Finding the right sized racket
No matter what your experience level is, from beginner to pro-level, having the right equipment is the key to quickly and effectively improving your game. This is especially true with growing kids and less experienced young players.
*JUNIOR SIZED RACKETS:*
The simplest method for choosing the correct racket size for kids that are not yet ready to use a full-sized racket is to pick a racket based on age. As you are aware, kids grow like weeds at this age, so there will be several equipment changes needed for a few years.
| Age | Height | Racket Size |
|---|---|---|
| 4 & Under | Under 39″ | 19 inches |
| 4-5 years | 40-44 inches | 21 inches |
| 6-8 years | 45-49 inches | 23 inches |
| 9-10 years | 50-55 inches | 25 inches |
| 10 or older | 55 inches or taller | 26 inches |
Another method for finding the right sized racket is based on size rather than age.
- Have your child stand up straight
- Stand the racket — handle upwards — next to their foot on their playing side (e.g. right foot if they’re right-handed)
- Your child should be able to comfortably hold the tip of the handle with their fingers (no leaning over or stretching!)
If they can place the heel of their hand on the base on the handle, the racket is too small and you should look at a longer length frame.
FULL SIZED RACKETS:
Once you have reached the standard sized racket (27″), factors like composition, weight, head size and grip size are the key components to an equipment choice. In general, a good rule of thumb is to factor 3 components with your next racket purchase. Head Size, Weight distribution and. Grip size.
Head Size
- Midsize 90-100 square inches
- Oversize 105-115 square inches
- Super oversize 116-135 square inches
A larger head size lets you generate more power and will have a larger sweet spot ie the area on the strings where you get the maximum response from the racket.However, you do sacrifice swing speed and timing on longer strokes can be a challenge. These more forgiving tennis rackets are generally more suited to beginners.
More experienced players and professional tennis players generally settle on midsized rackets for better control and to more easily create swing speed.
Weight Distribution Head Heavy v. Head light
If you are a less experienced player you should probably go for a power tennis racket or head heavy racket as you will be more reliant on the racket technology to create power in your game.
More experienced players will tend to choose control rackets which are head light or have the weight more evenly distributed through the racket. As these rackets have more weight in the handle they can absorb more shock than a lighter racket and therefore appeal to players who already generate a lot of power by themselves. Head light rackets are also great for creating more racket speed and topspin.
Grip Size
Tennis racket grip sizes/measurements available are shown below. The grip sizes convert from US sizes to UK sizes as follows with size 1 being the smallest and Grip size 5 being the largest:
4 1/8” = 1
4 1/4” = 2
4 3/8” = 3
4 1/2” = 4
4 5/8” = 5
Most juniors using full-size tennis rackets choose grip size 1 2, or 3 while adults will generally choose between 2, 3 & 4 grip size.
Personal Preference:
Most of this is personal preference, so we recommend that you demo as many rackets as possible and to read reviews provided online (both expert reviews and customer reviews).
Wilson.com provides a great Racket Advisor Tool online.