Subtle revisions in design, when added together and taken as a whole, can often result in big changes in performance. Roger Federer’s new racquet, the Wilson KSix-One Tour 90 is a case in point.

While at first glance it may look like the changes from nCode to KFactor may have happened in the material build up, a close inspection of the KSix-One Tour 90 reveals some other subtle design updates to the racquet, as well.

The new KSix-One Tour 90 takes a page from the Wilson ProStaff Original 6.0 85, the racquet that wrote the book on classic racquet performance. Take a close look at the new handle of the KSix-One Tour 90 and you’ll notice a shorter pallet with more of the graphite shaft exposed below the yoke – just as with the ProStaff Original 6.0 racquets.

Although we’re not aware of any physical advantages to the ProStaff 6.0 85 like handle pallet, we do know it will silence critics that noticed this difference between the version of the Tour 90s used by Roger Federer and those available to the rest of us.

Another subtle update to the KSix-One Tour 90 is the string spacing in the sweetspot of the racquet. Members of our Talk Tennis message boards were quick to point out that Federer’s version of previous Tour 90s had only four cross strings along the PWS bar at 3 & 9 o’clock on the racquet face. The retail versions of the Pro Staff Six-One Tour 90 and the nCode nSix-One Tour 90 both had five cross stings through this area. With the new KSix-One Tour 90 we now get four cross strings, just like Federer.

After taking a close look at the racquet we had to ask, can blending design hints from the ProStaff 6.0 85 with a technology as new and mysterious as KFactor (Wilson still hasn’t told us what KFactor is) result in a better Tour 90? And, most importantly, can this blending of old and new enable us to hit the ball like Federer?

To answer these questions (and to take advantage of some terrific California Central Coast weather) we hit the courts for a three-week playtest.
Groundstrokes

The KSix-One Tour 90 was a hit with our team at the baseline. Offering excellent stability, comfort, feel and control, our playtesters found this stick well suited to advanced level play. Finding more slice than a New York pizzeria with the KSix-One Tour 90 was Ryan. "Hitting groundstrokes with this racquet was exceptionally good. I especially appreciated hitting approach shots with this racquet. I was able to get really good depth on my approaches. The other shot from the baseline that was just really good was the slice backhand. This racquet is the best slicing racquet I have ever used. I was really able to attack with the slice backhand – just like Gonzalez in the Aussie Open was doing. Great racquet from the baseline, both spin and depth were good." Finding himself one with the racquet from the baseline was Jon. "As a big fan of the ProStaff Six-One Tour 90, I had high expectations for this KFactor version. The KSix-One Tour 90 was no disappointment. Consistent is the only way I can describe this racquet. From the baseline, the KSix-One Tour 90′s only limitation is the person swinging it. The smallish 90 square inch headsize delivered good topspin, excellent power, and pinpoint accuracy. It was smooth and comfortable to swing, with good ball feedback on impact. I could tell instantly where the ball was going and where on the stringbed the ball impacted."

Busting the felt off the ball with his very first shot with the racquet was Granville. "The always welcome ‘thwap’ sound greeted me on the first strike – solid as a rock. I was taking full swipes at the ball and crushing them deep into either corner at will. Very comfortable, yet crisp. The swingweight is noticeably higher than my Hyper ProStaff 6.1, but this only inhibited my regular stroke production on two shots (serve – more on that later) and the extreme forehand and backhand topspin short angles where the added swing weight may be delaying, ever so slightly, contact with the ball. This new Tour, in my honest opinion, is far superior to the nCode version of the same racquet. So comfortable was I with this racquet, I was able to come through with a slightly closed racquet face (especially on the forehand) to further drive that ball deep with pace." Spencer found the KSix-One Tour 90 to offer more spin than a politician caught in a hot debate. "I’m not sure there’s a better feeling racquet when hit in the sweetspot. The racquet really comes through the ball and drives it. Access to spin was excellent, as well as the level of control. That being said, I had more mis-hits because of the demanding nature of the racquet. I began to tire and fall behind in timing, as the racquet has a heavier swingweight than what I am used to. I also found that as I tired balls would sail on me. I wasn’t hitting a full stroke, so I couldn’t create enough topspin to help balls land inside the baseline. Though more forgiving than the nSix-One Tour 90, I still felt very penalized from results of off-center shots."

