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 4" to 4⅝" 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.