Tennis Racquet Stiffness & Flex: A Clear Explanation

Tennis racquet stiffness or flex is an often confusing and misrepresented topic, which is helpful to understand when buying a tennis racquet or dealing with arm injuries such as tennis elbow.
In this video, I discuss what racquet stiffness means, how it’s measured, and its impact on performance and comfort - charts included.
Full writeup: tenniscompanion.org/tennis-ra...
Types of Tennis Strings: tenniscompanion.org/types-of-...
Tennis String Tension: tenniscompanion.org/tennis-st...
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Video Recap & Timestamps
0:17 - What is Racquet Stiffness?
0:41 - How is Stiffness Measured?
1:18 - Example Racquets with High & Low Ratings
1:26 - Racquet Stiffness & Performance
1:56 - Racquet Stiffness & Comfort
2:11 - Stiffness Comparison Chart
2:33 - Demoing Tennis Racquets
2:57 - Additional Comfort Considerations
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[@brana1646]

Hey man. Just wanted to say thanks for the ridiculously concise video. I really think ur channel is gonna blow up.

[@TennisCompanion]

Thank you for the kind words and for taking the time to share! I appreciate it.

[@selfhelp69]

Some of the details I was looking for keep up the good work.

[@richardmakepeace4830]

Great explanation and graphics. People like me need to see the visualization. I think you've helped me make my decision. 👍🏽

[@jakubjabonski9341]

Useful and informative, exactly what I needed. Thanks

[@TennisCompanion]

Great to hear, Jakub! Thanks for sharing.

[@HuggyGamesXbox]

Great vid 😃 simple and straight forward. Instant sub 👍

[@TennisCompanion]

Thank you, Gustav! I appreciate the feedback and support.

[@Griffith2910]

Keep up the informative videos!!

[@TennisCompanion]

Thanks for the encouragement!

[@walterhayley7252]

Excellent...

[@TennisCompanion]

Thanks, Walter!

[@assihassan]

why is a low tension on string give you more power, but a flexible racket give you less power? don't they both bounce back and give a trampoline effect?

[@ql3670]

Both more flexible string and racquet store more energy by deformation upon impacting with the ball. But when the string springs back, it gives back (most of) the stored energy to the ball. The ball will leave the racquet before the racquet springs back. Therefore, any stored energy in the racquet is wasted, not given back to the ball. That is the reason why for more power, you want more flexible string at lower tension, but stiffer racquet.

[@junhelynvillanueva5338]

Hi sir I’m stringinger here in dubai thank your video really help a lot

[@northvanlarry561]

Great guide. A question: I'm a player in my 50s, better than beginner but not as good as real intermediate (rating 3.0, I guess). I have an old Head Ti. S2 and a Prince Graphite Lite I, both bought 20 years ago. Are they still good today and suitable for my level? Thanks a lot.

[@Mari-re4up]

Hi tks for the time to make such an easy to understand videos with all that info and data around a tennis racquet, Im a begginer intermediate player, and enjoy very much hitting from the base line with a lot of spin, as well I like to approach to the net to change the pace of each point, but unfortunately Im having trouble with elbow pain, all the recommendations I have received points to change my racquet for a more arm friendly one, but there are many choices in teh market, based on your esperience if you could pls give me a piece of advice I will really appreciate it, Ive been playing with a babolat pure storm GT...

[@adizago26]

Prokennex Black ace 300 it's thé Elbow healer!

[@andyhung424able]

I demo'ed rackets a few times before, but the (online) retailer strings the rackets with different type of strings and different tension, it makes it very difficult to make meaningful comparisons. I never was able to confidently pick out the right racket that I feel better with than others. What do you suggest in order to do a proper demo?

[@tahmidtajwar4596]

I'm looking for feel and spin racquet is ezone 98+ good option? What's the stiffness rating of this frame?

[@DavidGao1988]

For the stiffness (RA) rating given by the manufacturer, which can be found out online from TW or other stores, is it measured when unstrung?

