Tennis rackets are available in many weights and shapes. The wide variety of models and styles of tennis rackets can make it difficult for beginners in particular to find a racket that suits them. To help you choose a racket, this article explains the different types of rackets and their target groups.
Whether you are a beginner or a more experienced player, this article will help you find the right racket for you.
This article is written from the point of view of Wilson’s rackets, but for each type of racket, there are also corresponding models of other brands.
This article contains affiliate links (these links are marked with *-symbol)
- Choosing a tennis racket
- Balance Points
- Head Size
- String Pattern
- Grip Size
- Length of the Tennis Racket
- Tennis Rackets for Children
- Beginners Tennis Rackets
- Rackets for Adult Beginners and Intermediate Players
- Tennis Rackets for Advanced and Competitive Players
- Racket Model Guides for Different Brands
- Where Should I Buy Tennis Rackets?
- Summary
- FAQ
Choosing a tennis racket
Tennis rackets are a combination of many different attributes that should be taken into account when choosing a racket. The following is a list of tennis racket attributes, followed by an explanation of which rackets are suitable for each type of player.
Weight
The first attribute of a tennis racket is its weight, which is always given without strings. In simple terms, the heavier the racket, the more challenging it is to play. This is because a heavier racket is slower to move.
Heavy Rackets (300g+/10,58 oz+)
In the beginning, it is essential to choose the right weight for the racket, especially for beginners. A heavier racket is slower and more difficult to handle.
However, heavy rackets have their own advantages, which will benefit more experienced players. A heavier racket can generate more power on the ball and is more stable when hitting, as its weight allows it to absorb the impact better.
Heavy tennis rackets in a nutshell:
- Weight 300g+/15,58 oz+
- Produce more power, but are harder to control
- Suitable for advanced players
Examples of Heavier Rackets:
a guide to interpreting the racket names:
| Racket Model | Weight in grams and in ounces |
|---|---|
| Wilson Pro Staff 97 16×19 | 315g / 11,11 oz |
| Wilson Blade 98 16×19/18×20 | 305g / 10,75 oz |
| Babolat Pure Strike 98 16×20 | 310g / 10,93 oz |
| Head Prestige Pro 98 18×20 | 320g / 11,28 oz |
| Head Radical Pro 98 16×19 | 315g / 11,11 oz |
| Head Boom Pro 98 16×19 | 310g / 10,93 oz |
| Yonex Ezone Sky Blue 98 16×19 | 305g / 10,75 oz |
The price range for heavy rackets is around 200-300€ (220-325$)
Medium-Weight Rackets: 275-300g / 9,7 – 10,58 oz
Medium-weight rackets are well suited to intermediate players who are transitioning to heavier, smaller-head-sized rackets.
Medium-weight rackets are, as the name suggests, slightly lighter rackets, but still have a reasonable amount of power and control.
Medium-weight tennis rackets in a nutshell
- Weight class 275-300g / 9,7 – 10,58 oz
- Reasonable power generation and control → Good intermediate racket
- Well suited to adult beginners and slightly more advanced players
Examples of Medium-Weight Tennis Rackets:
| Racket Model | Weight in grams and in ounces |
|---|---|
| Wilson Clash 100L 16×19 | 280g / 9,87 oz |
| Wilson Ultra 100 CV 16×19 | 300g / 10,58 oz |
| Wilson Blade 100L 16×19 | 285g / 10,05 oz |
| Wilson Blade 98 S 18×16 | 295g / 10,40 oz |
| Babolat Pure Drive 100 16×19 | 300g / 10,58 oz |
| Babolat Pure Aero 100 16×19 | 300g / 10,58 oz |
| Head Extreme MP L 100 16×19 | 285g / 10,05 oz |
| Yonex Vcore 100 16×19 | 300g / 10,58 oz |
| Yonex Ezone L 100 16×19 | 285g / 10,05 oz |
The price range for medium-weight rackets is around 170-250 (185-270$)€
Lightweight rackets 255-275g / 8,99 – 9,70 oz
The lighter rackets are suitable for young tennis players and adults who are just starting out. The lighter weight makes the racket faster and easier to handle. In addition, light rackets are also more hand-friendly compared to heavier rackets.
