Tennis is enjoyed by people of all ages. The best thing about the sport is that there’s always a way to improve, regardless of your ability or age bracket.
The dynamic range of movement causes your joints to work through the motions and moving around the court is a great form of cardio.
This makes the exercise ideal for seniors.
Senior leagues allow you to compete against people of a similar age and ability. With many tennis clubs now offering these, it’s easier than ever for seniors to get into the sport.
When it comes to choosing a tennis racquet, go for something that suits the senior game. Unfortunately, the heavy racquet you used in your twenties may not be suitable now, so it’s best to upgrade to something that suits your needs.
So, what tennis racquet is best for older players? In this article, we explore the best tennis racquets for seniors to help you decide.
Head Ti. S6 Strung Tennis Racquet
Head size: 115 square inches
Weight: 252g
Balance: Head heavy
String Pattern: 16×19
Length: 27.75 inches
The Head Ti. S6 is a lightweight racquet with an oversized head. The combination of the large head and super lightweight make the racquet head heavy, resulting in plenty of power without the added weight. This makes it ideal for seniors looking for a lighter tennis racquet without a loss of power.
The racquet benefits from Ti technology. By weaving titanium into the graphite construction, Head have created a lightweight racquet without compromising the stiffness or power. This makes the racquet easy to maneuver on the court.
The S6 is also extra-long, measuring 27.75 inches. This provides even more power to compensate for its light weight. This Head racquet is one of the fastest, lightest, and most comfortable on the market, making it suitable for older players looking for maximum power and comfort.
Wilson Burn 100LS Tennis Racquet
Head size: 100 square inches
Weight: 297g
Balance: Neutral
String Pattern: 16×19
Length: 27 inches
The Wilson Burn 100LS is another lightweight racquet with a standard 27-inch length. The medium-sized head makes it ideal for players looking for a standard racquet, without the heavyweight. The balance is neutral, and it comes pre-strung with Wilson Sensation multifilament strings.
While the length of the racquet is the standard 27 inches, it features an extra-long handle to provide comfortable two-handed shots. It also benefits from Spin Effect Technology, which increases the rotation of the ball without changing your swing.
This lightweight racquet contains carbon fibers for added shock absorption. This dampens the vibrations and minimizes pressure on the joints, making the Wilson Burn 100LS ideal for senior tennis players.
Wilson Federer Tennis Racquet
Head size: 110 square inches
Weight: 309g
Balance: Head light
String Pattern: 16×19
Length: 27.3 inches
When it comes to tennis racquets, Wilson is one of the most renowned brands. Most people have heard of them before – even those that don’t play tennis! This Wilson racquet is named after one of the most iconic players of all time, Roger Federer.
The racquet is equipped with Volcanic Frame technology for stability and power, stop shock pads for increased comfort, and power strings for an aggressive hit.
It has an aluminum construction and benefits from an oversized head of 110 square inches. This provides an increased sweet spot, making it ideal for players who struggle to hit the ball. Weighing 309g, it’s slightly heavier than other racquets on the list. This makes is best suited to larger and more experienced seniors hoping to generate serious power.
The Wilson Federer is a great all-rounder for seniors. The innovative features, combined with the timeless red design, make it popular amongst older tennis players of all sorts.
What Makes a Good Racquet for Seniors?
When choosing a racquet, you need to know what specs to look out for. There are certain things to consider when choosing the weight, racquet head, and the material. Below, we explore these in more detail.
Head Size
The first thing to consider is head size. The racquet head is measured as a total surface area, including the strings and frame.
A rule of thumb says that the larger the head size, the easier it is to hit the ball. However, hitting the ball isn’t normally the hardest thing in tennis, particularly if you’re a regular player. The most important thing is what happens when you hit it.
Generally speaking, a larger head will create a greater trampoline effect and generate more power to the ball. With this in mind, most seniors find a larger head of >100 square inches work best. If you’re a strong or more advanced player, you can reduce this to >96.
A larger head will also allow for faster rebounds, better accuracy, and more power with less effort when it comes to hitting the ball.
Weight
The weight of a tennis racquet is measured in grams. The weight is important for older players because strength and stamina naturally decline as we age. This means that the lighter the racquet, the easier it is to use.
With advanced manufacturing methods and new technologies like carbon fiber polymers, the average weight of a tennis racquet has reduced significantly in recent years. Typically, a lighter racquet will be more maneuverable while a heavier racquet will generate more power. Heavier racquets may also absorb shock better, dampening the vibrations of each hit.
The average tennis racquet weighs around 300g, so anything below 290g is considered light. While the difference may seem minimal, you’ll feel it when using the racquet on the court. So, what is the best racquet weight for older players? There are two things to consider. We tend to lose strength as we age, so the heavier the racquet, the harder it will be to maneuver.
On the other hand, aging affects the joints and makes them more prone to inflammation and injury. As we touched on a moment ago, a heavier racquet will dampen the vibrations so a super light model may irritate your joints. The shock absorption can also provide more control on the court.
With this in mind, the best option for seniors is a lighter racquet with shock-absorbing technology. That being said, a heavier racquet may be fine for seasoned tennis athletes. If your joints are used to the game, the heavier weight won’t affect them in the same way.
If you’re an experienced and active player in your 70s, you can likely handle a heavier racquet better than if you are an older player trying out tennis for the first time. So, the best racquet weight for seniors really depends on you.
Length
The next thing to consider is the racquet length. The length of a tennis racquet is measured in centimeters or inches. Most racquets on the market are 27 inches in length, but there are some longer or shorter models available.
Generally speaking, a longer racquet will create a higher impact velocity on the ball, adding power to the hit with the same force applied by the player. However, the same effect creates a longer moment arm and makes the racquet harder to control.
With this in mind, most seniors go for a standard-length racquet. However, if you’re a seasoned player with good racquet control, you may benefit from a longer frame if you want to generate more power.
Balance and Beam
The final consideration is balance and beam. The balance of a tennis racquet tells how the weight is distributed between the handle and the head. A racquet can either be head-heavy, head-light, or perfectly balanced.
Just like a heavier racket, a heavier head will generate more power. However, a lighter head will make the racquet easier to move around. With this in mind, many older players prefer a perfectly balanced model. However, feel free to play around with different models to see which feels best.
If you’re used to using a heavy, perfectly balanced tennis racquet but you’re looking to change to a lighter model, you could opt for a head-heavy racquet to retain some of your hitting power.
The final thing to consider is the beamwidth of the racquet. The frame of a racquet is never totally straight. The beamwidth tells the width of the handle, shoulders, and head relative to each other. Typically, racquets with a wider beam have more material, resulting in more power and stability on the court.
So, there you have it – the best tennis racquets for seniors. Whether you’re a seasoned tennis athlete or a total newbie, check out the racquets above to find something that suits you.