Junior Racquets

Choosing a Racquet

For children just learning how to play tennis, Head’s Starter Line of junior tennis racquets are a good choice.  The Starter Line of racquets are lightweight and inexpensive tennis racquets and are made in several different lengths. Expect to pay approximately $30.00 for a starter racquet.  Head Starter Racquets are a great choice for children under 7 years old.  For children ages 7 + who are beginning to play tennis regularly, I would not keep them in a starter racquet for more than 3 months.

Graphite/Composite Frames

Children will have much more success playing tennis and rallying the tennis ball back and forth over the net with a graphite/composite frame.  Expect to pay between $50.00 to $100.00 for a good Head junior tennis racquet. Graphite/Composite frames are often more than double the price of a starter racquet but the materials these frames are made of will add power and pop on all their shots.

Graphite/Composite tennis frames can be difficult to find in smaller version frames but choking up an inch on the racquet handle will solve this problem.

How to choose the correct size

A height chart is the most widely used criteria to determine the racquet size for a junior tennis player. However, a height chart does not take into consideration the child’s body structure, coordination, strength, and level of play.  Children ages 8 and over who have been playing tennis for a few years with good strokes and strength will not have any problem playing with a 26" junior racquet or a lightweight- adult size racquet.

Choosing the right size tennis racquet for your child can be a difficult task because there is so much information on the internet and tennis racquet manufactures recommendations often vary.  Some suggest that children 60” tall and ages up to 12 years old should be using a junior tennis racquet.  I have taught thousands of junior tennis players over the years and would never recommend a 12 year old or a 5’ tall tennis player use a junior racquet, even if they are a complete beginner.  Children who are of that age or height should easily be able to handle a 27" tennis racquet.

Another method that is some times used to size a junior racquet is by holding the racquet to your side with the arm outstretched and parallel to the ground.  The racquet should be barely touching the ground but this method will not always hold true.

Coach Dave’s recommended size chart

I find that the following racquet sizes work well for beginner-intermediate junior tennis players in the following age groups.  Most children do not have any trouble handling a little longer racquet than most size charts recommend.  A little heavier and longer racquet gives children a little extra leverage when striking the ball.

Remember to consider your child’s body structure, strength, coordination and level of play before purchasing a junior tennis racquet.

19”      3 & under

21”      3-4 years

23”      4-5 years

25”      6-7 years

26”      8-10 years

27”      Adult size – 11 years and up. 

Grip Sizes

 Junior tennis racquets come in one grip size only so do not worry about selecting a grip size when choosing a racquet.  This is another reason I would not recommend older and taller children use junior racquets, the grip is too small for their hand. Adult size racquets range from 4 1/8 to 4 5/8 and adding an overwrap to a grip will add about 1/16” to the grip size.    

How to measure a grip

Place the palm of your hand on the big grip bevel that is in line with the string face.  There should be a gap from the tip of your ring finger and where your hand wraps around to fit the index finger of your opposite hand through.  If there is not enough space, the grip is too small. If there is too much space, the grip is too big.  Playing with the wrong grip size can contribute to tennis elbow.

Adult Racquets

Gripping a racquet too tight in the ready position and poor stroke production are two primary reasons why tennis players get tennis elbow.  But a poor racquet choice can also contribute to tennis elbow. Light, stiff, head heavy racquets contribute to tennis elbow so look for a heavier, head-light racquet.

Consider what type of player you are when purchasing a tennis racquet.  Tennis players who primarily play doubles or spend most of their time at the net, often prefer a head-light oversize tennis racquet because they are easy to maneuver around the net and have a larger sweet shot. The down fall of oversize frames is miss-hits on the outer edge of the frame will have more twist in your hand and can be hard on your elbow. 

If control is your main concern, standard and midsize tennis racquets have a smaller sweet spot than an oversized tennis racquet. However, they offer more control because you do not get the catapulting effect that you can get from racquets with an oversized string bed. Many expert players prefer a smaller head size for this reason.   

Open or Dense String Pattern

Another area to consider is the pattern of the strings. An open string pattern has bigger spaces between the strings and will help when you want to add spin because the strings will "bite" into the ball more deeply. For example, the more topspin you add to your shots, the harder you can hit the ball and still keep it in the court. An open pattern, for instance, could have 16 main and 20 cross strings. A dense string pattern-for example, 18 mains and 20 crosses-will give you added control in directing your shots. To generate more topspin, though, you'll need to brush up on the ball more severely with a vertical racquet face.

How often should I replace my racquet?

You've had the same old racquet for years and don't think you need a new one. You might want to reconsider. Each time you strike a ball, the frame distorts backward to absorb the impact then bends forward as it returns energy to the ball. Over time, this process damages the bonds between the thousands of graphite fibers (the primary composite of racquets) and the resins that hold them together. Eventually, the frame loses stiffness and becomes "soft." "When a racquet goes soft, you lose power and control," says David Bone, Executive Director of the United States Racquet Stringers Association (USRSA) and TENNIS magazine advisor. 

While there's no formula for determining how long your frame will last, most experts agree that, assuming you don't abuse your racquet, you should think about replacing your frame every two years.