The 5 Best Tennis Rackets For Doubles

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9 Post-Match Recovery Strategies for Tennis Players

Written by Gui Hadlich in Fitness,Physiotherapy & Recovery

9 Post-Match Recovery Strategies for Tennis Players

There’s something to be said about the endurance of professional tennis players. In order to win a Grand Slam tournament, players are required to win 7 matches in 14 days. Essentially, that means that they need to play a 3-out-of-5 match every other day. And as you may know, 5-set matches can last well over 4 or 5 hours. 

In 2012, Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray in the semi-finals of the Australian Open in a match that lasted 4 hours and 50 minutes. Two days later, he defeated Rafael Nadal in the finals in 5 hours and 53 minutes. That means that over the span of 3 days, Djokovic spent 10 hours and 43 minutes on a tennis court running from side to side while competing against one of the best players of all time. An average professional marathon runner takes about 2:15 hours to finish a marathon, so even though I know you can’t take breaks during a marathon, it’s almost like Djokovic ran 4 and a half marathons in 3 days!

Another example was in 2017 when Roger Federer defied all odds by winning the Australian Open at 35 years of age. On his way to the title, he beat Kei Nishikori in 5 sets in the 4th round, Stan Wawrinka in 5 sets in the semi-finals, and Rafael Nadal in 5 sets in the final. That means that Federer played a total of 18 sets (3 more in the quarterfinals) over the span of 7 days. Against. The Best. In the World. 

So how come tennis players can play for so long at such a high level? Well, besides being in super-human shape and having smooth strokes, it all comes down to their top-notch recovery processes. The top players know how important it is to do everything right before, during, and after a match, and in many cases, they travel with a whole team that helps them to accomplish that.

While the post-match recovery strategy for each player may differ based on personal preference, it most likely involves some or all of the following:

  1. Hit Some Balls
  2. Light Jog or Bicycle
  3. Stretch
  4. Massage
  5. Ice Bath
  6. Physiotherapy
  7. Eat and Hydrate A LOT
  8. Meditate
  9. Sleep

While I know that we don’t have access to the same tools that professional players have, we will cover talk about the importance of each recovery strategy below, so you can attempt to choose the ones that are good for you. Regardless of whether you are a beginner or an advanced player, a good recovery strategy is essential for you to stay away from injuries and take your game to the next level a lot faster. 

#1) Hit Some Extra Balls

This is something that may come as a surprise to you, but many players actually go out for a quick hit after a match – even if it is a long one. I’ve done that in the past several times when I was playing in college and professionally, and it definitely made me feel more recovered the next day.

The reason why players choose to do that is that they feel like they didn’t finish their match playing well. Maybe their legs got tired and they started hitting their forehand poorly, or maybe they played against a big server who didn’t give them much rhythm. Regardless of the reason, it can be very important to hit a few balls after a match, just to make sure you “loosen up” and feel good about your performance. It should not be anything tiring, just until you feel good about yourself – something like 15 to 30 minutes. If you feel good, you will be more refreshed mentally and will recover better. 

#2) Light Jog or Bicycle

The second strategy adopted by many players is to go for a light jog on a treadmill or hit the stationary bike for a bit. This strategy is what we call active recovery, and many players choose that over passive recovery. The idea is to do some light exercising at about 60% of intensity for a short time (about 20 to 30 minutes). 

The general idea behind this strategy is that it facilitates the flushing out of lactic acid. When we exercise intensely, our bodies produce lactic acid through a somewhat complicated process. To keep it simple, whenever our bodies cannot send enough oxygen to our muscles, those muscles need to produce energy by some other method – and that method releases lactic acid. That lactic acid, then, increases the acidity in our muscles. Some people believe that the accumulation of lactic acid is the reason why we feel sore after exercises, although this is not scientifically confirmed. 

Since light jogging and cycling may help to flush out the lactic acid, it may be why players feel better after doing so after a long match. Another plausible explanation would be that the act of jogging or cycling realigns the muscle fibers that were broken down during the tennis match.

#3) Stretch

One of the most important aspects of the post-match recovery process is stretching. My mom, as she had many injuries throughout her life, taught me how important it was to stretch after a match since I was 10 years old. You may call it a coincidence, but, in 17 years of playing tennis, I never had an injury that forced me to stay out of the courts for longer than a week. 

One of the major benefits of stretching is that it increases flexibility. By doing so, it allows the muscles to go back to their natural position and therefore reduce pain. As you become more flexible, the odds of you getting injured also decrease. Since your range of movement will be greater, the chances of you making movements that will injure you are smaller. 

Some other benefits from stretching are that it helps the body to go back to a calm state and it helps to reduce lactic acid. You know that it can be hard to calm down after a long, hard win since your spirits are high and you just want to celebrate. Stretching will help you to turn your attention back to your body and calm your mind. 

#4) Massage

While not every player can afford to travel with their own masseuse, some of the top players make sure they always get a nice massage after a long match. If you ever had a nice massage, you probably get why. A nice massage can help with the recovery after a tennis match immensely.

First, it will help your muscles relax. As you play a long match, your muscles will begin contracting and creating a lot of accumulated tension. That tension needs to come out somehow; otherwise, you will feel sore the next day. That is exactly why players choose to get a massage – masseuses know how and where to apply the right amount of pressure so that muscle tension will be dissipated. 

In addition, a massage will activate certain parts of your body, increasing the blood flow to those areas. An increase in blood flow will help with the release of lactic acid and increase the injection of oxygen to those muscles, which is believed to speed up the recovery process. 

Since it may be hard and expensive for you to get a massage after every match, you may want to invest in a portable massage gun like this one. They are much more affordable than getting a massage and they are guaranteed to reach the deep tissue, increasing the release of lactic acid. If you have ever tried one of these, you know how much better you feel after a massage.

#5) Ice Bath

This is probably the most painful recovery method out of all 9. Sometimes, after a long, hard-fought match the last thing you want is to jump in a pool filled with borderline freezing water. Yet, it can be very beneficial to suck it up and jump in. 

The reason why most pro tennis players take ice baths after matches is because they believe it can help with their recovery process in 2 ways. First, it can aid in the flushing of lactic acid. Second, every time you go through intense exercising, your muscles suffer these micro-tears – which end up causing that sore feeling. Ice baths are believed to help with the healing of such micro-tears, which allow your muscles to go back to their original state faster.

