Tennis racket ($35 vs 80), balls ($.28/each vs $1/each), bag ($10 vs $20)...

[mvbighead]

Well the wife and I have talked about getting into tennis, and recently discovered these deals:

$35 racket (seems to go for $80 or so through amazon, buy.com, etc.) -
http://www.holabirdsports.com/cgi-bin/product?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=dealnews&product=101258

$9 racket bag (goes for $20 on Walmart) -
http://www.holabirdsports.com/cgi-bin/product?product=071554

And 36 balls for $10 shipped (Most balls are $1/each, these work out to $0.28/each) -
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Wilson-Tit...-Pack/15739914

Free shipping when we ordered two rackets and the bag as well.

I realize this is more of a techy forum, but for anyone interested, the racket deal is good today only, the balls seem to be a price mistake, and the bag seems to be fairly normal.

 

[UKpsych]

Wow amazing deal on balls, in for 3. We'll see if they go through. Thanks!

Edit: Fyi site to store shipping is free

 

[SunnyD]

Single piece frame on the racket - that's important if you want something that's going to last a decent amount of time and not have vibration issues. Only problem with rackets is if I can't try it out before I buy it, well... yeah. Good deals though.

 

[mvbighead]

Wow amazing deal on balls, in for 3. We'll see if they go through. Thanks!

Edit: Fyi site to store shipping is free

Yep, saw that as well. Just figured I might have better luck getting them (and not having the order canceled) if they were shipped instead of picked up at the store.

 

[mvbighead]

Single piece frame on the racket - that's important if you want something that's going to last a decent amount of time and not have vibration issues. Only problem with rackets is if I can't try it out before I buy it, well... yeah. Good deals though.

Yeah, I hear that. I'm not much into golf or tennis, but I figure my first option to get started would have come from a walmart or target for $20 (which is a racket that is likely worth $20 or less). I figure if this is supposed to be of good/decent quality, regardless of fit, I'll be much better off with this than the walmart special.

 

[SunnyD]

Yeah, I hear that. I'm not much into golf or tennis, but I figure my first option to get started would have come from a walmart or target for $20 (which is a racket that is likely worth $20 or less). I figure if this is supposed to be of good/decent quality, regardless of fit, I'll be much better off with this than the walmart special.

I will say this, one of my favorite rackets I've ever used was a Head racket. It was the model Agassi used... it was fairly head heavy which was good for me as I'm a baseline player - heavier head means more power on the swings, and it had a limited amount of flex in the frame which kept it a bit more accurate on the bigger swings.

For a beginner playing recreationally, judging by the info provided this is a great price for a "better" quality racket that isn't going to make your arm/elbow sore in 10 minutes. Just make sure you get the right grip size - which for some with smaller hands will be difficult as they only appear to offer 4 1/2 and 4 5/8 grips.

 

[mvbighead]

I will say this, one of my favorite rackets I've ever used was a Head racket. It was the model Agassi used... it was fairly head heavy which was good for me as I'm a baseline player - heavier head means more power on the swings, and it had a limited amount of flex in the frame which kept it a bit more accurate on the bigger swings.

For a beginner playing recreationally, judging by the info provided this is a great price for a "better" quality racket that isn't going to make your arm/elbow sore in 10 minutes. Just make sure you get the right grip size - which for some with smaller hands will be difficult as they only appear to offer 4 1/2 and 4 5/8 grips.

Yep, my wife looked some of that info up on the grip sizing. Given that I'm 6'3", I went with the larger size. She's about 5'8" or so, and from what she read, the smaller sized handle that was available should be suitable.

 

[isekii]

the ball seems like a great deal

 

[masterxfob]

for a beginner/recreational player, those balls are fine. if you know what you're doing at all, you'll avoid the wilson tit balls at all costs.

also, want to point out that a heavier head weight does not necessarily equate to more power. neither does the flexibility of a racket effect it's accurateness. i don't want to create a stir, so i'll refrain from furthur commenting on the topic. if you need help/advice on anything tennis, feel free to pm me.

 

[mvbighead]

for a beginner/recreational player, those balls are fine. if you know what you're doing at all, you'll avoid the wilson tit balls at all costs.

also, want to point out that a heavier head weight does not necessarily equate to more power. neither does the flexibility of a racket effect it's accurateness. i don't want to create a stir, so i'll refrain from furthur commenting on the topic. if you need help/advice on anything tennis, feel free to pm me.

Thank you sir. I am honestly not much interested in power myself. The idea with tennis, for me, was to be more active. Likely good soft volleys back and forth with the wife for the purposes of exercise. I am not someone who finds great thrill in working out, but I enjoy sports and that sort of thing, so I figured we could each give tennis a try... but purely for the purposes of getting up and getting out, and being more active.

 

[elee3]

Those balls are high altitude balls (3,500 feet and above according to the description) btw. I have no idea how the ball behaves differently from the normal ones. Was looking to get this deal until I saw that.

