The 7 Best Tennis Racquets for Beginners: Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

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First of all, if you’re here you’re probably just starting out. Welcome to tennis! You’re going to love it 🙂

Below we will show you the best tennis racquets for beginners on the market today, and how to choose the right racquet for you. Whether you want just give tennis a try or want to learn to become a more competitive tennis player, we’ll help you find the perfect racquet.

Our recommendations below are based on over 20 years of experience playing tennis, testing racquets, and coaching players from beginners to professionals.

Before we review each racquet in detail below, here is our list of the 7 best beginner tennis racquets.

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Top 7 Beginner Racquets – Reviewed

Below are our seven picks for the best tennis racquets for beginners available today. All seven racquets are considered adult tennis racquets. You’ll see detailed descriptions, specifications, the relative price (on a 1-3 scale), and our recommended USTA rating level for the racquets. We also included lists of pros and cons with an image of the racquet itself.

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#1 – Head TI S6: Best Overall

For older teens and adults learning how to play tennis, this is the best beginner tennis racquet under 100 dollars.

Its titanium structure means it is lightweight (8.9 oz. strung) so you can control it easily from the baseline and avoid tennis elbow. You’ll be able to generate power on your shots since this racquet has a large frame and has its weight balanced towards the head. The large frame size of 115 square inches means it has a huge sweet spot in case you mishit the ball.

The 16×19 string pattern also makes this one of the best tennis racquets for spin. You’ll be able to generate topspin on your shots as you improve your game. The main strings on this racquet spread wider as they move further from the handle. We found that in combination with the frame technology, this gives the racquet excellent feel.

This racquet is also the best value tennis racquet if you plan to become a more avid recreational player. However, we don’t recommend this racquet for advanced players as it is bulky and difficult to maneuver at the net for a fast-paced game.

Read other Head tennis racquet reviews.

• Specs: 115 sq. inch head size | 8.9 oz.
• Price: $
• USTA Rating: Up to 3.5

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#2 – Babolat Pure Drive 110: Best for Power

The Babolat Pure Drive is one of the best tennis racquets for power on the market. This Pure Drive 110 is the perfect adult beginner tennis racquet if you want a quality, powerful racquet to improve fast.

This version of the Babolat Pure Drive is lightweight and easy to maneuver at the net, with a large head (110 sq. inches) for a bigger sweet spot. That, combined with the wide frame will help generate power. The string pattern helps generate spin so you can continue using it as you continue to improve your game. Also, if you plan to become an intermediate player, you won’t have to change racquets.

Read other Babolat tennis racquet reviews.

• Specs: 110 sq. inch head size | 9.5 oz.
• Price: $$$
• USTA Rating: Up to 4.0

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#3 – Prince Ripstick 100: Best for Serious Beginners

The Prince Ripstick is a great tennis racquet for almost any skill level. Its easy maneuverability and power make it great for beginners, while the open string pattern and stability allow for faster swings from intermediate players.

There are two versions of the Ripstick that vary by weight (11.2 oz. vs 10.4 oz.). Most physically fit players can start with the heavier version which will allow you to improve faster. For younger teens or ladies who want something easier to handle, the 10.4 oz. Ripstick is best. This racquet’s 16×18 string pattern makes it great for learning topspin, a skill required to advance your game. The 100 square inch frame is comfortable and offers good power and stability. The unique O-ports minimize wind resistance helping you swing faster too.

We recommend this racquet for serious beginners who want the best chance to improve their tennis game.

Read other Prince tennis racquet reviews.

• Specs: 100 sq. inch head size | 11.2 oz.
• Price: $$
• USTA Rating: Up to 4.5

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#4 – Wilson Clash 108: Best for Comfort

The Wilson Clash tennis racquets are excellent for beginners and high-level intermediate players. With the Clash 108, you will be able to improve fast!

This racquet’s 108 square inch head creates a big sweet spot, perfect for beginners. It’s a flexible racquet with great control and comfort. The extra .25 inches in length helps to add power on your serve and groundstrokes. Beginners who want to learn how to hit with topspin will find the Clash 108 provides plenty of spin.

This is one of the most forgiving, comfortable tennis racquets on the market. It’s more expensive than most beginner racquets. But, it’s worth the investment if you do plan to play tennis often and want to improve fast.

Read other Wilson tennis racquet reviews.