However, the downside of light rackets is that they are more difficult to generate power on the ball. When hitting a hard counter-ball, the racket can feel unstable as it does not absorb the impact as much.
However, a lightweight racket is a good choice for beginners, juniors, and women.
Lightweight Rackets in a Nutshell:
- Weight range 255-275g
- Easy to handle due to lightweight
- Slightly less power and stability compared to heavier rackets
- Suitable for juniors and women
Examples of lightweight tennis rackets:
| Racket Model | Weight in grams and in ounces |
|---|---|
| Wilson Ultra 100UL 16×19 | 257g / 9,06 oz |
| Wilson Clash 100 UL 16×19 | 265g / 9,37 oz |
| Wilson Blade UL 16×19 | 265g / 9,37 oz |
| Babolat Pure Drive Lite 100 16×19 | 270g / 9,52 oz |
| Babolat Pure Aero Lite 100 16×19 | 270g / 9,52 oz |
| Head Speed PWR 115 2022 Tour 17×19 | 255g / 8,99 oz |
| Head Gravity Lite 104 16×19 | 270g / 9,52 oz |
- Wilson Ultra 100UL 16×19 (257g)
- Wilson Clash 100 UL 16×19 (265g)
- Wilson Blade UL 16×19 (266g)
- Babolat Pure Drive Lite 100 16×19 (270g)
- Babolat Pure Aero Lite 100 16×19 (270g)
- Head Speed PWR 115 2022 Tour 17×19 (255g)
- Head Gravity Lite 104 16×19 (270g)
The price range for lightweight rackets is around 150-260€ (160 – 280$)
Balance Points
The next weight-related feature of a tennis racket is the balance point. Balance points tell you where the balance point is located on the racket.
The balance point is measured at the base of the racket’s handle, so if the balance point of the racket is, say, 33cm (13 in), then the balance point of the racket is 33cm (13 in) from the racket handle.
So what exactly does the balance point mean? The balance point is a way of finding out whether the racket is head-light, head-heavy or, even balanced.
Handle heavy rackets (Head-Light)
Head-light rackets are usually designed for more advanced players, such as competitive players. The lightweight tip gives the racket more control and feel.
However, head-light rackets are more unforgiving and less powerful. Because of the light tip, the player must hit the sweet spot accurately, as there is no stabilizing weight at the tip of the racket.
Top-weighted rackets (Head-Heavy)
Head-heavy rackets are designed to help players generate power. The heavy tip allows the racquet to accelerate faster during the stroke and generate more power on the ball.
The extra weight at the tip also helps bring stability to errant shots. However, the tip weight takes some getting used to, as it can be challenging to control a rapidly accelerating racket tip, especially in the beginning.
Central weighted rackets (Even Balanced)
Even balanced rackets are rackets in which the weight is evenly distributed over the entire length of the racket. They are good intermediate rackets, combining power and control.
Even balanced rackets are suitable for players of all levels and especially for advanced beginners. They are forgiving, but still require some skill.
Balance point in a nutshell:
- Head-light rackets require skill, so they are well suited to advanced players, such as competitive players.
- Head heavy rackets are suitable for intermediate and competitive players
- Even balanced rackets are suitable for players of all levels
Examples of rackets and their balance points:
| Racket Model | Balance points in brackets |
|---|---|
| Wilson Blade 98 16×19 | Mildly Head heavy (32cm / 12,59 in) |
| Wilson Clash 100 Tour 16×19 | Even Balanced (31cm / 12,20 in) |
| Babolat Pure Drive 100 16×19 | Mildly Head heavy (32cm / 12,59 in) |
| Babolat Pure Aero 100 16×19 | Mildly Head heavy (32cm / 12,59 in) |
| Head Boom 98 16×19 (310g) | Mildy Head-light (31cm / 12,20 in) |
| Yonex Vcore 100 16×19 | Mildly Head heavy (32cm / 12,59 in) |
| Yonex Ezone L 100 16×19 | Mildly Head heavy (32cm / 12,59 in) |
Head Size
Smaller head sizes = 98,97,95…
Bigger head sizes = >100, 101, 115…
Tennis racket head size refers to the size of the racket’s head in square inches. However, it is usually referred to numbers such as 98 and 100.
If you have been wondering why the name of the racket model is followed by a number (e.g. Pro Staff 97), that number indicates the size of the racket’s head. Modern tennis rackets usually have a range of head sizes between 95 and 110 inches.