Finding the KSix-One Tour 90 to be the best Tour 90 yet was Chris. "Of all the Tour 90s so far, this latest version reminded me of the ProStaff Original 6.0 85 the most. I could feel a lot more ProStaff heritage in the response and feel of this racquet. The KSix-One Tour 90 felt more maneuverable compared to the other Tour 90s and I felt like I had better control of the tip of the racquet. For some reason, previous Tour 90s always felt cumbersome compared to the ProStaff Original 85, but with this version Wilson seems to have corrected the maneuverability issue. I was also finding better access to spin with the racquet. Part of the reason was the increased racquet head speed I was able to generate. The other contributing factor seemed to come from the stringbed. I felt like I was getting more bite on the ball and better ball speed. The result was better pace, spin and court penetration on my shots than I’ve found with any of the other Tour 90 racquets. My favorite shot was the backhand slice. The racquet sliced through the ball like a hot knife through butter, resulting in excellent court penetration and spin. I struggled a little when hitting topspin approach shots as the mass of the racquet really pushed the ball deep. I had a little trouble getting the ball to drop inside the baseline without holding back."
Volleys

The controlled response, excellent stability and impressive feel offered by the KSix-One Tour 90 made it a hit at net with most of our team. Finding the racquet more solid than the Chicago Bears’ defense was Ryan "Besides the obvious disadvantage of a 90 square inch head size, I thought the racquet was unbelievable for hitting volleys. The response I got at contact made hitting my volleys on target a lot easier. Depth was another factor that was great with this racquet. It was pretty easy to get good depth on the volleys. Maneuverability was also pretty good. This is a 12+ ounce racquet that handles very well on reflex volleys. But again, the main thing that stood out to me was the solid response of the racquet at contact and the resulting accuracy." Spencer found the sweetspot of the KSix-One Tour 90 to be as sweet as pie on the volley. "When hitting volleys in the middle of the racquet I could put away shots at net. But, once again I felt very penalized for off center hits. I would say maneuverability was average."

Chris found the net to be his favorite court position with the KSix-One Tour 90. "This racquet felt incredibly stable at net. No matter the pace or weight of the shot coming at me, the racquet remained stable at contact and I was able to control my volleys very well. The head light balance made for a maneuverable feel and I felt very comfortable volleying with this racquet – so much so that the net was by far my favorite area of the court to be when wielding the KSix-One Tour 90." Jon found the racquet to be a lethal instrument at net. "I enjoyed volleying with the KSix-One Tour 90. I would have liked a larger 95-98sq in headsize at the net, but overall this racquet proved very lethal. Despite the weight, the KSix-One Tour 90 was very maneuverable at net. It’s been awhile since I played with a 90 square inch headsize, and it did take a little getting used to. After a few games I felt comfortable and confident that I could put the ball anywhere I wanted."

Immediately finding the groove at net with the KSix-One Tour 90 was Granville. "Soft and crisp with excellent touch – just what I would expect from a 6.1 racquet. Maneuverability wasn’t hindered with the added swingweight (as noted on the groundies) and I was immediately comfortable with the new KSix-One Tour 90 from anywhere at the net or court. I can feel the slightly smaller headsize on the really wide volleys and am considering this as a perfect compromise between my pick as the greatest racquet ever made (6.0 85) and my current favorite (6.1 95). This one offered slightly lower power than the 95, and a bit more of the ‘buttery’ feel of the 85."
Serves

Our team found good access to pace and spin when serving with the KSix-One Tour 90. Jon took a trip down memory lane when serving with this racquet. "Serving with the KSix-One Tour 90 was very reminiscent of my old Pro Staff Tour 90. It had a very similar feel and power level. It didn’t matter if I was going big or moving the ball with spin, I couldn’t find a weakness while serving with the KSix-One Tour 90." Although he may not have guns like Rafa, Ryan found the heft of the KSix-One Tour 90 more than manageable. "Serves were excellent. Pace and depth were easy to muster up, I think because of the weight of the frame. However, usually with a heavy racquet like this, I would start to feel the effects of it on my arm, in that I start to tire, and I’ll start missing second serves, etc. However, that never happened with this racquet. I was able to generated great spin, and it was just an excellent racquet to serve with."

