Impact of the Right Tennis Racquet on the Swing Speed

Posted by Mike Volkin on March 21st, 2017

The process of selecting the right tennis racquet can become confusing when you have to take note of the weight, swing weight, balance, shot speed, and swing speed, and understand how these factors relate to one another. Moreover, you will have to consider the racquet’s power potential, which is measured in the lab in accordance with ball velocities and the ratio of the outgoing bounce speed of the ball to the impact speed.

You can determine the bounce speed of the tennis racquet by examining the frame stiffness, local weight, and the string-bed stiffness where the ball hits. However, keep in mind that it is only one aspect of the ultimate shot speed. You need to consider the swing speed, too. Bounce happens on a racquet that has already traveled at a given speed. Add bounce speed to the speed of the racquet where it bounced to determine the shot speed.

The swing speed can hugely impact the shot speed. The right tennis racquet adds a constant number of miles per hour to a shot for the given impact speed, while swing provides a variable amount. A swing speed that is faster than the ball speed results in the racquet minimally contributing to the shot speed, whereas if it is slower than the ball speed, the racquet design is more crucial to the shot speed.

Choosing the best racquet

When going over tennis racquets, you are likely to come across game improvement of racquet racquets. Power racquets have oversized heads that are about 107 to 135 square inches in size, but they are lightweight at only 8oz to 9.5oz, stiffer, longer (around 27 to 29 inches), and evenly or head-heavy balanced to make sure that the hitting zone has enough weight. Hence, they are the right tennis racquet for players with slower, shorter swings, or for players who want more power.

When selecting the right tennis racquet, keep in mind that the dynamic swing weight increases with its length. Hence, lengthening a 27-inch racquet and not reducing its weight would make it difficult to wield. You still need to consider the weight and balance to make sure it feels right when you pick it up and swing it.

Heavy racquets are more stable and powerful, and they transmit minimal shock compared to lighter racquets, which is more maneuverable and capable of swinging faster. Some manufacturers, like Wilson, developed the ‘Hammer Technology’, which reduced the overall weight of the racquet and distributed more mass to the head for a heady-heavy balance. This way, maneuverability is enhanced without compromising power, as long as the weight is in the hitting zone.

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