Tennis Racquet Specs Explained: Head Size, Weight, Balance, Stiffness and More
Serving Aces
Head size. Weight. Balance. Swingweight. Stiffness. Throat. String pattern.
Every racquet comes with a wall of numbers. Most players skip straight past them.
That's a shame, because once you know what three or four of them mean, you can predict how a racquet will feel before you ever pick it up.
This guide explains every part of a tennis racquet and every spec that matters, in plain English.
We'll cover:
- The parts of a tennis racquet
- Head size, length and weight
- Balance and swingweight
- Stiffness and beam width
- Open vs closed throats
- String patterns
- What racquets are made of
Quick answer: Head size and weight decide most of how a racquet feels. Bigger and lighter means more power and forgiveness. Smaller and heavier means more control and stability. Balance, stiffness and string pattern fine-tune the rest.
The parts of a tennis racquet
| Part | What it is |
|---|---|
| Head (or hoop) | The oval frame that holds the strings. |
| String bed | The strings themselves. Mains run top to bottom, crosses run side to side. |
| Beam | The thickness of the frame, measured in millimetres. |
| Grommets | Plastic tubes that protect the strings where they pass through the frame. |
| Bumper guard | The plastic strip on the top of the head that protects it from scrapes. |
| Throat | The section between the head and the handle. |
| Shaft | The part leading from the throat into the handle. |
| Handle | Where you hold the racquet. Covered by a replacement grip, often with an overgrip on top. |
| Butt cap | The end of the handle, where the grip size is usually printed. |
Head size
Measured in square inches. This is the single biggest factor in how forgiving a racquet is.
| Category | Head size | Plays like |
|---|---|---|
| Midsize | Up to about 95 sq in | Maximum control and precision. Small sweet spot. |
| Midplus | About 97 to 104 sq in | The modern standard. A balance of power and control. |
| Oversize | 105 sq in and up | Maximum power and forgiveness. |
Most adults play a 98 or 100. A 100 gives more power and a bigger sweet spot. A 98 gives more control.
Length
Standard adult racquets are 27 inches (68.5cm).
Extended racquets, often labelled "Plus", run about half an inch longer. They add reach and power on serve but are a little slower to swing.
Junior racquets range from 19 to 26 inches. See our junior size guide.
Weight
Usually quoted unstrung, in grams. Strings add roughly 15 to 20g.
| Weight (unstrung) | Suits |
|---|---|
| Under 270g | Juniors moving up, beginners, players who need easy swing speed |
| 270 to 290g | Beginners and improving players |
| 295 to 305g | Most intermediate and advanced club players |
| 310g and up | Advanced players with long, fast swings |
Heavier racquets are more stable and plough through the ball. Lighter racquets are easier to swing but get pushed around by heavy balls. Our guide to L, UL and Tour versions explains how brands label weight.
Balance
Where the weight sits along the racquet, measured in millimetres from the butt.
- Head light: more weight towards the handle. Easier to manoeuvre, especially at the net. Most performance racquets are head light.
- Even: weight sits in the middle.
- Head heavy: more weight in the head. Adds power. Common in lighter beginner racquets.
On a 27 inch racquet, the even point is roughly 343mm. A lower number means more head light. For example, a balance of 315mm feels quicker in the hand than 320mm.
Swingweight
Swingweight measures how heavy the racquet feels when you swing it, not just what it weighs on a scale.
Two racquets can weigh the same and swing very differently. Higher swingweight means more stability and power, but more effort. Lower means faster and easier to swing.
Most adult performance racquets sit roughly between 300 and 340 when strung.
Stiffness
Measured on the RA scale. It tells you how much the frame bends when it hits the ball.
| RA | Feel |
|---|---|
| Below about 63 | Flexible. More comfort and feel, less free power. |
| About 63 to 67 | Medium. The most common range. |
| About 68 and up | Stiff. More power, but more shock to the arm. |
If you have elbow or shoulder trouble, stiffness matters a lot. Read our guide to racquets for tennis elbow.
Beam width
The thickness of the frame. Thicker beams are usually stiffer and more powerful. Thinner beams give more feel and control.
You'll see it written as three numbers, like 23 / 26 / 23mm. That's the width at the top, middle and bottom of the head.
Open throat vs closed throat
Look at the section where the head meets the shaft.
- Open throat: the shape forms a Y with a gap in the middle. Almost every modern racquet uses this. It lets the frame flex, helps the racquet cut through the air and gives a slightly larger sweet spot.
- Closed throat: a solid bridge across the gap. Less common today, found on some classic designs. It tends to feel more solid and connected.
For most players, throat shape isn't the deciding factor. Head size, weight and balance matter far more.
String pattern
Written as mains by crosses. For example, 16x19 means 16 strings running top to bottom and 19 running side to side.
| Pattern | Type | Plays like |
|---|---|---|
| 16x19 | Open | The most common pattern. More spin and power, easier to access. |
| 16x20 | Slightly denser | A touch more control. Used on the Yonex VCORE 95. |
| 18x20 | Dense | Maximum control and a flatter ball. Strings last longer. |
More open patterns let the strings move and snap back, which helps spin. Dense patterns give more control and tend to be more durable. See how this plays out in our stringing guide.
What racquets are made of
Almost every performance racquet today is built mainly from graphite, also called carbon fibre. It's light, stiff and strong.
Brands then blend in other materials and technologies to change the feel:
- Graphene and similar additives to add stability without adding weight. Head uses Graphene in many frames.
- Aramid fibres for a more dampened, solid feel.
- Fibreglass, often in cheaper or junior racquets, for flex.
- Aluminium, mainly in budget and very small junior frames. Durable but heavy and harsh.
- Brand technologies like Head's Auxetic and Yonex's Isometric head shape, which target feel and sweet spot size.
For most players, material matters less than the specs above. Two graphite racquets can feel completely different because of their head size, weight and balance.
Putting it together
If you want more power and forgiveness: bigger head, lighter, slightly head heavy, stiffer, open pattern.
If you want more control and stability: smaller head, heavier, head light, more flexible, denser pattern.
Most good racquets sit somewhere in between. Our guide to the best tennis racquets shows where popular models land. Browse all tennis racquets, or try our racquet finder.
Quick questions
What does MP mean on a tennis racquet?
MP stands for midplus, a head size around 98 to 100 sq in. It's the most common size for adults. See our guide to racquet versions for MP, L, UL, Pro and Tour.
Is a head heavy or head light racquet better?
Head light racquets are easier to manoeuvre and are preferred by most intermediate and advanced players. Head heavy racquets add power and suit lighter, beginner frames.
What is a good RA stiffness for tennis elbow?
Lower is generally kinder. Many arm-sore players look for racquets around 65 RA or below, paired with a soft string.
Does string pattern affect spin?
Yes. Open patterns like 16x19 make spin easier to generate. Dense patterns like 18x20 trade some spin for control.