Click here to view the bestselling machine (pictured left) or continue reading to learn more.

Tennis ball machines can be pricey but you can recoup your money elsewhere by saving on costly practice lessons and let’s face it – you won’t have to rely on that friend of yours who isn’t really into tennis as much as you are to hit balls back at you.

What’s more, I can almost guarantee that a ball machine would hit a better percentage of them in play too!

Customization

However, don’t think that these machines are just going to spit-out balls at a constant pace and direction – some of the more advanced models can add spin to the ball or just release balls in a random fashion (known as oscillation). Either way, it is highly likely that most if not all of your game is going to get a good work out.

As well as having a very random nature, you can also program your own specific training schedule in some of the higher end versions so that you get a session that is tailored to your needs.

Tennis ball machine capacity, weight and size

Something else you also should consider is how many balls the machine can hold – this is anywhere from about 50 to 300 balls and more is not necessarily better.

Why? You’ll know the answer after you’ve had to pick up 300 balls after a good workout.

You should also think about portability – some machines can weigh as much 50 pounds and can be troublesome to store and move around.

Prince O3 Speedport White

The Prince O3 Speedport White is perfect for the player who is seeking more power and maneuverability without compromising on control.

The Prince O3 Speedport is based on the highly successful O3 White which was made famous by Maria Sharapova and features square shaped O-ports that act as wind tunnels to allow greater acceleration, mobility and speed in your swing.

Another benefit of the generous speed generated by this racket is the increased spin production. Prince have also excelled with free string movement on each hit of the ball. In other words, the strings thanks to Speedport technology are free to move when the ball is struck, allowing the sweet spot on the racket to be increased by up to 59%.

The Prince O3 Speedport White review

Are you one of those players that is scared of bone jarring feedback if you don’t hit the ball correctly? This racket has obvious advantage of greatly reducing or even eliminating that unpleasant experience.

What is even more impressive is that Prince managed this feat without adding extra weight or increasing the length of the racket, further adding to their reputation as one of the leading racket manufacturers in the world today.

Indeed if you wanted to add weight you could certainly do that too.

Who is the Speedport White suited to?

Some players have found that the O3 Speedport White is more suited to creative players thanks to a better and more confident feel. They found that they could produce more subltle drop shots and slices, but also create a greater emphasis on spin when required.

Of course, there is always the problem with the more high powered rackets of hitting the ball ‘out of the stadium’ as it were. What I mean is if you already have a powerful stroke, you may be wise not to pick up this racket because your control might suffer as a result and you will continually find yourself hanging back to avoid over hitting.

In addition to this, some players do actually like to feel the ball hitting the racket and the soft, cushioning hits that the O3 White encourages may not be for everybody.

But these are minor issues obviously, and no one racket is going to suit everyone.

Final word

The Prince O3 Speedport White has almost everything you could ever want in a tennis racket, and a result will suit a large range of different playersand skill levels. It has this universal appeal because of a fantastic blend of power, control and feel.

I could see anyone from speed happy juniors to more competitive adults using this racket, and I urge everyone to give the O3 White strong consideration, especially if you have never used or come across any of the Prince Speedport range before while reading the various tennis racket reviews.

This design affords the Head Ti S6 a level of maneuverability and control that is rarely seen with such a powerful piece of equipment. The Ti S6 gives you the power of a long racket without sacrificing agility and control.

Head Ti S6 review

I should point out at this stage that there are always conditions to using lightweight rackets. Perhaps the biggest thing to keep in mind is you should not lose sight of the basics of the game of tennis itself.

An amateur player will have a tendency to put more effort into the shot to get the most out of the excellent sweet spot, but forget all about racket position, footwork and balance (the basics that I alluded to above).

Some players with a lighter, more powerful racket in their hands will become lazy and as a result expose other faults in their game!

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Secondly, light-weight rackets like the Head Ti S6 cannot possibly absorb as much energy as a heavier racket.

The excess energy has to go somewhere and it usually reverberates back through your body which can result in nasty injuries to your wrists, shoulders or elbows down the track. Look after yourself and get a racket that is tailored to your game.

(Note: The Shockstop is a small metal cylinder in the bottom of the racket that presses up against the grating of the shaft and dampens all of the vibrations. Of course if you hit the ball off center you will still feel vibrations, and everyone will have a different response depending on their hitting ability and tolerance to pain)

Conclusion

The Head Ti S6 is a wonderful piece of equipment and dare I say the best in its class for beginner to intermediates. If you are a player who has a compact swing and loves spin then you need to check out this racket!

Remember, we all have to start somewhere. Focus on improving the basics of your game (stroke production, footwork and most importantly physical fitness) instead of relying on ‘the next best thing’ in tennis rackets to win you the game.

