Racquet For Sale: Tennis TIP Recommends...

Tennis TIP recommends two tennis racquets both made by Babolat: the Soft Drive and the Drive Z Light. One is for Beginners and the other for Intermediate tennis players.

First the Beginner racquet. When we test racquets for beginners we are typically looking for a racquet with performance, stability (nothing flimsy), attractive design and reasonably priced. Soft Drive met all of our requirements.

When you demo this racquet you will notice the ball zings off the strings and it has a more than substantial sweet spot for a low end model. It is light and easy to swing so if you are worried about arm trouble the "soft"
in Soft Drive is not just a name. When you are learning the sport of tennis it is good to have a racquet that is forgiving to all the new muscles you are engaging in your arm, hand and shoulder. Again we found the Soft Drive had a nice flex without compromising performance.

Like all modern day racquets the grip also offers a comfortable feel when you hold onto it that you don't get from big box retailers selling $50 rackets. In turn, Soft Drive will be with you as your game evolves into an Intermediate tennis player a few years down the road so it is a worthy investment.

The blue color and design is also gender friendly. Best of all the price of the Soft Drive is around $125-$145 unstrung. We recommend you buy this racquet from a specialty retail store that has the expertise and knowledge to fit you with the proper grip size and string recommendation.

INTERMEDIATE- DRIVE Z LITE

If you are an Intermediate level player and want to make a bigger investment for your aggressive game try out the Drive Z Lite from Babolat. This racquet has a polished finish with the typical performance you would expect from the World's most popular racquet manufacturer.

The Z Lite works nicely when you crank your serve and has a good feel at the net for touch shots. We strung the racquet a bit on the loose side which provided a good feel for creating top spin off ground strokes. The racquet is also forgiving enough on your arm if you like a tight string job.

Babolat is known for slick cosmetics and this racquet is no different. The racquet looks like a a sports car and plays like one too. The price point is between $175-$195 unstrung.

Try Mason's Tennis Mart on East 53rd street on the south side of the street between Park and Madison Avenue, 212-755-5805. They have a full stock of Babolat racquets and accessories for your NYC tennis playing needs.

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"I just hung in there. It was far from my best tennis but you just learn from your mistakes." Maria Sharapova / French Open '08