Racquet Mass Matters
The mass of a racquet is directly related to the amount of speed produced on the ball. When comparing racquets with the same head size, frame width and head weight, the greater the mass the greater the speed on the ball. And greater mass means more power.
New players tend to do better with a lighter racquet, which allows them to swing it faster.
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A racquet with more mass are more resistant to impact, and in turn, protects the player's arm. A super light racquet is a good fit for a serve-and-volley player who needs to make fast movement. The trade-off is less protection to the arm when the racquet makes contact with the ball.
A racquet with greater mass not only provides more protection, it can help players who tend to swing wildly at shots.
Width Adds Stiffness
The width of the racquet frame has an effect on the speed of the ball rebound. A racquet with bigger width is stiffer. A stiffer racquet impacts the speed of the ball rebound because not as much energy is spent bending the racquet.
There is a cost to the increases in speed though by causing a greater impact shock to the arm.
Weight of the Head
Lightweight, head-heavy racquets are a good fit new and intermediate players because it allows them to swing faster and still have the weight to produce power and control.
Advanced players who can supply their own power tend to prefer heavier, head-light racquets because they provide more control.
Don't Forget Grip Size
Grip size can dictate maneuverability and comfort for the player. A grip that is too small will give the player greater maneuverability, but will put stress on the muscles of the forearm and hand because they're working harder to hold the racquet.
Larger grips are easier on the muscles, but the hand and wrist will be less mobile. If you have elbow pain, try switching to a racquet with a larger grip, which will put less stress on the muscles.
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