Which Tennis Racket Suits You as a Beginner?
As a beginner, you're best off with a light racket with a large head: 645 to 740 cm² of hitting surface, weight up to about 275 g for women and 290 g for men, balance point in the middle or slightly head-heavy. This combination forgives mishits, is easy to swing through, and goes easy on your arm and shoulder – exactly what matters in the first few months.
The Three Values That Decide Your Choice
The head size is the strung hitting surface; the larger it is, the bigger the sweet spot – the area where a hit delivers the best combination of control and power transfer. Miss it, and you'll noticeably lose precision. The balance tells you where the weight sits in the frame: head-heavy adds power on its own, handle-heavy gives more control at the net.
Rule of thumb: the bigger the head and the lighter the frame, the easier it is to get started – and the less precision you'll have at high speed. For most beginners, all-round rackets are the right choice. If your arm is sensitive, take a look at comfort rackets, which absorb vibrations more effectively. Lighter models can be found under beginner rackets for women; junior rackets are graded by length in inches rather than by head size.
Grip Size: The Value You Have to Check Yourself
Grip size is marked as L0 to L5 on the racket, with the number increasing along with the grip circumference. Here's how to check it: hold the grip at the bottom end with your playing hand – there should be room for roughly one index finger between your palm and fingertips. Too thin means a cramped grip, too thick blocks movement in the wrist. When in doubt, go with the smaller size: with grips and an overgrip, you can build up a grip by a few millimetres – you can't make it thinner.
Strung or Unstrung – And What the Extra Cost Buys You
Check the delivery condition in the product title: many frames are sold unstrung, with stringing costing extra. The Premier 110 from Prince, for example, weighs 265 g at 710 cm² and is delivered unstrung, while the Aggressor 112 from Wilson, at 280 g and 722 cm², arrives fully strung. A racket package delivers both racket and strings together. If you buy them separately, as a beginner a string from our comfort range or a ready-made string set will do the job. The extra cost for the frame buys you stability on fast balls – something you'll only notice once your shot is consistent.
Our recommendation from Tennis-Point
You don't have to buy blind: with test rackets. Each one arrives freshly strung with a new overgrip; if you buy afterwards.
What does the 16/19 in the string pattern mean?
The string pattern states the number of strings: 16 main (vertical) strings and 19 cross strings. For beginner rackets, 16/18 and 16/19 are common.
Head size in square centimetres or square inches – how do I convert?
Both describe the same area: 710 cm² is about 110 square inches, 645 cm² about 100. Numbers like 100 or 110 in a model name refer to precisely this head size in square inches.
How often does a tennis racket need to be restrung?
The common rule of thumb: as many times a year as you play per week. So if you play once a week, you should have your racket restrung roughly once a year.
When should you switch to a racket for advanced players?
As soon as you consistently make solid, central contact with the ball and start missing control. Rackets for advanced players range from 615 to 645 cm² and weigh from 275 g (women) or 290 g (men) upwards, while tournament rackets weigh 300 g and more.