Tennis is one of the best sports that you can take up. There are several health benefits and helps you stay active. From increasing your aerobic capacities, lowering your blood pressure and resting heart rate, it’s just an all-around fun and beneficial sport.
However, it can be tricky getting started. While finding a court near you can be easy, and picking up tennis balls is simple, what about the rackets? There are a lot of things to consider when finding the best racket for yourself. So, what are the best tennis rackets for beginners? And what should you be mindful of when choosing?
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How to Pick out Your Racket
Like mentioned, there are several components that go into finding the right racket. While we can list several options for you, there are some things that you should look for and consider when choosing the best option.
Best Tennis Racket Weight for Beginners
There are a lot of things to consider when choosing the right racket. One of the biggest ones is the weight of the racket. Having something too heavy or too light can disrupt your swing. A lightweight or medium racket weighing around 9.5 to 11 ounces is perfect, as it provides a lot of power.
A heavier racket than this will make it more difficult to learn the techniques as it has les maneuverability and can be uncomfortable to hold for a while.
Best Tennis Racket Head Size
While not as important as the weight of the racket, it’s another thing to consider when picking out a racket. There are a lot of different sizes and shapes, from as small heads of 97 sq inches and lower, to larger ones that are up to 112 sq inches.
Smaller racket head sizes give you better control and feel, but it’s more difficult to hit the ball as it’s a smaller area. However, with a larger head will have a bigger area to hit the ball, but the control can be difficult to manage.
Picking something in the middle, like 98-104 square inches, is the sweet spot when picking out a racket. It’s a bit easier to control while also making sure you can hit the ball a bit easier.
Best Tennis Racket Grip
Finding the right grip is another crucial component to finding the right racket, as making sure you can properly grip and swing the racket is crucial to having a good game. If the grip size is too large, you’ll lose control of the racket when hitting the ball. Most adults will have the best luck with 4 3/8 or a 3.
While grip sizes are universal and not entirely gender-specific, it is common for women to have a smaller hand than men, so women’s grip is usually between 0 and 3, while men’s usually between 1-4. The grip can be resized with new tape and a heat gun, or by a professional after purchasing.
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Best Tennis Rackets for Beginners
With so many types of rackets and playstyles, it might be confusing scrolling through a list of random rackets. Thankfully, we categorized each one with its own unique feature that could be helpful when picking out the best tennis rackets for beginners.
Whether you’re a casual player or looking to a bit more serious, or whether you’re searching for more power in a swing, or more control, these are some of the best rackets depending on certain features.
13. Best Flexible Racket
A flexible racket is a great option for beginners, as it helps prevent vibrations, which can be uncomfortable for some players, and has improved rebound, helping you stay in the game longer. One of the best options for a flexible racket is the Dunlop SX 600, which can be found at Walmart.
While it’s a little expensive, it’s still a great option as it’s relatively large and has a wider string pattern to help you have powerful swings and can even put a bit of a spin on the ball. It has a 105 sq inch head size, is 9.5 ounces and has a grip size of 4 3/8 inches.
12. Best for Casual Beginners
For beginners that are wanting to take things slow without worrying too much about most of the game, your main goal is probably just keeping the ball in play and working on the basic volleys and groundstrokes. With that being said, having a larger sweet spot is crucial, as it gives you smaller room for error.
One racket that works great with this is the Wilson Burn 100 v4. It’s lightweight and offers decent power, control and maneuverability to ensure that novices are able to handle the ball a bit easier. It’s extremely high quality so you’re able to use it for a while before having to worry about switching to a new one.
11. Best Heavier Racket
For a heavier option if you’re not interested in the lighter rackets, try Head’s Graphene 360+ Speed Pro weighing 10.9 ounces. The frame has a denser string pattern, which will not create much spin on the ball. The head size is 100 square inches, giving you decent control and a sweet spot.
By upping the weight of this racket, you will have a bit more stability and control but can create a hard time understanding the techniques. This racket as Graphene 360+ technology embedded in the hoop to provide greater ball speed and energy return, making it one of the best heavier rackets that you can find for beginners.
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10. Best Light Racket
Like mentioned, beginners might want to try picking up lighter rackets rather than heavy, as you’ll not only be able to maneuver them better, but learning the techniques and swings will come much easier. That’s why finding the best light weight racket is crucial. The best one that you can find right now is the Head Ti.S6 Strung tennis racket for only $99.
You have the option to pick out a grip to make sure it suits you perfectly. The Ti.S6 is one of the world’s best-selling rackets with the highest reviews. With a 115 square inch head size and a weight of 8.9 ounces, it’s the perfect option for those that want to try a lightweight racket.
9. Best for Serious Beginners
But what about more serious players that want to learn more about techniques and styles? Wilson has another great product for you. The Wilson Blade 104 v8 racket is a great way to start taking the game a bit more serious as it helps you hone in on your swing, gain more ball control, and help you create more consistent and powerful shots.
