Babolat tennis rackets

by Tom Becnel

The good news is that this Babolat tennis racket has an ergonomic grip which fits your hand and lets you swing with more control.

The bad news is that it doesn't matter.

Unfortunately, a good grip -- even a Smart Grip -- won't make you a better player.

For that, you need to practice more and play harder. Take lessons or hit with a pro. And lose 10 pounds.

OK, I'm guessing about the 10 pounds.

For most of us recreational players, it's more like 20 pounds.

Buying one of these Smart Grip rackets seems a lot like getting one of those big-head drivers in golf. It may feel better -- it might even be better -- but will it really make you play better?

My guess is no.

Having said all of this, that Babolat grip felt pretty good in my hand.

It's got a little rounded section near the end of the racket. There's another rounded section higher up, in case you have a two-handed backhand.

You can hardly see the difference, which is why I haven't bothered with a photo of the racket, but you can feel the palm of your hand wrap around that curve in the grip.

Maybe these Smart Grips will catch on. Maybe one day all rackets will have them.

A friend of mine doubts it. She and her friends tried a Babolat racket at their weekly doubles match. They all hated it.
There have been dozens of different racket sizes, shapes and materials over the years, but I don't remember much about new grips.

That's why I called Babolat and got the company to send me a demo racket.

(Don't worry, ethics-conscious readers: I'll be mailing the racket back in a few weeks. If you think I'd risk my precious Go! gig over an equipment freebie, you need to get a grip.)

When I tried the Smart Grip, it felt good right away. There was no adjustment or breaking-in period.

The grip just seemed to fit my hand, which I guess is the whole idea.

The Go! wife, who's been hitting the courts lately, tried out the Babolat racket, too. She liked it even more than I did.
Especially on a two-handed backhand, she thought the grip helped her find a groove.

We already have tennis rackets, so we won't be rushing out to buy a Smart Grip model from Babolat, but what do we know?

If trying a new grip gets you back out on the court, excited about tennis, then you're halfway there.

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