I was a tennis player growing up. Not a particularly great one, but a tennis player nonetheless. Started playing at about the age of 6 or 7 and played through my junior year of high school. Not a lot of state stuff, mostly just school and some local tourneys. I haven't regularly played since I quit playing in high school (other than my KINE 199 at A&M) and haven't probably hit a ball since 2005 or so.

I want to start playing again. A friend of mine has started playing for fitness, but I want to start playing because I miss tennis. I'll walk by the always abandoned tennis section at a sporting goods store and realize that I have no idea which racquet to buy. I always played with Prince racquets growing up in the late 80s and 90s. Basically just break one and buy the newer year's model. The only racquet I have now is a mid 90s Pro Staff that I borrowed from a friend my freshman year of college and never gave back before he moved out.

How does one wade through a sea of racquets to start playing again?

If you have access to a place where you can try out different rackets, that would be your best bet. I would say stay around the 11 ounce weight area, and 100 sq inches or so. Pretty much every racket manufacturer makes a few models that fit those criteria.

You can also demo rackets from tennisexpress.com or tennis warehouse.com for about $15 with return shipping included. Great way to try new sticks

If I go to the Tennis Express facility in Houston, I assume they have a testing cage and a good staff that won't make me feel dumb?

I don't know the answer to that, but if you can handle the shipping costs, it might be good, once you've narrowed your choices, to take a couple out with your friend and play.

Go a little smaller with a little more weight if you've got a long swing, go the other direction if you've got a smaller swing and want a little more help generating pace. Hopefully you can somewhere that can put you in the right ballpark. The game in general is moving towards larger racquet heads. If all fails, 11 and 100 is a pretty standard middle of the road racquet, you can't really go too wrong with them.

[This message has been edited by TXAggie2011 (edited 7/3/2012 3:45p).]

Tennis express in Houston will take care of you

Tennis Express in Houston is money! Very knowledgeable staff that will tell you everything you need to know, and they have the best supply of rackets, apparel, etc that you need. However, I will say that I don't remember them having a "hitting cage" or anything like that. I could be wrong though.

Thanks for all your help. Was supposed to go hit this morning, and had just decided to roll with my old Wlson in the meantime. Realized last night when I got one from the bar that my shoulder that I jacked up a few weeks ago still isn't recovered to the point that I can put any sort of power or control behind a serve or forehand.

I'll wait another couple weeks and then go check out tennis express.

I went to tennis express on Friday and literally just walked around in awe for about 10 minutes. Incredible the amount of selection they have shoved into that store. Very helpful and knowledgeable staff.

Demo'd a Babolat, Head and Prince this weekend. Gonna take them back today and might try out some more or maybe buy the Head.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Which ones did you get? what models?

HEAD Youtek IG Extreme MP Tennis Racquet

One of the Babolat Pure Drives (not sure which model, it wasn't labeled very clearly and there seems to be a million different variations looking at their inventory)

PRINCE EXO3 Warrior 100 Tennis Racquet

I think they all were pretty middle of the road type racquets for someone getting back into the game. I liked the Head the best. It seemed to be the best all-around of the the three. Seemed very solid. I hated the Prince at first as it felt like its swing weight was way too low and too flexy (although I'm confused by looking at its stats that it is right in line with the other two) On my second spin with it it grew on me a lot as it felt like it was very controllable.

I liked the Babolat a lot the first time I played with it, but a lot less the second time. I really wish I could have gone and hit again yesterday, but the rain (and a back that isn't used to playing tennis) kept me from doing so.

When I told the kid at the tennis store about the old Pro Staff I have in my bag, his immediate response was, "Oh you should put that up on Ebay. A lot of people love those old racquets!"

The head and Babolat are basically the same stick. Any of those rackets (Wilson Pro Open, Wilson Surge, Head Extreme, Prince EXO3 black) are made to compete with the Babolat pure drive. When the Pure drive came out, it took over the market. Wilson immediately made the Surge (years ago) to try and get some market share back.

You can't really go wrong with any of the 3, just pick which one you feel most comfortable with.

It's strange, the Head has the feel of a more solid stick, similar to the old Pro Staffs (and my sister's old Donnay). I never really liked that feel, as I preferred the more "airy"(?) feel of the Princes.

But now that is pretty much what I like about the Head versus the Prince. I guess I'm different in a lot of ways than I was when I was 17.

Bought the Head last night. Was thinking of demo'ing some more, but decided that I was happy with it and it probably doesn't matter two licks anyway as I try and find some decent game again.

Now I need to find some people to play with. I suppose I should have kept up with someone from high school or something.

Flex tennis is a good league where u can also meet people. U can also d USTA tournaments. Don't worry because there are lower levels.

That Head is a good one.

I still play sometimes with my old Pro Staffs. It's amazing how good they still feel!

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The head and Babolat are basically the same stick.

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Funny, I never think of any Babolats and Head Racquets as similar. But, based on reviews of this particular model, your analysis is spot-on.

What I meant by that comment was that they are basically the same in their weight and balance, etc. Everyone is trying to match and play catchup with Babolat on their pure drive rackets, which is why the Head Extreme, Wilson Surge/Pro Open, Prince Black and White rackets have about the same specs as the Pure Drive.

That being said, I personally think the Pure drive plays better than the others. The Prince always hits like a board to me. The Wilson Surge used to be the clone for the Pure Drive, but they have lowered the weight too much in the past few models, and it isn't the same anymore.

Didnt read others but tennis express set me up with a "lesson" from a guy who worked there and brought 8 or so different racquets and we decided together which felt best and had the most upside.

Wilson's and Babolats have always felt too "springy" to me. Head and Prince to me had a better player's feel. Although, I've never upgraded to Prince's holes crap. Last racquet I got from Prince was the Diablo. It's a nice stick.