It has a bigger head size of 104 square inches, and with a wider string pattern, you can start creating considerably more spins and power in your shots. It’s also a lot each to maneuver than most of the rackets for beginners with its thinner bean and narrow throat, helping you finesse your shots a bit more. Overall, this is the perfect racket for those that want to start being a bit more serious about the game.
8. Best for Advanced Beginners
For those that have been playing for a bit and want something a bit more advanced, try out the Babolat Pure Aero Rafa Tennis Racket, named after famed player Rafael Nadal. What makes this item a bit more advanced is that it’s a little heavier than the other options we have on the list, which helps add stability to each swing to generate more power for a great shot.
With the open string pattern, you’ll also be able to start experimenting with more spins in the ball. The head size is 100 sq inches, with a weight or 10.2 ounces and a 4 1/4 grip size. You can find this product at Dick’s Sporting Goods for a pricey $299 to help make you into a legend just like Nadal.
7. Best for Control
With a weight of 10.5 ounces, 100 square inches and a grip choice between 4 1/8 to 4 1/2, the Yonex Exone 100L tennis racket is a great option for those that are wanting more control. While it may be on the heavier side for beginners, the extra weight will help you stay stable, making each swing worthwhile.
It’s Isometric technology, where it’s a more square-shaped frame rather than conventional round frame, it offers you a 7% larger sweet spot for greater control without sacrificing power. It also has a vibration dampening system to help filter unwanted vibrations, thus enhancing your performance.
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6. Most Comfortable Racket
For beginners, it can be weird and uncomfortable using a racket, no matter the size or weight. Finding a racket that is comfortable and performs the best can be the perfect goal when starting out. For those that want to a reliable and comfortable racket, look no further than the Wilson Blade 98 v8.
The racket focuses on control and feed, providing a great balance of stability and flexibility. The grip connects the end cap into carbon fiber instead of foam, creating a 16% increase in torsional stability for greater power and consistency. It’s one of the best tennis rackets for beginners and is highly rated for it’s incredible feel without sacrificing power or control.
5. Best Budget-Friendly Racket
Living is expensive these days, and sometimes it’s not worth spending a bunch of money to start a new sport or hobby. Thankfully, you can still take up tennis without breaking the bank and still have high-quality equipment. For those looking for a budget-friendly racket, check out Babolat’s Boost Strike for only $110.
Like Wilson, Babolat is one of the top names in the industry, creating amazing rackets to fit all player’s needs. So, you’ll be able to save your bank account all while having great gear. With a head size of 102 square inches and a weight of 9.9 ounces, this is a great beginner friendly and cheap option to pick up.
4. Best for Men
While rackets are not gender specific, for those that are interested in seeing if there’s a better racket for you, let’s break down the best for both men and women. First, we have the Head Speed Pro for $269 with a 4 3/8 grip, which can be changed depending on your hand size.
It has a dense string pattern, 100 square inch head and a weight of 11 ounces. This racket focuses more on power, helping you drive heavy swings with amazing control.
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3. Best for Women
Now for women, the best option for those that want something that fits you best is the Prince Women’s 110 Thunder Strike. The head size is 110 square inches with a weight of 10 ounces. The grip can be picked out to suit you best.
It’s one of the best recommendations for women beginners that want a lightweight frame to practice techniques. The grip is very comfortable while also making sure that you won’t get fatigue from holding it.
2. Best for Power
Wilson’s Tour Slam Lite is a great racket if you’re focusing on your power. It’s made to improve power and consistency for recreational and beginner tennis players. It’s a great light racket at only 9.7 ounces with an oversized head of 113 square inches, providing you with a big sweet spot in the middle.
This is an ideal choice for beginners that want to boost their swing and have a bit more forgiveness of off-center hits. There is also Stop Shock Sleeves to reduce unwanted vibrations for improved feel.
1. Overall Best Tennis Racket for Beginners
But what about the overall best racket that you can find? Try the Babolat Pure Drive racket for $229. With a weight of 10.6, 107 square inch head and a grip size varying to your choice, this is one of the highest recommended rackets for beginners everywhere. It’s created for recreational players who are just starting out and is a great introduction to tennis.
Babolat is known for creating player-friendly rackets that way beginners can use them, and even major players. They create all around amazing products that way you never have to struggle with choosing the right one.
While they can be pricey, it’s one of the best choices for those wanting to start the hobby as you won’t have to find another one for a long time, as many say that the racket will grow with the player due to its user-friendly creation.
In Conclusion
While it can be hard to narrow down exactly what you’re looking for depending on your style and needs, there are several options for those looking to find the best tennis rackets for beginners.
No matter the kind of player you are hoping to be, or what kind of playing style you have, these will surely put you in the right direction of having a safe and comfortable tennis match.
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