Shopping Guide for Best Tennis Stuff

Ever since we created and started giving away free tennis drills and coaching guides we’ve been asked by readers which products we recommend for young tennis players. Clearly the bulk of the requests that come our way are for our favorite tennis rackets for kids and beginners, but we also get asked about other products too.

We asked the same coaches that created our famed tennis drills for buying advice and what they recommend parents look for when trying to buy a tennis racket for a youngster. For beginners, we asked them how to pick a racket that helps them learn while forgiving mistakes.

You can utilize our tools below to narrow down your search for great gear. Remember as always that we may make a commission if you click on our recommendations and buy. We want to make sure you know that and we appreciate the support.

Best Tennis Rackets

The right tennis racket matters. For beginners or kids you want to find a racket that forgives mistakes and builds confidence. For intermediate and more advanced players you start to choose rackets based on your style of play. While our list is not comprehensive we do think it is a good place to start if you need a new tennis racket but don’t know what to look for of where to start. We hope our list helps you make a smart buying decision so you and your kids can enjoy the game we love so much.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, you need to have the right tennis racket for your experience level. Some beginners erroneously think that an “advanced” racket will make them an advanced player. In truth, a tennis racket with advanced features doesn’t help a novice player because he or she cannot take advantage of the racket’s features. Plus, advanced rackets tend to cost more.

Rackets for Kids

Any parent who had played tennis in their childhood would wish that they could relive their childhood again just to play the game with the beautiful and comfortable kids tennis racket available today. While children then had to do with the available adult rackets, kids are today lucky enough to have customized rackets to play with. These rackets are so much lighter, smaller and easier for kids to handle, all, thanks to modern technology.

Head Size

Kids need a racket they can swing and control easily. Although it would make sense to give a youngster a racket with a large head because it’s more forgiving, a racket with a larger head may be too heavy for a child to swing properly.

Length

Racket length is the most important measurement for a kids racket. You will find that rackets come in the following length: 19, 21, 23, 25, and 26A inches. A rule of thumb is that 21 inches or less rackets are perfect for young kids around preschool age. Middle-schoolers up to around thirteen should be looking at 22, 23 or 24 inches. Once you get out of early teens you’re looking at full size rackets.

Top Pick for Kids

best kids tennis racket

Babolat Nadal 26 Junior

The Babolat Nadal Junior 26 Tennis Racquet is perfect for recreational junior players ages 9 and 12. The aluminum construction keeps it maneuverable, and the cosmetics add visual interest. The aluminum construction keeps it maneuverable, and the cosmetics add visual interest. It is nice and forgivable which helps for kids starting out.

Check Prices

Also Recommended

Wilson US Open Junior (4-7 yr old)
Hello Kitty Sports Junior (4-7 yr old)
Wilson Federer Junior (8-12 yr old)
Street Tennis Club Children (4-7 yr old)
HEAD Instinct Junior (8-12 yr old)
Wilson Junior Burn Racquet (8-12 yr old)

Rackets for Juniors

Most kids under 13 years of age will still need a 25 to 27” racket versus an adult racket. Once kids hit 14 we find that most are ready for an adult racket. We recommend juniors play with a smaller and lighter racket as they will have better control and it will help them get better at accurately hitting the ball. A lighter racket also lets younger players practice for longer periods of time without tiring which is important as they build skills.

Head Size

Kids need a racket they can swing and control easily. Although it would make sense to give a youngster a racket with a large head because it’s more forgiving, a racket with a larger head may be too heavy for a child to swing properly.

Length

Racket length is the most important measurement for a kids racket. You will find that rackets come in the following length: 19, 21, 23, 25, and 26A inches. A rule of thumb is that 21 inches or less rackets are perfect for young kids around preschool age. Middle-schoolers up to around thirteen should be looking at 22, 23 or 24 inches. Once you get out of early teens you’re looking at full size rackets.

Top Pick for Juniors

Wilson US Open Junior Tennis Racquet

Wilson US Open Junior Tennis

The Wilson US Open rackets is the ideal choice for the beginning junior. With four different sizes to choose from, these rackets are an excellent option for any junior. Available in 19 inch, 21 inch, 23 inch and 25 inch sizes it is lightweight power for easy swinging and available in a variety of colors. It is an aluminum racket which is great for a junior player.

