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Home Recreation And Sports Tennis How To Choose A Tennis Racket – Grip Size Explained

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Choosing the best tennis racket for you isn’t as simple as it may seem. Grip size is an important consideration. The days of going to the store and picking up the cheapest or most available rackets are long gone as players are faced with a myriad of tennis racket choices. Additionally, picking the right or wrong racket can have a significant impact on your performance as a tennis player.

What we’ll do in this article series is narrow down the essential elements of racket selection so you can be sure to choose the best tennis racket for you.

We’ll start with grip size.

How to decide which tennis racket grip size is right for you?

Although there are no hard and fast rules, the generally accepted standard in grip selection is a crude measurement, but serves as a good guide for tennis racket grip selection.

Try this:

Visit your tennis shop and hold the racket in your dominant hand. Next slide your non-dominant hand’s index finger between your dominant hand’s finger tips and palm. If your index finger does not fit between your finger tips and palm, then the grip is too small. If it fits, but there is plenty of room on either side of you index finger, then the grip is too big. Ideally, the theory holds that the best grip size for you is one in which the non-dominant hand’s index finger slides and fits snuggly between your dominant hand finger tips and palm.

If you choose a racket grip size that is too small, you may find that the racket turns or slips in your hand at ball contact because of less stability. Conversely, if you grip is too big, you may lose some of your ability to easily maneuver the racket. Additionally, a racket grip that is too big or too small may contribute to tennis related injuries like wrist or elbow injuries.

Although there are general guidelines about choosing the best tennis racket grip size for you, the ideal size is somewhat dependent on the player’s preference as well. For example, Rafael Nadal’s tennis racket grip size is very small (4 1/4) for someone his size. It is widely held that the most common grip size sold for men is likely a 4 3/8. Rafael Nadal’s use of intense wrist snap and topspin lends meshes well with his use of a small tennis racket grip. His incredible strength allows him to get away with this without a significant added risk of injury.

In conclusion, with the aid of your tennis professional and your local tennis shop, you should take time to carefully measure for the best racket grip size for you. You tennis professional can also provide guidance about how your style, strength, and experience level may be important factors for you when choosing the best tennis racket and grip size for you.

Short History Of Tennis

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Tennis is now single of the most well-liked sports all across the world. Tennis has get one of the most liked sport in most countries. Now being covered by large television and sponsorship, tennis is considered one of the richest sport in the world. The sport is played for recreation and amateur tournaments by millions of folks. Players choose on their love of tennis following the styles of current champions Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and celebrated slam champions in Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, the Williams sisters, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Martina Navratilova, and many more. If you’re a follower of the sport you would certainly recognize these names. How did the sport of tennis materialize? This sport is today on its unstoppable fame; it’s even becoming a contest about fashion.

When, who and how did the sport of tennis originate? The French invented a game they call “paume” meaning palm on the 12th century where they utilize their hands to move the ball. Within Europe the game became so popular and widespread that they started using rackets and change the name “paume” to “jeu de paume”. In 1873, Major Walter Wingfield created a game called Sphairistik, which is a Greek word for “playing ball”, he first played it on a grass court in Wales. It was given the name “sticky” at first and used in most books about the history of tennis, then it became known as “lawn tennis”, from which the present outdoor tennis advanced.

Later in history, lovers of the game had the need to compete and prove their excellent skills of the sport, so amateur and professional tournaments were established. Today, there are several international tournaments including the four tennis Grand Slams. The first of the slam tournaments is the U.S. Open. It was in this tournament where the tie-break was introduced in 1970 to break the tie games between FD Robbins and Dick Bell that went on for 100 games. Second is the Wimbledon Tournament which is Britain’s national championship and tennis grand slam. It was created in 1875 because of the growing popularity of tennis over croquet in England. The French Open is the third slam championship that was established back in 1891 and gained popularity in 1925. The Australian Open was included in the grand slam in 1905.

The sport continued to be popular; it became so ever popular as we know it today to the stage where it is likewise becoming a sport with the style. From tennis racquets used, to clothes, to shoes, to bags, even to head and wrist bands. They have all become so voguish and stylish not to mention that to complete the set of equipments and apparels for this game would fairly cost you. Celebrities have embraced the sport of tennis making it sort of controversial with the way players live the same life style.

Mini Tennis Know What It Is

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Mini Tennis, as the name suggests, is the game of tennis designed especially for children, aged in between 4 years to 11 years. Mini tennis is the modified version of tennis for younger or inexperienced players, in which all the skills and tactics of the real game is learned and used. It offers an exciting and colourful introduction to the game that helps in sustaining a young player’s interest in the game and gives them a desire to play tennis for life.

Mini Tennis is an early introduction to tennis, with emphasis on developing agility, balance and coordination which are fundamental skills to have in place when moving onto Mini-Tennis Red. There are special training sessions for the children interested in mini tennis. These sessions involves various exercises in the form of a circuit that prepares the child for the game, whilst getting them used to working with others around them.

Based on the players age, three courses have been designed which is followed globally. They are Red course, Orange Course and Green Course.

Mini Tennis Red Courses: This course has been specially designed for the beginners. Children aged between 4 to 7 years needs to get started from this course. This course helps in learning and developing movements, co-ordination and ball skills. The children get an introduction to the game and above all, fun! Sponge balls and small rackets are used during the Red Course.

Mini Tennis Orange Courses: This course has particularly been designed for children between 7 years to 9 years. After successfully completing the red course and learning the basics of the game, a child enters the orange course. Here they play on a larger court with low compression tennis balls. The emphasis is on playing the game, enjoying competition and learning all the shots.