Put simply, the smaller the head size, the better the control and feel of the racket. Big-head-sized rackets produce more power and are easier to play with.
Small-head-sized rackets (98,97, 95…)
Small-head-sized rackets are suitable for more advanced players who want more control and can generate the power to hit the ball on their own.
It is worth bearing in mind that small-head-sized rackets are less forgiving than large-head-sized rackets because they have a smaller sweet spot, which leads to unstable shots for inexperienced players.
However, small-head-sized rackets are well suited to more advanced players, as the better control they offer means that the ball is more accurately controlled on the court.
Large-head-sized rackets (100, 101, 115..)
Larger-head-sized rackets are great for beginners who want a powerful and forgiving racket.
Larger-head-sized rackets are great for beginners who want a powerful and forgiving racket.
Thanks to the larger head size, the sweet spot is also larger, which reduces the number of unbalanced shots. Larger-head-sized rackets are suitable not only for beginners but also for experienced players who want a stable and comfortable racket.
The Profile of the Frame
In addition to the head size of the racket, we can also mention the width of the frame of the racket (racket profile). The width of the racquet’s frame means the thickness of the racquet’s frame.
A thicker racket frame is stiffer and produces more power, while a thinner frame is looser and produces less power.
In general, large-frame rackets have a thicker racket frame and small-frame rackets have a thinner racket frame.
The same principles apply to the size of the racket’s perimeter, i.e. thinner-framed rackets are suitable for more advanced players who already know how to generate power themselves, while thicker-framed rackets are suitable for players who want the racket to generate power.
Tennis racket’s head and frame size in a nutshell:
- Small-head-sized rackets (<100) provide less power but more control, so are suitable for more advanced players.
- Larger-head-sized rackets (>100) produce a lot of power, so they are suitable for beginners and intermediate players
- The head size of a racket refers to the size of the racket’s head in square inches
- The thickness of the frame refers to the profile of the racket, which is different from the size of the head
String Pattern
Tennis rackets have varying string densities (string patterns) designed for different playing styles. The most common are 16×19 and 18×20.
When indicating the tension density, the first number indicates the number of vertical strings and the second number indicates the number of horizontal strings.
Dense Pattern (18×20)
Simply a tighter string pattern such as 18×20 will flex less on impact and therefore produce less force. However, the advantage of a dense string density is that it provides more control and feel to the shot due to the lower power output.
Open Pattern (16×19)
Open string patterns such as 16×19 will flex more on impact and therefore produce more power and spin on the ball. Open string pattern also produces a softer feel on impact, making it slightly more player and arm-friendly.
Tennis string pattern summarised:
- A Dense string pattern produces less power but more control
- Open string pattern produces more power and spin, but less control
- Open string pattern flexes more in the impact, so the feeling on the hit is softer and gentler on the hand
Grip Size
The grip size of a tennis racket refers to the thickness of the racket handle. Racket grip sizes range from 0 to 5 and vary from one brand to another, as racket handles can have different shapes.
Finding the right grip size is important, as playing with too small a grip allows too much wrist mobility while playing with too large a grip is not firm enough.
Table of grip sizes and their suitability:
| Grip Size | Sopivuus |
|---|---|
| <2 | Young Children |
| 2 | Smaller-handed players and women |
| 3 | Most of the (male)players |
| >3 | Players with larger hands |
However, it is easy to measure the right grip size. Put your hand around the tennis racket, and the space between your palm and thumb should be the size of your index finger.
However, you can easily fiddle with the grip size, as you can easily turn a size 2 grip into a size 3 grip by putting two overgrips on top of it.
So if you are not sure about the right grip size for you, it may be worthwhile to choose a smaller grip size and adjust it with overgrips if necessary.
Tennis grip sizes in a nutshell:
- The size 2 grip is suitable for women and juniors
- The size 3 grip is suitable for most players
- The grip size can be easily adjusted with overgrips
Length of the Tennis Racket
The last characteristic of a tennis racket is the length of the racket. Tennis rackets are usually 27 inches long (68.58cm). Longer rackets produce more power but are more difficult to handle.
The basic player does not usually need to worry about the length of the racket, as generally, only professionals use longer rackets.