[@brunoaraujo9247]

When stores such as tennis warehouse and manufactures advertise the stiffness rating, are these rating strung or strung? its confusing as a buyer, because sometimes advertised unstrung specs and strung specs show the same RA rating. thanks

[@crisjr917]

Hi, what’s the average balance point range/measurements in cm or inches for Head Light and Head Heavy? (Using Balance Board) Is it the high reading number is more on head light? And the lower reading number is head heavy? Ex: 30cm Reading - Head Heavy 32cm Reading - Head Light Thanks 🙏

[@rubengomez6798]

Where can you buy a Babolat RDC in the USA or UK

[@taquangson2134]

Heavy racket with lower stiff ( clash 295gr with 56ra) or technifibre 280gr with higher stiff (68ra), which racket better for arm(elbow), thanks?

[@albertoescobosa179]

Hi, my Raquet factory specifications flex (volkl v cell 10 320g ) is 63 unstrung, does it gets stiffer strung ?? thank you !

[@adizago26]

They say it gets +2 RA stiffer, strunged

[@jakeray6321]

Hey thanks for the great video! It was very helpful. I have a question: why does a lower stiffness rating provide more control? I understand why it would provide less power, but not why it would be better fore control. If my assumption of what control is for tennis racquets is accurate, which is that control means the ball lands where you expect it to land when you hit it, why would a less stiff racquet be more predictable than a stiff one?

[@TennisCompanion]

Thanks, Jake! Great question. The reason racquets with lower stiffness ratings tend to be considered control-centric has to do with the fact that they're less powerful, thus demanding more from the player to turn up or down the pace depending on the scenario, i.e., the player has control. Furthermore, lower stiffness racquets will generally offer players an enhanced and more connected feel, which tends to instill confidence in directing the ball and often feels more predictable. However, stiffness isn't the only factor influencing control, so it's not always cut and dry and subsequently can make comparing racquets challenging. Other specs, such as head size, string pattern, beam width, etc. play a role along with the strings and tension. Beyond that, the player has significant influence over control, and their style of play, grip, and technique are factors too. As a result, it's a sum of all parts and why some players will find more control with low stiffness, while others with higher stiffness. Ultimately, there's a lot of subjectivity in the details that result in control, but I hope my notes provide some additional useful context for you.

[@jakeray6321]

@@TennisCompanion that was very helpful! Thank you for taking the time to wright all that out. I appreciate it!

[@sportguy-live26]

This is a good question thx for asking

[@sportguy-live26]

​@@TennisCompanion this is a great detailed answer ty I've always been curious myself

[@willt5195]

I’m looking for a stiff racket to use as an intermediate serve and volley player, and suggestions?

[@TennisCompanion]

Hi Will - here are a handful of racquets that fit the bill and their RA ratings: - Wilson Ultra v3: 73 - Wilson Burn v4: 71 - Babolat Pure Drive: 71 - Babolat Pure Aero: 67 You'll also find that many lines of tennis racquets have specific models within the family that are on the stiffer end. For example, here are two racquets within the Wilson Blade line and their stiffness ratings. - Wilson Blade 98 v7: 62 -Wilson Blade 100L v7: 69 I hope that helps!

[@willt5195]

@@TennisCompanion Thanks for the help!!

[@naorventura6212]

Does someone know what is the stifness of Pro staff 96 by wilson?

[@TennisCompanion]

Hi Naor! Thanks for the question - happy to help. Can you be more specific with the model? There have been many Pro Staff racquets over the years. Are you curious about the v13 latest release of the Pro Staff that happened this year?

[@naorventura6212]

@@TennisCompanion Hey! thank your for your quick reaply. The exact model is - Pro Staff six.one 100 (weight 275 gr/10.1 oz, head size 100 sq in). As far as i know, its an old model, known by one of federer's racquets. The reason for my questions is, I suffer from tendonitis in my right shoulder (The dominant hand that holds the racquet) I realized that when buying a new racket, i should pay attention to the level of stifness of the racket, as an important parameter (along with weight, head size and more) I'm intersting with the 2018 Pure Drive Babolat racquet. What do you think? What should I focus on?