After a tepid start, Chris started to find the heat on serve with the KSix-One Tour 90. "I struggled a little early on to serve consistently with this stick. The increased weight, compared to my Pure Drive Roddick, was throwing my timing off slightly. As the playtest progressed I started to get more dialed in, but this was the shot that took the most adaptation to the racquet. Again, the racquet felt very solid and I was able to find some good spin on serves. I hit a lot of kickers with this stick, as I was a little erratic with my first serves – although they did have impressive pace. By the end of the test I was in the groove with my kick serve. I was able to consistently kick the ball out wide or jam my opponent by kicking the ball into their body." Finding some added pop to his already powerful service delivery was Granville. "This is the one stroke where I still need more time with the racquet. The added swing weight (again compared to my Hyper ProStaff 6.1) definitely affected my targeting and depth. On the second day out I was better with depth but still struggling a bit with targeting. On the upside, the added swingweight seemed to give me a bit more ‘pop’ on the big serves."

Spencer’s serve had more kick than a plate of Kung-Pao chicken when he stepped up to the line with the KSix-One Tour 90. "Good feel and good spin when serving. I like to hit a solid kick serve and this racquet can produce just that, being able to provide good bite and kick. Once again I loved the feel, but my serve percentage was lower than usual. I think timing and lack of forgiveness had something to do with it."
Serve Returns

Our team enjoyed the solid and stable response of the KSix-One Tour 90 when returning serve. Going for some Federer like consistency on his returns was Ryan. "The return of serve was the best aspect of this racquet. I now know why Roger Federer is so consistent on his returns! This racquet is the most stable and consistent racquet I have ever used. This translates to knowing exactly where the ball is going to go when you hit. The downside is that if you hit a bad shot, the racquet isn’t going to help you. I was able to block big serves with startling consistency and depth, neutralizing the biggest weapon of my opponent. And again, it was there every time. This is the best racquet I have ever returned with. Better than the previous models of Tour 90s because I never felt behind in my swing with this one, which is something that I struggled with using the nCode and Pro Staff Tour 90s." When returning serve, Chris found the racquet to plough through the ball better than a John Deere tractor through loose soil. "I found some excellent stability and feel from this racquet when returning. I was able to go after hard hit serves and generate effortless pace and depth thanks to the way this racquet ploughed through the contact zone. I was amazed at the depth, pace and accuracy I was able to generate with little effort. It never felt like the ball pushed the racquet around, and that let me use the server’s pace against him."

Granville discovered that mucho racquet mass meant he was packing serious heat on his service returns. "What a difference mass makes when it comes to service returns. Defensively, just get the racquet on the ball and it will do the work for you. Get a short serve and take it early and drive it to the open corner. This added luxury of mass enabled me to approach on a service return when appropriate – it was like having an extra tool in the toolbox. With the KSix-One Tour 90, I had a sense that I came to the battle with the biggest gun and no one could take me out." Jon found that good things can come in small packages while returning with the midsize KSix-One Tour 90. "I found the racquet very well suited for returning serves. I expected it to perform well, but I was still surprised at how much control I had. Again, with a 90 square inch headsize this racquet is not for everyone. I had some trouble adjusting to this stick at first, but once I found my groove I became very aggressive with my returns with good results." Spencer found he could take a good cut at slower serves. "I had issues returning faster serves, as it was tough to get a consistent and solid stroke on them with this racquet. On the flip side, with a second or slower paced serve I could zero in and place a return with good velocity, putting my opponent on the defensive."
Overall

It helps to be an advanced player to wield a stick like the KSix-One Tour 90. While intermediate players maybe able to handle the heft, a player needs to also consistently find the sweetspot and be prepared to generate their own power from a long and fast swing style. For players that do meet the playing criteria, the KSix-One Tour 90 rewards with pinpoint precision and excellent comfort and stability. With this latest Tour 90, there’s a spin friendliness we’ve not encountered in any of the previous versions. We also found more ball speed off the stringbed and a slightly larger feeling sweetspot. We found previous Tour 90s performed better at the lower end of the tension range (50-52 pounds), but this KFactor version provided a much livelier response at 57 pounds (2 pounds above mid tension).