• Specs: 108 sq. inch head size | 10.4 oz.
• Price: $$$
• USTA Rating: Up to 4.0

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#5 – Head Boom Team: Best for Control

The Head Boom is a newer racquet from Head, and the Team version is great for athletic adults who want an entry-level racquet. It’s a great “tweener” racquet that will allow you to improve to an intermediate player quickly.

This racquet has a 102 inch head size making it great for both beginners and intermediates. Its lightweight, 10.2-ounce frame is easy to handle as well. The 16×19 string pattern offers good power and can help you learn topspin as you advance. The frame is built for controlled power with a relatively narrow beam for a beginner racquet.

For players who are relatively athletic and physically strong with good hand-eye coordination, this is a great racquet. This is certainly one of the top beginner or low-level intermediate racquets on the market to help players place and control their shots.

• Specs: 102 sq. inch head size | 10.2 oz.
• Price: $$$
• USTA Rating: Up to 4.0

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#6 – Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3: Lightweight Racquet

For players who want a balance of control and power, Wilson has created this great racquet in their line of hammer racquet series.

This oversized racquet (110 square inches) has a tighter string pattern (18×20) than most beginner racquets. This will help you to place your shots better all over the court. At 9 ounces, it is lightweight but still heavy enough to transition your game to the next level.

While we wouldn’t recommend this for advanced or upper-level intermediate players, this is a great starter racquet that will give you a few years to improve your game even if you play often.

• Specs: 110 sq. inch head size | 9 oz.
• Price: $
• USTA Rating: Up to 4.0

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#7 – Wilson Tour Slam: Best Cheap Racquet for Beginners

If you’re on a very tight budget, or just need a cheap tennis racquet for one event, then we recommend the Wilson racquet below. It is the best value of any under $50 racquet on the market. Wilson is a major, trusted tennis brand and makes quality tennis gear.

This racquet’s 110 square inch head size gives you a large sweet spot and great feel for the value. It is a bit heavy for a beginner racquet at 11.5 oz.

Because of the price, this is also a great way to see if you enjoy tennis without having to spend much. If, however, you plan on playing tennis as a more serious hobby and want to improve to an intermediate player, this racquet is not recommended.

• Specs: 110 sq. inch head size | 11.5 oz.
• Price: $(half)
• USTA Rating: Up to 3.0

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How to Choose a Tennis Racquet for Beginners

When choosing a tennis racquet as a beginner, there are a few questions to consider.

• Is the racquet for a child or an adult?
• Will you need help creating power for your shots? Or will you need more control? – In other words, how physically strong are you?
• Do you expect to remain a recreational player, or do you want to become more competitive?
• What is your budget?

No matter how you answer these questions, you will be able to find a great choice below.

Most good tennis racquets for novice players have a few characteristics to help beginners play well.

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Racquet Specification Chart Based on Skill Level

Here is a chart that shows tennis racquet specifications for tennis players of different skill levels. This will give you a quick idea of what specs to look for in your new racquet.

Of course, this will vary based on your specific skill-set and there will be exceptions to this chart. For example, if you play a lot of other sports that involve hand-eye coordination, then you may not need as much help with power and can use a smaller racquet with a smaller sweet spot.

Racquet Specifications	Beginner Players Only	Intermediate & Some Beginner	Advanced & Some Intermediate
Head Size (sq. inches)	107 – 115	100 – 110	95 – 100
Length (inches)	27-28	27 – 27.5	27 – 27.5
Weight (strung)	Under 11 Ounces	10.1 – 11.5 Ounces	Over 11 Ounces
Price	Under $150	$100 & up	$150 & up
Power vs Control	More Power	Balanced Racquet	More Control

• See our Intermediate Tennis Racquet Reviews
• See our Best Tennis Racquets for Advanced Players

If you want to better understand everything that goes into tennis racquet specifications, keep reading. Otherwise, jump down to the reviews.

Frame Sizes: Beginner Racquets are Larger

In general, beginners will want to pick a racquet with a large frame, over 100 square inches, especially if you need help creating power on your shots. The best tennis racquets for power all have larger frames.

People who are learning tennis will make contact with the ball all over the strings. A larger frame gives the racquet a bigger sweet spot. This means you can be less precise with your point of contact.

Roger Federer can use a small racquet because he hits the ball at the same spot on the strings every single time. Beginners don’t, so they need a larger, more forgiving racquet.

Weight: Beginner Tennis Racquets are Lighter

Beginner racquets tend to be lighter and easier to handle, while more advanced racquets are heavier.

Beginners should choose a racquet under or around 11 ounces.

