Tennis racket glossary

The distance from the butt of the handle to the racket’s centre of mass. On a 27 inch (68.6 cm) racket the exact middle is about 343 mm; a racket that balances closer to the handle is head light (HL), one closer to the head is head heavy (HH). Head light feels more nimble, head heavy more powerful.

The thickness of the frame profile in millimetres. A thick beam is usually stiffer and more powerful, a thin one more flexible and controlled. Makers often give three numbers instead of one, such as "23 / 26 / 23": the top of the head, the middle and the throat.

The circumference of the handle. In Europe it runs from L0 to L5 (L2 is about 4 1/4 inch); in the US the same sizes are written in inches. If unsure, take the smaller one: an overgrip makes a handle thicker easily, but it cannot be made thinner.

The area of the string bed, written in square inches (in²) or cm²; 100 in² is about 645 cm². A bigger head widens the sweet spot and forgives off-centre hits, a smaller one gives more control.

A standard adult racket is 27 inches (68.6 cm). Rackets longer than 27 inches are called extended; they give more reach and power but are harder to swing. The International Tennis Federation caps rackets at 29 inches. Junior rackets run from 19 to 26 inches and are chosen by height or age.

A thin tape wrapped over the racket’s original grip. It absorbs sweat, refreshes the feel and makes the handle slightly thicker. Unlike the original grip (the replacement grip), it is changed often.

The RA value, which shows how much the frame bends when it meets the ball. A low RA is flexible and passes less vibration to the arm; a high RA is stiffer and usually more powerful but harder on the arm. On this site 64 and under counts as comfortable.

The number of vertical (main) and horizontal (cross) strings: 16×19 means 16 mains and 19 crosses. An open pattern (16×19, 16×18) gives more spin and power; a dense one (18×20) is more controlled and the strings last longer.

The force the strings are pulled to on the racket (kg or lb): a lower tension gives more power and comfort, a higher one more control.

The zone on the string bed where the ball comes off strongest, cleanest and with the least vibration. It grows with head size; further from the centre the racket starts to twist, and the shot gets weaker and harder on the arm.

How hard the racket is to swing around an axis near the butt of the handle, given in kg·cm². A high swingweight means a racket that plows through the ball, so it is more stable and powerful but harder to swing; a low one makes it nimble. Makers measure it in different ways, so use the numbers to compare rackets from the same source.

The racket’s weight in grams without strings. Strings, a bumper and the grip add about 15–20 g. Makers usually list the unstrung weight, so make sure two rackets are listed the same way before you compare them.