do you mean My swings are somewhat long
I take some time to set up, wind up and hit my strokes. I don't have a short, compact swing that I can just whip.
what string and tension you have on the Hammer 6
string is synthetic gut and tension = 58lbs I think
which part of the game are you looking to get some help from the new racquet
hmmmm, good question. My serve I guess. Will a different racquet help with that?

[Sunny_X]

is it 95 sq inches ?

[ji2o0k]

is it 95 sq inches ?
yup.....

[Sunny_X]

well your racquet should do most of the job, i think the only thing that you can improve is trying different string tension that can provide you more power.

one thing that you may want to experience, try a different racquet arround the same head size or maybe even bigger like 100, but with a bigger number on head light.

other than that it may have something to do with the way your serve...

[Berrim]

I am hoping to demo a few racquets but have no idea where to begin. Any websites that can help me or what do you recommend?


A good place to start would be reading reviews on TennisWarehouse.com
They have a ton of racquets and the reviews are usually not bad. Some of the good tennis stores around the GTA would probably be:

RCS Racquet Sports, They`re at the L'Amoreaux Tennis Center, they let you demo their racquets on their courts.
Sporting Life, One on Yonge Street and one at Sherway Gardens, they let you demo their racquets for a day, and they have a pretty wide selection
Merchant of Tennis' near Bayview and Eglington is also a good store, never demoed from them, but they do have alot of racquets.

If you manage to find a racquet you like, you should also check out the RCS Warehouse sale during this weekend, should be slightly cheaper.

Like Sunny said, if you need more power you might want to try an oversize racket and have it strung at a lower string tension.