Kids Tennis Racquet Buying Guide
You’ve been thinking about getting your son or daughter a brand-new tennis racquet. Maybe they are just getting started. Maybe they have already been involved in the game and are growing out of their first one and want to upgrade their tennis game.
Perhaps they have taken a few lessons and have a natural skill set. Tennis is a great game for kids of all ages, and with the USTA guidelines for junior tennis, the game has never been more fun and accessible. However, finding the best tennis racquet for kids, both beginners and advancing players, can be a daunting task. That's why we have assembled this guide to assist you in selecting the proper tennis racquet for your child.
To get started, there are two key items to consider when shopping for a junior version of a tennis racquet for your child.
1. Find your kid's tennis racquet size.
2. Determine your price range based on your child's interest in tennis.
Additionally, there are several other items you may also want to consider.
- Weight
- Grip Size
- Vibration Control
- Strings
- Adaptive Racquets
What Size Tennis Racquet Do I Need for My Child?
Trying to determine what size tennis racquet should I buy for my child can be confusing. The tennis racquet sizes for a child is entirely dependent on their height.
Fortunately, TennisRacquets.com's height chart is a perfect way to determine what size to buy. For example, if a child is 3 feet 3 inches tall, they should play with one 21 inches long. If they are 4 feet 4 inches tall, she should play with one 23 inches in length.
Having the correct length makes a significant difference in how your child will experience success. A racquet that is too long will be cumbersome and difficult to swing.
Experts note that one of the best ways to determine a young player's comfort with a length is to see where they tend to hold it. A player’s grip should be right at the end, but if a player keeps choking up on it, that’s a good sign it is too long.
Kids will stay with tennis if they have some early success. Having a racquet that is too long and/or too heavy will inhibit their success and possibly cause them to want to drop out or worst case, get injured.
This is the rationale for teaching kids with the lower bouncing red or orange felt balls: hitting is easier and success follows.
"Having the correct length racquet makes a significant difference in how your child will experience success in Junior Tennis."
Cost and Quality for Kids Tennis Rackets
Now that you’ve determined what size to get, it is important to consider both the cost and the quality available for your child. Let’s break down cost and quality for each of the basic sizes.
Sizes 19 and 21 Inches
For young kids up to 3 feet 10 inches, the quality of most models is almost identical, and all can work for beginners. They all use a two-piece construction which uses fiberglass and plastic to construct the head.
This design is simple and will not last over time, which is why 19 and 21 inch sizes all are generally under $40. Since younger kids in this age group are using the soft USTA red foam or red felt balls, one-piece construction is not necessary. Furthermore, these young players don’t have the strength to get the benefits of fancy design and structure.
But each brand does have their own superstar ambassador. Wilson has Roger Federer. Babolat is endorsed by Rafa Nadal. Novak Djokovic is with Head.
And while 19 and 21 inch sizes offer little discernible difference in quality, the pros that endorse them might make the difference to your child. Is it wrong to buy a Rafa racquet because that’s your daughters’ favorite player? Absolutely not with these sizes.
Size 23 Inches
For kids between 3 feet 10 inches and 4 feet 5 inches tall, 23 inch racquets offer some new design elements with the introduction of one-piece construction. These are one piece with improved head speed and control and are made to last.
But these do cost a bit more, so for the novice player, it is important to gauge how invested you think they will be in the sport. If your son or daughter will potentially have just a fleeting interest, then starting with something nice, basic, and inexpensive should cost under $40.
However, if you plan on hitting with them 2 or 3 times a week, consider a one-piece construction that is built to last. Spending a bit more than a basic model costs should provide more control and durability for the more committed beginner.
Sizes 25 and 26 Inches
Here is where it gets interesting. For players 4 feet 6 inches to 5 feet tall, the range of choices and costs grows considerably.
You can still purchase a 25 inch two-piece entry level model for beginners generally for less than $40, but now you will also have some options with superior construction and technology similar to adult products - but with adult prices.
