The Right Racket for Beginner Tennis Players
In the Market for a Beginner Adult Tennis Racket? This one’s for you …
To choose the right racket for adult beginner tennis players, here’s a couple pro tips to put YOU in the driver seat to make the right racket purchase. There’s an overwhelming amount of racket choices and it can all sound very technical and be an expensive mistake if you don’t study racket technology. Picking your best beginner racket comes down to how the racket feels in YOUR hand making contact with a ball.
Get the right racket from the start and you’ve scored a new love affair & saved money. I can’t tell you how many beginner players I introduce to intermediate rackets simply because they’re better made, use better materials and feels more like adulting. Players love their rackets. You will too.
A beginner adult tennis racket is 27 inches in length and ranges in price between $50 - $150. Adult beginner rackets are not available to demo from online tennis retailers or in-store shopping like intermediate and advanced rackets. Beginners need a racket that’s balanced, comfortable on the arm and can be easily controlled.
If a beginner player of mine is looking for a new tennis racket, I offer my own {Wilson Clash 100}. I always have a balanced racket across the board. Before the Wilson Clash 100L, I loved the Prince Warrior 100 Team for over a decade. I want to like how it feels from the first hit. A few solid groundstrokes from the back and I’m up at net feeling it on volleys, serve and a couple overheads. But because I teach and play with a racket I need it to be comfy weight wise to feed all day and for when I get out and play the game.
I want to be able to feed with it for hours during an adult camp or play a fun solid hitting session or a friendly match. Your racket should feel like you’re in cahoots together. A solid racket. Something to rely on for all shots. Not mirror a toy. Or have you dread going to net because you don’t feel stable up there. You don’t want to “get used to a racket” because someone else is telling you how good it is.
The right racket will sell itself, almost immediately.
The problem is they’ll discontinue your model after 2 yrs. So if you fall in love with your racquet - get a couple. You won’t regret it.
You might hear friends talk about famous tennis professionals they adore and what cool racket they´re using. You’ll hear local tennis pros talk up certain rackets that you can’t live without. Likely because they´re making a commission. If you’re able to try it (demo) and you legitimately like it? Terrific. But it can’t be a 1-way win.
Full disclosure. I go deep about racket companies and beginner tennis rackets in my How to Play Tennis for beginners online course. l tell you where to rent demo rackets (rackets you try out yourself before you buy). Even if you buy it from someone else cheaper. Usually at retail they’re all similar in price.
These days with customer service being so poor, you don’t mind paying a couple bucks extra, just to have people be patient with you in the world of racket technology. Few people know racket technology, obviously. And racket specialists know and remind you of that.
Pro tip: 💡
Adult tennis camps by playing level & travel destination for Summer 2023 check here.
How much Tennis will You be Playing?
Tennis isn´t the least expensive sport to play. It’s not the most expensive either. But if you’re committed to playing more than 10 times per year, taking tennis lessons or joining tennis clinics with others and start traveling and taking advantage of the lifestyle? Prepare to spend between $139 - $269.
If you head out to a public court a few times a year after a US OPEN or Wimbledon final, it’s easier to grab a friends racket or one laying around the garage. Maybe you don’t need to make an investment.
When you buy a beginner tennis racket from a big box department store it’s not a feel good purchase. Racket materials (even from top brands) are lesser quality, rackets come pre-strung with crappy strings and you can’t test (demo) them. The sales teams in these places know nothing about tennis let alone what you’d like!
As a beginner adult player you don’t need to get started in tennis using a beginner tennis racket.
You want the right weight for you, of course. Something that feels comfortable on your arm. You’ll want to learn your grip size for your hitting hand and get a racket you feel in control of.
A balanced racket will allow you to apply spin and power faster - when you’re ready.
You can do that easier in an intermediate racket - one you can actually try out (demo). Beginner rackets can be too light. So much so when you make impact with a ball the frame goes allover the place. And you’re wondering if it’s you or the racket. The right racket won’t make you feel like that.
Your new tennis racket is a tool. It´s not going to make you a great player. Lessons, practice and all that repetition will be doable with a frame that feels good on your arm and easy to swing, on repeat.
Beginners Love the Tweener Rackets: What´s a tweener racket?
Tweener rackets offer beginner tennis players a balance between power and control. Rackets that are somewhere in-between both, which is how they get their name. They offer any player;
A midsize head - not too big or too small
A balanced racket so when you swing it doesn´t feel heavier in any are of the racket
Mid weight - not too heavy and NOT TOO LIGHT (like most beginner rackets)
Tweener rackets suit a variety of styles of play
How to Find Your Grip Size
The grip size is is the circumference of the racket handle. Everyone´s hand is a bigger size so men may need a larger grip size and women smaller.
You want your grip size to feel comfortable. Not awkward to hold - ever. Especially if you´re going to be swinging a racket for a couple hours each time you play.