Last Shots from our playtesters

The Majors are where champions prove their worth, but it’s also where the wild cards come to spoil their fun. The ladies’ draw at the 2008 Wimbledon was full of surprises, none bigger than a third round match featuring two women wielding Yonex sticks: Ana Ivanovic and Jie Zheng.

The underdog story was set. It was a match-up of the recently crowned world No. 1 and top tournament seed vs. a wild card who came into the grass championships ranked No. 133 in the world. Ivanovic was coming off her first grand slam victory in Paris. Zheng last won a singles title in 2006.

On paper, the cards were stacked in Ivanovic’s favor. But sticking with the Cinderella script, Zheng stunned Ivanovic and tennis fans with a convincing 6-1, 6-4 victory. Zheng’s Wimbledon story ended in the semifinals when she met a certain Serena Williams, but not before dispensing of two more seeds, No. 15 Agnes Szavay and No. 18 Nicole Vaidisova (another Yonex player).

Zheng’s weapon of choice on her Wimbledon quest: Yonex RDS 003.

If the RDS 003 could help propel a wild card past the reigning world No. 1 and deep into a Grand Slam, what could it do for our playtesters? After a month of testing, our playtesters reported back with their feedback.

Groundstrokes

At 11.1 ounces strung and 6 points head light, the RDS 003 impressed with its maneuverability. Troy felt the racquet played even lighter than its specs. "The first thing that I noticed while hitting groundstrokes was how maneuverable this racquet felt. Even though the weight of this racquet sits right above 11 ounces, it seems to play a bit lighter due to its 6 points head light balance. I was able to generate great racquet head acceleration, enjoying the whip-like effect I could create off the forehand side. I felt like the racquet was slightly unstable when hitting my two-handed backhand; not getting a solid plow-through that I need to really hit a penetrating backhand. I was finding good spin when hitting angle shots, which was due to the open stringbed and good maneuverability of this stick."

The power level of the RDS 003 surprised Chris. "I found plenty of pop from this stick off the ground. I hit toward the upper hoop of the racquet head and found this racquet to really come alive up there. I was able to get plenty of spin and the racquet felt very whippy – both maneuverable and flexible in the shaft. At times the power I was generating with this stick caught me off guard, and I was over-hitting. A co-poly string, strung at the higher end of the tension range helped me rein in some of that power, improving my confidence, consistency and accuracy with the racquet."

Tiffani found she too could whip up some good results off the ground. "It’s tough for me to pick out the outstanding aspect of the RDS 003 because it excels in all areas off the ground for me. The quarter inch of extra length is great for my two-handed backhand, and I get lots of pop. I like to hit just high of dead center and feel that this racquet responds well up there. The head light balance makes it super easy for me to whip through the ball when I need to, and I can easily generate topspin, which is also great when moving forward."

The flex in the shaft made the racquet comfortable on the baseline for Jason. "Wow! What a comfortable racquet to hit with! At first, I thought it was due to the multifilament strings that we originally strung it with, but the soft, forgiving feel was still prevalent once I changed the strings to a polyester string. I found I was able to hit the ball deep and with plenty of spin. Coming from a heavier, more head light racquet, I felt this stick was great for cross court shots, but a bit sluggish on inside out forehands. My balls would tend to go wide by a few feet. What really stood out about this racquet was the spin and comfort."

Volleys

Longer than a traditional racquet at 27.25", the RDS 003 was still maneuverable for Tiffani. "Volleys aren’t my strong point, so the maneuverability at net was outstanding. The extra quarter inch of length wasn’t a hindrance on my net game, and I actually enjoyed it on the high volleys, being that I’m what I’d call vertically challenged. This is now my racquet of choice and part of the reason is the flex. It’s flexier than my previous racquet, and I like the added feel at the net." Chris was also impressed by the maneuverability. "The racquet felt very mobile at net. I was able to stick volleys as well as place them for an angle or drop volley. I never felt hindered by the added length and found it easy to get the racquet around and into position."

Despite the racquet’s light weight, Jason was surprised by its stability. "My volleys felt solid and stable, which was a little surprising, considering the relatively light weight of the racquet. I definitely did not expect such solid torsional stability from an 11-ounce racquet. I was able to maneuver the racquet around easily, a great asset for the shots right at my body."

