Q: How does the weighting of a racquet affects play. I use a headlight racquet and really like the feel.
A: By weighting I assume that you mean the balance of the racquet. Headlight racquets tend to be heavier in overall weight, but because that weight is lower on the racquet it is more manuverable at the net. Headheavy racquets are normally lower in overall weight, but because the weight is concentrated at the tip of the frame they perform better at the baseline. So if you tend to spend more time at the net, you might prefer a headlight racquet, but if you are more of a baseliner you might go with a headheavy frame. Just make sure to demo a couple of racquets before you buy!
Q: How is swingweight determined and how does it affect the play of a racquet? Addition of lead tape to 3 and 6 positions?
A: the swingweight of a racquet is the weight of the racquet while it is in motion. A headheavy racquet that is 10 ounces will have a higher swingweight than a headlight racquet of the same weight. By adding leadtape at 3 o’clock and 6 o’clock you are doing two things. You are adding to the swingweight of the racquet, and you are adding stability. The extra weight at 3 and 6 o’clock will help reduce twisting on off center hits.
Q: I have been stringing my racquets at 55 in the crosses and 58 in the mains (hybrid syn gut and poly). What would lowering or raising the tension do for me?
A: The easy answer to this question is… If you raise the tension you will gain more control, if you lower it you will gain more power. The poly strings make the answer more complicated. A big trend with poly string is stringing at a very low tension. By lowering the tension on a poly you are making a “dead” string more lively. If you hit with a great deal of topspin this might be something to experiment with, but if you don’t I would steer clear of this trend.
Hopefully everyone has found some good information from these questions. If you have a question that you would like answered post it in the Gear Review section of the Essential Tennis Forums.