There are lots of options with a variety of racquet features, with Head, Vokl, Babolat, and Wilson all with great offerings from $50 to $130. Again, you will want to consider the interest of your child when picking out the best one, but at this size, you may also be thinking about factors like weight, grip size and vibration control.
What Size Tennis Racquet Do I Need for My Child?
Trying to determine what size tennis racquet should I buy for my child can be confusing. The tennis racquet sizes for a child is entirely dependent on their height.
Fortunately, TennisRacquets.com's height chart is a perfect way to determine what size to buy. For example, if a child is 3 feet 3 inches tall, they should play with one 21 inches long. If they are 4 feet 4 inches tall, she should play with one 23 inches in length.
Having the correct length makes a significant difference in how your child will experience success. A racquet that is too long will be cumbersome and difficult to swing.
Experts note that one of the best ways to determine a young player's comfort with a length is to see where they tend to hold it. A player’s grip should be right at the end, but if a player keeps choking up on it, that’s a good sign it is too long.
Kids will stay with tennis if they have some early success. Having a racquet that is too long and/or too heavy will inhibit their success and possibly cause them to want to drop out or worst case, get injured.
This is the rationale for teaching kids with the lower bouncing red or orange felt balls: hitting is easier and success follows.
"Having the correct length racquet makes a significant difference in how your child will experience success in Junior Tennis."
Cost and Quality for Kids Tennis Racquets
Now that you’ve determined what size to get, it is important to consider both the cost and the quality available for your child. Let’s break down cost and quality for each of the basic sizes.
Sizes 19 and 21 Inches
For young kids up to 3 feet 10 inches, the quality of most models is almost identical, and all can work for beginners. They all use a two-piece construction which uses fiberglass and plastic to construct the head.
This design is simple and will not last over time, which is why 19 and 21 inch sizes all are generally under $40. Since younger kids in this age group are using the soft USTA red foam or red felt balls, one-piece construction is not necessary. Furthermore, these young players don’t have the strength to get the benefits of fancy design and structure.
But each brand does have their own superstar ambassador. Wilson has Roger Federer. Babolat is endorsed by Rafa Nadal. Novak Djokovic is with Head.
And while 19 and 21 inch sizes offer little discernible difference in quality, the pros that endorse them might make the difference to your child. Is it wrong to buy a Rafa racquet because that’s your daughters’ favorite player? Absolutely not with these sizes.
Size 23 Inches
For kids between 3 feet 10 inches and 4 feet 5 inches tall, 23 inch racquets offer some new design elements with the introduction of one-piece construction. These are one piece with improved head speed and control and are made to last.
But these do cost a bit more, so for the novice player, it is important to gauge how invested you think they will be in the sport. If your son or daughter will potentially have just a fleeting interest, then starting with something nice, basic, and inexpensive should cost under $40.
However, if you plan on hitting with them 2 or 3 times a week, consider a one-piece construction that is built to last. Spending a bit more than a basic model costs should provide more control and durability for the more committed beginner.
Sizes 25 and 26 Inches
Here is where it gets interesting. For players 4 feet 6 inches to 5 feet tall, the range of choices and costs grows considerably.
You can still purchase a 25 inch two-piece entry level model for beginners generally for less than $40, but now you will also have some options with superior construction and technology similar to adult products - but with adult prices.
There are lots of options with a variety of racquet features, with Head, Vokl, Babolat, and Wilson all with great offerings from $50 to $130. Again, you will want to consider the interest of your child when picking out the best one, but at this size, you may also be thinking about factors like weight, grip size and vibration control.
Other Considerations for a Junior Tennis Racquet
Weight
Racquet weight is the most important quality to consider after length and cost. The weight range of most size 25 and 26 inch versions is small, ranging from 8 to 8.8 ounces.
However, for younger children this can be a significant difference. What TennisRacquets.com recommends is to consider your child’s near term height and growth potential. For example, if your daughter is 4 feet 5 inches tall, our growth chart recommends a 23 inch length, but maybe she is ready to grow or has been playing with a 23 inch and it is time to upgrade.