Yonex repositioned the soft grommets from the previous version of the RDS 003 to enhance feel. Troy felt this helped the RDS 003 stand out among its ‘tweener counterparts. "The amount of feel that I experienced at net with this racquet was better than most other comparable ‘tweeners. I enjoyed the medium power level, which helped me get volleys deeper in the court. I also felt like I was able to hit good touch shots and angle volleys. This racquet had the maneuverability to allow me to get good underspin, making the return of my volleys more difficult. The only down side I found was that when heavy balls were being drilled at me, the racquet was getting pushed around because of a lack of heft."

Serves

With the 16/19 string pattern, Chris found the RDS 003′s power and easy access to spin pleasing. "I found I was able to utilize the power I was finding with this racquet very well on serve. Even when I made the move to a more control-oriented string set-up, I was still able to get lots of pace out of the racquet. I was also very pleased with the amount of spin I was getting. This was a good serving stick and I enjoyed serving with it very much."

Troy was slicing serves so easily it was like he was using a set of Ginsu knives. "I found serving to be the most enjoyable part of having this stick in my hand. I found a good amount of pop, mixed with great maneuverability for some nice results; adding a lot of pace to my lefty slice serve. I was finding a lot more maneuverability from this racquet compared to some of the heavier player’s frames I’ve been using lately. I could easily whip the racquet to help get more jump from my kick serve, or to help me hit a flat bomb down the T. There were no complaints from me while on serve with this one; good pop, spin and control."

Jason was spinning his way into points too. "Power was adequate, spin was above average, but what stood out was the consistency. I was confident in the fact that I could go for a big, lower percentage first serve, and if I missed, have a good chance of placing a second serve in. The spin I was able to impart on the ball truly helped me keep many of my serves in the box. At times I was erratic, but that was in no way the racquet’s fault."

For Tiffani, the RDS 003 was beneficial all around. "I felt like I got pop on my serve, and I need plenty of help because this is the area where I have the toughest time generating my own power. The maneuverability again stood out, and I felt I could move my serve around easily. If a match went three sets I had plenty of juice left to keep on serving through to the end. The ease of maneuverability also helped me get some additional spin, which is welcome on my weaker second serves."

Serve Returns

Jason found the RDS 003 versatile when facing a serve. "Another feather to put in this racquet’s cap. I felt that I returned very well with the RDS 003. The racquet provided good stability for when I played against big servers, while at the same time I could really tee off on the slower paced second serves. My backhand slice return yielded plenty of spin, which was a great for when I couldn’t get the ball deep enough."

The ease with which Troy could generate racquet head speed helped him on returns. "Once again, maneuverability was what made this racquet more user-friendly. My favorite part of returning serve was that I could take a short, quick swipe at the ball and still find a penetrating return. The part that was not as likeable for me was that returning a heavy, fast paced serve proved the racquet to be unstable; as I found on some groundstrokes and volleys. For the most part, I found good placement and ample power for having an effective return game."

The mix of spin and maneuverability was a winning recipe for Tiffani. "Because I felt this racquet was a good fit for me all around, I was really comfortable and confident when returning with this stick. I could take aggressive swings and hit attacking returns off weaker serves, and because it’s so maneuverable I could swing through quickly and get my racquet on the heaters, too. The spin-friendly set-up of the RDS 003 allowed me to hit a lot of deep returns."

Chris again found the power impressive. "I was impressed by how comfortable and solid this racquet felt when returning. Even when returning against a powerful opponent I was able to swing aggressively without fear of mishits jarring my arm. As from the baseline, I was finding plenty of power and lots of spin to help get the job done. Once I switched to the more control-oriented string set-up I was returning with good consistency, too."

Overall

While none of our playtesters is going to be playing in the Wimbledon semifinals anytime soon, the RDS 003 performed well. Power and access to spin impressed everyone, but some found that this stick needed to be held back a bit with a control-oriented string setup. The light weight of this Yonex racquet helped make this a maneuverable one for most, but it also made it somewhat unstable for the bigger hitters. Though, with the generous sweet spot, easy access to power and spin, the playtesters found the RDS 003 a standout in the ‘tweener category.

There is a lot more to tennis strings than meets the eye. After all, many people, when looking at a tennis racquet, see only the frame – and the frame is what these people spend most of their focus and money on. They might spend hours, days, weeks, months finding the perfect frame, and then neglect spending that much time picking out the right tennis strings and the right string tension – but tennis strings are extremely important!