However, the frame size of professional players’ rackets is the same as that of other rackets, but the extra length of the racket comes from the longer handle. The extended handle is usually one inch (2.5cm) longer than the handle of a normal tennis racket.
If you are interested in playing with a longer handle, you can order a racket with a longer handle from the racket manufacturers’ own online store.
There are also shorter rackets for junior players, which are discussed in the next chapter.
Testing the racket
When choosing a tennis racket, it is important to be patient and test different rackets to find the one that suits you best. However, tennis rackets are expensive and it can be a bad idea to buy a racket straight off the shelf without testing it.
Fortunately, testing tennis rackets is easy and cheap (around 5€/5$ per game) and many tennis centers offer testing possibilities. Testing is the best way to find out which racket suits you best.
You can also test rackets through various online shops such as:
Tennis Rackets for Children
When choosing a tennis racket for your child, the most important thing is to find the right size. Using a racket that is too big can lead to injuries while using a racket that is too small can stunt development.
Children’s rackets are sorted by length, unlike adult rackets which are sorted by head size.
Children’s tennis rackets are designed according to the height of the player, so if your child is small or large for their age, this should be taken into account when choosing a racket.
| Racket size (inches) | Child’s height EU | Child’s height US | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | <90cm | <2 ft 11in | <3 years |
| 19 | 90-105cm | 2 ft 11 in – 3 ft 5 in | 3-5 years |
| 21 | 105-120cm | 3 ft 5 in – 3 ft 11 in | 5-6 years |
| 23 | 120-130cm | 3 ft 11 in – 4 ft 3 in | 6-8 years |
| 25 | 130-140cm | 4 ft 3 in – 4 ft 7 in | 9-10 years |
| 26 | 140-150cm | 4 ft 7 in – 4 ft 11 in | 11-14 years |
| >26 | >150cm | > 4ft 11 in | >14 years |
Examples of children’s rackets:
17 inch:
- Wilson Minions 2.0 Junior
- Babolat Ballfighter 17 Junior
19 inch:
- Wilson Roger Federer 19
- Head Radical 19 Junior
- Technifibre Tempo 19 Junior
21 inch:
- Wilson Roger Federer 21
- Wilson Burn Pink 21 Junior
- Head IG Gravity Junior 21
23 inch:
- Wilson Roger Federer 23
- Head Speed 23
- Babolat Nadal Junior 23
25 inch:
- Wilson Roger Federer 25
- Wilson Burn Pink 25
- Babolat Pure Drive 25
26 inch:
- Wilson Roger Federer 26
- Wilson Ultra 26
- Head Boom Jr 26
>27 inches:
- Wilson Blade 100UL
- Babolat Pure Drive Lite
- Head Attitude Pro
Beginners Tennis Rackets
When you are starting out in tennis, it is important to find a racket that suits you, so that you can improve and avoid injuries. The racket should be powerful and light enough to give you as many successes as possible at the start of your career.
Earlier in the article we already discussed suitable rackets for beginners so in summary a beginner’s racket should be:
- Light enough → 300 grams / 10,58 ounces or less
- Large head size → 100 or larger
- Even balanced → The balance point should be less than 33cm
- The racket should preferably have a more open string pattern to provide power and a soft hit → 16×19
Examples of Good Beginners’ Tennis Rackets:
| Racket Model | Characteristics of the racket |
|---|---|
| Wilson Ultra 100UL 16×19 (257g / 9,06 oz) | a racket with balanced power and control output |
| Wilson Clash 100 UL 16×19 (265g / 9,37 oz) | a racket with more power, well suited for training purposes |
| Wilson Blade UL 16×19 (265g / 9,37 oz) | a racket with less power and more control |
| Babolat Pure Drive Lite 100 16×19 (270g / 9,52 oz) | a balanced racket with a good power output |
| Babolat Pure Aero Lite 100 16×19 (270g / 9,52 oz) | a spin-producing racket |
Rackets for Adult Beginners and Intermediate Players
As you progress in tennis, it is important to move to a more demanding racket to keep up with the pace of the game. A racket that is too light no longer provides support when your opponent hits the ball hard and you need to hit it back hard.
Intermediate rackets offer a good medium between beginners’ rackets and competitive rackets. Intermediate rackets are already capable of generating a reasonable amount of power while still maintaining control.
