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It seems like every couple of years new racquets come out made of some new space age materials, or a revolutionary manufacturing technique that is supposed to keep pushing the performance envelope.

Racquet companies introduce different frames to us, and market them as better racquets. I have tried all of the new racquet technologies and have come to the conclusion that most of the newer racquets on the market are pure hype.

Head has gone from Titanium, to Intelligent Fibers, to Liquid metal to Flexpoint. Head says a Flexpoint racquet is designed to increase flex in the hoop. Head claims that the Flexpoint racquets result in more accurate hitting.

Wilson says its nCode racquets take racquet construction to the molecular level, and that nCode racquets are designed to be more powerful and stable than ordinary racquets.

Prince have their O3 racquets. According to Prince these racquets are engineered with unique O-Ports to provide greater string freedom. Prince says these O-Ports increase the sweetspot size, power, and create less drag for better maneuverability.

Recently I tried out the new Prince O3 Tour and am 100 per cent sure that it is an inferior racquet to the Prince Original Graphite (20 years old technology).

I have been interested in tennis racquet customization for many years now. I have tried to change the weight and balance of my frames with some disastrous results (in the form of losses). After speaking to many current pros and talking to pro racquet technicians, choosing the right racquet is more science than anything else.

There is a universally perfect racquet out there.

This racquet’s weight distribution (overall weight, balance of weight, and concentration of weight) is similar to that of the human forearm and wrist.

The perfect racquet for you will feel like an extension of your arm.

My friend Steve Huss (doubles Wimbledon Champ) studied Exercise Physiology and was particularly interested in the performance enhancement of sports equipment from golf clubs, to baseball bats to racquets. Many of the same principles work for all sports with some kind of bat and ball interaction.

Steve said that there is a concentration of weight at your elbow and a concentration of weight at you hand (if you are holding something).

When you throw a ball, you lead with your elbow, and snap your hand around the weight of your elbow. In tennis your game will dramatically improve if there are two concentrations of weight that you can adjust against each other as you swing the racquet to the ball.

These two weights have to be set up so they are working together. The Pro Racquet Technicians understand this distinction, and modify the top juniors and pro’s frames accordingly. The racquet companies also understand this distinction, and are doing custom setups for their sponsored players.

The average consumer isn’t being offered the same service unless they are willing to pay a private company to customize their frames.

This can be very expensive. The big companies know what works but aren't selling it to us in the form of new products.

I believe that the type of racquet a player uses can have a profound effect on the type of tennis game he or she develops.

Ideally a player should use a racquet that allows him to enhance his style of play.

The only way to know for sure if you like a racquet is to play with it. I always will demo one particular racquet for a few days because I tend to concentrate more on the first day.

If I still like it once the “newness” wears off, I might be on to something.

Most pro’s are using old racquet technology under their flashy new paint jobs. I believe racquet technology peaked about ten years ago. These racquets offered more performance benefits than today’s versions.[[In-content Ad]]

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