thank you all again for the suggestions re. rackets.
After a little hiatus because my achille flared up, I started again…and in order to get ready for Ironman Florida where I hope to once again lead the chicks :D, I’ve entered a tennis tournament…with some pretty good players…some at 5.5, one ex-atp guy (285th, banned for marijuana use…whatever…)…anyway, playing next weekend 17-19…I should be able to not DNF that one…
Anyway, it’s FUN! and interestingly, it makes my tri training more enjoyable and I go faster 
Francois, be careful on the tennis. I had to give the sport up because combining it with tri training just caused lower leg problems of all sorts. I would think it would be bad for your Achilles, for example.
Of course, I am also, old, fat and slow. You are not so burdened.
…with some pretty good players…some at 5.5
At 5’5", you have about 1.5 inches on them. You should kick their asses. 
That’s not what you meant, was it?
it’s a ranking…not a midget tournament
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well you chickened out of playing me so that’s almost a dnf
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Wow, its funny you should mention this.
I have stepped on a court for the first time in 18 years. I had not hit a ball EVER in 18+ years until 3 weeks ago.
I have Babolat Pure Drive Roddick Plus racquets and they rock.
The funny thing is that I play golf 4-5 times a year and can almost always get round sub 80 and as a former low handicap golfer the ability to hit a ball does not seem to go away.
The tennis however has gone to rat shit. I used to be an ok club player 18 years ago but having only played three times now, my game is best described as long periods of mediocrity interspersed with brilliance.
I can no longer serve, I have no touch, I lack timing and co-ordination but aside from that its great.
On the upside I am really enjoying it and hoping to go to La Manga in October to get some lessons.
Funny. my experience has been a bit different. When back on the court (also after 18yrs off, although I was a pretty decent player, equivalent to 6.0 here) the big issue was that I had one footwork: forward! the rest was well…you know
These extra steps necessary to really hit the ball well were just inexistant.
The serve on the other hand came back pretty much in one day…consistency is something else however. But about 2 months later, I should be able to beat someone around 4.0 to 4.5 which isn’t too shabby as desert dude would say.
I won’t comment on my few golfing experiences…