Head size, string pattern and swingweight: reading a racket's spec sheet
Seven numbers almost nobody checks — and they explain why one racket suits you and another doesn't. With examples from the catalog.
Redacción PalaComparer · · 7 min read
A racket spec sheet carries seven numbers. Three of them tell you almost everything. Let's go in order of real importance.
Head size
The surface area of the face, in square inches. It drives everything else.
Yonex Percept 97from 219,99 € at 97 in² and Babolat Pure Drive (Gen 11)from 236,99 € at 100 in² are the two extremes of the catalog. They're not the same tool by a long shot.
String pattern
Written as "16x19": 16 vertical strings by 19 horizontal.
- Open (16x19) — the squares are bigger, the string bites the ball and it climbs. More spin, more launch, shorter string life.
- Closed (18x20) — tighter mesh. Flatter ball and more control, but you have to generate the spin yourself.
Babolat Pure Aero (Gen 9)from 244,99 € runs 16x19 and is built entirely around topspin.
Swingweight: the forgotten number
The weight you feel when moving the racket, not on the scale. Two 300 g rackets can feel completely different if one has swingweight 310 and the other 330.
Below 310 it's quick to handle and forgives being late. Above 325 it hits harder but demands you prepare the swing earlier.
The three that remain
- Stiffness (RA) — how much the frame bends. Higher = more power and more vibration to the arm. Above 70 with a delicate elbow, be careful.
- Balance — millimeters from the butt. Higher = more head = more power and less maneuverability.
- Length — 68.58 cm is standard. A few millimeters more give reach on the serve at the cost of control.
How to use this
Fix the head size first by your level, then the pattern by whether you're a spinner or a flat hitter, and use swingweight to fine-tune. The rest are nuances.
You can see all seven numbers together for up to three rackets in the comparator.