How to Choose a Tennis Racket? A Complete Buying Guide

There are more tennis rackets on the market than ever before, and while having so many options is excellent, it can be difficult to know which racquet is right for you.

Generally, while purchasing a racquet, you must decide if you favor power, control, or something in between. Finding the perfect tennis racket that best suits your ability and style of play requires careful consideration, but I’ve put up a comprehensive buying guide on how to choose a tennis racket to assist you and to make the process as straightforward as possible.

Whether you’re an intermediate player looking to improve your game or a complete beginner, my article will teach you how to select the best tennis racquet to maximize your performance properly. Are you ready to discover which racquet is best for you? Come on, let’s start!

Criteria for How to Choose a Tennis Racquet

When looking for the best tennis racquets, you should consider your age, skill level, and style.

At the end of this article, you’ll have a good idea of which type of racquet is best for you. There are several factors to take into account as you begin your search for a new tennis racquet .

Skill Level

The kind of racquet you require depends on your level of talent or tennis ability. While more sophisticated racquets come in smaller sizes and give better control, beginner racquets have larger frames that  facilitate hitting the ball.

Athletic Ability: Strength, Mobility, and Hand-eye Coordination

The size and weight of the racquet you choose will depend in part on your level of athletic skill. While younger, fitter players can opt for a heavier, more compact tennis racquet, older players who have lost their athleticism could want something lighter and.

Personal Preferences

Additionally, you should choose precisely what you want from your right tennis racquet. For instance, you might want a racquet that gives your groundstrokes more topspin if you play a lot of singles. However, you will want a racquet with better control for your volleys if you prefer to go to the net and play doubles most of the time.Advance and professional players often choose a hybrid for both spin and control.

Goal and Budget

You should also think about your budget and your goals. You could choose a cheap racquet if you only want to give tennis a try. However, it’s recommended to go with a higher quality racquet if you’re just starting lessons and want to get better.

We’ll go over each of these factors in greater depth below to assist you in selecting the ideal tennis racquet.

To begin, let’s go over each component of your best racquet to assist you in comprehending the fundamental terms.

Parts of a Racquet

Learning the fundamentals will allow you to make a better-informed purchase.

The Head

The head of the racquet is the section that houses the strings and the frame around them. The majority of racquet heads measure 95 to 110 square inches. You lose control when you have a larger head, but you get more power. Similarly, you have less power but greater control with a smaller racquet.

The Throat

The throat of a racquet is located between the top of the handle and the bottom of the head below.

Shaft

The portion of the racquet beneath the head that houses the handle and throat is called the shaft. It reaches the racquet’s butt at the end.

Handle

When playing, you hold the handle of the racquet. The majority of handle sizes fall between 4 and 4 ¾ inches in circumference.

Grip

The cover that covers the handle of your racquet is called the grip. To alter the feel, enhance traction, or significantly enlarge the handle, you can install an overgrip or replacement grip.

Butt

To provide a firm grip, the butt, which also houses the butt cap at the bottom, is located at the bottom of the handle and is marginally wider than the others. Many racquets let you add weight and alter the balance by opening the butt cover.

Other Parts of Your Racquet

You may also come across these phrases while studying racquets.

• Beam: Denotes how thick your racquet head is.
• Bumper Guard: A protective cover that surrounds the head of your racquet.
• Grommets: Plastic pieces that are placed in the frame’s holes and around the outside to shield the strings.

Tennis Racket Specification Chart

Tennis racquets have advanced more technologically than other tennis equipment in the last 20 years. At first, it can be overwhelming to look at all the racquet specifications, so we’ve created a straightforward approach. These are generalizations to  guide you in the correct direction, not strict rules.

This chart will help you gain a general concept of what to look for in a racquet as you improve your tennis skills.

Skill Level Considerations

Choosing the right racquet becomes increasingly crucial as your tennis career progresses. When you initially start playing tennis, practicing frequently will help you improve your skills more than purchasing pricey equipment.

If you gave Federer a $20 racquet and an inexperienced player the most expensive racquet in the world, who would win a game? Hard work is unavoidable, but using the right tennis racket can help you reach your full potential.

Beginners

If you’re a beginner searching for a new racquet, comfort and lightweight are more vital than the exact specifications of your frame.

Starting with a high-end, feature-rich racquet or replicating the model your favorite player uses are also alluring options. Nevertheless, this tactic can degrade your performance since you’ll probably select a racquet that you cannot wield correctly.

The grip size is among the first things you should look for when using a new racquet. Choosing the right grip size improves your grasp and reduces your chance of hand or arm problems. If you’re not sure how to choose the size you should wear, don’t worry. Later in this post, I’ll walk you through the process to figure out your grip size.

Racquets with a head size of more than 100 square inches are frequently the finest for beginners. The huge head expands the sweet spot and provides you with a large target to hit the ball with.

The drawback of using a larger head is that you will have to give up some control due to its increased size. It’s a trade-off, though; if you’re a beginner, it will probably help you improve as you learn.