Consider going to a longer 25 inch model, but perhaps one with less weight. Choosing one with less weight introduces her to the new length without forcing her to drastically change how she will play tennis and help her stay injury free.
"Racquet weight is the most important quality to consider after length and cost."
Appropriate Grip Size
Junior sizes don’t offer the variety of grips that adults have. For each particular model there will only be one child's grip size available. A helpful tip If you think your child needs a bigger grip size: add on an overgrip to make the grip larger.
Feel free to contact the experts at TennisRacquets.com to help you pick one out. An overgrip is easy to put on and try. If it doesn’t work, you can just take it off.
Vibration Control
Lots of kids (and adults) don’t like vibrations when they hit the ball. Especially when they are going up to a new size or to a new type of junior tennis ball, such as orange felt to green felt, increased vibration can be frustrating.
Racquet manufacturers like Volkl and Wilson offer technology to decrease vibration for more pleasurable contact with the ball. If your child has experienced injuries of the arm, this technology is particularly worth investigating.
Strings for Juniors
All junior models come pre-strung and ready to play thereby saving you money. The strings are all synthetic gut and are set up in the string bed for a combination of power and control.
Once the racquet has been used for a while, and if your child hasn’t grown to the next size up, it can be easily re-strung. A good rule of thumb is how many times a week your child plays determines how many times a year you should have the strings changed.
If they play once a week for instance, get the strings changed once a year. Serious players deserve new strings more often.
Other Considerations for a Junior Tennis Racquet
Weight
Racquet weight is the most important quality to consider after length and cost. The weight range of most size 25 and 26 inch versions is small, ranging from 8 to 8.8 ounces.
However, for younger children this can be a significant difference. What TennisRacquets.com recommends is to consider your child’s near term height and growth potential. For example, if your daughter is 4 feet 5 inches tall, our growth chart recommends a 23 inch length, but maybe she is ready to grow or has been playing with a 23 inch and it is time to upgrade.
Consider going to a longer 25 inch model, but perhaps one with less weight. Choosing one with less weight introduces her to the new length without forcing her to drastically change how she will play tennis and help her stay injury free.
"Racquet weight is the most important quality to consider after length and cost."
Appropriate Grip Size
Junior sizes don’t offer the variety of grips that adults have. For each particular model there will only be one child's grip size available. A helpful tip If you think your child needs a bigger grip size: add on an overgrip to make the grip larger.
Feel free to contact the experts at TennisRacquets.com to help you pick one out. An overgrip is easy to put on and try. If it doesn’t work, you can just take it off.
Vibration Control
Lots of kids (and adults) don’t like vibrations when they hit the ball. Especially when they are going up to a new size or to a new type of junior tennis ball, such as orange felt to green felt, increased vibration can be frustrating.
Racquet manufacturers like Volkl and Wilson offer technology to decrease vibration for more pleasurable contact with the ball. If your child has experienced injuries of the arm, this technology is particularly worth investigating.
Strings for Juniors
All junior models come pre-strung and ready to play thereby saving you money. The strings are all synthetic gut and are set up in the string bed for a combination of power and control.
Once the racquet has been used for a while, and if your child hasn’t grown to the next size up, it can be easily re-strung. A good rule of thumb is how many times a week your child plays determines how many times a year you should have the strings changed.
If they play once a week for instance, get the strings changed once a year. Serious players deserve new strings more often.
Other Considerations for a Junior Tennis Racquet
Weight
Racquet weight is the most important quality to consider after length and cost. The weight range of most size 25 and 26 inch versions is small, ranging from 8 to 8.8 ounces.
However, for younger children this can be a significant difference. What TennisRacquets.com recommends is to consider your child’s near term height and growth potential. For example, if your daughter is 4 feet 5 inches tall, our growth chart recommends a 23 inch length, but maybe she is ready to grow or has been playing with a 23 inch and it is time to upgrade.