Notice that you shouldn’t stay in the ice bath for longer than 15 or 20 minutes, otherwise you will lose most of its benefits. However, if you have access to one, I would definitely recommend you give it a shot. While it may not be very pleasant, you may thank yourself later. If you are staying at a hotel, you can just fill up the bathtub with cold water and fill it up with ice from the ice machine.

#6) Physiotherapy

The top players in the world usually go see their physiotherapists after long matches, and those physiotherapists give players the best treatments they can think of. Sometimes it may be some additional stretching, sometimes it may be an additional massage, and sometimes they can use some cool gadgets like compression boots. 

Seeing a physiotherapist after a match can be extremely valuable, especially if you have a history of injuries like shoulder, wrist, or knees. Those professionals can help you find ways to reduce inflammation and save you from further injuries in the future. Remember, you can’t improve your game if you are not allowed to step on the court!

#7) Eat and Hydrate A LOT

One of the most overlooked recovery methods by amateurs is hydration and nutrition after a match. You may follow all of the other steps to a T, but if you don’t eat and hydrate well, you will not recover well.

You have burned a lot of calories during your match, so you need to refuel your body with the proper types of foods and drinks. After a match, it is important to eat a large amount of carbohydrates, as those will replenish your energy reserves. You should also aim to ingest a good amount of lean protein since those are responsible for muscle recovery. In addition, you should drink an almost uncomfortable amount of water and replenish your electrolytes. You may want to try drinking some Pedialyte, as those are great for dehydration. I used to drink them every time we played a match in college, and they helped me feel better the next day. Gatorades are not as great, as they have way too much sugar and should be drunk with moderation.

#8) Meditate

While it is important to take good care of your body, it is just as important to take good care of your mind. A good amount of professional players adopts meditation as part of their recovery process, and that will help bring them to a relaxed state. 

By meditating, a tennis player can get in sync with their body, reflect on what things worked well in a match, think about what needs to be better, feel which areas of their body is not feeling great, and get ready for a good night of sleep. While it may not feel as important as taking good care of your body, taking good care of your mind is even more important. The last thing you want is for your body to be recovered the next day but your mind be all burned out. 

#9) Sleep

The last and final strategy of the post-match recovery process is to get a good night of sleep. I cannot – and I repeat – cannot enforce enough how important it is to get a good night of sleep after a match. Even though it sounds like a no-brainer, it can actually be quite hard to sleep well. 

A lot of times, there is still a lot of adrenaline rushing through our bodies. Other times, you may be too sore to fall asleep. So you need to be very proactive when it comes to your sleep after a match. You should make sure your brain is ready to turn off, so make sure you stay away from stimulators like television or computers. Maybe you should try taking some melatonin, as that may help you fall asleep. No matter what it is, you should take the necessary actions to sleep well, as that is extremely important for a fast recovery. 

Conclusion

The 9 post-match recovery steps outlined above are used by many professional tennis players on the tour, and they can be used by all of us. We have provided you with a framework for your recovery process, so now it is up to you to know which one of these strategies will make you fresh for a whole new day of tennis. 

What To Eat Before A Tennis Match (with 23 Ideas)

Written by Gui Hadlich in Fitness,Nutrition

I believe tennis can be a very merciless sport sometimes. You can practice hard for months, train your body and mind, rest when you need to do so – and yet, if you wake up not feeling well before a match, everything may go down the drain. Since you can’t be subbed-out or take time-outs, you need to make sure you’re feeling good every time you step on a tennis court. 

In order to feel good, you need to create healthy habits that can be repeated before every match – and by doing that, you will feel the same way every time you play a match. One of the easiest (and most overlooked) ways to boost your performance in tennis matches is to eat the right types of food at the right times. Nutrition is so important for players, and yet a lot of times it is not taken as seriously as it should. 

We can compare our bodies before a match to a formula 1 car before a race. You need to make sure the car has the proper tires in place, the right type and amount of fuel, and that every other little piece is in its proper place. If you fail to prepare the car properly, it will not perform and it will either break down or need to take a pit stop earlier than planned. Our bodies work the exact same way; if we put bad foods into our bodies before a match, we need to be ready for a bad performance. Garbage in, garbage out. Nutrition is so incredibly important, that Novak Djokovic credits the massive improvement in his game in the past few years to his diet. If it’s true for the pros, it is certainly true for us as well. 

So what should you eat before a tennis match? As a general rule before a tennis match, you should eat meals that contain lean protein and are high in simple carbohydrates, as those are easily digested and will give you energy for the match. You should stay away from foods with a lot of fat and that are hard to digest, as those will slow down your metabolism and make you feel sluggish.  

It is important to take pre-match nutrition seriously not only because it will help you perform better, but because there are few things that are worse than feeling sick on a tennis court. Trust me, it’s not very pleasant to feel like your food is coming back up during the warm-up. And probably even less fun it is to feel like you’re dying at 2/2 in the first set because you didn’t eat enough. In order to avoid such mistakes, we’ll cover what, when, and how much you should be eating before a tennis match.

The Importance Of Different Food Groups 

While it is important to maintain a balanced diet on a regular basis, we need to understand the importance of each different food group if we want to maximize our tennis performance. Every food we eat is composed of mainly 3 nutrients: protein, carbohydrates, and fats. While all 3 nutrients serve in one way or another to provide energy to our bodies, each one serves a different purpose. 

Fats are used in some ways for energy and to help the body absorb vitamins. Therefore, it is important to consume a certain amount for them on a daily basis. Proteins, on the other hand, are known to help the body build and repair muscle tissue. For that reason, protein-rich elements are excellent for post-match recovery. Lastly, carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy, and consequently, are extremely important before a tennis match. Below we will dive a little bit more in-depth into how carbohydrates can boost performance. 