Check Prices

Also Recommended

Wilson Junior Burn (10 to 14 yrs old)
Head Graphene Extreme (12+ yrs old)
Wilson Roger Federer Junior (10-14 yr old)
Babolat Pure Drive Junior (10-13 yr old)
HEAD Instinct Junior  (10-14 yr old)
Yonex VCORE Si 100 Lite (10-14 yr old)

Rackets for Beginners

A budget racket that helps you learn the skills needed to enjoy tennis is the key here. You’re looking for a balance between power and control that forgives technique issues as you learn to play. Typically we recommend lighter rackets if you have to make trade-offs.  Finding a racket that blends the right balance between power, control, spin, and maneuverability into one at a reasonable price point is hard but not impossible.

Head Size

As a beginner you want a racket with a larger head. Main reason is that it gives you more square inches to hit the ball (obviously). A larger surface area also means a larger sweet spot which essentially means the racket is more forgiving if you don’t quite hit the ball in the perfect racket position. We recommend looking for a racket with a head size of 105+ square inches.

Length

A racket length of 25 to 27 inches is good for beginners, as it provides more control over the serve. Weight is important to mention also for beginners. Look for a lighter racket that generates less power and focuses on technique vs smashing the ball.

Top Beginner Pick

Wilson Tour Slam Adult Strung Tennis Racket

Wilson Tour Slam Adult Racket

This uber popular racket has a nice and large head size that is perfect for beginners (112 square inches) that provides a great margin of error as you learn to hit. We love what Wilson calls “Stop Shock” pads, which basically helps soak up additional vibration and transfer more power to your shot. It is made of aluminum which provides power and stability.

Check Prices

Also Recommended

Wilson Blade 98L (beginners)
Wilson Pro Staff 97LS (beginners)
Yonex EZONE DR Lite (beginners)
Babolat Pure Aero Lite (beginners)
Tecnifibre T-Flash (beginners)
Babolat Pure Strike (beginners)


Rackets for Intermediates

For casual players who are looking to improve their game there are a lot of options when it comes to racker. We suspect most players at this level don’t really have a sense for their “game style”. That’s why we recommend a racket that is balanced and suits lots of different game styles. You want something that blends power, control, spin, and flexibility.

Head Size

This varies a lot for intermediate players. While we still advocate for a larger head size that is more forgiving, you can opt for something smaller if you want to improve your game. A racket head of 100 square inches or less will give you more control over your shots. This is a great option if you want to force yourself to get better at shot placement and ball spin.

Length

Rackets that are 28 or 29 inches in length give intermediate and advanced players more power on their serves. Weight-wise you should be looking to increase weight of racket at this stage to really drive power behind your shot. Look for something over 300 grams.

 

Top Intermediate Pick

Babolat 2017 Pure Strike 16/19 Tennis Racquet

Babolat Pure Strike 16 x 19

A popular brand amongst casual players, the Pure Strike 16×19 is our favorite offering from Babolat. We love the feel of this racket. It is a soft and controllable racket that allows intermediate players to generate solid power and great. Overall, this is a great racket for casual players and will really help you push yourself to improve.

Check Prices

Also Recommended

Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph
HEAD Ti.S6 Tennis Racquet
Babolat Pure Drive Racquets
Yonex EZONE Ai 98
Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 
HEAD MicroGel Radical Head

Rackets for Advanced

Typically these are light rackets that feature large/oversized head sizes, around 107-135 inches. They also have a heavy head balance and are for players with short, slow swings who need the racquet to help them generate power. They also have a heavy head balance and are for players with short, slow swings who need the racquet to help them generate power.

Head Size

A racket with a larger head is more forgiving of shots that are not struck properly. Head sizes of 105 square inches or larger are good for tennis beginners.

Length

A racket length of 25 to 27 inches is good for beginners, as it provides more control over the serve.

 

Top Pick for Experts

wilson pro racket

Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph

This is an expensive racket that is worth every penny for the advanced player. It has great weight to drive power behind your shots and we love the overall playability of this racket. A true modern players racket that is excellent from the baseline, serve, at net or on approach shots, the redesigned RF 97 is a must for any serious tennis players.

Check Prices

Also Recommended

Wilson Blade 98
HEAD Ti.S6 Tennis Racquet
Babolat Pure Strike
Yonex EZONE Ai 98
Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 
HEAD MicroGel Radical Head

Rackets Brands

In every sport there are a handful of brands that everybody knows. Most people think it is because of big marketing budgets and to some degree that’s true. But these brands also drive innovation, invest in improving products and work hard to make things that help people improve. In the world of tennis, we find the following brands are tops in our minds.

Innovation

From recreational play to performance rackets played by the pros, these brands invest in new technology and innovation. We see a steady stream of new stuff every single year.