Consider going to a longer 25 inch model, but perhaps one with less weight. Choosing one with less weight introduces her to the new length without forcing her to drastically change how she will play tennis and help her stay injury free.
"Racquet weight is the most important quality to consider after length and cost."
Appropriate Grip Size
Junior sizes don’t offer the variety of grips that adults have. For each particular model there will only be one child's grip size available. A helpful tip If you think your child needs a bigger grip size: add on an overgrip to make the grip larger.
Feel free to contact the experts at TennisRacquets.com to help you pick one out. An overgrip is easy to put on and try. If it doesn’t work, you can just take it off.
Vibration Control
Lots of kids (and adults) don’t like vibrations when they hit the ball. Especially when they are going up to a new size or to a new type of junior tennis ball, such as orange felt to green felt, increased vibration can be frustrating.
Racquet manufacturers like Volkl and Wilson offer technology to decrease vibration for more pleasurable contact with the ball. If your child has experienced injuries of the arm, this technology is particularly worth investigating.
Strings for Juniors
All junior models come pre-strung and ready to play thereby saving you money. The strings are all synthetic gut and are set up in the string bed for a combination of power and control.
Once the racquet has been used for a while, and if your child hasn’t grown to the next size up, it can be easily re-strung. A good rule of thumb is how many times a week your child plays determines how many times a year you should have the strings changed.
If they play once a week for instance, get the strings changed once a year. Serious players deserve new strings more often.
Is There a Perfect Racquet for a Junior Player?
Chances are, there is an appropriate racquet among the many kids racquets. Kids tennis racquets continue to evolve and improve. The secret is to find the right length racquet for a junior player. The second secret to finding a great racquet is to consult experts in the tennis world.
Your experts in junior tennis rackets are at tennisracquets.com.
Adaptive Racquets
With the great array of choices in junior tennis gear, there are some ideal starting points to help players with adaptive needs to start playing. Maybe a larger head or a shorter length would be a good place to start. Our experts can help find the right size racquet for any adaptive player.
While you are getting a new racquet for your child, don’t forget to check on the fantastic choices for shoes and tennis clothing too. Your child will love tennis just as much as you do, and we are here to help you find what they need.
Contact us! Our experts are ready to be of assistance.
READY TO BUY YOUR CHILD'S NEXT TENNIS RACQUET?
Is There a Perfect Racquet for a Junior Player?
Chances are, there is an appropriate racquet among the many kids racquets. Kids tennis racquets continue to evolve and improve. The secret is to find the right length racquet for a junior player. The second secret to finding a great racquet is to consult experts in the tennis world.
Your experts in junior tennis racquets are at tennisracquets.com.
Adaptive Racquets
With the great array of choices in junior tennis, there are some ideal starting points to help players with adaptive needs to start playing. Maybe a larger head or a shorter length would be a good place to start. Our experts can help find the right size racquet for any adaptive player.
While you are getting a new racquet for your child, don’t forget to check on the fantastic choices for shoes and tennis clothing too. Your child will love tennis just as much as you do, and we are here to help you find what they need.
Contact us! Our experts are ready to be of assistance.
READY TO BUY YOUR CHILD'S NEXT TENNIS RACQUET?
Is There a Perfect Racquet for a Junior Player?
Chances are, there is an appropriate racquet among the many kids racquets. Kids tennis racquets continue to evolve and improve. The secret is to find the right length racquet for a junior player. The second secret to finding a great racquet is to consult experts in the tennis world.
Your experts in junior tennis racquets are at tennisracquets.com.
Adaptive Racquets
With the great array of choices in junior tennis, there are some ideal starting points to help players with adaptive needs to start playing. Maybe a larger head or a shorter length would be a good place to start. Our experts can help find the right size racquet for any adaptive player.
While you are getting a new racquet for your child, don’t forget to check on the fantastic choices for shoes and tennis clothing too. Your child will love tennis just as much as you do, and we are here to help you find what they need.
Contact us! Our experts are ready to be of assistance.