The Importance Of Carbs For Tennis Players

Every time we ingest carbohydrates, our bodies eventually break them down into glucose (sugar) particles. Glucose is the body’s main source of energy, so we can think of it as the fuel we use in our cars. Whenever glucose enters our body, it can either be transformed into glycogen or into fatty acids, depending on what our body needs the most. Glycogen is stored in our brain, our muscles, and our tissues – and it is the fastest source of energy for our bodies. If our glycogen reserves (the equivalent to a car’s tank) are low in “fuel”, glucose is turned directly into glycogen. So in that sense, glycogen can be thought of as the fuel in a car’s tank. It can help us perform well and without interruptions until we run out of it. 

However, if our glycogen reserves are already full, the additional glucose we ingest will be transformed into another source of energy: fatty acids. They are stored, well… mostly in our bellies. Fatty acids would be the equivalent of filling up a few empty milk jugs with fuel and keeping them in the back of your car. They can be used as fuel, but you would need to stop the car, it would take longer, and it would be kind of a hassle. 

In addition, carbs can be classified into 3 categories according to the Glycemic Index: Low, Medium, and High GI foods. High GI foods (white bread, pasta) are absorbed rapidly, raising the glucose level in your blood very quickly. Low GI foods (whole grain), on the other hand, raise glucose levels slowly and steadily. Normally, people should stick mostly to Low GI foods, but athletes can benefit a lot from consuming High GI foods before performing. 

Whenever you’re looking to improve your tennis performance, you need to make sure you keep your glycogen reserves filled up to the right point. You don’t want them to be too empty, otherwise, you will run out of energy. And you don’t want them to be too full, otherwise, you will end up gaining weight. So how do you do that? We’ll cover that below. 

What To Eat The Night Before A Tennis Match

While preparation right before the match is very important, you should start getting ready for the match the night before. The dinner on the night before a match is extremely important, as it will set the tone for how your body should operate. I’ve made the mistake once of eating pizza and drinking Coke with my friends the night before a professional tournament. Well, let’s just say that it was a mistake I only intend to make once in my life. The next day, I was extremely sluggish on the court, felt stressed out the whole time, and felt like I could not concentrate. So even if you eat healthy right before a match, you will still pay the price for a bad dinner the night before. 

With that being said, what types of foods should you eat the night before a tennis match? You should aim to have a decent-sized meal (don’t overstuff yourself!) containing vegetables, a little bit of lean protein, and a good amount of simple (High GI) carbohydrates, and stay away from fatty or greasy foods. Notice that High GI carbohydrates are more desirable here than Low GI ones, as they will allow you to fill up your glycogen reserves faster. 

Low GI foods (whole grain) contain a lot of fiber, which is not digested by the human body. So even though you’re consuming a decent amount of carbs, your body is not absorbing all that energy. 

Consuming fatty foods the night before a match is a terrible idea, as they take an extremely long time to be digested, which will make your body work too hard just to process your dinner. In addition, there is always a risk of getting an upset stomach and staying awake at night. 

Marathon runners begin loading up on simple carbs about a week before a marathon, just so they can have enough energy throughout the race. While a tennis match does not require the same amount of energy as a marathon, it can still take between 2 to 3 hours. For that reason, you want to make sure you eat a good amount of carbohydrates the night before, so you can fill up your glycogen reserves and have enough energy during the match. 

Some of the best dinner options you can have the night before a match are:

1) Spaghetti with Red Sauce and Shrimp, Chicken, or Lean Beef

2) Grilled Chicken or Fish with Sweet Potatoes and Other Veggies

3) Rice Bowl with Salmon and Veggies

4) Turkey or Ham Sandwich

5) Lean Sushi Rolls (with no sauces or cream cheese)

6) BBQ Chicken Pizza (with no cheese)

7) Chicken & Mushroom Risotto (no cheese)

8) Poke-Bowl with no heavy meats or sauces

What To Eat For Breakfast Before A Tennis Match

After having a good dinner the night before and a good night of sleep, your breakfast will dictate how much energy you’re going to have throughout the day. You should try to have breakfast at least 2 to 3 hours before a match, just to give your body enough time to process the food. 

Planning your breakfast can be a little tricky since a lot of times tennis matches end up being delayed and we’re left with an awkward time gap in which we don’t know whether we should eat again or not. My best suggestion in order to avoid that is to try to have breakfast about 3 hours before your match and then make sure you have some snacks packed up in your tennis bag. 

The idea behind your breakfast on game-day is the same one as for dinner the night before: make sure you eat enough carbs and a little bit of protein. Steering away from fatty foods is even more important during breakfast; otherwise, you may end up feeling indisposed during your match. Hydration at this point is increasingly important as well, so make sure you are drinking enough fluids. Coffee is usually not recommended, but if you’re used to drinking coffee, not drinking it will actually cause more damage than drinking it. If you can, try to drink it black or with just a little bit of milk or creamer, so you won’t feel too stuffed. 

Here are some of our best suggestions for breakfast before a tennis match:

9) Pancakes with a Side of Egg Whites

10) Cooked Oatmeal with Honey + Yogurt

11) Waffles with Fresh Fruit

12) Bagel with Peanut Butter and Side of Scrambled Eggs

13) Oatmeal, Banana, and Peanut Butter

14) Toast with Turkey and Low-fat Cheese

15) Egg-White Omelet with a Side of Toast and Jam

What To Eat 1 – 2 Hours Before A Tennis Match

Well, now you might be warmed up already and match time might be coming up. As I mentioned before, it might have been a couple of hours since you last ate, and you’re not sure whether you should eat again or not. The general rule here is that (unless you’re full) you should eat something, even if it is very small. By doing that, you’re ensuring that your glycogen reserves are full and that you will start the game ready. 

If you’re about an hour away from your match, you should try to steer away from all fats and proteins, and look for carbs that will be rapidly absorbed by your body. It is almost like you’re trying to get a “sugar-rush” – except you need to choose the right food so you don’t crash later. It’s very important to make sure you are well hydrated as well. 

We need to keep in mind that you might not have access to a store at that time or a restaurant, so you need to be prepared. Since you would need to keep the food in your tennis bag, we’ll only list foods and snacks that fit that criteria. Here is a list of the best foods to eat before a tennis match:

16) Fresh Fruit (Bananas, Apples, or Berries)

17) Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich

18) Granola Bar

19) Gu Energy gel

20) Dried Fruit

21) Rice Cake

22) Pretzels 

23) Dry Cereal

Conclusion

While carbs have gotten a bad reputation in recent years, you need to accept that, as an athlete, carbs will be your best source of energy. You need to eat them in the right quantity, so that is why it’s important to plan in advance. With the 23 options we provided above, you should have enough information to develop a healthy routine for your tennis matches. Once again, the important thing to remember is to stay away from heavy and fatty foods, and lean towards simple carbohydrates. Also, try sticking with foods that are familiar to you! The last thing you want is to have to take several bathroom breaks during a match. 