If you take shortcuts and have short term success, know that it will catch up with you eventually and you will be back to square one.

I don’t mean that as nasty or accusing by the way, just rather as a couple of hopefully helpful comments to save you a lot of pain and time wasting over the long term

The Head Liquidmetal 8 tennis racket was originally designed with the specific need of each and every tennis player in mind. This is why Head have developed Liquidmetal technology – a revolutionary new material that produces a specific blend of control and power.

Head Liquidmetal 8 review

Thanks to the new Liquidmetal atomic structure which is 2.5 times stronger than titanium, you can now look forward to faster serves, superior returns and better volleys. The secret to its success is that the atomic structure is liquid which does not deform on impact like other solid competitors.

This in turn allows liquid rackets to efficiently and precisely make use of the energy of each ball impact rather than losing it during the process of the swing. The Liquidmetal technology is fully applied to four strategically placed areas around the head, allowing you to give it your best shot with the confidence that your ball won’t end up in the parking lot.

Liquidmetal 8 Specifications

• Head size: 112 square inches
• Length: 27.33 inches
• Weight: 10.1 ounces
• Stiffness: 66
• Balance: 13.98 inches, head heavy
• Cross section: 28mm/26mm tapered beam
• Swing weight: 312 kg/sq cm
• String pattern: 16 x 19
• Grip: Head HydroSorb

Another Head-developed technology, the Total Sweetspot Construction (TSC), gives you an innovative corrugated structure that increases the torsional stability in the Head Liquidmetal 8 racket head.

In more simple terms, this increases the sweet spot throughout the entire head of the racket – the benefits of which are obvious (you will be feeling like you’ve hit the sweetspot with every shot).

Ready to buy? Low prices, free shipping from a trusted retailer.

But wait, there’s more…

In addition to the TSC technology, Head also features the NoShox system which significantly (and more importantly comfortably) reduces vibration by as much as 27% over other leading brands. The implication here is that even the harshest of game styles will be suited to a happy partnership with the Head racket.

Stronger improving players will find good control by adding more spin to their strokes with the Liquidmetal 8 – easily done thanks to the rackets spin friendly stringbed. At net the racket feels stable, controllable and very comfortable and volleys are hit with ease and confidence.

Last but not least, the Liquidmetal 8 features an integrated string dampener that is attached to the the grommets. The string dampener reduces string vibration yet further still, encouraging a more comfortable swing and creating the perfect sound and feel when you hit the ball. This is something that a lot of Liquidmetal tennis racket reviews praised.

What are others saying about this racket?

Minhaj Hussein from NJ, USA commented that the Liquidmetal 8 increased his confidence tremendously. It has actually improved his confidence to the point where he is motivated to improve his own game even further, noting that he can’t and won’t blame the racket for his skill errors.

This is my second Tennis racket, i have the Wilson US Open as a beginner and played with it for a year. I have been playing with the Head LiquidMetal 8 for a week now and i have to say it is amazing. Extremely light(on the UPS scale stringed it weighed .60 lbs) and packed with a punch this racket has increased my confidence level tremendously, i can’t blame anything on the racket anymore so i try extra hard and have definitely improved a lot in just a week.

Look and feel of the racket is definitely a plus, it has the integrated vibration dampers so you can’t lose it while playing. Comes with a full cover in Black and Silver/Gray to match the racket. I got this with Free Shipping through Amazon – MidWest Sports – with no tax, even the stores can’t beat that. Amazon is the best, i am completely satisfied with the whole experience.

Read this review and others here.

Conclusion

The Head Liquidmetal 8is by far the most powerful offering in the Liquidmetal line, but it is conveniently and pleasantly comfortable for a stick that is best known for power.

It is the geared toward the beginning to intermediate-level player with a slow to moderate swing. The racket is particularly appropriate for tennis players who need the convenience of a larger sweet spot coupled with a lighter head weight.

Amateur and professional tennis players alike will all recognize the tremendous power of the Babolat Aeropro Drive GT and, more relevantly, the extra spin of Rafael Nadal whose yellow GT racket shines on court as a beacon to any aspiring player.

Babolat Aeropro Drive GT review

The AeroPro Drive GT is updated by means of a combination of braided carbon fibers and tungsten filaments on the actual racket. The latter filaments make the frame stronger and produce greater precision by reducing torque.

In fact Babolat themselves claim a 26% increase in precision compared to the previous Babolat AeroPro Drive.

The Cortex vibration filter continues with this updated model to enhance feel by negating the 2 highest vibration frequencies – in other words only the frequencies that enhance the feel will be allowed to pass through the Cortex filter.

Babolat Aeropro Drive GT specifications

The racket has an overall head size of 100 inches and falls into the mid-sized plus or tweener classification.