The weight of your racquet is another crucial consideration. A racquet weighing less than 11 ounces (312 grams) is an excellent choice if you’re a beginner. Typically, racquets weigh around 8 ounces (227 grams). You might wish to start with a racquet on the lighter end of this weight range if you’re a smaller person. Using a racquet that is excessively heavy might cause injuries, but a light racquet is easier to handle.

Intermediate

Once you’ve passed the basic stage, you’ll have more control over your shots and be able to produce more force. You should probably start experimenting with heavier racquets and lower head sizes if you’re at the intermediate level.

For more control as an intermediate player, you might choose to switch to racquets in the 98 to 100 square inch range if you chose a larger head size as a beginner.

Medium head sizes are common for intermediate-level racquets, which sacrifice some power but still offer good mobility. To make up the gap, though, if you’ve been playing for a long time, you can probably generate more power yourself than you could as a novice.

If you think you have the strength to utilize a somewhat heavier racquet, you can also attempt going up to that. You will hit the ball with greater stability if you use a heavier racquet. Using a more flexible frame, a larger swing weight, and a tighter string pattern are some more racquet modifications you could wish to do.

Advanced

If you’ve been playing competitive tennis for a long time, you probably have a solid notion of the type of player you are. Compared to players at lower levels, advanced players are stronger, more resilient, and more in control. You can manage lower head sizes and heavier racquets if you’re at this level.

However, just because you can utilize smaller and heavier racquets does not imply you should. The racquet that feels the greatest to you is ultimately the one you should use.

If you’re at this level, the best way to choose the best tennis is to match your style of play to the type you’re using and adjust the parameters to get the best results.

Almost every advanced player chooses a control (player’s racquet) or a modern player’s racquet. A control racquet can be the better choice if you have the technique to produce a lot of power. 

Types of Rackets

We may divide racquets into a few categories to help players understand the abundance of alternatives on the market.

Pre-strung & Inexpensive

If you are on a tight budget or are unsure if you will enjoy tennis, you might begin with a low-cost tennis racquet.

Purchasing pricey equipment won’t significantly impact your performance as a novice player. Rather, it will all depend on your technique and how much you practice.

Less expensive racquets are typically pre-strung, allowing you to play with them immediately. Furthermore, racquets from practically all of the main brands are available for less than $80.

Premium Rackets

There are four main types of premium racquets: power, control (player), tweener, and modern player’s racquets. These are available if you have a little additional money to spend or if you’ve improved your talents and are no longer a novice.

Power

Power racquets are appropriate for players who swing slowly and compactly. This type of racquet can help you produce more power, so it might be a good choice if you’re a smaller player or not as physically powerful as other players.

Control

Control racquets exchange power for control and are best suited to advanced players because of their small heads and higher weight, which necessitate a high level of precision to reach the sweet spot consistently.

In contrast to power racquets, they often include heavier frames for more stability and more frame flexibility for less power and improved ball placement.

Tweener

The specifications of a tweener racquet are in the middle of those of control and power racquets. The majority of the qualities, such as head size, stiffness, length, and weight, are in the middle. 

Modern Player’s

In today’s modern game of tennis, a new sort of racquet has evolved to match the pros’ aggressive striking style and powerful topspin. Modern player racquets have heavier weights, slightly larger head sizes, and stiffer frames that provide power and topspin.

Head Sizes & Length

When choosing a racquet, the length of the racquet and head size are two important considerations. The maximum length permitted in competition is 29 inches, while adult tennis racquets often measure between 27 and 29 inches.

Because the longer racquets provide you more power. At the expense of power, a shorter racquet allows you greater control.

Your physical attributes and preferred style of play will determine the ideal length for you. A longer frame will help compensate for a lack of power production, and vice versa.

The sizes of racket heads range from:

• 85-97 in² for mid-sized rackets
• 98-104 in² for mid-plus rackets
• 105+ in² for oversized rackets

Selecting a racquet longer than 100 inches when you first start increases your margin of error and facilitates consistent sweet spot hitting.

However, if you get better at aiming, you may want to try smaller head sizes to see if the extra control improves your game.

Weight, Balance, & Stiffness

To select the best fit, it’s critical to take into account the racquet weight, balance, and stiffness when buying one.

Weight

You might go to heavier racquets as your skill level and physical strength increase. On the market, the majority of racquets weigh between 8 and 13 ounces (227 and 369 grams).

You can move more easily with lighter racquets, but they are less stable when you strike the ball. Although heavy racquets provide you with greater control and less shock or vibration, they will put more pressure on your wrist and arm and cause weariness more quickly.

Balance

Your racquet’s center of mass is the place in the middle where it can be balanced on your finger without falling.

Head light racquets have their center of mass moved closer to the handle. By keeping the majority of the weight in your hand, these racquets’ tendency to be heavier helps absorb and lessen shock while preserving mobility.

