What tennis racquet tension make you hit a ball harder?

Answer 1

Every tennis racquet is marked by the manufacturer with the recommended range of tensions. For example most medium sized racquets can be strung from 22Kg up to 28Kg. For maximum control the higher tensions are best. For maximum power the lower tensions are best. For a good mixture of both control and power the tension should be midway - that is 25Kg in the above example. The thickness or gauge of the string will also effect the power. A racquet tension of 25Kgs with a thin (1.20) string will produce more power than a tension of 25Kgs with a thick (1.35) string. If your average shot is falling nearer the service line than the baseline then either lower the tension 1 or 2 Kgs or use a slightly thinner string to get more shot distance. However, be warned, a thinner string is not as durable as a thicker string so it may need replacing more often. If your average shot is going off the end of the court then either increase the tension on your racquet by 1 or 2 Kgs or use a thicker string (or both) to reduce the shot distance. Developing more topspin on your shots will also bring the ball down earlier - so there are many more factors than just racquet tension and string size to consider. An oversize racquet (i.e. the head is larger) will also produce more power since the central sweet spot is larger and also the strings produce more of a trampoline effect. A heavier racquet will also produce more power but you may lose a degree of control due to the difficulty of manoeuvring the extra weight. As a generalisation a keen amateur would probably play best with a medium size racquet, a string tension of around 25Kgs, a string size of around 1.25mm, a racquet weight of around 300gm and a desire to hit topspin whenever possible. However the question "What tennis racquet tension makes you hit a ball harder?" may not be as important as "Which tennis racquet set-up will help me hit more accurately?" The last thing to mention is that the size of the grip on a tennis racquet (between 4" to 5") is crucial to hitting accurately and powerfully. Always buy a racquet with a grip that your hand can go nearly all the way round (4 1/8" or 4 1/2" for most adults). A grip that is too big will produce poor tennis and cannot be reduced. Whereas a grip that is comfortable will produce better tennis and the grip size can always be increased later if necessary.

Answer 2

Several characteristics of a tennis racquet make it better at driving the ball deeper, which is the definition of a power racquet.

One of the important factors is the balance of the tennis racquet. If it is more head heavy, it provides more power. Going too far with head heavy weight distribution can lead to arm problems however, so be careful when choosing.

Another factor is the type of string you use and the tension that they are set at. Tension should always be within a range specified by the manufacturer. If you set your tension at the lower end of this range, you will be able to drive the ball further.

Some purists say this doesn't qualify as power, because the ball is not leaving the racquet at a higher velocity. It's going farther because it stays in contact with the strings longer, but if that is one of the things you want, then what difference does it make?

String materials also effect the power. If the string is made of stiffer materials like Kevlar or polyester, the ball will not go as far. Strings made of natural gut or synthetic gut are better for distance.

Another characteristic affecting power is the head size of the tennis racquet. The larger the head, the larger the size of the sweet spot and the better you will be able to drive the ball.

Answer 3

It depends on your style of play and comfort level. If you play more of a control game, you want more tension since this helps you direct the ball better. If you want more power, you want less tension because it helps you drive the ball deeper. Generally, most racquets are strung in the range of 55-65 pounds. Best thing to do is consult a tennis pro or coach. Always stay within the manufacturer specified limits so you do not damage your racquet.