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Tennis guides

What you need to know to choose a racket, in plain language. Every guide starts with a short answer, with the details below.

  1. 01Choosing a racketHow to choose a tennis racketIf you are new to tennis, pick a 100–105 in² head, 270–295 g weight and a flexible frame (below 65 RA). Measure your grip size and size down if unsure. As your game improves you move to heavier rackets with smaller heads.Read the guide
  2. 02Choosing a racketHow to find your tennis racket grip sizeMeasure from the middle crease of your palm to the tip of your ring finger. About 10.8 cm means L2 and 11.1 cm means L3. If you fall between two sizes, choose the smaller one and add an overgrip if needed.Read the guide
  3. 03BeginnersHow to choose a junior tennis racketChoose a junior racket by height rather than age: 21" for 100–115 cm, 23" for 115–130 cm, 25" for 130–145 cm and 26" above 145 cm. Do not buy a longer racket to grow into; a shorter one helps children learn faster.Read the guide
  4. 04StringsHow to choose tennis stringsFor most players multifilament or synthetic gut is a safe starting point. Hard hitters who break strings often go for polyester, and players who put arm health first choose multifilament or natural gut. A gauge of about 1.25 mm is a good balance.Read the guide
  5. 05Choosing a racketTennis racket head size: 98, 100 and 102 sq in comparedA bigger head gives a larger sweet spot and more power; a smaller head gives more control but less room for error. For most players 98–102 sq in (632–658 cm²) is the right range, and beginners should look at 100–105 sq in.Read the guide
  6. 06Choosing a racketTennis racket weight and balance explainedA racket's weight is more than one number: balance and swingweight decide how heavy it feels in the head. For most adults 285–305 g unstrung with an even or slightly head-light balance is a good range.Read the guide
  7. 07HealthTennis elbow: symptoms, causes and choosing equipmentTennis elbow is pain caused by overloading the tendon on the outside of the elbow. Equipment will not cure it, but a flexible frame, soft strings, lower tension and the right grip size reduce the load. If the pain does not settle within a few weeks, see a doctor.Read the guide
  8. 08StringsTennis string tension: what should it be?Start in the middle of the range printed on your racket: the exact middle for multifilament, synthetic and natural gut, and about 1 kg (2 lb) lower for polyester. Lower tension gives more power and comfort, higher tension gives more control. Change it by no more than 1 kg at a time.Read the guide