If you’re relatively new to tennis, welcome! This page will recommend you some excellent beginner racquets to get started.
With the right racquet and string, you will get extra help with power, spin, and forgiveness. The correct setup will likely also avoid arm issues.
The term beginner racquets is somewhat of a simplication here and the racquets can also be played successfully on the intermediate or veteran level depending on your style and physicality.
Beginner racquets characteristics
Head size: 100-110 sq inches. You can go for an even more oversized racquet, but somewhere maneuverability drops, so I think 110 max is fine.
Weight: 260-290g unstrung. A lighter racquet will make it easier for you to swing it, but it will have less stability and impact on the ball.
Balance: will depend on the weight of the racquet. If it is 260g (9.2 oz), it will be more head-heavy to maintain stability. It is 285g (10 oz); it should be more head-light to improve maneuverability. You do not need to worry about swing weight or customization at this point.
Stiffness: try to avoid RA values at 70 or above. Some players struggle with high racquet stiffness, which in my experience, can lead to tennis elbow.
Strings: If you’re a beginner, I think it makes to use a multifilament string at around 1.25 to 1.30 gauge (thicker = better durability) at a medium-high tension of 53-57 lbs, depending on the head size. This will give more comfort and power than using a polyester string.
If you use a polyester string, don’t string the racquet higher than 52 lbs. I will give string recommendations after the racquets.
Recommended racquet models
As long as you follow the above parameters, there are plenty of models to consider. I will give you various brands in case you have preferences there.
HEAD
HEAD offers many different racquet models. But as long as you go for a HEAD Team model or Team L, you should be fine. If you’re curious about the brand of HEAD tennis racquets, you can just read our post. A few suggestions:
- HEAD Speed Team L 2022
- HEAD Extreme Team L 2022 (my personal favorite, I review it here: HEAD Extreme Team Review)
- HEAD Gravity S 2021
- HEAD Boom Team
These are all solid examples that will give you plenty of power, forgiveness, and a pleasant feel on impact.
Babolat
From Babolat, you should focus on the Pure Drive and Pure Aero families. Their lighter models are called Team or Lite. Team is a little heavier, while Lite is the easiest to swing. They also offer beginner-oriented racquets called EVO and Boost. You can find out more about Babolat tennis racquets.
- Babolat Boost Drive
- Babolat Pure Strike EVO
- Babolat Pure Aero Rafa Lite
Yonex
Similar to Babolat, Yonex offer racquets geared toward beginners. They are called Astrel. I’d still consider lighter or oversized versions of their established lines VCORE and EZONE since it might be easier to transition within that racquet family if you want a similar racquet with more control. You can find out more about Yonex tennis racquets.
- Yonex Astrel 100
- Yonex Ezone 105
- Yonex VCORE 100L
Wilson
Wilson offer several different options for beginners. The Clash line is attractive due to its impressive comfort. The Blade 100L is more demanding but has a more direct feel. For max power, you go for the Ultra 108. Check our post about Wilson tennis racquets.
- Wilson Clash 100L
- Wilson Blade 100L
- Wilson Ultra 108
Other brands
You don’t need to buy a racquet from one of the big four racquet brands. Here are some other beginner-friendly suggestions.
Prince Warrior 107
Volkl V-Cell 6
Dunlop SX 600
Tecnifibre TF-X1 275
Lacoste L20 (click for my review)
My personal favorites
This is not a category I can play successfully with in my own matches, but my personal favorite is the HEAD Extreme Team and Team L. It’s such a fun and comfortable racquet to use, even if you have played tennis for a long time.
As number two, I would pick the Dunlop SX 600. Easy to swing, good power, excellent spin. All you need in a game improvement racquet. If you’re looking for max comfort, the Wilson Clash 108 should be considered.
Strings for beginners
If your racquet comes strung when you buy it, you can likely use that one unless it’s a very cheap racquet made of aluminum :)
Beginners don’t really need to use poly strings, but still a quality string will improve the feel and performance. If you’re an improving intermediate, you might consider a softer polyester string.
Here are some multifilament strings to consider:
I’d go for the 1.30 gauge (16) for multifilament strings for improved durability and control.
Tecnifibre X-One Bi-phase – Tecnifibre make excellent multifilament strings. You can also go for NRG 2, for example.
HEAD Velocity MLT 1.30 – Great string for the price point. Control-oriented.
Babolat Xcel – A pleasant and comfortable option. A balanced string.
Yonex Rexis Speed – crisper and more controlled
Wilson NXT – A legend in the game. NXT Control is stiffer. NXT Comfort is softer (used to be called Sensation).
You don’t have to be super picky with your multifilament string, but it’s usually worth paying a few extra bucks and getting better performance.