In fact, tennis strings are key to how your tennis racquet performs. After all, while your racquet frame may affect the way in which you swing and where the ball will come into contact with the tennis racquet, the frame never actually touches the tennis ball (at least, it shouldn’t.) It is the tennis strings that come in contact with the ball. It is the tennis strings that are at the heart of the game – they are the heart of the racquet.

So, before you act like many other tennis players and simply neglect your tennis strings, here are a few things to consider and things that you should know about tennis strings:

Different tensions of your tennis strings can give you better control or power:
Control: use a higher string tension. (This is best for more experienced players).
Power: use a lower tennis string tension – this will make the tennis ball fly farther.
Other tennis string factors can affect the power and control that you will get with your swing, as well:
Control: for great control, use thicker tennis strings and greater string density.
Power: fewer strings means more power (this decreased string density also generally generates more spin). Thinner strings means more power. Elastic strings mean more power.
Strings with softer coating, soft tennis strings, will vibrate less.
Strings made with Kevlar or Kevlar hybrids last the longer than your average synthetic gut or nylon.
A lower tennis string tension will also help your strings last longer.
Having a lower string tension will also reduce the stress/impact on your arm when hitting the ball.
You should restring your racquet at least twice a year. If you play often, then you need to restring your racquet more often!
Natural gut tennis strings are still used today, and they are still good strings. Of course, it is generally more reasonable to choose tennis strings made out of synthetic gut, instead – they will last longer and be less affected by humidity, etc.

As you can see, there is much more to tennis strings than you might have thought. And if truth be told, this article is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to tennis strings. This article is here merely to give you an idea as to what types of tennis string set-ups are available. Now you can go out and experiment and find the best tennis string tension, density, thickness, etc. for you.

Does the Shoe Fit ?Tennis is all about balance. You have to maintain good balance when you swing. You have to strike a balance between power and control on your shots. Few people, however, think enough about the balance that has to exist between their feet and their shoes.

The truth is, it’s critical that your footwear be properly matched to the anatomy of your feet and the surface you play on. Ill-fitting shoes can lead to blisters, ankle and knee pain, and loss of movement on the court. But when your shoes and feet are in sync, you’ll feel good and play your best tennis.

What’s Your Foot Type?
The first step in finding the right shoe is to figure out what type of foot you have. There are three basic foot types. While only a podiatrist can give you a fully accurate analysis of your foot type, you can evaluate yourself at home too.
The next time you step out of the shower, take a close look at the footprints your wet feet leave on the floor. If you see a crescent-shaped footprint with little or no impression made by your arch, you have a supinated foot. Supinators tend to wear out the outside part of the bottom of their shoes (the lateral side) before the medial (big toe) side. Supinators also tend to have wide feet and need to look for a shoe that provides extra room in the forefoot and toe box. They also need a shoe with extra cushioning to compensate for their high arches.
If your foot leaves a wet mark on the floor that’s completely filled in, arch and all, you have a pronated foot. Pronators often have flat feet, and the medial portion of their shoe bottom wears down before the lateral part. People with this foot type often need extra support from their shoes so a mid-cut model or a shoe with extra stability on the medial side is usually a wise choice.
If you’re one of the few people who leave a wet footprint with a moderate amount of arch, you have a neutral foot. Consider yourself lucky-this is the most efficient and biomechanically versatile foot type. Players with neutral feet can play tennis in almost any shoe.

Understand the Design
You know your foot type. Next up is understanding the shoe’s design so you can pick the one that will perform best for you. There are four parts of a shoe you need to consider:

Upper:
The top portion of the shoe, or the upper, is usually made of leather, synthetic leather, or a combination of materials. If you need extra support, look for lacing systems that thread into reinforcements going down the sides of the shoe; they’ll provide added stability.
When you try a shoe on, be sure the upper is comfortable against the top of your foot and is not too tight. If you drag your toe when you serve, look for a durable toecap. And if you hit your forehand from an open stance (that is, with most of the front of your body facing the net), you’ll benefit from additional material along the medial portion of the upper since that area often slides along the court and wears down faster as you play.

