About Joe Rill Expertise Can answer questions related to coaching and playing tennis including stroke production, skill evaluation, group drills, player evaluation, planning and record keeping, mental toughness, first aid and minor health issues, social aspects of club tennis, tennis rules and regulations, and tennis courtesy. I no longer desire to answer questions on "How to become a Pro."
Experience Forty years total playing experience including: 25 years tournament play, three year tennis club tennis director; former racket stringer; Graduate Vandermeer Tennis Univ I; Virginia HS League certified coach; Asst Tournament Director
First of all, congratulations on all your impressive achievments and reputation.
Secondly, I have a question. I have a 13 year old niece who is taller than normal for her age (about 5'3"). Her tennis coach at school told her that out of the several tennis racquets on the market, she needs one of the shorter ones (in length I assume).
Can you please recommend a racquet for her? Should we be purchasing a Junior or an Adult racquet? My niece has been playing for two years now and is still at a learning level, although she is getting better every day. She plays 3 times a week.
Thank you so much in advance.
Cindy
Answer Hi Cindy,
This is a hard question for me to answer without seeing your niece play. I am a tennis coach and generally coaches have a basis for their recommendations (that she should play with a shorter racket). Her coach may know something that I do not. That notwithstanding (gee I love these long words…), I can give you some good general advice.
First, no matter what anyone says, do not buy her a junior racket. She has two years experience, she is showing improvement, and she is playing 3 times a week. She should have a good adult racket.
Second, find out who is the best teaching pro in your area. Normally they are located at the indoor tennis clubs or at the country clubs. Ask around—coaches, your tennis playing friends, or make a few cold calls to clubs. Once you find the best pro, schedule a private lesson for her. This is going to be expensive but you can split the cost with your sibling (her parent) and make it an early birthday or Christmas present (remember Arthur Ashe had a sponsor/mentor). Talk to the pro both before and after the lesson. Tell him/her your goals for your niece and that you want her/his evaluation after the lesson. Afterwards, ask her/his opinion on your niece's potential. The Pro is likely to say the potential is “high” but she needs more lessons… Ask the pro what kind of racket, grip size and string tension she should be using based on her level of play, power, and physique. The pro should recommend several rackets. This is only one part of the answer to your question. Once you have his recommendations, go to a sporting goods store or pro shop and tell them that you want to try out these specific rackets (ignore string tension for now). The retailer should have a loaner program (either free or for a nominal fee applicable to any racket you purchase from them), If not go elsewhere. Take the rackets to the court with your niece and let her hit with them. Be sure to caution her not to choose the one that looks the best—take the one that feels the best--whoa… Life lesson :-). Sorry, I get carried away…
Lest you think this is a “cop out,” I will tell you that I play with a Wilson Hyper Graphite Hammer. My wife is a certified teaching pro and she plays with a Prince (modified with lead tape to make it head heavy). Her affiliation is the US Professional Tennis Registry and they recommend Head. We have both played with Head and like the rackets a lot. Our problem is that once you find a racket you like, they quit making it… So, bottom line: Buy her an adult racket. Stick to the major manufacturers, not some brand you have never heard of. Let her participate in the selection process (participatory management…). Finally, stick with her throughout the process to monitor her reaction.
I have a feeling that your niece has a strong support group. If she continues her improvement and playing three times a week, (and gets a good lesson every so often…), she should be playing very high in her school's starting tennis matches if she is not doing so already. Way to go, Support Group!
You can e-mail me direct if I didn't answer your question (or if I provoked another one).
Joe Rill
HS10scoach@aol.com