Best Christmas Gifts For Tennis Players in 2020

Written by Karue Sell in General Info,Recommended Gear

The holidays are quickly approaching and you might be asking yourself what would be a good present for the tennis lover in your life. Well look no further, we at MyTennisHQ have you covered. Here are some of the best and most useful products we believe will bring a big smile to The tennis fanatic in your life. 

1 – Hypervolt Massage Gun

Chances are that the tennis player in your life is often complaining about soreness in their bodies. A great way to recover your muscles is a good massage but that can become costly. Enters the Hyperice Hypervolt massage gun. This is the best portable personal massager you can buy. While it is premium priced, it is totally worth it. The massager comes with different heads so you can work on several different parts of your body, it is built like a tank and it has plenty of speeds to fit all comfort levels. I personally love this device and many pros travels with them to every tournament. Plus, you can gift this to your loved one and use it yourself. It is a win win. 

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2 – Thermal Water Bottle

Hydration is very important and so is saving the environment from evil plastic water bottles. With an insulated water bottle, the tennis player in your life will have fresh cold water to drink and will also be saving sea turtles at the same time. Two birds, one stone. Here are some of our favorite bottles:

Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Water Bottle 32 and 40 oz

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Yeti Rambler 36oz Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Bottle 

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Simple Modern 20oz Ascent Water Bottle 

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3 – Nutrition and Hydration Items

Another gift you can give to your loved one is the gift of energy. Players burn a lot of calories and lose a lot of electrolytes during matches and workouts. Help your tennis friend stay at peak performance with the following items:

Nuun Electrolyte Rich Sports Drink Tablets

These tablets are amazing, I always have them with me. They are easy to pack and won’t make a mess in your bag. If you are feeling adventurous, they have a version with caffeine on them. I highly recommend them. 

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Vitalyte Electrolyte Powder Sports Drink

If you want to go on a more traditional route, try this brand. You can have more control on how much you mix in your water. A lot of professional players drink Vitalyte.

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Gu Energy Rostand Ultra Endurance Energy Gel

These gels are incredible. You might not need to take them every time you play but if you find yourself playing a long match, this gel might give you that extra energy to push you over the finish line. They have all sorts of flavors so you can try it out and see what you like.

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Jelly Belly Extreme Sport Beans

Some people don’t enjoy the gel’s texture so here is a tasty alternative: jelly beans. They serve the same purpose as the gel but it feels like you are eating candy. The young tennis player in your life will love it

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4- A Good/Stylish Duffle Bag

Let’s be honest, if you are not a professional player who breaks a lot of strings and needs 8 rackets, you do not need to carry around a huge tennis bag to and from the tennis club. Try a nice, stylish and practical duffle bag to keep things minimalistic. 

The Getaway Bag By Sympl

This is my favorite bag, I use it myself. While it is designed by a surfing company, the getaway bag is perfect for tennis. It is made of neoprene so you can toss all your dirty sweaty clothes in it. It will fit a couple rackets, tennis shoes and a change of clothes without any problems. Plus it is as stylish as it gets. People always ask me about it. This is one of the best gifts on this list.

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Under Armour Undeniable Duffle 3.0 Gym Bag

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Carhartt Legacy Gear Bag 

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5 – A Ball Machine

You might have that person in your life who has the tennis bug and can’t get off the court. But sometimes it can be hard to find someone to play with, so give them a ball machine. You might not see them for a week or two but they will for sure love it 

Spinshot Pro Tennis Ball Machine 

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A more compact option:

Lobster Sports Elite Grand Four Battery Powered Tennis Ball Machine

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6 – Topspin Pro 

If are more on a budget, give your loved one a tennis swing trainer tool. They can set it up anywhere and work on their strokes. It is especially good for kids who are learning how to play.

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7 – Physical Therapy Gadgets 

As bad as it is, we are all subject to injuries. Physical therapy can be costly but there are few products that can help your friend/relative recover or prevent an injury. These are all products I’ve used myself in order to stay healthy. 

TheraBand FlexBar Relieve Tendonitis Pain

Very useful tool to help tennis players straighten their grip, forearms, elbows and shoulders. Also extremely easy to carry around.

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Letsfit Resistance Loop Bands

These bands are a great tool to help players warm up and activate their core and gluteus before playing.

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Blackmountain Resistance Band Set

A must have for any tennis player. Warming up your shoulders, scapulas and rotator cuffs is absolutely necessary before every tennis session.

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FlintRehab Therapy Putty 

This may look unconventional, but it can help players work on their grip strength. Look up a few exercises and try it for yourself. Great for injury prevention

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Kieba Massage Lacrosse Balls 

Rolling out after playing or workouts is key to a good recovery. Try rolling out with lacrosse balls. They are smaller and you can find the knots that are bothering you and roll them out.

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Electric Foam Roller 

Great option for rolling out bigger muscles.

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8 – Shoes 

You can never go wrong gifting a nice pair of tennis shoes. Here are my favorite pairs released in 2019:

NikeCourt Airmax Wildcard

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ASICS Gel Resolution 8

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Adidas SoleMatch Bounce

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9 – Tennis Books

There are several tennis books to choose from. From autobiographical work to scientific analysis, the selection is enormous. Here are my favorites:

Open: An Autobiography – Andre Agassi

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Winning Ugly: Mental Warfare in Tennis – Brad Gilbert

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Rafa – Rafael Nadal and John Carlin

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10 – Pro Stringer

For most casual players this is a bit unnecessary because they do not break too many strings. But for higher level players, a portable stringer is an amazing gift. While it is expensive, it will pay for itself in the long run. I have a student who breaks 3 / 4 strings a day, each of those cost at least $15 to restring. This is the best portable stringer you can buy. It is small and lightweight and your tennis fanatic friend/relative can take it anywhere with them.

