With so many options on the market, choosing the right tennis racket can be a daunting task. Whether a beginner or an experienced player, we aim to give you the advice and resources you need in order to select the proper racket for your game.
With the right racket in hand, you may just have the advantage you need to improve your game and win more matches.
In the following guide, we discuss racket size, string patterns, rackets based on skill level, and the best brands on the market.
What Size Tennis Racket is Right for My Skill Level?
The three main considerations tennis players should have in regard to their chosen racket is racket head size, weight, and string pattern. Without being able to control your shot or having the power needed to beat your opponent, the game becomes far more difficult.
Power is derived from the racket acting like a trampoline. The bigger the trampoline, the greater the bounce, hence the more power produced. A ball being struck with a bigger head will experience more string rebound, resulting in more powerful strokes.
Control on the other hand comes in the form of a smaller racket head as a bigger head is more difficult to move and provides less control. A smaller head has less trampoline effect, which results in more consistent and precise impacts with the ball.
Beginner Player Rackets
Our advice, if you’re just beginning to take up tennis, is to invest in a mid-range racket that caters to learning the game. When you’ve learned the basics and want to start refining your skills, you should then consider buying higher-end equipment.
Tennis players who are just starting out should use a lightweight racket with a bigger head size, most commonly referred to as an “oversize” racket.
This enables players to make more consistent contact with the ball while learning to rally. A larger-head racket also helps newer players from tiring out their arm as their muscles adapt to the game.
- Oversized head
- Lightweight frame
- Open string pattern
Intermediate Player Rackets
As tennis player’s muscles grow and become better at producing more speed, intermediate players may begin to decrease their racket head size. This added weight to their racket can improve upon two key things – they will be able to produce more power and better control their consistency.
For the majority of intermediate players, a midplus size head is the best racket to choose. Getting used to playing with a more accurate racket while maintaining one’s performance is often the best way to improve one’s game.
Ideally, a midplus size racket will aid you in ball-to-racket contact and prepare you to one day use a less forgiving, but even more accurate, midsize racket.
- Midplus head
- Medium weight frame
- Standard racket length (27″)
Advanced Player Rackets
Advanced players should look to use “mid-size” rackets to play with optimal control, feel, and accuracy. These three aspects of tennis provide major advantages and are accomplished through better ball connection through more consistent trampolining of each shot.
Because tennis players with a lot of experience tend to have excellent muscle memory, making contact with the ball on the right spot on the racket comes far more naturally. This in turn results in better ball placement and more speed.
- Midsize head
- The heaviest racket you can swing for 3 hours
- Standard racket length (27″)
Top Tennis Racket Brands
While there are a number of great tennis racket brands on the market, you’ll find that pro players tend to choose Head, Babolat, Wilson, Dunlop, and Prince more often than others.
Head, Wilson, and Dunlop cater to all skill levels with 27-inch rackets ranging from $50 to $215.
Other Considerations When Buying a New Tennis Racket
If you’re taking tennis lessons or know someone who is an avid player, you should ask for their advice. Often a tennis pro will consider your swing type and style of play before making a recommendation.
What Swing Type Do You Have?
Most players have a rapid, slow, or medium swing speed. A USPTA certified tennis professional can look at your swing and tell you which one it is.
A quicker swing generates more power than a slower swing, therefore the racket you purchase could be less powerful since your rapid swing will add the power for you.
If you have a fast swing, you’ll want greater control from your racket, therefore a smaller frame is generally best.
What Style of Play Do You Have?
Do you like to be aggressive or defensive? A lot of players are either one or the other, which might influence the kind of racket you go with.
If you are a more aggressive player, you will most likely want to smash the ball harder, which means a more powerful racket may be appropriate for you.
If you are a defensive player, you will often utilize the speed of the ball that your opponent has hit at you, in which case a racket with a smaller frame may be the one for you.
Style of play can also be influenced by your body type and swing speed, which a tennis instructor will take into consideration when making a racket recommendation.
Need More Help?
If you would like to receive additional help with picking out a tennis racket that matches your game, send us an email. Be sure to include your skill level, budget, how often you intend to play, and any other pertinent information that is discussed in this article. One of our knowledgeable and friendly tennis coaches will gladly advise you on a great racket to buy.