Having a racket with a heavier head, or lighter head obviously has a big impact on your game in terms of your control and power.
Headlight rackets tend to be heavier overall, where as head heavy tennis rackets are generally lighter.
Evenly balanced rackets have the weight distributed evenly throughout the frame so the balance point will be exactly in the middle.
Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of all 3 options.
Pros of a headlight racket
As mentioned above, the majority of rackets are headlights.
This is because for tennis players who have been playing a while, headlight rackets are easier to swing, with more control and you get more manoeuvrability which is great when you are at the net for volleys.
You can also react to shots quicker if an incoming shot is travelling at pace. Furthermore, as the frames for headlight rackets are generally heavier, it also gives you a bit more stability on your shots.
A headlight racket is generally ideal for intermediate and advanced players.
Cons of headlight racket
The main drawback of headlight rackets is you get less power on your shots. You have to swing with more force and generate more of your own power as you swing.
Although this gives you more control, you have to ensure you have a solid full swing and good timing on your groundstrokes otherwise you can hit a lot of unforced errors.
Headlight rackets generally have smaller head sizes, which means a smaller sweet spot, so you need to hit your shots with a lot of precision otherwise you’ll hit the frame more often.
Furthermore, as headlight rackets tend to be heavier frames overall, you need to be in better shape physically as your arm and shoulder can get more tired during a match.
Example of a headlight racket
If you want an example of a headlight racket, why not take a look at Roger Federer’s racket of choice. The Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph is 9 points headlight and it will give you lots of control, but the frame is a touch on the heavy side.
Pros of head heavy racket
Head heavy rackets are generally better suited to beginners, some senior players, or anyone who either hasn’t developed a solid tennis swing yet, or struggles generating power on their shots.
As more of the weight is towards the head, it means the racket head can be bigger. This is great for beginners as it gives you a larger sweet spot to make a better connection with the ball, and it provides players with more power.
Head heavy rackets tend to have lighter frames to compensate for the heavier head, making it a little easier to swing.
Cons of a head heavy racket
Although you get more power with a head heavy racket, the main thing you sacrifice is control. It’s a lot harder to control how hard to hit your shots from the baseline, as well as softer shots in and around the net.
The lighter frame is great if don’t have a strong physique as it makes the racket easier to swing. However, you get less stability which means it’s harder to deal with shots coming at you with a lot of paces.
Example of a head heavy racket
The Head Graphene 360 Instinct PWR is a great choice if you’re a beginner who wants lots of power from the baseline and a bit more juice on your serves. It’s a whopping 10 points head heavy!
Evenly balanced rackets
Evenly balanced rackets should offer you a nice blend of control, stability and power.
However, you are not really benefiting in any particular area. With this type of racket balance, you won’t get many advantages playing at the net or reacting to shots coming at you with a lot of speed. Also, at the baseline, you won’t generate as much power as a head-heavy racket, and your arm may still get tired during the match with all the repeated swings.
It might work for some players, but overall I still feel headlight is the way to go as your technique improves and you progress as a tennis player.
Example of an evenly balanced racket
The Babolat Pure Aero Lite is an evenly balanced tennis racket, and it’s a great option if you put lots of spin on your shots.
View more at How to measure tennis racket balance? - Tennisladys >> https://tennisladys.com/how-to-measure-tennis-racket-balance/
source
https://tennisladys.doodlekit.com/blog/entry/16227121/head-light-vs-head-heavy-vs-evenly-balanced-whats-the-difference
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