Thats a good deal on the racquet for people looking to get into the sport. Getting a performance racquet for a very low price.

 

[Zap]

Those balls are high altitude balls (3,500 feet and above according to the description) btw. I have no idea how the ball behaves differently from the normal ones.

The 24(?) Types of Tennis Balls

Learn something new every day. I used to play recreational tennis and remember buying some high altitude balls because they were cheap and I was poor.

 

[Macgyversite]

Thanks OP.

Great Find. Good Racket and hack around balls are hack around balls. Even at Sea level.

In for 2 rackets and some balls.

 

[dualsmp]

Yep, my wife looked some of that info up on the grip sizing. Given that I'm 6'3", I went with the larger size. She's about 5'8" or so, and from what she read, the smaller sized handle that was available should be suitable.

Women generally take a 4 3/8" grip or smaller. Not really a big deal, but if you find yourself playing tennis more often demo some more rackets to compare later on. It takes years sometimes to find the right combo of racket and strings depending on the player.

 

[kmmatney]

Decent racquets - a bit light, but should be fine for starting out (and even when you get better). Actually, now that I think about it, I doubt you can find a better racquet at this price anywhere.

Balls - When I click on the link, I get high Altitude balls. This is good for me, as I live in Denver, and that's what I need. For those at sea level, you don't want high altitude balls. Maybe Walmart automatically detects where you are from.

Edit: I use a Babolat Pure Drive and Babolat Pure Drive GT, and I'm pretty happy with them (been using the Pure Drive for 7 years, and the GT for about 3 years).

 

[joelmartinez]

Good deal but if you're a beginner/intermediate level player i suggest acquiring balls by visiting local clubs and picking up ones that people left. I've gathered over 100 tennis balls this way and even gotten some wilson us open balls (they are nice to hit)

 

[kmmatney]

Also, a great way to join/start tennis is to get on a USTA team. They rate people at all levels, so you will play with people as bad as you are when you start (you can start to play, even if you can barely hit the ball back - they have ALL levels). Once you play, the scores go into computer, and the computer will move you up as you progress. I started out as a 3.0 player in 2003, and am now a 4.0, but just right near the 4.5 level. I play in a Men's league, and in mixed doubles as well (my wife is a good 4.0 player). Besides being active, its a nice social activity, and very cheap once you get a racquet. There are about 330,000 players nationwide, so it is a pretty big organization).

The trouble with USTA is they don't make it easy to find a league and join a team. Basically, you need to find a local tennis coordinator, or go to the USTA website to find who is in your area. Again, they don't make it easy for people who don't about USTA, but new members are always welcome.

http://tennislink.usta.com/LEAGUES/Common/Default.aspx

I joined in 2003, but wished I would have joined 10 years earlier.

 

[mvbighead]

Good deal but if you're a beginner/intermediate level player i suggest acquiring balls by visiting local clubs and picking up ones that people left. I've gathered over 100 tennis balls this way and even gotten some wilson us open balls (they are nice to hit)

While I certain can see your point, on the balls it more so seemed an easy/cheap way to get something to get started with. And given most of our tennis will be played on public courts in public parks, I don't figure we'll find too much around those.

 

[Macgyversite]

Probably a lot of the Hi-Alt Walmart balls are being left behind. ;-)

I have hit them and its not that much of a big deal. For this price you cant beat it.

 

[elee3]

Probably a lot of the Hi-Alt Walmart balls are being left behind. ;-)

I have hit them and its not that much of a big deal. For this price you cant beat it.

High altitude tennis balls start with a lower pressure:

http://tennis.lifetips.com/cat/60837/tennis-balls/index.html

Looks they would be good practice balls for the cheap, just aren't going to jump as much.

 

[Vikroda]

Price is up to $50. I haven't played tennis in years; gave away my racket so was thinking about picking one up but I suppose the anandtech effect kicked in.

 

[Macgyversite]

Yeah exactly. This isn't Extreme tennis. They will do fine. If they don't. We have all spent our coin or far worse.

 

[Macgyversite]

I got the rackets. Excellent. I mean Excellent.

The balls. Thats another story. Wallyworld shipped me only 1 tube. 3 balls. LOL. Waiting for customer service. This outta be good.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

Hmm any other deals on regular balls? Time to start playing again. Or at least attempt to play again.

 

[mvbighead]

I got the rackets. Excellent. I mean Excellent.

The balls. Thats another story. Wallyworld shipped me only 1 tube. 3 balls. LOL. Waiting for customer service. This outta be good.

Same thing here. 1 tube. I emailed as well and will await their response. I figured they goofed on the site, but figured the 12 canister info was clear enough. Will see what they say.

I figure they ought to at least refund the entire thing (shipping included) if they aren't willing to send the rest of the balls.