Another good rule of thumb is to hold the racquet in your dominant hand, like you would hold it to play. Slide the index finger of the opposite hand in between the tips of your fingers and the base of your palm on the racquet. If there isn’t enough room for your index finger, the racquet grip is too small. If there is a lot of extra room, the racquet grip is too large. If you’re between two sizes, choose the smaller one because you can always increase the circumference by adding an overgrip tape (a soft, padded, cloth-like tape wrapped around the grip). [2] X Research source
The trade-off, however, is that longer racquets are a little less maneuverable and difficult to aim. Beginners should start with a normal, 27" racquet.
Power/Game Improvement Racquets: Characterized by large heads, longer style, and light weight, these are mostly for beginners-intermediate players or anyone who wants a little more power on their shot. Tweener Racquets: This well-balanced racquet is designed for all levels of skill and offer a good balance of power, control, and maneuverability. Control/Player’s Racquets: The professional design, these racquets have small heads designed for maximum control. The player adds in their own power to the shot. They can be long or short, and are generally heavier than other racquets. [3] X Research source
Head Size: 106-118 square inches. Length: 27" Weight: Lightweight, 9-10oz Balance: Head-heavy, balanced towards the top. [4] X Research source
Beginners should stick to aluminum or graphite, but the material choice is also less important than if the racquet feels comfortable in your hands and if it suits your price range. Aluminum is the cheapest racket, and they are usually heavy. However, they are also sturdy and dependable. Boron, kevlar, and carbon fiber rackets are often much more expensive than their graphite counterparts.
Oversized and large heads are usually 106-118 square inches, but they can get as big as 120-30 square inches for power racquets. Smaller control racquets usually have a head size around 85-94 square inches. For beginners, shoot for something closer to 100 square inches or above. [6] X Research source
If you go for a lot of net play, try out a head-light racquet for its increased maneuverability. If you’re unsure what to get, or play a varied style of tennis, get a balanced racquet, which evenly distributes its weight. [7] X Research source
Open stringing offers more spin, which means you can hit the ball harder with top spin. These strings, however, are more likely to break. Closed/Dense stringing offers more control for shot placement, and are better for beginners. [8] X Research source
Lower numbers indicate more control and spin, less power, and a more comfortable feel. Higher numbers indicate more power, but also more vibrations in the racquet. Some beginners actually feel like they get more control on them because the lack of bend makes them feel a little more natural.
For beginners, a good starting width would be between 23-27mm. [9] X Research source