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The Top 7 Best Tennis Racquet Brands in 2022

Written by Gui Hadlich in Rackets,Recommended Gear

When you’re just starting to play tennis, everything can be very overwhelming. There are so many rules, different shots you need to learn, different court types, and, above all, so much different equipment to choose from. There are different types of balls, shoes, strings, and racquets. On top of that, each racquet has different specifications like head size, tension, weight, and grip size – which makes the task of choosing a racquet very daunting for a beginner. 

When you’re shopping for racquets, you may be inclined to just choose whatever racquet is cheapest, but that may prove not to be a great idea. Besides your talent and hours of practice, a good racquet will make the greatest impact on your overall game. So when it comes time to buy a racquet, you want to make sure you buy a racquet from a good brand. 

The best tennis racket brands in 2021 are Dunlop, Prince, Tecnifibre, Yonex, Head, Babolat, and Wilson. When looking for the best tennis racquet brands, you should look for racquets that will last for a long time, give you control and power, be gentle on your body, and that will not become outdated.

You never want to purchase a racquet that will stop being manufactured any time soon, since it would be very hard to buy an extra one.

While you will see professional players using all sorts of different racquets, the truth is that all of them are manufactured by only 7 different brands. These brands have been around for a while, and are known to make high-quality racquets that are good for both professional players and beginners. So when choosing a racquet, you should stick to one of the 7 brands we will cover below. 

#7 – Dunlop

Dunlop Sports specializes in the manufacturing of golf and tennis equipment. The British company started as a manufacturer of rubber goods in 1889, and later entered the sports world. Dunlop entered the tennis market by manufacturing tennis balls, and even today, it is what it is most known for. 

Throughout the past decades, Dunlop rackets have lost market share to top brands like Head, Babolat, and Wilson, but it was a very prevalent brand in the past. Some of the tennis greatest legends used Dunlop racquets at their prime: Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Rod Laver, and John McEnroe. Currently, the most successful players who use Dunlop racquets are Kevin Anderson in singles and Jamie Murray in doubles. 

Currently, Dunlop has 3 main lines of racquets: CV, CX, and CZ Series. The CV Series is better suited for players who hit shots with topspin, the CX Series fits well for heavy hitters, and the CZ series are great for players who like to hit the ball flat. Prices for these racquets range from $169 to $229 each. 

#6 – Prince

Prince is a sports material manufacturer that focuses exclusively on tennis equipment. Prince is an American company, founded in 1970 in Princeton, New Jersey. Similarly to Dunlop, Price has lost a great deal of market share to Head, Wilson, and Babolat. 

In the past, players like Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, Michael Chang, the Bryan Brothers, and Jennifer Capriati were sponsored by Prince, which brought the brand to the top. Currently, the most successful players to use Prince racquets are John Isner and Lucas Pouille.

Prince racquets are known to give players a lot of power (and not that much control), which is one of the reasons why the company may have lost market share. As tennis matches become longer and more physical, players need to maintain control throughout the match – which makes them look for other brands. 

Currently, Prince offers 5 different lines of racquets: Beast, Premier, Tour, Phantom, Attack, & Pink Series. Most of the new models range from $89 to $189. 

#5 – Technifibre

Technifibre is a French racquet brand that actually started as a manufacturer of tennis strings. The company started in 1983 and later moved into the tennis balls market, and eventually began making its own racquets in 2004. While the brand is relatively young compared to some of its competitors, it has been definitely gaining space among the top racquet brands. 

Recently, Technifibre moved into other racquet sports like Squash and Paddle as well. The most successful tennis players who use Technifibre racquets are Daniil Medvedev, Jeremy Chardy, Janko Tipsarevic, John Millman, and Denis Istomin. Aside from Daniil Medvedev, they are all players who are ranked usually between the top 30 and 100 of the ATP rankings. On the women’s side, the best Technifibre representative is Daria Kasatkina. 

Currently, Techinifibre offers 4 different lines of racquets, 3 of them geared towards male players and 1 towards females. The 3 racquet lines for males are the T-Fight, T-Flash, and T-Fit, while the 1 for females is the T-Rebound. The prices for the racquets range from $149 to $199.

#4 – Yonex

The main Asian tennis racquet brand is Yonex, a Japanese brand that has become increasingly popular in the last few years. The company actually began as a manufacturer of badminton racquets and in 1969 it began producing tennis racquets as well. 

Yonex first became popular when it signed contracts with tennis legends Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King. Some of the other successful players to represent Yonex were Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, Richard Krajicek, Marcelo Rios, Ana Ivanovic & Lleyton Hewitt. 

While the brand has been represented by several successful players in the past, it was only recently that it became one of the mainstream rackets on tour. Currently, several of the top 100 players use Yonex racquets, including Stan Wawrinka, Denis Shapovalov, Nick Kyrgios, Frances Tiafoe, Naomi Osaka, Belinda Bencic, & Angelique Kerber.

In 2019, Yonex offers 5 different lines of racquets: Ezone, VCore Pro, VCore, Astrel, and Junior. Yonex racquets are known to give a lot of control and power at the same time, but players do need to have a “fast hand” and strong arms. Most Yonex racquets range from $169 to $239.

#3 – Head

Finally, Head is one of the “Big 3” when it comes to tennis racquets. The American-Dutch company manufactures equipment for a lot more sports than the others, including skiing, snowboarding, snorkeling, and swimming. The company began producing tennis racquets in 1960. 

The list of players who represented Head is much more extensive than all the other brands mentioned above. Some of the main names are John McEnroe, Arthur Ashe, Andre Agassi, Marat Safin, Gustavo Kuerten, Goran Ivanišević, Robin Soderling, among many others. 

Currently, a lot of the main players represent Head: Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Mateo Berrettini, Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner, Diego Schwartzman, Gilles Simon, Bianca Andreescu, Coco Gauff, Ashleigh Barty, Maria Sharapova, & Sloane Stephens. 

Besides racquets, Head manufactures balls, shoes, bags, and strings. The main lines of Head racquets are Instinct, Gravity, Speed, Radical, and Extreme. Each line is very different from another and they can be used by all sorts of players. Most racquets range from $129 to $229. 