If you’re physically strong and athletic, you can use a racquet a bit over 11 oz. Players who aren’t as strong or athletic should find a racquet between 9 and 10.5 oz.

Grip Sizes: Choose the Best for Your Hand Size

For grip size, you’ll see most racquets come with several options ranging from 4 ⅕ up to 4 ⅝. On the bottom of the racquet, you can find the grip size. Sometimes, there is a number representing the size between 1 and 5 instead of a fraction.

• Most players should use 4⅜ – look for 4⅜ or a 3 on the bottom of the handle.
• If you have small hands, then you can start with a 4¼ (2).
• If you have larger hands, choose a 4½ (4).

I have a 4 grip size on one of my racquets and a 3 on the other. I use an extra grip on the smaller racquet to make them feel the same and it works great.

So, if you’re unsure, choose the smaller option. If it is too small you can add any of the best tennis overgrips to compensate for the difference. However, if you order it too big, there is not much you can do.

Choosing a String and Tension

Beginners don’t need to worry about the type of string or tension as much. The best tennis strings can be pricey for beginners and won’t significantly affect your performance.

Just choose a string that is relatively inexpensive at your local tennis shop and tell them to string the racquet with the manufacturer’s recommendation. Usually, this will be written on the frame somewhere and will typically give a 10-pound range (ie. 50 – 60 lbs). In this case, just choose the middle (55 lbs).

In general, loose strings will provide more power and a larger sweet spot. Looser is also more helpful in preventing tennis elbow injuries since you won’t have to swing as hard. The best tennis elbow braces can help prevent injury as well. Tighter strings will give you more control, but a smaller sweet spot and less feel.

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Best Tennis Racquet for Beginner Adults

As discussed above, for adults who are learning to play tennis, you want to start with a racquet over 100 square inches and around 11 ounces or less.

Many advanced racquets have lightweight models with larger frames, so you can likely find a similar-looking racquet to your favorite pro player.

Oversized (OS) racquets are great for beginners as well. They are longer than the standard 27 inches, providing more reach and power through added leverage. When you’re just learning to play tennis, you want to keep your swing slow and under control. An oversized racquet will create the power for you to get the ball back over the net.

Here are the 3 best options for adults:

• Head TI S6 – a great lower-cost racquet for any adult.
• Wilson Clash 108 – for more serious beginners who want a high-end racquet with great comfort.
• Prince Ripstick 100 – the best racquet for athletic beginners who want to improve fast.

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Best Tennis Racquet for Female Beginners

Female tennis players typically need more help with power and are better at control than men. For this reason, women starting out should look for a powerful racquet. The best choices will be 105 to 115 square inches with a thick frame.

The Head TI S6 and Babolat Drive 110 are our top female picks. Both of these racquets provide lots of power with lightweight technology and can help add spin to your shots as you improve. We reviewed several other good options above as well.

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Best Tennis Racquet for Beginner to Intermediate Players

Beginner tennis players who are thinking about taking the game a little more seriously will want to buy a racquet that allows for improvement. That means you need a racquet that is forgiving, with a big sweet spot, but also helps you learn new skills like topspin.

Most fit and strong adults should choose racquets that help you with control, spin, and mobility. As your game advances, the ball will be coming back faster, so you’ll need a less bulky racquet.

Choose a racquet around 100 to 105 square inches. This will help you get a good combination of spin, power, and control.

The best racquet for a serious beginner who wants to improve their game is the Prince Ripstick 100. It has plenty of power for a beginner and allows players to develop control and learn to hit with topspin, required for a higher skill level.

Below are also great choices for the player transitioning to the intermediate level of tennis.

• Wilson Clash 108 – great for older adults who need a comfortable racquet.
• Head Boom Team– best for athletic adults with good fitness and hand-eye coordination.
• Head TI S6 – offers plenty of power for teens and older, less physically strong adults.

See our reviews of the best tennis racquets for intermediate players for more options.

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Conclusion: Our Pick for the Top Starter Racquet

With dozens of options on the market, it can be confusing to decide which racquet is best for you. Since most tennis players take shorter and more compact swings when they’re first learning tennis, you need a racquet that can provide power. Your groundstrokes will become more consistent as you play more, but larger sweet spots and more forgiving racquets will make the game more fun.

The Head TI S6 is the perfect balance of control and power, feel and spin, that a beginner needs to learn the game of tennis. It also comes at a low price point so you aren’t investing too much into a sport you haven’t yet tried.