How to choose a tennis racquet: complete buying guide

Choosing a tennis racquet gets easier when you read the spec sheet in the right order: first head size, then weight and swingweight, string pattern, stiffness, grip and length. String and tension come last, and they change how a racquet behaves almost as much as the frame itself.

This guide explains what each number means on court, with real catalog examples. If you just want a ready-made list, see the best tennis racquets of 2026.

How to choose a tennis racquet in 7 steps

1. Define your level and your most common mistake. Short balls call for power; long balls call for control; a sore arm calls for comfort.
2. Choose the head size. 100 sq in is the standard; smaller for precision, larger for forgiveness.
3. Choose the weight and swingweight range. Too light is unstable; too heavy arrives late.
4. Choose the string pattern. 16x19 for spin and power; 18x20 for control.
5. Check the stiffness (RA). Below 65 if you have or have had arm pain.
6. Get the grip right. Measure your hand; when in doubt, go with the smaller number.
7. Plan your string and tension. The right frame with the wrong string plays poorly.

Each step is detailed below.

Head size

Head size is measured in square inches (sq in) and defines the string area. A larger head has more usable area and longer strings, which work like a trampoline: the ball comes off with more speed and center errors are punished less. A smaller head concentrates the response and gives more precision, but demands clean contact.

Game situation: on a fast serve return, when all you can do is block, a 107 sq in racquet sends the ball back deep; a 97 sq in one requires you to hit the exact center for the ball to clear the net with depth.

Weight, balance and swingweight (summary)

Weight is the second most important filter and deserves a guide of its own: how to choose tennis racquet weight. In short:

• Static weight: 255 to 285 g unstrung for beginners, 285 to 305 g for intermediates, 305 g or more for advanced players.
• Balance: light racquets tend to have more weight in the head; heavy racquets, more weight in the handle.
• Swingweight: tells you how much the racquet weighs during the stroke. Two 300 g racquets can behave very differently if one has a 315 swingweight and the other 330.

String pattern: 16x19, 18x20 and variations

The string pattern indicates how many vertical (main) and horizontal (cross) strings the racquet has. With fewer strings, the spaces between them are larger: the main strings slide on contact and snap back into place, which generates more spin, and the ball sinks deeper into the string bed, which generates more power. With more strings, the bed is firm and the trajectory comes out lower and more predictable.

For most players, 16x19 is the right choice. The 18x20 makes sense for players who hit hard and flat and err by hitting too deep, or for those who break strings often.

Both Blade 98 V10 racquets have the same mold, the same weight (305 g) and the same stiffness (61 RA). The main difference is the string pattern: by the general rule, the 16x19 tends to launch the ball higher and make spin easier, and the 18x20 tends to keep the trajectory lower and flatter. On the spec sheet, the 18x20 version also shows a slightly higher swingweight. To see other comparisons within the brand, use the Wilson racquet comparison tool.

Beam profile

The beam profile (or thickness) of the frame, in millimeters, is a good indicator of power. Thin beams, from 20 to 22 mm, flex more on impact and give control and feel. Wide beams, from 24 to 27 mm, are firmer and return more energy. Many racquets use a variable profile, such as 23/26/23 mm: wider in the middle of the head, where the ball usually lands, and thinner at the ends.

Examples: the Blade 98 has about 21 mm and is sold as a control racquet; the Pure Drive has 23/26/23 mm and is Babolat's power line.

Stiffness (RA)

Stiffness is measured in RA, on a scale that runs from about 50 to 75 in adult tennis racquets. A stiff racquet deforms little on impact and returns more energy to the ball, but also transmits more shock to the arm. A flexible racquet deforms more, holds the ball longer on the strings and filters vibration, with less free power.

An important detail: the feeling of comfort does not depend on RA alone. Dampening technologies, the type of string and the tension also count. A 68 RA racquet with multifilament string can be more comfortable than a 63 RA one with polyester strung at maximum tension.

The Muse 100 (55 RA) and the Pure Drive 2025 (69 RA) have the same 100 sq in head, but sit at opposite ends of the stiffness scale. By the general rule, the more flexible one calls for a full stroke to gain depth, and the stiffer one returns more energy, which calls for spin to keep the ball in. The Boom MP (61 RA) sits between the two. In the tennis racquet comparison tool you can check the stiffness of any model side by side.

Grip: L0 to L4 and how to measure

Grip size (the circumference of the handle) is indicated in Europe by numbers from L0 to L5, and in the United States in inches. Each number equals 1/8 of an inch, about 3 mm more circumference.

There are two practical ways to measure, described by specialty stores such as Tennis Warehouse:

• Ruler: with your playing hand open and fingers together, line the ruler up with the lowest horizontal line of the palm and measure to the tip of the ring finger. The value in inches indicates the size (4 1/4 in = L2, for example).
• Finger test: hold the racquet with a forehand eastern grip. There should be room to fit the index finger of your other hand between the tip of your ring finger and your palm. If it does not fit, the handle is too thin; if there is extra room, it is too thick.

When in doubt between two numbers, choose the smaller one. An overgrip thickens the handle by about half a size, but there is no simple way to thin a thick handle. A handle that is too thin, on the other hand, forces you to squeeze so the racquet does not twist, which tires the forearm.

Length

The standard length of adult racquets is 27 in (68.6 cm). Some models are 27.25 or 27.5 in, the so-called extended racquets. The rules of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) allow up to 29 in (73.7 cm) of total length.

Half an inch more increases reach and leverage: the serve gains speed and angle, and you reach balls a little farther away. The price is maneuverability. Because the mass sits farther from the hand, the swingweight rises and the racquet is slower on fast volleys. For juniors, there are racquets from 19 to 26 in, chosen by the child's height.

Both Pure Drive 2025 racquets weigh 300 g unstrung and have a 100 sq in head. The Plus is 27.5 in and therefore has a 325 swingweight, versus 317 for the regular version. In general, a higher swingweight helps on serves and returns, and a lower swingweight makes the racquet faster at the net. See other versions of the family in the Babolat racquet catalog.

String and tension

The string is the only part of the racquet that touches the ball. Changing the type of string or the tension changes control, power, spin and comfort, sometimes more than changing frames.

Tension. Each racquet has the manufacturer's recommended range printed on the frame, in kg or in pounds (1 kg equals about 2.2 lb). The general rule:

• Lower tension: the string bed gives more, the ball comes off with more power and the impact is more comfortable. The trajectory is higher.
• Higher tension: more control and a lower trajectory, with less power and less comfort.

Players who use polyester usually string a little lower than those who use multifilament, because polyester is stiffer. If you do not know where to start, string in the middle of the recommended range and adjust in 1 kg steps on the next restrings.

How often to restring. String loses tension even without use, and polyester loses elasticity faster. For players who play two or three times a week, restringing every one or two months is a common reference.

Before you buy: final checklist

• Demo it, if possible. Many stores and clubs have demo racquets. An hour on court tells you more than any spec sheet.
• Check whether it comes strung. Many performance racquets are sold unstrung, and then stringing goes into the budget.
• Compare it with your current racquet. Put the two in the tennis racquet comparison tool and see where the differences in weight, swingweight and stiffness are. Big changes take adaptation.
• Consider the previous generation. Differences between generations are usually small, and the previous model may have a great price.
• Use the guided help. Find your racquet crosses level, style and injury history to suggest models.

For those just starting out, the guide to tennis racquets for beginners sums all this up in a few picks. For those who have been playing for a few years, the guide to racquets for intermediates shows the best options in the 285 to 305 g range. And the tennis racquet catalog lets you filter by any spec.

Frequently asked questions