I advise beginner players to go slightly smaller ordering your grip size because you’ll apply over-grips to that original grip that ships with the racket. Over-grips protect your manufacturer’s grip by absorbing the sweat on your hand. Over grips gets changed regularly. And tennis grips are something different, completely,
Remember!
The base tennis grip is the one that comes delivered to you from the supplier, as part of the racket. An over grip is something you´ll purchase separately and apply yourself. An over-grip will add to the size of the original base grip.
Protip:
I’m a woman with a larger hand. I order a smaller base grip size at 4 3/8 so that when I add an over-grip, it’s perfect for me at 4 1/2 grip size.
Beginner Tennis Racket: The head size
The head size is where you find the strings.
Often you´ll see beginner players out there with the lightest frames and the biggest head size. They’re called oversized heads.
An oversized head offers you the greatest amount of string bed to hit the ball. I truly believe it doesn’t offer much more sweet spot (center of the strings). Any beginner I´ve worked with has done well learning with a mid-size racket head. They then develop their tennis career with the same size head.
They say a larger head size offers more power. But as an coach I like my beginner players to learn how to apply their own power using their body. Adding racket head speed by swinging the racket faster.
Power comes next. After you’re getting the ball over the net and inside the court - deep inside the court is the goal. You need body to do that not a tennis racket.
“Your new racket is a tool. You’re the real star.”
Beginner Tennis Racket: What’s a good weight for you?
Remember I´m speaking to adult tennis players here. Most adults I´ve played with have performed & enjoyed a racket in the mid weight range over the lightweight beginner rackets you find in a big box department store.
A lightweight (beginner) racket will weight in at 8 - 9.5 oz
An intermediate racket for adults weighs in at 9.6 - 11.5 oz.
My goal is to get you to FEEL the ball which is the fun part of the game. A slightly heavier racket will keep you void of tennis elbow, let you feel the ball and save on money down the road.
You’d be in a 10.3 oz racket before you know it. It would be a good source of power, feel and control. Slightly more money up front but you’d do it upfront and wouldn’t need to upgrade any time soon.
Can Your Racket Cause Tennis Elbow?
Heavier tennis racquets don´t cause tennis elbow. But super light rackets cause you to feel everything reverberate down your arm. So the real cause of tennis elbow (a common tennis injury) is poor technique.
Hitting the ball off center of the sweet spot. Heavier racquets absorb more of the impact and vibrations of hitting the ball. This is much better for you as it's not going through your body.
Beginner Tennis Racket: Try before You buy
It goes without saying you wouldn´t make a large purchase without trying it out. So why would you buy a racket like that? Your local tennis club may have tennis rackets to demo on-site.
You can demo rackets from these online resources below. Order 3 different rackets to try-out for $25, keep them for a week then return them using free shipping. They make it so easy it’s stupid. Then you can make your racket purchase from anyone you’d like.
3 Smart Tennis Rackets for Adult Beginner Tennis Players
Wilson Clash 100L
Head Size: 100 in² / 645.16 cm²
Strung Weight: 10.3oz / 292g
Length: 27in / 68.58cm
I love playing with this racket because it´s flexible, comfortable and reliable. Hitting the perfect forehand ball feels buttery smooth moving through a long fast swing. It makes playing tennis effortless and comes with nice compliment bags in their Wilson Team bag line.
I can hit everything well with this stick. I don’t thrive on big topspin but want to be able to crank it up against particular players when I need it. My serve is reliable and the manufacturers strings that come with the frame are fine to get you started.
Babolat Pure Aero Lite
Head Size: 100 in² / 645 cm²
Strung Weight: 286g / 10. 1oz
Length: 27in / 68,5cm
Here´s another one I like for beginner adult tennis players. Easy to maneuver, light and versatile.
Your groundstrokes from the backcourt will feel controlled and powerful. Volleys show a degree of pop. Control it wisely and you’ll fall in love with this racket, the color and the fireworks it brings.
Yonex Ezone 100SL
Head Size: 100 in² / 645 cm²
Strung Weight: 283g / 10oz
Length: 27in / 68,5cm
This racket stands out for a comfortable feel & good maneuverability for beginners/ intermediate players. It offers a precise, stable hit. Nice power and control. As you develop your technique, you’ll appreciate the friend you have in this frame. I could barely decide between this racket and the Wilson Clash 100L. What it came down to was simply I didn’t love the blue color and the Wilson was just that tiny bit more user friendly - for me. There’s no question it’s a professional frame.
It’s also on sale for $169. It was nowhere near that price when I first hit with it. It was closer to $300.
You’ll never be able to read a review and know for sure if it´s right for you. So getting those demo rackets will be the key to your next big love affair. Oh it’s a love, make no mistake about it.
Let me know how you make out!
With love from Mallorca~