Tennis is a sport that can be enjoyed for a lifetime and offers benefits far beyond just health alone.
One of the most important, if not the most critical factors, is racquet selection. As a parent, you might be thinking about getting your kids involved in tennis but have no idea what is involved in choosing the best youth tennis racquet.
In this article, I will provide a comprehensive breakdown and review the 10 best tennis racquets for junior players, the pros and cons of each racquet, answer frequently asked questions, all to give you the best possible chance to make the right racquet selection.
Top 10 Best Tennis Rackets For Kids
An excellent racquet providing tremendous power with good vibration dampening helping your child avoid injury. The swing speed of the racquet itself varies from mid to fast and suits juniors who are a little more advanced than their younger counterparts.
Key Features
The racquet itself is composed of graphite and graphene touch and comes pre-strung with a high-quality synthetic gut. Size is 26” and is recommended for kids over 10 years of age. The string pattern comes in at 16/19, and it has the added advantage of a larger head size giving additional control and power.
The racquet offers good control and power but also limits vibration helping avoid injury. Spin and racquet speed are excellent, and although the racquet is priced on the higher side, it’s well worth the purchase. Great racquet for juniors who are just starting to enter junior matchplay or tournaments.
Pros
- Excellent power
- Great spin control
- Fantastic for junior tournament level players
Cons
- A little on the expensive side
This well-known brand is now a household name thanks to Rafa Nadal, who has used the brand throughout his career. The quality of the racquet is outstanding, and the design is always on point. The racquet provides good power and is easy to handle with nice control.
Perfect for kids aged between 8 to 12 years old, this racquet will not disappoint, and your kids will be the talk of the club.
Key Features:
Technology is at the forefront with this racquet; it has a built-in cortex system that helps provide greater control with ease. The racquet also provides “woofer technology,” allowing for maximum control on each stroke. These features will help your child’s game by giving them an unprecedented feel and confidence.
The racquet comes with a cover and is pre-strung ready for play as soon as you make the purchase.
The racquet is at the pricier end but offers performance and will take your kid’s game to the next level. Well worth the money, the durability and quality far outweigh the costs of the racquet.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Excellent power
- Good control
Cons
- Not enough stringing options from online retailers
The perfect racquet for your daughter, the Serena Williams Junior is ideal for the beginner player. Lightweight, aerodynamic, and easy to control, it’s the ideal racquet for those starting out.
Key Features
The racquet comes pre-strung and is recommended by the manufacturer for ages 5 to 7 years old. An oversized sweet spot gives the racquet a great feel and will help promote confidence in your daughter’s game.
Pros
- Affordability
- Lightweight construction
- Durability
Cons
- The frame may be a bit stiff for some kids
The Wilson Junior Pink Burn is a racquet target at the junior player at the beginner level. The racquet is lightweight, making it very easy to control. An oversized head helps your child make clean and consistent contact, helping make tennis an enjoyable experience.
Key Features
Made from lightweight aluminum material, the racquet is ideal for juniors who are just starting out. Head size is 103in and provides good power, especially for those who are progressing to play from the baseline.
The string pattern is designed to put maximum spin on the ball, and the racquet comes with a comfortable grip.
The racquet is designed for comfort in mind and will help your daughter enjoy the game via an easy to swing, lightweight racquet.
Pros
- Soft grip
- Good control
- Nice pink and black design
Cons
- Slightly too heavy for small children
An easy-to-use racquet, the Babolat B’fly Junior takes technology to the next level. The wide racquet head makes it an ideal choice for those just starting out, and the memo grip technology helps your child develop a strong grip.
Key Features
The 89in head size is a wide design giving plenty of room for error. The racquet is compact, lightweight, and durable at the same time. Very easy to swing and keep the racquet head pointed in the right direction.
Coming in several different sizes, 19,21,23, and 25in, the racquet is certified for use by children under 5 years of age. The grips are small, providing a comfortable experience for your child and helping to prevent injury.
The perfect racquet for beginners with its wide head technology and small grips, the Babolat B’fly Junior won’t let you down. Made from a lightweight material, the racquet offers good durability from a big-name brand.