Head heavy racquets are those with their center of mass moved toward the head. With more weight in the head, these racquets can be more agile, have more power, and maintain a decent level of stability because they are typically lighter.

The weight is distributed evenly throughout balanced racquets.

By carefully applying lead tape to various areas of your racquet, you can modify the balance. For instance, to increase stability and lessen twisting that may happen during striking, some players like to attach lead tape to the frame of their racquet at the 10 and 2 o’clock locations.

Stiffness

Tennis racquet stiffness is an often ignored feature that can affect how your racquet feels and performs.

Picture a rubber ball being bounced off a tiled surface and a carpeted floor. What circumstance will cause the ball to bounce higher?

A harder tile floor is analogous to a stiffer racquet. It permits more power, or energy, to be transferred back into the ball.

You won’t have as much power with a racquet that is more flexible. However, you have more control with a flexible racquet since it absorbs energy.

How to Choose A Grip Size?

Tennis racquet grip sizes vary from 4 inches to 4 ¾ inches. The best size grip to select for the most comfortable fit and to avoid damage depends on the size of your hands.

A grip that is too big can strain your arm muscles and be uncomfortable, while a grip that is too little can leave you without a firm grasp and increase your risk of injury from over-gripping.

Your grip size can be measured in a number of ways. Using a measuring tape or ruler to measure your hand is arguably the simplest method.

• Seek out the noticeable fold that passes through the upper part of your hand.
• Align the edge of your ring finger with the measuring tape or ruler.
• Measure from your palm’s crease to the top of your ring finger. The ideal measurement falls between 4 and 4 ¾ inches.

To evaluate how they feel, you might also wish to try racquets that are one size larger and smaller than the size you measure. Making the grip larger is easier than making it smaller when purchasing a racquet. Your racquet’s grip size will grow by around 1/16 of an inch if you add an overgrip.

The most crucial thing to keep in mind is that your grip should feel comfortable. In the end, it comes down to personal preference, even while I can give you some general guidelines about the size you should start with.

Price Ranges

You should not let finances prevent you or your children from playing tennis. A racquet’s cost might vary significantly according to its brand and material, but there are options to suit any budget.

Pre-strung racquets are reasonably priced, starting at around $20. Naturally, the cost of a racquet increases with its level of complexity. You might have to shell out about $1000 for a fully personalized, high-end racquet.

It goes without saying that the higher the price, the better the racquet. However, new technology and their endorsements are among the numerous factors that affect racquet prices.

For a novice, your first racquet can be purchased for less than $100. If you’re an advanced or intermediate player, your racquet could cost up to $250. Customizing a racquet might raise expenses even more.

How To Choose a Women’s Tennis Racquet?

First, it is important to note that there are no racquets made specifically for men or women, and any person can gravitate towards any racquet, even if they don’t fall into our general guide.

That said, women tennis players typically have better control than men but do not generate as much power or spin. So in general, power and spin are more important to them.

If you want to know about the best tennis racket for women, you may go with this review guide.

How to Choose a Kid’s Tennis Racquet?

When purchasing a tennis racquet for your child, make sure it is something they can grow into. If your child is 6-12 years old, they are most likely growing rapidly. The last thing you want is to purchase a racquet that they will outgrow in a year.

You should make the appropriate adjustments if their height and strength are above or below average for their age.

Purchase the larger racquet if you’re not sure so your child can get used to it. We advise using adult-sized racquets for kids older than twelve.

Look at the adult racquets above for intermediate to advanced youngsters transitioning from junior racquets, or stronger kids who don’t require as much power assistance. They will require a racquet that will allow them to continue developing their tennis skills as they mature physically.

If you want to learn more about kids tennis rackets, you may check out this guide.

Picking A Tennis Racquet Brand

All of the top tennis racquet manufacturers offer a large selection of racquets to suit different skill levels. As a result, you should give more weight to size, string pattern, and other aspects than to brand when deciding which racquet is perfect for you.

The top four brands of tennis racquets are Yonex, Babolat, Head, and Wilson. Despite their lack of popularity, Prince, Dunlop, Solinco, Volkl, Diadem, Tecnifibre, and Pro Kennex are all excellent racquets.

Each of these companies offers racquets for various kinds of players, and several elite professional tennis players use and recommend their products.

Wrapping Up

This is our overall guide on how to choose the best tennis racket. There are hundreds of excellent tennis racquets available, and each has advantages and disadvantages. Everyone has different physical attributes and develops their own style of play over time, thus the finest tennis racquet for you may not be the greatest for someone else.

Most players should begin their careers with a light racquet with a large head and gradually progress to smaller and heavier racquets as their tennis skills improve. After a few years of playing, you’ll have a better understanding of your strengths and shortcomings and know what kind of racquet will help you play at your best.

However, there are no fixed guidelines for selecting a racquet. You should choose something that you are at ease with and that gives you confidence in your abilities. Trying as many racquets as you can before deciding on one is one of the finest methods to understand how different racquet types alter your style of play.

Frequently Asked Questions