Yonex Osaka 19 Junior Tennis Racket
Designed in collaboration with Naomi Osaka – one of the most successful players on the WTA Tour – the YONEX Osaka Jr racket is perfect for young players inspired by the former world number one’s four Grand Slam titles. Smart gold and purple colours – selected by Osaka – help you to stand out on the court, so you can play with confidence.
YONEX’s exclusive ISOMETRIC head shape positions vertical and horizontal strings closer together than you would typically see in a circular racket, creating a larger sweet spot with a 7% more effective hitting area. The increased margin of error is useful for beginners who are still getting to grips with the fundamentals of the sport and want to gain crucial on-court experience.
Naomi Osaka
YONEX
It starts with founder Minoru Yoneyama, a producer of wooden floats for fishing nets, who, frustrated at being put out of business by modern, plastic floats, vowed to chase innovation at every opportunity, whatever industry he would go into next.
Thankfully for the tennis world, he chose rackets. Utilising his expertise in engineering and equipment bequeathed by his late father, in 1957 he set about making frames worthy of Japan’s history of craftsmanship. First wooden badminton rackets, and then, in 1969, the T-7000 – an aluminium tennis racket that proved immensely popular in both Japan and the West.
Suddenly a global brand, Yoneyama Racquets, as they were known, needed a more approachable name for international markets, and YONEX won the day. They would, though, preserve a little of Yoneyama by way of the iconic “YY” logo, which remains an instantly recognisable mark of quality.
In the following years, YONEX developed tech such as the stabilising Oval Pressed Shaft and sweetspot-enlarging ISOMETRIC head shape, which are just a couple of the innovations that continue to give their rackets an advantage over the competition.
Their rackets have been used by the likes of Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles, Martin Hingis, and Lleyton Hewitt, while modern-day endorsees include Naomi Osaka, Stan Wawrinka, Nick Kyrgios, Denis Shapovalov, Casper Ruud, Angelique Kerber, and Frances Tiafoe. That’s a lot of big names!
As for types of racket, it’s simple: there’s the EZONE for power, the VCORE for spin, and the VCORE PRO for control. All available in a range of weights and sizes, with juniors catered for too. Minoru vowed he would never again be left behind by his rivals, now it’s your turn to pick up a YONEX racket and make the same promise.
Control Racket
Features
• ISOMETRIC head shape for a larger sweet spot
• Frame made from Aluminium
• Headsize: 516.1 sq cm / 80 sq in
• Length: 48.3cm / 19in
• String Pattern: 10x12
• Weight: 175g /6.2oz
• Please be advised that this racket will come strung unless the image displays otherwise
Additional Information
- Quick Ref: 280974
- Man. Ref: YonexOsaka19-G/P
One often overlooked, but crucial, aspect when selecting a tennis racket is the grip size. The grip size is the measurement around the handle's circumference, and choosing the right one can significantly impact your comfort, control, and potential to prevent injury. This article will guide you through the process of selecting the right tennis racket grip size.
Importance of Choosing the Right Grip Size
A correctly sized tennis grip ensures you have optimal control over your racket and helps prevent injuries. Too small a grip may cause your hand to shift during play, reducing accuracy and increasing the risk of developing tennis elbow due to overuse of the forearm muscles. Conversely, a grip that's too large can make the racket hard to turn and manipulate, and it could also lead to hand, wrist, or shoulder injuries due to overgripping.
Measuring Your Grip Size
There are two common methods to measure your grip size:
- The Ruler Method: Open your dominant hand and extend your fingers. Align a ruler with the bottom lateral crease of your palm, measuring to the tip of your ring finger. The measurement in inches correlates with your grip size.
- The Finder Test: Hold the racket with a standard Eastern forehand grip, where the base knuckle of your index finger is on bevel #3. You should be able to fit the index finger of your other hand in the space between your ring finger and the palm that's gripping the racket. If there's not enough room for your finger, the grip is too small. If there's too much space, the grip is too large.
Grip Sizes: U.S. vs. European
In the U.S., grip sizes range from 4 inches to 4 ¾ inches, increasing in increments of 1/8 inch. European grip sizes use a different naming system, L0 to L5, each correlating to their U.S. counterparts as follows:
European Grip Size | US Grip Size |
---|---|
L0 or G0 | 4 Inches |
L1 or G1 | 4 1/8 inches |
L2 or G2 | 4 1/4 inches |
L3 or G3 | 4 3/8 inches |
L4 or G4 | 4 1/2 inches |
L5 or G5 | 4 5/8 inches |
Choosing the Right Grip Size
When choosing the right grip size, consider the following points:
- Go for the smaller size if you're in between: It's easier to increase the size of a grip than decrease it. You can always add an overgrip (which usually adds about 1/16 inch) to a smaller handle to increase its size, but shaving down a larger handle is not recommended as it can compromise the racket's structural integrity.
- Consider your style of play: Players who rely on spin might prefer a smaller grip size, which allows for more wrist action. In contrast, players seeking control may benefit from a larger grip size.
- Test it out: If possible, try before you buy. Visit a local sports store, hold the racket, and mimic your swing to see how it feels. Remember that comfort is key - if it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.
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