The racket should therefore be:
- Heavy enough → 275-300 grams / 9,70-10,58 oz
- Large head size → 300
- Slightly head heavy → balance point 32-33cm
- Open string pattern → 16×19
Examples of Good Intermediate-Level Tennis Rackets:
| Racket Model | Characteristics of the racket |
|---|---|
| Wilson Ultra 100 CV 16×19 (300g / 10,58 oz) | a balanced racket that combines power, control, and forgiveness |
| Wilson Blade 100L 16×19 (285g / 10,05 oz) | an intermediate racket combining control, spin, and forgiveness |
| Wilson Blade 98 S 18×16 (295g / 10,40 oz) | a more challenging intermediate racket, providing more spin and control |
| Babolat Pure Drive 100 16×19 (300g / 10,58 oz) | a balanced racket that combines excellent power delivery and forgiveness |
| Babolat Pure Aero 100 16×19 (300g / 10,58 oz) | a more intermediate-level racket that combines excellent spin and power delivery |
| Head Extreme MP L 100 16×19 (285g / 10,05 oz) | a more challenging intermediate racket, combining good handling and spin |
| Yonex Vcore 100 16×19 (300g / 10,58 oz) | a well-balanced racket that combines excellent control and spin |
| Yonex Ezone L 100 16×19 (285g / 10,05 oz) | a slightly more challenging intermediate racket, combining good handling, power delivery, and forgiveness |
Tennis Rackets for Advanced and Competitive Players
Advanced players usually know best which racket suits them, but here are a few general characteristics:
- Heavy enough → 295g+ / 10,40 oz +
- Smaller head size → 98,97,95
- Handle weight or top weight → balance point <32 cm or >32cm
- Dense or Open string pattern → 18×20 or 16×19
Examples of good rackets for more advanced players
| Racket Model | Characteristics of the racket |
|---|---|
| Wilson Pro Staff 97 16×19 (315g) | a popular racket that combines excellent control with balanced power delivery |
| Wilson Blade 98 16×19/18×20 (305g) | a competitive racket that combines good spin and control |
| Babolat Pure Strike 98 16×20 (310g) | a competitive racket that is well suited to the attacking player |
| Head Prestige Pro 98 18×20 (320g) | a competitive racket that provides excellent control thanks to its weight and dense string pattern |
| Head Radical Pro 98 16×19 (315g) | a competitive racket that combines good power delivery, stability, and playing comfort |
| Head Boom Pro 98 16×19 (310g) | a competitive racket that combines control and stability |
| Yonex Ezone Sky Blue 98 16×19 (305g) | a competitive racket that combines control and stability |
Racket Model Guides for Different Brands
Guide for Wilson’s tennis rackets
Guide for Head’s tennis rackets
Where Should I Buy Tennis Rackets?
You can buy tennis rackets from online shops:
US 🇺🇸
UK 🇬🇧
Summary
Finding the right tennis racket is worth the time and effort. Playing with the wrong or bad racket can put you at risk of injury and stunted development. It would be advisable for a player to take the time to choose the right racket for his or her skill level and test it a few times before deciding to buy.
FAQ
What would be a good racket for a beginner adult player?
– I could recommend Wilson Ultra 100 CV or Babolat Pure Drive rackets
Head-light, Head-heavy, or Even balanced racket?
— The balance point of the racket should be chosen according to your skill level and playing style.
As a general recommendation, beginners should play with a racket that is even balanced or slightly head-heavy. More advanced players can already play with a more head-heavy or head-light racket.
What does a vibration damper do and is it worth playing with?
– A vibration dampener is a small piece of rubber that is placed between the strings of a tennis racket. Its purpose is to change the feel of the ball when it hits the strings. The vibration damper is used to soften the sharpness of the feel of the shot and to reduce the sound of the shot.
The vibration dampener does not reduce power or control, so there is no harm in playing with it and many of the world’s top players use it.
Where should a tennis racket vibration damper be placed?
– The vibration dampener should be placed outside the string pattern of the racket, i.e. on top of the top string or under the bottom string. The most common location for a vibration damper is in the middle of the racket, below the lowest string.
Does the vibration damper prevent tennis elbow?
– No, a vibration damper has no proven effect in preventing injuries.