Racquet technology: stiffness, beam width, head size, materials used.

After demoing many racquets, I would like to explain how each characteristic alters how a racquet performs. I will try to mention the racquets I have tried as well.

Many tour level racquets now have a stiffness rating of 65 and above. The higher the number, the stiffer. You have the Head Youtek Prestige series in this category, as well as the Wilson BLX 6.1 Tour. The higher the stiffness, the more power return there is to the ball. I have found racquets to be zippy, meaning that the ball flies off faster and farther.

Personally, I find this to be not my preference. I enjoy racquets with a flex around 57, so have to resort to using a racquet made in the 1990s. I am not alone in this. I have met many older guys who still like to be able to control the ball without worrying it about flying. Imagine being in a crucial point digging out half volleys or running down a ball hit to the baseline corner. The last thing you want is the ball to go long. My main racquets are the Head Pro Tour 280/ Head Radical Tour of 1995.

I think 61-64 stiffness is still manageable for the average club player who wishes for control, not power. One racquet I recommend is the Volkl Powerbridge 10 mid (59) or midplus (64). I originally had 4 of these racquets.

Beam width is another important characteristic. If the beam is more than 22 mm, again, you have the problem of a ball launching off beyond control. I previously owned 5 Gamma G325 with a beam width of 19mm. I was able to enjoy pinpoint control along with its flex of 58, making shots as smooth as butter. Also, the more flexible racquet will impart more spin than a stiff one. Rule of thumb.

The new Donnay racquets are sporting 17mm beams but I hear it plays much like the old Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 85 head, extreme precision, but you must swing hard and accurately to make it work. Racquet manufacturers no longer make 85 square inch head size, so there are players willing to pay a premium for an old Pro Staff. The smaller head favors the flatter stroke, so I prefer a 95-98 headsize where I get more spin.

Materials used over the years include Graphite/Fiberglass, Graphite/Kevlar, Graphite/Titanium, Graphite/Boron, Graphite/Ceramic, Injection molded Graphite/Nylon to high modulus graphite such as Karophite, BLX, Volkl DNX, etc., to other dampening smart materials like Youtek D30 or Dunlop Aerogel.

I personally favor Graphite/Kevlar since the Kevlar dampens and gives a nice feel. I am hoping Head's new Innegra material next year is going to feel like the Kevlar/Twaron of old. The Youtek d30 and BLX basalt fiber has a good feel also.

DNX graphite by Volkl is purported to have 25 times the strength than average graphite, and I could feel it in the Powerbridge 10's throat. Whenever I would hit down the line backhands, the shot would come off like a bullet with that racquet. So strategic stiffness placement in the frame is also another consideration.

I hope I have not gone into too much detail, but hopefully, this helps someone out about choosing a racquet. It pays to be picky beforehand, not after you've bought the racquet.