Insole:
This is the portion of the shoe that your foot rests on, and it’s the least technical part of the operation. If you’ve had foot problems and wear orthotics, check to see if the insole is removable. In most cases it will be, allowing you to replace a worn-out insole with an over-the-counter one that provides extra cushioning.

Midsole:
The midsole is the section that lies between the shoe bottom and the insole. It’s generally made from ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) foam or polyurethane (PU) and in many cases is supplemented by air or gel inserts. The midsole supplies a shoe’s cushioning.
It can often be tough to tell when the midsole breaks down and ceases to perform, but as a rule of thumb, a two- or three-day-a-week player will wear out a midsole in five to six months. Frequent players and people who are extremely aggressive on the court will go through midsoles more quickly due to the pounding they give their shoes.

If your shoes don’t feel as cushioned as they did when they were new, the midsole may be shot. You should consider buying a new pair.

Buying Shoes Can Be DifficultOutsole:
This is where the rubber meets the road. The outsole’s design affects the traction you’ll get on hard and clay courts.
Herringbone designs that form a tight, wave-like pattern perform best on clay, while outsoles with the most variation in the design (a little herringbone here, a wider groove there) give you the best traction on hard courts.

An outsole should also be durable enough to stand up to your style of game. If you play often or wear out shoes quickly, look for heavy-duty outsoles and try to get a pair with an outsole warranty; if they don’t last, you can send them back to the manufacturer to get them replaced.

Heavy or Light?
How heavy should a pair of tennis shoes be? Well, light is nice, but heavy has its advantages, too.
The lighter your shoes, the faster you can zip around the court. So why are tennis shoes almost always heavier than running shoes? The stop-and-start demands of tennis require that shoes have ample cushioning, extra support, and more durable outsoles, all of which add weight.
In an effort to lighten up their shoes, manufacturers often use an hourglass-shaped outsole design for some models. But this may move the shoe’s flex point toward the middle of the shoe, near your arch, rather than at the ball of the foot, where your foot naturally bends. (To test a shoe’s flex point, hold it firmly around the heel in one hand and press the palm of your other hand against the sole at the toe end. Notice where the shoe bends. If it’s back toward the arch, you could have problems with support and stability.)

Only you can decide how much weight you’re willing to live with in the name of increased stability and durability. Consider owning two pairs of tennis shoes: a lighter game-day shoe and a heavier training shoe (this technique has been used by distance runners for years). If you practice in a heavier shoe and play your matches in a lighter shoe, you’ll feel quicker in competition and you’ll go through your shoes more slowly while you’re at it.

The Bottom Line
When you get beyond fashion and examine the function of footwear, you’ll wind up performing better on the court. What more could you ask of a tennis shoe?

4 STEPS TO A PERFECT FIT
Buying a pair of shoes should be an educated endeavor, not something that you leave to the luck of the draw. When purchasing tennis shoes, keep the following things in mind:
-Buy shoes after you’ve played tennis or late in the afternoon (feet typically swell 5 to 10 percent after exercise or by the end of the day). And be sure to bring the same kind of socks you wear to a match so that you can accurately gauge what size shoe you need.
-If the salesperson or shopkeeper doesn’t measure each part of your feet, he or she isn’t fitting your shoes properly. Be sure that the length and width of each foot are measured before you buy anything. It’s not uncommon for people to have one foot that’s larger than the other. If that’s the case, buy a pair of shoes to fit the larger foot.
-Bring your old shoes. The wear on your used pair will help a smart fitter determine how much support, cushioning, and durability you need. The salesperson may also ask you what shoes you’ve worn comfortably in the past.
-Based on your foot type, support needs, and style preferences, your fitter should be able to recommend at least two or three different pairs of shoes to try.

This article is intended for any beginner who would use an adult tennis racquet. Most players who weigh at least 85 pounds should use an adult racquet, but see this article on buying a junior racquet if you are not sure.

Beginner, "Tweener," or Advanced?

Racquet reviews often classify racquets in one of these categories, which are useful indicators, but some beginners might be happiest with a "tweener" (intermediate) racquet. A racquet rated for beginners tends to be very powerful, and a strong, athletic beginner might find it hard to control.

The two types of racquet that at least 90% of beginners should not consider are the extremes of the racquet power spectrum:

    * a heavy, head-light, low-powered racquet intended for an advanced player.
    * an extremely light (under 9.5 ounces, strung) and powerful racquet, which is only suitable for a small minority of players who don’t play often and lack the strength to generate a powerful swing.

