Hey everyone, I needed a new racket bad. My old thing felt like swinging a brick, especially after playing doubles for a solid two hours last Saturday morning. Arm was sore for days! Decided it was finally time to upgrade, specifically looking at something with the Rod Laver name. Heard good stuff about them for everyday players like me.
Started With My Head in the Clouds (Online Stuff)
Sat down at my kitchen table, laptop fired up. Typed in stuff like “Rod Laver racket easy to use” and “best beginner Rod Laver”. Holy cow, so many websites! Prices jumped all over the place too. Felt totally lost looking at all those numbers and words like “head size” and “string pattern”. Hard to tell what any of it meant for actually hitting a ball on my local court.
One thing did kinda stick out from all the reading, though. Most regular folks like me seemed to be using either the Laver S or the Laver Pro. Noticed folks saying the Pro might be a bit much for beginners though.
Took the Hunt to Real Life (Shops & Testing)
Enough screen time! Needed to actually hold these things. Grabbed my keys and drove to the nearest big sports shop I know stocks a bunch of rackets. Walked straight to the tennis section. Okay, much better seeing them up close.
- Picked up the Laver S: Felt surprisingly light! Easy to swing it around, even pretending shots near the shelves. Grip felt solid in my hand, not too big, not too small. Price tag looked pretty friendly too.
- Tried the Laver Pro next: Whoa, definitely heavier than the S. Swinging it needed more muscle. Could feel the extra weight. Also saw that price – quite a jump up from the S!
- Saw a “Laver Lite”: Held it. Felt crazy light, like almost a toy. Sales guy wandered over and I asked him straight up: “Is this thing gonna handle a hard shot from my buddy Dave?” He smiled and gently steered me back towards the S and Pro.
Shop actually had a little testing area with ball machines. Sweet! Felt kinda weird swatting balls indoors, but had to try the Laver S out.
- Felt GREAT on contact: Easier to swing fast than my old brick. Ball felt crisp coming off the strings. Could actually control where it went pretty well!
- Stability: Even when I hit it a bit wonky (which happens!), the racket didn’t twist much in my hand. Less jarring on the arm. Big difference.
Tried the Pro too, just to compare. Could feel the extra power, but man, it also felt… heavier to maneuver, especially when I tried to reach wide. Felt like I needed stronger arms than I currently have!
Made the Call & Played It Out
Left the shop thinking hard. Loved how light and easy the Laver S was. Really liked the price point way more. But still had that little “what if?” about the Pro’s power.
Came back the next day. Still felt drawn to the Laver S. Went through my thinking again:
- Way lighter – easier on my arm after long sessions.
- Super easy to whip around – better for my reaction shots.
- Still felt powerful enough for me hitting the ball machine.
- Wallet felt way happier looking at the price.
Bought it! Plain and simple. Took it straight to the courts later that afternoon for doubles.
The real test? Playing with it! Felt amazing. Everything was easier. Serving, returning, even just running down lobs. The racket felt like part of my arm, not something fighting it. Arm wasn’t screaming after two sets like usual. Biggest win? Actually enjoyed myself more because I wasn’t fighting the gear.
Bottom Line From My Messing Around
Forget the fancy specs buzzing online. Based on my own trial-and-error:
- If you’re just starting out or play weekends like me: Seriously look at the Rod Laver S. Light, easy to use, good power, easy on the cash.
- If you play tons and have serious muscle: Then maybe the Pro makes sense. It packs more punch, but it demands more from you too.
- The Lite? Nah. Felt too flimsy for real play.
Absolutely thrilled with my Laver S. Best money spent on my tennis fun in ages. Just goes to show, gotta get hands-on and swing them yourself!
