The Tennis Gear Guide: Rackets, Strings and Shoes, by Level

A racket will not give you a forehand. The wrong one can take yours away, or your elbow with it. Tennis gear is a small set of decisions with big consequences: the frame, the strings inside it, the tension they are strung at, and the shoes that keep you upright. Get those four right and you will play better, longer. Here is how to think about each, and where the leading brands fit.

The brands that matter

• Wilson (USA). Pro Staff, Blade, Clash and Ultra cover feel, control, comfort and power; also the official ball of the US Open.
• Babolat (France). Founded in Lyon in 1875 as a string maker; Pure Drive, Pure Aero and Pure Strike are reference frames for modern spin-and-power tennis.
• Head (Austria). Speed, Radical, Gravity and Boom span all-round, control and power-control families.
• Yonex (Japan). EZONE, VCORE and Percept, with the brand's squarer head shape for a forgiving sweet spot.
• Tecnifibre (France). Strong in strings; the TFight and TF40 frames suit flatter, control-minded hitters.
• Strings and shoes. Luxilon, Solinco and Babolat lead polyester strings; Asics, Nike, adidas and K-Swiss lead court shoes.

What to buy at your level

• Beginner or returning player. A light, forgiving frame with a larger head (around 100 to 105 square inches), strung with a soft multifilament or synthetic gut at mid tension.
• Club intermediate. A 100 square inch all-round frame of moderate weight. Try a hybrid: polyester in the mains for control, multifilament in the crosses for comfort.
• Advanced or competitive. A heavier, smaller head (95 to 98 square inches) for control. Full polyester only if your swing is fast and your arm is healthy; restring often, as polyester goes dead before it breaks.
• Any level with arm pain. Softer strings, lower tension and a frame with a lower stiffness rating. Talk to a doctor or physiotherapist if pain persists.

Spend on strings and shoes before you spend on a new frame. They change more, for less.

Shoes and the last details

• Clay courts need a herringbone outsole for grip and easy sliding; hard courts need a durable outsole and cushioning; grass needs a pimpled sole where permitted.
• Replace shoes when the outsole pattern is worn smooth or the heel loses support.
• Choose a grip size you can hold relaxed; an overgrip adds a little thickness and absorbs sweat.
• Demo two or three frames over a week before buying, ideally strung the same way.