Focus

While brands like Wilson do more than just tennis we find that the top brands in this space are very focused on tennis. That focus and effort means that they are intimate with the sport at all levels.

 

Top Racket Brand

wilson tennis rackets

Wilson

There is no doubt that Wilson is the top brand in tennis. From its partnership and sponsorships of top players to massive investments in the sport and in driving innovation, they continue to be tops in our books. With innovative products, new features and constant hard work to make tennis players better every year, this is a brand we highly recommend.

Check Prices

Also Recommended

Babolat
Yonex
Prince
Head
Volkl

 

Best Tennis Training Equipment

We move from tennis rackets to the riveting world or sports training equipment. We know, we know, this stuff is boring. Every great tennis player needs to practice and hone your skills. The more time spent playing and training the better. Which is why the right equipment matters, because bad equipment can mean a lot of time not training.

Tennis Ball Hoppers

Something so basic yet we never stop to think about how much time we spend picking up balls while practicing. The lonely ball hopper is important yet ignored so here’s our attempt to help you find the right one. Ultimately when you choosing a ball hopper you’re looking to balance a mix of capacity, price and durability. Height also matters because bending over all the time sucks and having to reach too far sucks more. In terms of capacity you can find hoppers and carrying cases that hold anywhere from 10 balls to 350 balls. Styles include carry bags, simple metal holders and full on carts that hold hundreds of balls.

Rather than share tons of options we simply chose three radically different options that work well depending on your needs.

Simple & Classic

Wilson 75 Tennis Ball Pick Up Hopper

Portable tennis ball basket, this is the classic design most of us grew up with. It holds 75 tennis balls and has a no-spill lid and durable plated steel construction with makes it really practical. The handles convert to lockable legs which is great for easily standing it up for practice drills. Some assembly required for this one, but overall it works well.

Check Prices

 

Great for Easy Travel

Gamma Ballhopper Premium EZ

Gamma Sports Premium

The ideal tennis court accessory for every professional tennis player, tennis instructor, school coach or even amateur tennis enthusiast! Holds 150 balls and is perfect for those on the go. Easy to carry and fits in the boot of most cars without any work. Durable and lightweight it can also take a beating.  It has cool metal snaps that secure it travel cart’s frame.

Check Prices

 

Premium & Large Capacity

Gamma Sports Premium Cart

Gamma Sports Premium Cart

The Gamma Brute™ Teaching Cart™ offers a 325-ball capacity and was designed to fit through the gates and doorways typically found at tennis courts. The durable construction consists of a heavy duty coated wire basket, chrome plated legs, padded handle, and bolted wheels with ball bearing swivel (including 2 with locking brake). Its heavy duty and sturdy.

Check Prices


Tennis Balls & Tennis Ball Machines

Something so basic yet we never stop to think about how much time we spend picking up balls while practicing. The lonely ball hopper is important yet ignored so here’s our attempt to help you find the right one. Ultimately when you choosing a ball hopper you’re looking to balance a mix of capacity, price and durability. Height also matters because bending over all the time sucks and having to reach too far sucks more. In terms of capacity you can find hoppers and carrying cases that hold anywhere from 10 balls to 350 balls. Styles include carry bags, simple metal holders and full on carts that hold hundreds of balls.

Rather than share tons of options we simply chose three radically different options that work well depending on your needs.

Best Ball Machine

lobster elite 1 ball machine

Lobster Sports Elite 1

An affordable battery-operated tennis ball machine. Unlike other $1500+ ball machines, this one is somewhat affordable at under $1,000. Enjoy playing against such advanced features such as full corner-to-corner random oscillation to help you work on your forehands and backhands, up to 60 degree lobs to practice your overheads. Speeds of up to 80 mph.

Check Prices

Durable Balls for Practice

Tourna Mesh Carry Bag of 18 Tennis Balls

Tourna Mesh Carry Bag of 18 Balls

Tourna Pressureless Tennis Balls never go dead. Extra durable they are great for ball machines, tennis practice, or playing with your pets! Available in many pack styles and options. Ideal for practice and throwing machines. The bounce is true and always the same. Made with real felt. These balls are regulation size and bounce to regulation height.

Check Prices

Great Tennis Ball Deal

penn tennis ball deal

Penn Championship Extra Duty Balls

Natural rubber for consistent feel and reduced shock. Natural rubber for consistent feel and reduced shock. Interlocked wool fiber for longer wear. Deep elastic seams for reduced cracking. Natural rubber for consistent feel and reduced shock. Deep elastic seams for reduced cracking. This is a great all-around ball and the pricing is awesome too.

Check Prices

 

MENU

Back