Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 Review |
The Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 Review: This racket has been a go-to option for tennis players for almost twenty years. This versatile racket is well suited to a broad range of players, from novice players looking to develop basic techniques to more advanced users keen to fine-tune their playing style.
The Wilson Hyper Hammer is beloved by beginners, with its lightweight design and maneuverability giving it a user-friendly edge. This racket also provides a more substantial sweet spot than other options. Looking for a durable racket that will serve you well for years? Read on for our detailed review of the Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3.
Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 Review | An Introduction
While many think the Wilson Hyper Hammer is a racket only suited to the beginner, this is simply not true. While this does serve as a good entry-level choice of racket, it is very versatile and provides exceptional levels of power that more advanced player will appreciate. If used properly by advanced players, this racket will improve serves and allow for refined levels of control. The Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 definitely falls into the tweener racket category, but there is much to love about this model, no matter what level you are playing at.
In Practice
The Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 provides you with plenty of power. However, you can also expect a good degree of control when using this racket. If you had to categorize this racket, it will fall under the tweener label. This category of racket is usually the kind of option an intermediate player goes for. If you are looking to upgrade from a beginner racket to something more enhanced, but are not quite ready to invest in an advanced design, the Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 is an ideal compromise.
However, this Wilson racket is user-friendly enough that it can be used by beginners. It is suitable for those who struggle to generate sufficient power in their swing, compensating for shortcomings in physical strength to put significant force on the ball. While this racket will help those with a weaker volley or serve, more experienced players with a stronger swing will probably find the Hyper Hammer 5.3 a little too helpful in this regard. If you can serve and volley confidently enough on your own, this racket will likely result in you sending the ball way over target.
If you play with longer swings and can generate good spin on t he all, you will struggle to appreciate the design benefits of this racket. It is also challenging to put slice and topspin onto balls with this racket. If your playing style relies heavily on these characteristics, you should probably avoid the Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 entirely.
However, this racket is a good candidate for those who play with high follow through, or those with short and high back swing technique. This racket will also provide you with superior control over topspin, even if it is tricky to actually generate them with the Hyper Hammer 5.3. However, this is not strictly speaking a major drawback. In fact, it will encourage you to develop your technique and improve your form.
One thing that this racket is lacking is an effective dampener. The Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 has a tendency to suffer from excessive vibrations and the need for a quality dampener is obvious. However, you can pick up a dampener relatively cheaply.
Racket Specifics
This Wilson tennis racket has a head size of 110. This makes it slightly larger than the standard. The somewhat over-sized head also gives the impression of the shaft and handle being on the small side. The large head size means this racket boasts a huge sweet spot. Thanks to this, you will rarely struggle to hit the ball. The feel of this racket is superb, with the bigger sweet spot allowing you to produce precise shots, every time. This racket can be used from just about anywhere on the court, making it suitable for those playing close to the net or from the baseline. However, this racket does show some weaknesses when it comes to off-center shots.
This racket is slightly longer than the standard 27-inch length of other models. The Wilson Hammer Hyper 5.3 measures 27.5 inches in total. This additional length gives you some advantage on the court, giving you slightly more reach than what a standard racket provides. Although longer than a regular racket, the Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 is by not overlong. This means the racket can be wielded with ease, with no need to worry about slow reaction to incoming volleys.
Although relatively lightweight at just 9 ounces, this racket delivers a heavy swing. It will not perform at the same level of as a racket with a stiff frame, but it does not fall too far short. The combination of the larger head size and lightweight frame makes this racket something to consider if you are looking to improve your game. Ultimately, the Wilson Hyper Hamme5.3 is the perfect option for players with slow and short swings, namely those looking to generate considerably more power with their shots.
This racket features a 16 x 20 string pattern. This string pattern means you will have a harder time generating topspin. However, it is not all bad news. The denser string pattern on offer here will prove a good match to those who hit the ball flat. The durable string pattern is also well suited to more aggressive players who regularly break strings. The refined pattern will also provide you with refined levels of ball control. This works well alongside the over-sized head. If you are looking to play with more rebound and spin, you should probably consider a looser string pattern. The downside of a looser string pattern is that you will likely have to replace strings on a more regular basis.
Is the Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 For You?
It is easy to see why the Hyper Hammer 5.3 is such a popular tennis racket with consumers. The key draws of this design are its longer reach and huge sweet spot. Beginners will definitely appreciate what is on offer here. The large sweet spot will allow for easier returns and serves, no matter what your playing style. The lightweight design will also allow you to play for longer, while the added reach of the handle means you will find it easier to connect with the ball from almost anywhere on the court. It is easy to see why this racket is very popular among both women and men alike.
Intermediate players looking for quality tweener racket will also appreciate the design of the Hyper Hammer 5.3. You have a good balance of control and power here. It is lightweight enough that you can remain quick on your feet, without you having to sacrifice power generation. This racket is also very forgiving, making it suitable for use for those who prefer to play close to the net. The high level of forgiveness also makes it a very effective choice for those looking to unleash explosive serves. The most advanced players will probably find this Wilson racket too limiting, mainly because it is nigh on impossible to generate sufficient topspin with it.
If you liked this review and love the Wilson brand as much as we do, check out our guide on the Wilson Clash 100.
In Conclusion
The Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 is an ideal racket for less experienced players and those at an intermediate level who want something that still delivers when it comes to premium design and performance. Although relatively expensive, this racket represents superb value for money. Every aspect of its design has been carefully engineered to bolster performance on the court. It is also a very good option for those looking for a racket they can put to use in game improvement settings.
