The Best Kids Tennis Raquets for 2023 [Buyers Guide] - Perfect Tennis (2023)

Looking for a kids tennis racquet but unsure on what size or type of racquet to get them? This guide is for you ✅

It is vital that a young player uses a tennis racquet of the right size relative to his or her
height.

This is to ensure the correct development of their technique. The right size racquet helps kids develop smooth strokes with good weight transfer.

A racquet that’s too small can lead to excessive wrist and elbow action, which can harm both the technique and, in the long run, the arm. Conversely, using a racquet that’s too big or too heavy makes the game too difficult for a junior player. The more difficult the game is, the less young players want to participate.

If you’ve ever seen a young kid pick up a full-size tennis racquet down at your local courts, swing it around in an unwieldy fashion for 5 minutes before ditching it to go play with something else then you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.

In this guide, I’ll cover a few tips so you can provide your child with the right size tennis racquet to set them up for success. I’ll also give a few recommendations for the best kid’s tennis racquets that you can buy right now.

When Should a Child Start Playing Tennis?

Most kids these days that go on to play the professional game start tennis around of 4 or 5 years old. But if your child is older, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t pick a racquet or get involved. The goal is fun not to turn it into a career.

In fact, Roger Federer didn’t start playing tennis until he was 8 years old and he’s had a reasonable career so anywhere from 4/5 and upwards is the right age.

What is a Junior Tennis Racquet?

A junior tennis racquet is one that is built and sized specifically for kids. This basically means that the length of the racquet is much shorter along with the head size being shorter.

Typical adult tennis racquets are 27 inches in length, they can be longer with even some professionals using longer sticks like Andy Roddick, whereas junior racquets are between 1 and 8 inches shorter.

A kids racquet will range from 19 inches (the smallest) through to 26 inches which is the last stop before progressing to a full-sized adult frame.

The other difference is what the frames are made out of. The cheaper kids racquets tend to be made from aluminium. Mid-range are a mixture of aluminium and graphite and the higher-end ones will have the same carbon graphite construction like the pro racquets have such as the Pro Staff 97 or Pure Aero.

How to Choose the Right Size Junior Tennis Racquet

From smallest to largest junior racquets are 19, 21, 23, 25, and 26 inches in length. That’s from the butt cap to the top of the hoop of the frame.

As you have probably guessed, the length of the racquet required will approximately correlate to the age of your child. For example, 5-year-olds are going to use a 19” junior racquet. Ages 5-8 are going to need a 21” or 23” racquet depending on how tall they are for their age. And 9-10-year-olds are going to want a 25” racquet. If your child is 10+ then a 26” racquet is required.

Junior Tennis Racquet Sizing Chart

Some More Tips for Choosing the Right Size Racquet

The above table is essentially a guide and there are no fixed rules for the size of racquet required. You might find that your own child is between sizes so one quick test you can do is to get the child to hold the racquet in a normal grip and let it hang down by their side with a straight arm.

If the racquet is hovering above the floor below the ankle, then it is perfect. If the racquet is dragging, then the racquet is a bit too big and will probably get scraped on the court or caught up in the child’s feet. If the racquet is off the ground by a good few inches, it is probably too small.

What About the Weight of the Racquet?

When it comes to weight and kids tennis racquets this isn’t usually an area of concern. The racquets are designed for children so they’re all in a similar ballpark.

The one time it might come into play is when your child is torn between two different racquet sizes. Here’s a quick test that might help you decide if a frame is too heavy. Have the child hold the racquet behind their back so the top of the racquet touches his or her lower back and the elbow is the highest part of the arm.

Then ask your child to extend their arm and raise the racquet above their head, just like a service motion, but with a much slower swing. If the racquet is going to be too heavy and your child struggles to lift it that is where you will notice it.

Junior Tennis Racquet Size Guide from the USTA

Is it Better to Buy a Bigger Racquet Size so My Child Grows into it?

This might seem like a money-saving plan considering that children do grow quickly. However, it is better for children to use a racquet that is most appropriate for their current height. This aids their stroke development and boosts their enjoyment of the sport.

The good news is that children’s racquets are fairly inexpensive, especially when compared to adult versions, so upsizing racquets at regular intervals doesn’t mean you will rack up huge expense. Typically, most children’s racquets are priced between $25 (£20) and $60 (£50). Some run even as cheap as $10.

The only time I’d recommend getting a slightly bigger racquet is when you have used the size test mentioned above and the child is between sizes.

The ideal sized racquet will hang below your child’s ankle just above the floor when held down the side of their leg. However, if the racquet is touching the floor slighlty then it isn’t going to be too long before that racquet is the right size and it’s not oversized enough to be detrimental to their game.

What are Kids Tennis Racquets Made From?

Children’s tennis racquets are typically aluminium-based, this makes them very light and easy for the child to handle.

The slightly more expensive racquets for kids are made from graphite, just like their adult counterparts and provide a lot of the same performance benefits. So which should you get? That’s answered below.

How Much Should You Spend a Kids Tennis Racquet?

The cheaper end racquets are made from aluminium and are ideal as starter racquets or those on a budget so I’d recommend spending around $20.

If your child has shown an interest in the game and will be playing regularly, I’d recommend avoiding the real cheap frames as they tend to be rather flimsy in construction. The crude test here is to just bang on the string bed with your palm and see if the racquet feels solid.

The next step up is junior composite racquets, these are the mid-range racquets constructed from a mixture of graphite and aluminium. If your child plays a lot, has coaching and is really keen, it’s well worth going for a composite racquet and these are usually around $60.

Some of the larger sized junior racquets can also be full graphite frames and run for around $100. More expensive but for the more serious junior who is on the verge of playing with a full-size racquet then it might be worth considering.