Mini Tennis Green Courses: After the orange course, a child needs to undergo Green course training programme. This course is for children aging in between 9 years to 11 years. Here they play on a full size court with a ball that is slightly lighter and softer than a full tennis ball. This course promotes longer rallies. Children are encouraged to play matches and be competitive as they progress towards the full game.

Now comes the most interested part of mini tennis: Awards. Each colour stage has 3 levels. Level 3 is the most basic and level 1 is the most advanced. Each level has 5 sections covering physical skill, technical skill, tactical achievement, sportsmanship and off court commitment.

There are three tasks in each section. Once all 15 tasks of that level have been completed the child receives a certificate and a medal. At the ‘red’ stage, stickers are awarded for each task completed. They are then ready for the next level. There is no set time limit for each level award to be achieved.

Level 3 of each of the stages are generally easier to get and may be achieved in 1 or 2 sets of courses. Levels 1 and 2 will take longer to achieve.

Ways To Enhance An Ineffective Tennis Forehand – 5 Immediate Tips That Work

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The tennis forehand has become one of the most effective stroke in modern tennis, but a lot of people catch themselves having difficulties to perfect it.

Let me present you how to cure those bad tennis forehand habits you may have gathered as you attempt to learn tennis. Here are five instant tips that will ensure an improvement. Apply them out today!

Rotate Your Grip

Ever see yourself striking long, very frequent?

Test switching up your grip. Rotate a bit clockwise near the Western tip of the grip spectrum. Your racquet will face open later in your swing, so it provides better topspin. If you’re practicing a Continental grip, try rotating into an Eastern forehand grip. You’ll discover a quick enhancement, and make you wonder the importance of the Continental grip, period. This is a killer if combined with your effective tennis serve.

Adjust Your Position

Most people find themselves tilting back when striking.

Ensure you’re hitting with your weight on your front foot. Most times, we become so caught up in attacking the ball, we forget our move. You could be tilting excessively far forward, trying to meet the ball. This makes your racquet to open up. Instead, wait for the ball to get to you.

Rein in Your Backswing

Some people get excessively big a backswing, resulting to major troubles and inconsistencies.

Attempt striking a two-handed forehand to rein it in. It’ll feel embarrassing during workouts, but will create a huge improvement in game play when you shift back to striking with one hand.

Use Your Whole Body

The forehand isn’t just about appropriate swing technique. The rotation of your shoulders and torso is important to nailing this stroke.

Imagine your body as a tennis machine, with your torso and shoulders as crucial cogs in the machine. Focus your entire body weight towards striking the ball – not just your arm. Time your swing and move your shoulders – the rest will fall into place.

Follow Through

If you find yourself striking the ball farther left than intended, you’re probably very close to the ball. This is a common problem for numerous people.

Back up, and keep your racquet forward and up as you swing. The follow through is key – reach out and toward your target. You will gain improved control, not to mention increased power.

They might seem simple, but these 5 tips will vastly improve your forehand. Even if this stroke has caused you problems before, test putting the tips into your next workout session. I promise you’ll love the results.

Tennis History

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Tennis History You Should Know
A little bit of tennis history any tennis beginners should know.

For any future athlete that intends to start a new activity, knowing a little bit of history about the sport is always a good idea.

Ball games can be traced back for hundreds and thousands of years.
Usually played for entertainment or during religious ceremonies, ball games became highly popular in countless civilizations worldwide. European monks probably created the game of tennis. The players quickly found out that instead of hitting the ball off walls they had better control using their hand. A leather glove was soon created, and not long after, an adapted handle completed the first racquet.
As the racquets evolved, so did the balls that were used.
A bouncier type stuffed with bran material soon replaced the first primitive wooden balls.
The game became highly popular amongst monasteries all around Europe during the 14th century. At one time, the church considered forbidding the game.

In1874, Major Walter C. Wingfield patented in London the equipment and rules for a game fairly similar to modern tennis. In the same year, the first courts appeared in the United States. By the following year, equipment sets had been sold for use in Russia, India, Canada, and China.
Croquet was highly popular at this time, and the smooth croquet courts proved readily adaptable for tennis.Wingfield’s original court had the shape of an hourglass, narrowest at the net, and it was shorter than the modern court. His rules were subjected to considerable criticism, and he revised them in 1875, but he soon left the further development of the game to others.
In 1877, the All England Club held the first Wimbledon tournament, and its tournament committee came up with a rectangular court and a set of rules that are essentially the game we know today. The net was still five feet high at the sides, a carryover from the game’s indoor ancestor, and the service boxes were 26 feet deep, but by 1882, the specifications had evolved to their current form.
The growth of tennis continued and the 1927 Championship saw the first ever radio broadcast of a tennis event. This increased its popularity further and in the 1930s the game became highly fashionable, led by British stars such as Fred Perry and Don Budge and International Champions such as Henri Lacoste. You’ll notice from the photographs that tennis fashions were somewhat different in those days! Long trousers were the order of the day for men, and for women it was long dresses and stockings.
Fashion trends became a development in their own right and Bunny Austin from the USA shocked the crowds in 1933 when he became the first player to step out on to centre court wearing shorts! The 1930’s became Wimbledon’s boom time and in 1937, the championship was broadcast on the radio for the first time. This was a significant event, truly introducing tennis to the world.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s the game became dominated by the new legion of international players and crowds became captivated by the likes of Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, and John McEnroe. In the ladies game stars such as Sue Barker, Chris Evert Lloyd and Martina Navratilova filled the courts with fans. Britain’s foremost ladies player was Virginia Wade, the last Brit to win the Championships in 1977. The prize money went up, as did the hemlines of players clothing! In 1986 the Championships adopted yellow tennis balls for the first time – partly to make the speeding balls more visible for television cameras