Conclusion

The Babolat Aeropro Drive GT is awesome if you have an all court game and variety in your shot making decisions.

If you enjoy slicing the ball and employ a lot of top spin, it goes without saying that you should strongly consider this racket. It has an almost perfect blend of power, control and feel and the racket is easy to swing through the air giving you plenty of opportunity to get some force behind you before you strike the ball.

This is an ideal stick for someone with an all court game that can really manipulate the ball and make it dance! A very addictive and highly recommended racket.

Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3

The Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 is one of Wilson’s most popular “tweener” rackets and one of the best selling tennis rackets of all time. Click here to buy now!

This racket combines both control and power making it ideal for beginners looking to step up their game or intermediate players who want a little extra control.

One of the most popular racket categories to emerge over the past year has been that of the aforementioned “tweener” rackets. Tweener rackets are those models that fall between pure player’s models and pure game improvement, or in other words power models. They’re usually lighter (9-11 ounces), slightly longer (27.5-28 inches) and are designed for players with medium to medium-full/fast swings.

Although it is light and maneuverable with a slight bias of weight towards the head of the racket, the 5.3 is not as top-heavy as most other Hammer models. In fact it provides a little more leverage and reach than a standard length racket but does not get in the way of shots performed closer to the body. All court singles players should find the Hyper Hammer a beneficial racket on court and a joy to use.

Specifications:

• Head size: 110 square inches
• Length: 27.5 inches
• Weight: 9 ounces (unstrung)
• String tension: 53 to 63 pounds
• String pattern: 16 x 20
• Beam width: 28 mm/25 mm, dual taper beam
• Composition: 15 percent Hyper Carbon/85 percent graphite
• Power level: Medium
• Swing speed: Moderate fast
• Grip: Cushion-Aire Conform

Technology:

• Hyper Carbon Material: Provides ultimate power, light weight and increased strength.
• Hammer Technology: Provides a higher and larger sweet spot.
• Stretch Light: Provides more power and greater reach.
• Dual Taper Beam: Increases stability for greater power and enlarged sweet spot.

There is a reason this racket is one of the best selling of all time. It is purely and simply that good. Ideally suited to beginners and intermediates, you would be unlucky to be disappointed with the Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 tennis racket.

Prince O3 Hybrid Hornet

The Prince O3 Hybrid Hornet is one of the most versatile frames in the Prince lineup.

This is the original and popular TT Hornet on steroids! Perfect for aspiring, competitive players looking for great racket head speed, a lighter frame and plenty of zing.

It is perfect for aspiring competitive players. Prince has retained the incredibly light weight maneuverability of the Hornet; but accentuated the rackets forgiveness of off-center shots by expanding the sweet spot with O3 Engineering.

The O3 Hybrid Hornet has also won a Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture Award for its phenomenal design.

The O3 Hybrid Hornet Midplus as it is otherwise known offers a smaller headsize and a little more control on the ball compared to the Prince – O3 Hybrid Hornet OverSize Tennis Racket.

The technological redevelopment has replaced traditional pin-sized string holes with a revolutionary giant O-Port.  A super aerodynamic frame has been created with a more responsive stringbed. This increases the sweet spot by 54%, creating a larger area which obviously means that you have a better chance of hitting your best shots more often.

The unmistakable O-Ports are located at twelve and six o’clock on the perimeter of the frame. Prince manufacturers says this extends the sweet spot towards the tip of the racket where most mis-hits occur.

What is most remarkable is that Prince accomplished all of this without enlarging the head size, which further enhances its ease of use as the racket has not had to have been lengthened or made heavier.

All in all, a great all around racket for competitive, developing juniors and more experienced players with an all court game who need a racket that’s just as good for aggressive play as it is on defense. It was a worthy choice for TENNIS Magazine’s Editor’s Choice in 2006.

As a result you really cannot go wrong for under $100 with the Prince O3 Hybrid Hornet racket considering it is loaded with some fine Prince technology and comfort.

Prince ExO3 Rebel 95

The Prince EXO3 Rebel 95 tennis racket offers a ton of feel and comfort and is an excellent choice for advanced level players.

Used by ATP tour professional Gael Monfils, this racket has the precision of a surgical scalpel but is as comfortable as a pillow around the court.

Prince have been able to extract even more performance from the O3 system and been able to implement it on true players’ frames. The EXO3 Energy Bridge allows the stringbed to be suspended from the frame thus capturing the energy that would have otherwise been wasted through frame vibration.

The end result is greater power, a bigger sweetspot and even better comfort and feel.

The EXO3 also features interchangeable grommets for a truly custom feel. You can choose from the strong port insert for more power and comfort, or the string hole insert for more control and feel.