Strings for a Kids Tennis Racquet

Do you need to worry about strings on a kids tennis racquet? The answer is no. Most of the higher-priced junior frames come pre-strung with a soft multifilament which is an ideal string to start out with.

However in general strings shouldn’t be a huge consideration, sure you can restring a racquet if you want to but a child isn’t going to have the feel or level of game to really feel the difference between the different types of string and their characteristics.

Grip Sizes for Juniors

The grip size is the circumference of the racquet’s handle and is usually given in inches. Just like strings, there’s not a huge lot to think about as most manufacturers produce a 4″ grip size on all junior tennis frames.

The longer racquets that are closing in on adult sizes sometimes have two choices available in either 4″ or 4 1/8″.

The standard 4″ is usually fine for most kids but in some cases, it can either be too large or too small for your child.

Making the grip larger is easy, add an overgrip, which will increase the grip size by about 1/16 of an inch. However, making one smaller is much harder. You would either need to attempt a DIY job and rasp off some of the grip material or take your racquet to a local specialist that has worked with customisation before. They will be equipped to make changes while maintaining a comfortable feel.

The Best Kids Tennis Racquets for 2019

Just like there’s no best tennis racquet for an adult as everyone’s game is different, it’s the same story with kids racquets. Except with junior racquets, it’s because they are all much of a muchness and there’s very little to separate the main brands. All you need to look for in a kids racquet is the following:

If you combine these attributes then you are well on the way to finding a good junior tennis racquet. To make things easy, I’ve selected a few frames that fit the bill below from the smallest size for younger kids, up to 26″ frames for players on the verge of using a full-size racquet.

Best Racquet for Juniors Ages 3-5

Babolat Nadal Junior 19″

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Ideal for kids up to the age of 5. This Babolat Nadal junior features aluminium construction and a paint job that looks just like Rafa’s racquet of choice, the 2019 Pure Aero. It comes with a headcover.

• Head Size: 82 sq” (529 sq cm)
• Weight: 6.1 oz (173g)
• Length: 19″ (48.2cm)
• Composition: Aluminum

Best Racquets for Juniors Ages 6-8

Head Speed Junior Racquet 21″

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Made of an aluminium o-beam construction, the Head Speed 21 is great for kids just getting into the game who are 4 and older and 40-44 inches in height.

• Head Size: 91 sq” (587 sq cm)
• Weight 6.3oz (179g)
• Length 21″ (53.3cm)
• Composition: Aluminium

Tecnifibre Bullit 23 RS Junior Racquet

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Technifibre isn’t one of the most well-known brands out there but they’re used by Daniil Medvedev and produce some high-quality frames. The Tecnifibre Bullit RS 23 is a great racquet to learn tennis with. The 7-ounce weight is light enough for juniors to swing, and the 23-inch length is ideal for ages 6-8. It’s made from aluminium so is stable and manoeuvrable.

• Head size: 95 sq” (613 sq cm)
• Weight: 7.0 oz (200g)
• Length: 23 in (58.6 cm)
• Composition: Aluminium

Best Racquets for Juniors Ages 9-10

Babolat Pure Strike Junior 25″

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The junior version of Dominic Thiem’s racquet. This Pure Strike is perfect for competitive juniors ages 8-10. Made from graphite, the 25″ length frame has the same composition and technologies that are in the adult version. This racquet is suitable for aggressive junior players that like to hit big from the baseline and take control of the point. The racquet features a 100 square inch head size, an unstrung weight of 8.5 ounces and a 16×19 string pattern.

• Head size: 100 sq” (645 sq cm)
• Weight: 8.5 oz (240g)
• Length: 25 in (63.5 cm)
• Composition: Graphite

Wilson Clash 25″ Junior

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Based on the new Wilson Clash, this junior version comes with an open 16×19 string pattern to help generate topspin and power. The Wilson Clash 25″ is lightweight making it manoeuvrable and easy to use making this ideal for age groups 9-10.

• Head size: 100 sq” (645.2 sq cm)
• Weight: 8.5 oz (240g)
• Length: 25 in (63.5 cm)
• Composition: Graphite

Best Racquets for Juniors Ages 11+

Head Gravity Junior 26″ Racquet

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The Head Gravity 26″ Racquet is ideal for the competitive 10 to 12 year old. It includes DampPlus inserts which isolate the impact vibrations from the grip for exceptional comfort. The open 16 x 19 string pattern allows juniors to access top spin readily and the lightweight graphite composite gives the racquet the perfect weight for those not quite ready for a full-size racquet.

• Head size: 100 sq” (645.2 sq cm)
• Weight: 8.8 oz (250g)
• Length: 26 in (66 cm)
• Composition: Graphite

Dunlop CX 200 Junior 26″ Racquet

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The is Dunlop CX 200 Junior 26″ Racquet a great choice for juniors age 9-12 who aren’t quite ready to transition to a standard length tennis racquet but want a frame that will help them rise to the next level. It has a full graphite construction and open 16 x 19 string pattern.

• Head size: 100 sq” (645.2 sq cm)
• Weight: 9.2 oz (261g)
• Length: 26 in (66 cm)
• Composition: Graphite

Looking for more choice? Browse a more comprehensive range of junior racquets here.

Quick Recap

The above tips give you an idea of where to start when choosing a tennis racquet for your child. One thing to finally consider is the skill level of your child. If the child has been taking lessons, has a good technique and is starting to play matches they may be able to handle a racquet that is slightly longer than what the guidelines recommend. Your local tennis coach should be able to make this assessment.

Got a question about choosing a junior tennis racquet? Have any tips of your own you’ve picked up from coaching or supplying your own kids with tennis gear? Let me know in the comments.