How to Choose the Right Tennis Racquet: A Complete Buying Guide
Serving Aces
Most people choose a racquet the wrong way round. They start with a brand, a colour or the frame their favourite player uses, then hope it suits them.
We do it the other way. When someone walks into the shop in Moonee Ponds, we ask how they play first and only then reach for racquets. This guide walks you through the same process, step by step, so you can narrow nearly 200 models down to the two or three that make sense for you.
The short version: match the racquet to how fast you swing, not how long you've played. Most adult beginners and returning players suit a 100 to 105 sq in head and 260 to 285g unstrung. Most club players suit a 98 to 100 sq in head and 285 to 305g. Then get the grip size right, string it properly and hit with it before you commit.
Step 1: Be honest about your swing
"Level" is a slippery word. Someone who has played socially for 20 years can have a shorter, slower swing than a junior in their second season. What a racquet responds to is how fast and how fully you swing.
- Short, compact swing. You guide the ball more than you hit through it, or you play mostly doubles at the net. You want help with power: a larger head, a lighter frame and a balance that sits slightly towards the head.
- Medium swing. You hit through the ball with a full follow-through, but you're not trying to rip winners. This is most club players, and the widest range of racquets suits you.
- Long, fast swing. You make your own pace and spin, and a powerful racquet sends your shots long. You want control: a smaller head, more weight and a head-light balance.
Not sure which one you are? Ask a coach or a hitting partner to watch you for five minutes. Their answer is usually more accurate than yours or ours.
Step 2: Choose a head size
Head size is the biggest single driver of power and forgiveness.
| Head size | What it does | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| 104 sq in and up | Most power, biggest sweet spot | Beginners, returning players, shorter swings |
| 100 sq in | Easy power with decent control | Most club players |
| 97 to 98 sq in | More control and feel, smaller sweet spot | Fast swingers and competitive players |
| Under 97 sq in | Maximum precision, little help on off-centre hits | Advanced players with very consistent contact |
If you're torn between two sizes, go bigger. A forgiving racquet you hit cleanly beats a precise one you keep framing. For the detail behind the numbers, read tennis racquet specs explained.
Step 3: Get the weight and balance right
Weight gives a racquet stability. A heavier frame holds its line when a fast ball hits it, which means more control and less shock reaching your arm. The trade-off is effort: it takes more work to swing, especially late in a long match.
Balance decides where that weight sits. A head-light racquet feels quick in the hand and is easier at the net. A head-heavy racquet feels slower to move but adds power from the baseline.
Two things to keep in mind:
- Don't go too light. Very light racquets feel easy in the shop, but they twist on off-centre hits and pass more vibration to your elbow. If you're coming back from a sore arm, a medium weight is usually kinder than an ultralight frame. Our guide to the best racquets for tennis elbow explains why.
- Same name, different racquet. Most families come in several versions, such as MP, L, UL, Pro and Tour, and they can play very differently. Here's what those letters mean.
Step 4: Think about your arm
Frame stiffness is measured as an RA number. Stiffer frames, around 68 and above, feel crisp and powerful but send more shock up your arm. Softer frames, around 65 and below, feel more muffled and are usually more comfortable.
If you've had elbow or shoulder trouble, put comfort ahead of everything else on this list. The Wilson Clash and Volkl Vostra ranges are built with arm comfort in mind. A softer string at a lower tension helps just as much as the frame.
Step 5: Pick a string pattern, then the right string
The string pattern is the number of main and cross strings in the head.
- Open patterns (16x19, 16x18) let the strings move and snap back, which adds spin and a little power. Most modern racquets use one.
- Dense patterns (18x20) give a flatter, more controlled ball and usually make strings last longer. They suit flat hitters and players who break strings often.
The frame is only half the story. The string you put in it, and the tension you string it at, change the feel more than most people expect. A great racquet with the wrong setup will still feel wrong. Read tennis strings explained before you choose, or let our stringers set it up for you. Any racquet you buy from us can be strung in store on a Yonex Precision 9.0, the same machine model used at the Australian Open.
Step 6: Get the grip size right
A grip that's too small makes you squeeze harder to stop the racquet turning in your hand, which is a common cause of forearm and elbow pain. A grip that's too big makes it harder to use your wrist on serves and topspin.
As a starting point, most adult women use a size 1 or 2 and most adult men use a size 2 or 3. If you're between sizes, go smaller and build it up with an overgrip. Our tennis grip size guide shows two quick ways to measure.
Try it before you buy it
Specs narrow the field. Hitting decides it. Two racquets with almost identical numbers can feel completely different once a ball is coming at you.
If you can, hit with your top two or three choices before you buy. Ask us about demoing a racquet, or use our Racquet Finder to get a shortlist first.
Five mistakes we see every week
- Buying your favourite pro's racquet. Tour players use customised frames and swing far faster than club players. Their model is rarely the right starting point.
- Going as light as possible. Lighter isn't automatically easier. It's often less stable and harsher on the arm.
- Buying for the player you hope to be in three years. Buy for how you play now. You can move to a more demanding frame when your swing is ready for it.
- Guessing the grip size. It takes 30 seconds to check and it affects every shot you hit.
- Playing on dead strings. Strings lose tension even when the racquet sits in a cupboard. A good rule is to restring as many times a year as you play each week.
Where to start: our shortlist by player type
| If you are | Start by looking at |
|---|---|
| New to tennis, or coming back after a long break | Lighter 100 to 105 sq in frames, such as the Head Boom MP L or MP UL, or the Babolat Pure Drive Lite |
| A club player after easy power and spin | The Babolat Pure Aero, Yonex VCORE 100 or Head Extreme MP |
| A club player after a balance of power and control | The Head Speed MP, Yonex EZONE 100 or Wilson Blade 100 |
| A fast swinger who wants control and feel | The Wilson Blade 98, Wilson Pro Staff 97, Head Gravity Pro or Yonex VCORE 98 |
| Playing through a sore arm | The Wilson Clash or Volkl Vostra ranges, strung soft |
| Buying for a child | A junior racquet sized by length. Our junior racquet size guide has the chart |
For our full picks by level, see the best tennis racquets in Australia. If you've already narrowed it to Yonex, our VCORE 98 vs VCORE 100 comparison may settle it.
Quick questions
What size tennis racquet should an adult use?
Almost all adult racquets are 27 inches long. The sizes that matter for adults are head size, weight and grip size. Juniors use shorter racquets, from 19 to 26 inches.
How heavy should my first adult racquet be?
Most adults starting out do well with 260 to 285g unstrung. Much lighter than that can feel unstable and harsh on the arm.
Is a 98 or 100 sq in head better?
A 100 gives you more power and a bigger sweet spot, so it suits most club players. A 98 gives more control and suits players with a fast, consistent swing.
Does a more expensive racquet make you play better?
Not on its own. A mid-priced racquet that suits your swing, with the right grip size and fresh strings, will beat a top-of-the-range frame that doesn't.
How often should I replace my racquet?
Many club players get three to five years from a racquet, sooner if the frame is cracked or the grommets have worn through. Restringing regularly matters far more in the meantime.
Need a hand choosing?
Come and see us at 644 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds. We're open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm. Bring your current racquet if you have one, tell us how you play, and we'll help you narrow it down. Or browse every tennis racquet we stock.