In addition to this, the Prince EXO3 is enhanced by the dynamic effects of the Energy Bridge, or in other words the patented Energy Channel exclusive to Prince tennis rackets. It is a sculpted groove within the frame that provides more stability, bolsters your ball control and increases spin by up to 25%.

This is a superbly accomplished racket but it’s standout feature is it’s control. With a 95 square inch head, the EXO3 Rebel 95 offers ultimate control in the EXO3 line.

Overall, this tennis racket is sure to be one of the best players racket for an intermediate-advanced to advanced player with a fast swing speed. If you have the skills, stamina and confidence to go with the Prince EXO3 Rebel 95 it will respond in magnificent style.

One thing I should point out is that there is another option in the EXO3 family that is lighter in weight but retains outstanding maneuverability and control.

It is the Prince EXO3 Rebel Team MS 95 Tennis Racket and is more suited to players looking for the control in a mid size head in a more compact, lighter package. Both rackets are excellent options in this category.

Babolat AeroPro Drive 2010

Buy a genuine Babolat Aeropro Drive from Amazon today.

Some people seem to be worried that the tennis rackets they are buying are fake.

The most common rackets I see are the Babolat Aeropro Drive and Aeropro Drive GT but I have seen queries for the Head Microgel Prestige Pro and numerous Prince tennis rackets. If you want to be sure you are buying the 2010 GT from a reputable dealer then click the tennis racket image to the left.

The best tip I can give is this - buy from a reputable and recognized dealer. That means don’t buy them off some less than honest seller on Ebay.

Time and time again people buy from shady dealers on large shopping sites and expect genuine rackets at half the usual asking price. You get what you pay for!

If it’s too late and you’ve already received the racket, feel free to contact the racket manufacturer to check if the particular supplier you are buying/bought from is legitimate.

You can also try emailing the manufacturer and sending them pictures of your racket for verification if you are really concerned.

A couple more dead giveaways relating to a fake Aeropro Drive GT specifically include;

1. the presence of a hologram sticker – definitely means you have a fake
2. inaccurate color/text reproduction and a different string pattern to the original.
3. try the light head versus heavy head demonstration. This involves putting a finger in the throat and watching to see if the head floats up above the handle or sinks below. Fake rackets tend to be head heavy as a rule.
4. fakes have improper location of markings and some missing logo detail

Some of the other things you might be able to pick up on are;

• The inside of your racket will look disorganized and poorly constructed when you remove the butt cap.
• The center divider should be straight in a genuine copy but skewed in a fake.
• The background of where the “GT Technology” text is located should have a grey background with small lines. Fake copies will almost always have a black background with no lines visible to the naked eye.

Of course, it is hard to compare a fake to the real thing in person if you have already bought a fake. This is why it is SUPER important to buy from the most trusted dealer you know. It cannot be stressed enough.

Fakes are not confined to Babolat however, so I have included some links for other rackets.

Check out an example for Head tennis rackets:

http://www.tenniswarehouse.com.au/store/racquets/fake-racquets.html

Another for Babolat in general:

http://www.regentville.com/2007/03/fake-babolat-pure-drive.html

In summary a bit of common sense and research will go a long way towards avoiding buying a cheap copy. Hope you have found this somewhat helpful.

Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200

The Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 tennis racket is more suited to tournament and advanced players.

The 4D 200 comes with a long and powerful swing and above average control for the best and most precise shot control.

Dunlop have inserted 4D (4-directional) braided touch points around the frame to aid in stability by up to 33% more than in previous Dunlop rackets.

The braided fibers are aligned in a certain orientation that enables stress on the racket to be supported in many directions – this is opposed to standard carbon sheets in other rackets that are only oriented in one direction. The 4D braided graphite technology also makes for less shock, better feedback and more consistency.

The European model of the 4D 200 is also available on Amazon, it is the Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 16 x 19 Pre-Strung Racket. This Dunlop tennis racket also features the 100% graphite Aerogel™ technology and new 4D braided technology.

The 200 16/19 is designed for more advanced tennis players with a long swing who need outstanding touch and feel. 4D Braided technology has been added at strategic locations along the racket and improves the stability and greatly enhances touch making this the ultimate control orientated racket.

The design also features a more open string pattern delivering extra power and better spin generation and this racket comes recommend for 4.5+ level players. The 95 square inches of headsize will give a good amount of control to the user but the Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 16/19 also has even head-weight distribution, so the racket gives the player maneuverability all over the court.

All in all these two Dunlop tennis rackets give players the best of both worlds – you will love this frame for its spin-friendliness and its control and agility. Check out the Dunlop Aerogel 4D 200 if you prefer a frame with a bit more control and less spin, otherwise there is not that much different between the American and European version.