#2 – Babolat

Babolat started in France, also as a manufacturer of tennis strings. Babolat is actually a very old brand, with its start dating back to 1875. Babolat strings were adopted by some of the early French starts (Suzzane Lenglen, Henri Cochet), which propelled the brand into the center of the tennis world. 

In 1994, Babolat finally launched its first line of racquets, and, in 1998, Carlos Moya was the first person ever to win a Grand Slam tournament using a Babolat racquet. Since then, Babolat began making shoes and clothing, and several tennis stars began using the brand’s racquets: Andy Roddick, Fernando Gonzalez, Kim Clijsters, & Li Na. 

In the past, Babolat racquets have been used mostly by players who have clay as their favorite surface, since clay courts generally require players to use more topspin and Babolat racquets are perfect for that. However, since the game has become increasingly slower, with hard courts that allow the shots to bounce higher, Babolat is now seen as a good racquet for all surfaces. Currently, some of the main players who use Babolat racquets are Rafael Nadal, Felix-Auger Aliassime, Benoit Paire, Fabio Fognini, Dominic Thiem, Jack Sock, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Caroline Wozniacki, Kristina Pliskova, Johana Konta, and Garbine Muguruza. 

Babolat currently offers 3 main lines of racquets: Pure Aero, Pure Drive, and Pure Strike. These lines are geared towards high-performance or even intermediate players. The brand also offers 5 different lines for beginners: Strike, Aero, Evoke, Drive, and Pulsion. The latter lines are lighter and offer great head sizes, which allow for easier ball contact. Racquet prices range from $139 to $249.

#1 – Wilson

Finally, we consider the best tennis racquet brand to be Wilson, the Chicago based sporting goods company. Wilson works with several different sports besides tennis, including Basketball (Mr. Wilson!), Volleyball, Golf, Baseball, and Football. Wilson started in 1913 and has been growing ever since. 

Wilson racquets are overall very balanced, providing a great combination of power, control, and touch. Normally, players who use Wilson racquets are the ones who do not have a game style that requires a lot of topspin – since the racquets are not known for providing that. Some of the past tennis players who used Wilson racquets are Pete Sampras, Gaston Gaudio, Justine Henin, Stefan Edberg, Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert, Jim Courier, & Steffi Graff. 

Currently, the majority of players in the top 100 of the ATP and WTA use Wilson racquets, which says something about the quality of such racquets. Some of the most successful players to use Wilson are Roger Federer, Serena and Venus Williams, Juan Martin del Potro, David Goffin, Grigor Dimitrov, Gael Monfils, Kei Nishikori, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Petra Kvitova, & Simona Halep. 

Wilson offers 4 different main lines at the moment: Clash, Blade, Ultra, and Pro Staff. Most racquets range from $139 to $249 depending on the specifics.  

Conclusion

As you can see, there are several different brands of racquets you can choose from. We understand it can be overwhelming to choose a racquet, but as long as you stick to one of the brands mentioned above, you should know that you will have a good racquet in your hands. You will still need to decide on which specific racquet you want, so you should take into consideration your skill level, your budget, and your body. Normally, if you have a tennis shop near you, someone there will be able to give you further advice about which racquet to choose. 

You should know that most tennis shops allow customers to “test-drive” racquets. You would just need to leave some money as a security deposit, and you could leave with 3 or 4 racquets to try out. I definitely recommend you do that before choosing one. Based on what we have seen in 2019, you should expect to pay between $120 to $250 for a good racquet, so you want to make sure you’re getting a good bang for your buck. And as we mentioned earlier, your racquet will be one of the greatest influencing factors in your overall game. 

Below you will see a table that compares the top 7 best tennis racquet brands. 

Racquet BrandMain RacquetsPrice RangeMain Players
DunlopCV, CS, & CZ Series$169 to $229Kevin Anderson & Jamie Murray
PrinceBeast, Premier, Tour, Phantom, Attack, & Pink Series$89 to $189John Isner & Lucas Pouille
TechnifibreT-Fight, T-Flash, and T-Fit, & T-Rebound$149 to $199Daniil Medvedev, Jeremy Chardy, Janko Tipsarevic, John Millman, and Denis Istomin, & Daria Kasatkina
YonexEzone, VCore Pro, VCore, Astrel, & Junior$169 to $239Stan Wawrinka, Denis Shapovalov, Nick Kyrgios, Frances Tiafoe, Naomi Osaka, Belinda Bencic, & Angelique Kerber
HeadInstinct, Gravity, Speed, Radical, & Extreme$129 to $229Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Mateo Berrettini, Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner, Diego Schwartzman, Gilles Simon, Bianca Andreescu, Coco Gauff, Ashleigh Barty, Maria Sharapova, & Sloane Stephens
BabolatPure Aero, Pure Drive, Pure Strike, Strike, Aero, Evoke, Drive, & Pulsion$139 to $249Rafael Nadal, Felix-Auger Aliassime, Benoit Paire, Fabio Fognini, Dominic Thiem, Jack Sock, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Caroline Wozniacki, Kristina Pliskova, Johana Konta, and Garbine Muguruza
WilsonClash, Blade, Ultra, & Pro Staff$139 to $249Roger Federer, Serena and Venus Williams, Juan Martin del Potro, David Goffin, Grigor Dimitrov, Gael Monfils, Kei Nishikori, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Petra Kvitova, & Simona Halep

The Top 10 Best Tennis Academies In The USA

Written by Gui Hadlich in General Info

Along with Spain, France, and Argentina, the United States has produced one of the largest numbers of top tennis players in the world. Not only known for developing young American players, the United States is known to be a hub for foreign players who are looking for a place where they can improve and which have amazing facilities. 

Besides having some of the best coaches in the world, the best tennis academies in the USA are known for having great facilities with several courts and great gyms. In addition, several of them are located in California and Florida, which means that there are usually no rainy days (since it’s usually sunny for the majority of the year).

When I was 14, I had the opportunity to spend a few months at the IMG Academy in Florida, and it was an experience like I had never had before. With so many other players, I felt like I was just another face in the crowd. And yet, I had access to facilities and technologies I had never seen before – mental training, recovery centers, and different surface courts. Looking back, I believe my short time at a top tennis academy in the US definitely shaped me as a tennis player. 

