Beginner Tennis Racquet Buying Guide

First, we know it can be tempting to start with an expensive racquet, loaded with technical features and endorsed by your favorite tennis pro. But it’s more important to match your racquet with your skill level. The best way to do this is to start with the racquet's head size. There are three basic categories.

• Midsize - less than 95 square inches
• Mid-Plus - between 95 and 105 square inches
• Oversize - 105 square inches or larger

Typically speaking, the larger the head size, the bigger the sweet spot. This is the part of the racquet where the ball makes the best contact with the strings. Racquets with a bigger head will naturally generate more power. On the contrary, a smaller racquet head will give players better control, helping them place the ball. Most beginners start with a larger head size, around 100, to help them establish consistency.

Because some people are more athletic than others, it’s important to buy a tennis racquet that complements your swing speed and play style. For example, a bigger, stronger person will naturally generate more power on their own. They’ll want to look at control racquets to help them work on placement. Power racquets, on the other hand, are ideal for people who need a little help generating more power. Other factors for new tennis players to consider are hand-eye coordination, previous athletic experiences, and overall physical fitness.

Next, let's look at some racquet specs like weight, length, and grip size. Most beginners start with a lightweight racquet between 9 and 11 ounces. Petite people should start on the lighter side of the scale, but almost all should use a standard adult-size racquet, measuring between 27 and 29 inches long. When it comes to maintaining a comfortable hold around the handle, grip size is critical. Grip size can be a little tricky. There are two numbers associated with the circumference of the racquet handle. Inches are used in the US, and a designated number, equivalent to inches is observed in Europe. Those with smaller hands, and junior tennis racquets have a smaller grip size, however, an overgrip can be added to help beginners better hold the racquet, especially in humid conditions. * An overgrip will increase the original grip size.

There are plenty of great beginner racquets available including:

• Babolat’s Boost Aero Yellow Tennis Racquet (Prestrung) is ideal for beginners and junior players moving up to their first full-size frame. It weighs 9.8 ounces strung and has a 102 square inch head size for a larger sweet spot.
• Head Titanium TiS6 Tennis Racquet (Prestrung) is best suited for players with a slow to medium swing speed. It has a very generous sweet spot with a head size of 115 and is considered an ultra-light frame, weighing 8.8 ounces strung. Plus, it has awesome customer reviews.
• Wilson BLX 100 US Open Tennis Racquet (Prestrung) has a head size of 100. It is a graphite composite frame decorated with the US Open graphics and strategically weighted to provide consistent results.

Once you’ve mastered some basic tennis techniques, you should be ready for an intermediate racquet. While we offer a try before you buy, DEMO PROGRAM, some of the top racquets include:

• Wilson Ultra 100 v4 offers a comfortable feel with enhanced stability. It has an expanded sweet spot and delivers extra power for players looking to add versatility to their game.
• Yonex EZONE 100 (300G) 2022 Tennis Racquet is an easy-swinging player's frame that has excellent feel, spin, and stability. Weighing 11.2 ounce strung it’s available in an updated blue colorway.
• Babolat Pure Aero 2023 Tennis Racquet is a powerful frame with special technology for optimal shock absorption. Natural flax fibers are integrated into this racquet giving users an exceptional playing experience.