This leaves a huge selection still available. Here are your key considerations:

Price and Material

If price is a concern, you’re in luck. You can buy an entirely adequate beginner racquet for less than $30; less than $20 if you shop around. It will be made of aluminum and come pre-strung, usually with just a cover for the head.

Aluminum is too flexible for a player who hits hard and needs a predictable response, but that usually describes a fairly accomplished player. If you anticipate that you will advance quickly, you might want to consider a graphite racquet, for which prices start at around $70 and go up to almost $300.

See Tennis on the Cheap for more on how to buy an inexpensive racquet.

Power

The main factors that govern the power of a racquet are head size, frame flexibility, and string tension. An inexpensive racquet will come pre-strung at the middle of its tension range, and you should probably choose mid-range for your first custom stringing, too. That leaves head size and flexibility to consider.

A larger head gives you more power and a larger sweet spot, but less control. Most racquets come in one of three basic sizes: A midsize has a hitting area of 85-95 square inches, mid-plus 95-105 square inches, and oversize greater than 105 square inches. If your athletic ability is above average, choose mid-plus; otherwise, choose an oversize up to 115 square inches. Anything larger will be so powerful, it will discourage you from taking a real swing at the ball, because when you do, you’ll too often hit long. A few pros use oversize racquets, but they’re most commonly designed for beginners. Midsize and mid-plus are usually preferred by intermediate and advanced players.

For a beginner, flexibility won’t make as big a difference as head size. A more flexible racquet gives you somewhat less power and slightly less control, but until you start hitting hard and trying to place the ball within a few feet of a target, you probably won’t notice. All aluminum racquets are somewhat flexible, but graphite racquets range from flexible to extremely stiff. Generally, the thicker the profile, the stiffer the frame, but the frame materials and construction matter, too. If you’re going to spend the money for graphite, a moderately stiff to stiff frame is probably your best bet.

Length

The standard length for an adult racquet is 27 inches. Anything shorter is meant for a junior. Racquets longer than 27 inches emerged several years ago, intended to give players more reach and leverage. The merits of extra-long racquets are hotly debated, with greater serving power argued as the main advantage and reduced maneuverability the main criticism. If you’re not very tall, an extra inch of racquet can enhance your serve, and it won’t feel unwieldy, but don’t make length your main consideration. Between 27 and 28 inches, the difference won’t be crucial. Any length above 28 inches is probably unwise for a first racquet.

Weight

If a racquet is too light, too much of the shock of its collision with the ball gets transmitted to your arm. If we were all strong enough, we’d be best off with racquets weighing 14 ounces or more, but even 12 ounces can feel pretty heavy to a beginner. A weight between 10 and 11.5 ounces should be a good choice for a beginner, and many players will stay in the that range throughout their development.

Balance

Balance describes whether the weight of the racquet is distributed more toward the head (head-heavy) or the butt (head-light). Which is better is a matter of some debate. Many advanced players prefer heavy racquets that are balanced head-light to improve maneuverability, but these racquets have less stability than racquets with more head weight. Your beginner racquet should probably have a balance within three points (3/8") of even either way.

Gimmicks

Whatever it is, you probably don’t need it, and you might not even want it. Racquets have gotten too good. People are enjoying them for too long. The racquet industry sometimes struggles to find something new to drive sales. Avoid anything exotic for your first racquet. Let more experienced players sort out what is and isn’t a good idea. If a racquet has some built-in shock absorption with an impressive name (most do), that’s fine, but watch out for new stringing systems, head shapes, and extreme balance points.

Play-testing

It’s hard for a beginner to give a racquet a reliable play test, but you can compare a handful of racquets, looking for the following:

    * Does the racquet feel solid on impact with the ball?
    * Are there any annoying sounds or vibrations?
    * Does it feel too heavy on serve and overhead motions?
    * Does one racquet feel more maneuverable than another?
    * Which racquet seems to hit the ball deep for you, but not out?

If you’re buying a sub-$30 aluminum racquet, play-testing probably won’t be an option unless you can borrow one from a friend, but if you’re buying a graphite racquet from a pro shop, you should be able to try it out first.