Yet, with so many different good tennis academies in the US, it can be quite challenging to choose the best one. Maybe you are looking for a place where you can have a great pre-season, or maybe you are looking for a place where your kid can develop as a player and a person. Regardless, it can be difficult to find all the information you need in one place, and that is the issue we’re trying to fix in this article. Below, you will find details about the best tennis academies in the USA, and you will be able to decide which one is the best choice for you. 

Search programs on tennis-academies.com

#10 – Austin Tennis Academy

Austin Tennis Academy is probably the most famous tennis academy in the state of Texas. It is located in Austin, and it has 14 tennis courts (12 hard and 2 red clay), a large gym, and classrooms. ATA does not have any on-site dorms, which is slightly different from the other large academies. 

ATA offers different programs depending on your level of commitment: the Junior Academy (which is by invitation only) and the Academy (which anyone can get in). The cost for a full year at the Academy program is about $14,500 – significantly cheaper than most other academies. 

Austin Tennis Academy Sample Daily Schedule

Source: https://www.austintennisacademy.com/tennis-programs/academy/

#9 – Weil Tennis Academy

One of the best tennis academies in California, Weil Tennis Academy is the destination of many young tennis players across the world. It offers great facilities that include 22 courts, a pool, Jacuzzi, a nice gym, restaurants, dorms, and classrooms.

Weil Tennis Academy focuses on assisting players to get into the best universities in the United States. Weil’s website mentions that the academy has the #1 rated college placement program in the world. Students have graduated and gone to the best schools in the US, including Stanford and UCLA. 

The cost for a full-year of tennis, school, and boarding is about $48,550.00 per year. 

Weil Tennis Academy Sample Daily Schedule

Source: https://www.weiltennis.com/full-time-academy-2/

#8 – Gorin Tennis Academy

With several locations across California, Gorin Tennis Academy is certainly one of the best academies in the United States. Founded by coach Vitaly Gorin, the academy’s first and main location is in Granite Bay, California. Coach Gorin has coached several top players, including Nikoloz Basilashvilli, Dimitry Tursunov, and Yaroslava Shvedova (all top 30 in the world). 

With only 7 courts, the academy is much smaller than some of the other top 10. With that, you can expect to get more individualized attention from coaches. You have the option to choose boarding or non-boarding programs, depending on your needs. For full-time boarding, you should expect to pay about $33,175 per year. 

Gorin Sample Daily Schedule

Source: https://www.gorintennis.com/full-time-tennis-program/

#7 – John McEnroe Tennis Academy

The only top 10 representative from New York, the John McEnroe Tennis Academy does not fall short from all the others. Located inside a $19 million dollar sports complex, the academy counts with 20 tennis courts, and 15 of those are indoors. You can see how great the facilities are in the short video below. 

The academy was inaugurated in 2009, so it is much younger than the other ones in this list. As the name indicates, the academy is directed by John McEnroe, one of the greatest American tennis legends. The most famous alumn from the academy is Noah Rubin, the winner of the 2014 Wimbledon Juniors Championship. 

The pricing at John McEnroe works a little differently than the other academies, following an a la carte model. You can select how many days of the week you’re looking for, and if you want add-ons like transportation or private lessons. If you’re looking for a 5-day a week, 2-hour-per-day of tennis, you’re looking at a cost of $28,300 for the 34 weeks (without any add-ons). 

#6 – Evert Tennis Academy

Evert Tennis Academy was founded by Chrissie, Jimmy, and John Evert in 1996, and has become one of the major destinations for players all over the world. The academy is located in Boca Raton, FL, and it offers different options for players (boarding vs non-boarding), so you can decide which package is the best fit for you. According to their website, 100% of players who graduated from Evert Academy and pursued a college scholarship were able to receive some extent of financial aid.

There are 23 tennis courts at the Evert Tennis Academy’s main campus (12 hard and 11 clay), and there are additional secondary venues nearby that contain several more courts. While the facilities are not as extravagant as the ones at IMG, they also include a nice gym and a dorm for players who are under 18 years old. The price at Evert Academy is significantly smaller than at IMG, ranging from $30,000 to $48,000 per year depending on which package you select. 

Some of the famous alumni from Evert Academy include Andy Roddick, Dustin Brown, Madison Keys, and Lauren Davis. 

#5 – Van Der Meer Tennis Academy

South Carolina’s Van Der Meer Tennis Academy is one of the most famous tennis academies in the U.S. The primary facility offers 14 hard courts, with 4 of them being indoors. Five minutes away, another facility offers 13 clay courts, 4 hard outdoor courts, and 3 indoor courts. Players and students can also stay at the dorms, enjoy the pool, and take advantage of the beach nearby – which is pretty awesome. 

Van Der Meers has seen over 500 of its graduates to go on to receive athletic scholarships in college. The academy is under the guidance of coaches Dennis and Pat Van Der Meer, who together have coached numerous successful players, including Billie Jean King, Margaret Court, John Isner, and Alison Riske. 

The cost of a full year at Van Der Meer ranges from $23,050 to $38,800 depending on whether players choose boarding or non-boarding. 

Van Der Meer Tennis Academy Sample Daily Schedule

Source: http://vdmacademy.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/VDM-Academy-Packet-2019-2020-1.pdf

#4 – Saviano Tennis Academy

Another one of the top tennis academies in the US is located in Plantation, Florida. The academy is managed by head coach Nick Saviano, who has been a respected coach for over 40 years. He has coached several successful players, including Sloane Stephens and Eugene Bouchard. 

The Saviano Tennis Academy is located at the Frank Veltri Tennis Center, where the junior Orange Bowl happens every year. There are 26 har-tru courts and 2 hard courts. The coaching at the academy involves mental, tactical, technical and physical training. Below you can watch a short video of coach Nick Saviano. 

The program size at Saviano Tennis Academy is limited, so only a certain number of players is accepted. The player-to-coach ratio is 4:1. The cost for a full-time player is about $23,700 per year. 