[@TennisCompanion]

Thanks for the extra details, Naor! The Wilson BLX Pro Staff Six.One 100 has a stiffness or RA rating of 65, which is a mid-range flex. Federer would have used the smaller 90 in² head size, but the racquet's paint job would have looked the same - around 2012. I'm sorry to hear about tendonitis in your right shoulder. That's frustrating, but your racquet and string selection, as you've suggested, can help. The Babolat Pure Drive you're referring to is one of the racquets with a higher stiffness rating at 71, so it can be tough on a player's arm. It's a great racquet, but I'd stay away from it. I agree that you should be thoughtful in your selection and focus on a few key elements to help prevent further discomfort. *A Lower Stiffness Rating* All else equal, a stiffer racquet will impart more shock and vibration to a player's arm, which may lead to discomfort. However, it depends on the player - not everyone has the same reaction to stiffer racquets, especially early on when first hitting with a new racquet. However, over time a higher stiffness rating can cause arm issues. Some of the worst offenders are stiff, lightweight racquets. A stiffness or RA rating range I would shoot for is 55-65. *A Moderate Weight* Weight absorbs shock and vibration - all else equal, it also increases power. If you think of a hammer, you don't feel much shock when striking a nail because the hammer's weight is absorbing it. As a result, it can be beneficial for players to play with a racquet on the heavier end of the spectrum for what they can handle for a full match or practice session, i.e., 1-2 hours of play. Of course, too much weight can also cause problems, so it's a balance. Most adult males will tend to fall in a weight range of 10.5 - 11.5 oz (298 - 326 g) strung as a weight they can comfortably handle, but only the player can make this determination by experimenting. If your arm is noticeably tired after using it for an hour or two and you feel like you have to 'muscle' the racquet, then you've likely gone too heavy. You can learn more about racquet weight in my video here: Weight: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHq9coeQbcupp8U Side Note: You can more easily add weight to a racquet. Although possible to a degree, it's more challenging to remove weight. *Forgiving Strings* Your strings play a crucial role in comfort. Different strings exhibit various performance characteristics. Typically, the best options for players with arm injuries are multifilament tennis strings, which are more forgiving and easier on a player's arm. Of course, there's a performance tradeoff, so some players will find a middle ground by stringing hybrid where they use one string for the vertical mains and another string for the horizontal crosses. The tension of your strings also plays a role, where dropping the tension a bit can help improve comfort. You can learn more about both these topics from these videos/guides I've created: Types of Strings: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZfPdKaKgpusbtk Multifilaments: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYmxZHlme5mspqc Hybrids: tenniscompanion.org/hybrid-tennis-strings/ Tension: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mn_Ek6Z3otF_hdk Here are a few racquets worth considering - all of which fall roughly in the spec range I've reviewed above: - Wilson Clash 100 - Head Graphene 360+ Speed MP - Head Graphene 360+ Gravity MP - Head Graphene 360+ Extreme MP - Yonex VCORE PRO 100 As for strings, you can check out my top picks for multifilaments here: tenniscompanion.org/multifilament-tennis-strings/ You're on the right track and asking the right questions - it's a bit of an education process. Best of luck finding the right racquet! PS - If possible, I always encourage players to demo or try a racquet before buying so that they can determine whether or not it's comfortable enough. Another route is to borrow a friend or acquaintance's racquet if it's in the ballpark of the specs you're evaluating. If you can't do either, that's fine, but I always encourage it. PPS - Your technique can also play a role in your comfort. One quick tip for arm comfort is to make sure you have a relaxed grip at all times - don't squeeze the handle too hard. Also, pay attention to your discomfort when playing. If it ever starts to hurt, stop playing. Don't fight through the pain, and give your body plenty of rest before you hit again. As frustrating as it can be not to play, your arm will thank you in the long run. PPPS - I'm not a doctor, nor do I pretend to be one 😄 My suggestions above are based purely on my own experience, and I'd encourage you to seek help from a licensed medical professional for injuries if necessary.

[@naorventura6212]

@@TennisCompanion Thank you so much for all of the information, it was incredibly helpful. I feel i should mention, i am a mid level player not competitive. Would you still recommend these racquets?

[@TennisCompanion]

Hi Naor - my apologies for the delayed follow up. I was scrolling through a few comments and noticed I missed a reply here. Yes, these racquets are well suited for a mid level player, and I'd still recommend them for someone in your shoes.

[@joshawott3323]

Wait, was my racquet supposed to break when I apply pressure?...

[@TennisCompanion]

Lol, I hope not 😅

[@jonienglish3231]

YAMAHA SECRET 04 !!!!!!!! WEAPONS GRADE !!!!!!!!! BAM