Saviano Tennis Academy Sample Daily Schedule

Source: https://savianotennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2017_SHPT-Full-Time-Program-Registration-Packet.pdf

#3 – Academia Sanchez-Casal

The Sanchez-Casal tennis academy is also located in Florida, in the city of Naples. It has great facilities, including 38 tennis courts, an Olympic pool, a gym, a restaurant, and even dorms for players. The academy was founded in 1998 by the two tennis legends Emilio Sanchez Vicario and Sergio Casal (both were former #1 in the world in doubles). 

The training at Sanchez-Casal is differentiated from other academies, as it focuses on several areas – technical, tactical, physical, and mental. Players can study at the academy all the way from 6th to 12th grade. Players can receive a bit more attention than at other academies since the norm is to have only 2 players per court.  

The standard at Sanchez-Casal is to spend 30 hours a week in the classroom, 10 to 17 hours a week on the court, 4 hours a week doing fitness, 1 hour a week of mental training, and a minimum of 2 tournaments per month. 

#2 – Saddlebrook Tennis Academy

Saddlebrook Tennis Academy is located in Tampa, Florida, and it counts with 45 tennis courts, including courts with the same surfaces of all 4 Grand Slams. It is certainly one of the best tennis facilities in the country, with pools, spas, and golf courses as well. Saddlebrook offers options of both boarding and non-boarding packages, as well as summer camps. 

Saddlebrook, along with IMG, has one of the most impressive list of alumni: Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, John Isner, James Blake, Martina Hingis, Belinda Bencic, Justine Henin, Caroline Wozniacki, Bryan Brothers, Alexander Zverev, and Jack Sock. I’d say that list speaks for itself. 

The cost for a full year at Saddlebrook is $42,060 for non-boarding players and $60,665 for full-time boarding. You can see a little bit more of Saddlebrook in the video below. 

Saddlebrook Sample Daily Schedule

Source: http://www.saddlebrookprep.com/tennis-daily-schedule/

#1 – IMG Academy

The IMG Academy is one of the most famous tennis academies in the world, as it is the home of one of the most famous coaches of all time – Nick Bollettieri. IMG was founded over 40 years ago, and it is located in Bradenton, Florida. The facilities at IMG are as good as it gets, as there are currently 55 tennis courts of different surfaces (34 hard, 17 clay, and 4 indoor), a great gym, an indoor turf facility, and classrooms designed specifically for match analysis. You can have a better picture of the facilities by watching the short video below.

I’ve had the opportunity to practice at IMG when I was younger, and I can say it was a great experience. You will have the chance to play and practice with players who have all sorts of different personalities, games, and strategies. This by itself will be a valuable experience, since many of us come from smaller academies and only have a handful of people to practice with. 

In addition, you get access to the great facilities and, very frequently, are able to watch some of the best tennis players in the world practicing. When I was there, I was able to watch Maria Sharapova, Kei Nishikori, Tommy Haas, and Ivo Karlovic practicing, which – for a 14-year-old boy – was an out-of-this-world experience. 

While there are several benefits of practicing at the IMG Academy, it is important to know that you will get out what you put in. Since it is such a large academy with so many players, it can be easy to become just a “number”. If you don’t put in the work, you will soon start falling behind and will not take advantage of this great opportunity. You will be given the tools to succeed, so it’s up to you to use them!

IMG has a history of success, having had 16 past #1 ranked players in the world practicing there. It has helped numerous players to guarantee scholarships in college or to become better junior players. 

Comparison Table – Top 10 Best Tennis Academies in the USA

AcademyLocationTennis CourtsFamous AlumniPrice (per year)
#10 – Austin Tennis AcademyAustin, TX14 (12 hard, 2 red clay)Successful college players$14,500
#9 – Weil Tennis AcademyOjai, CA22 (18 hard, 4 clay)Grigor Dimitrov & Vera Zvonareva$48,550
#8 – Gorin Tennis AcademyGranite Bay, CA7Nikoloz Basilashvilli, Dimitry Tursunov, Yaroslava Shvedova$21,300 to $33,175
#7 – John McEnroe Tennis AcademyNew York, NY20 (10 hard, 10 clay, with 15 of those indoors)Noah Rubin$28,300
#6 – Evert Tennis AcademyBoca Raton, FL23 (12 hard, 11 clay)Andy Roddick, Dustin Brown, Madison Keys, & Lauren Davis. $30,000 to $48,000
#5 – Van Der Meer Tennis AcademyHilton Head Island, SC37 (13 clay, 7 indoors, 17 hard)John Isner & Alison Riske$23,050 to $38,800
#4 – Saviano Tennis AcademyPlantation, FL28 (26 har-tru, 2 hard)Eugene Bouchard & Sloane Stephens$23,700
#3 – Academia Sanchez-CasalNaples, FL38Andy Murray, Grigor Dimitrov, Stevlana Kuznetsova, Johana Konta?
#2 – Saddlebrook Tennis AcademyTampa, FL45Pete Sampras, John Isner, Jim Courier, Martina Hingis, Alexander Zverev$42,060 to $60,665
#1 – IMG AcademyBradenton, FL55 (34 hard, 17 clay, 4 indoors)Sharapova, Nishikori, Agassi, Serena & Venus$61,900 to $81,900

Conclusion

While we have tried to rank them as accurately as possible, each academy has different strengths and weaknesses. You may be looking for more individualized attention or for access to great facilities. You need to choose the academy that will fit your needs the best, and hopefully, this list was able to paint a pretty good picture of the differences between each academy. 

Improve in 30 Seconds. Lesson #1 – Hit the Ball Earlier

Written by Karue Sell in Tactics,Technique

Without wasting any time, let’s get to it

Step 1: Quickly recognize that your opponent hit a short ball. If you take too long to do so, you’ll probably be late.

Step 2: Don’t try to take the ball too early. Some people rush to take the ball earlier and they end up taking their own time away, resulting in a poor execution.

Step 3: Early and shorter take back and turn of the body

Step 4: Have a solid base. Do not hit running. Make sure you stop and create a good base before making contact -Step 5: push the ground but don’t jump. Using the ground gives you stability as you make contact -Step 6: during and after contact, make sure your body is moving towards the part of the court you want to hit the ball.

Extra tip: you DON’T NEED to hit harder. You either hit the ball harder or you take time away (unless your name is Roger Federer). Here you chose to take time away so pick a big target and go for it. 

Do you like the short lesson format? Let us know in the comments. Now go practice!