Pros
- Nice grip
- Helps with rally improvement
- Wide head for easy contact
Cons
- The design choice is limited
The Babolat Pure Aero Drive is specifically designed for the more experienced high-level junior players. An excellent racquet to consider before making the leap to a full-sized adult racquet, it provides lots of spin potential, making it easier to control shots.
Key Features
Made from a graphite composite material, the racquet is extremely lightweight and comes in head size of 100 in giving your child confidence to make clean strokes on the ball every time. The racquet is aimed at children aged between 8-12 years old and available in 25 and 26 in sizes.
Overall an excellent racquet choice for those juniors looking to take their game to tournament level. The racquet offers the latest technology boosting your child’s game and confidence a the same time. Well, worth the price.
Pros
- Easy to play
- Great power
- Advanced technology
Cons
- A little bit on the expensive side
The Street Tennis Club Racquet is designed by a US family and strives to provide quality products that help enhance your child’s game. The racquet helps in the development of your child’s motor skills, such as hand-eye coordination. It comes pre-strung with a soft polyester string with quality construction.
Key Features
Available in 3 different sizes, 17”,19”, and 21”, the racquet is composed of lightweight aluminum, which helps with swing speed and control. The grips are small and comfortable with a soft-touch feel. According to the manufacturer’s recommendation, the 17” racquet is ideal for players aged 2-5 years old.
An excellent racquet made by a US-based family looking to enhance your children’s play and enjoyment of the game.
Pros
- Lightweight construction
- Excellent for beginners
- Quality materials
Cons
- Limited sizing options
An excellent little racquet designed specifically for toddlers, the Weierfu Junior Tennis Racquet is the perfect addition to your child’s game. Easy to control and lightweight, the racquet is an excellent starter option for toddlers aged from 2-5 years of age.
Key Features
The racquet has little grips designed for toddlers but also offers a surprisingly solid feel material. The racquet head size is 65”, which is ample enough for a beginner toddler and helps make consistent contact.
With stylish design and a lovely grip feel, the Weierfu Junior Racquet is perfect for parents looking to involve their children in tennis. Excellent racquet for beginners and in particular young girls.
Pros
- Excellent grip
- Stylish design
- Large head size
Cons
- Slightly heavy for a toddlers racket
The legendary Wilson Pro Staff Junior inspired the great Roger Federer, offers unparalleled feel and playability. An absolutely delightful racquet to play with, the Pro Staff Junior will help your child take their game to the highest levels.
Key Features
The large 100” head design offers consistent striking of the ball, and the lightweight construction makes it easy to generate power and speed. BLX technology gives the racquet an amazingly soft feel when making contact with the ball and provides excellent player feedback.
The Wilson Pro Staff comes unstrung and weighs in at 240g with a 16×18 string pattern designed to give optimum spin and control.
Although at the higher end of the price bracket for junior tennis racquets, The Wilson Pro Staff is worth every penny. Offering loads of spin, power, and control, the racquet is certain to make your child stand out at their next tournament. An excellent investment, the racquet is durable, lightweight and the design will make your child look and feel like the great Roger Federer.
Pros
- Unparalleled feel
- Quality construction
- Big brand name
- Great design
Cons
- High-end price range
A fantastic racquet from one of the biggest brands in the business, the Head Speed Junior is ideal for those looking to take their tournament game to the next level. The racquet has a relatively short length handle making it easy to swing and control. An oversized head gives your child confidence in making consistent contact with the ball each and every time.
Key Features
The racquet comes available in four different sizes, 19”,21’,23”, and 25” and is pre-strung with a quality polyester soft feeling string. Weighing in at 240g with a 16×19 string pattern, the Head Speed will not disappoint.
An excellent racquet for beginners and intermediate level players, the Head Speed offers lightweight construction, durability, and big brand quality.
Pros
- Excellent feel
- Big brand name
- Classy design
- Lightweight construction
Cons
- Price is on the high side
The Ultimate Buying Guide
As mentioned earlier, most junior tennis racquets fall in the $20-$100 price point range, making them quite affordable with plenty of options through the price point.
When looking to buy the best junior tennis racquet, there are several things to consider.
Children’s racquets differ from adults in many different ways, the most obvious being the size. However, there are other important factors to consider, such as grip size, weight, and level of your child.
All these factors need to be taken into consideration when choosing the best youth tennis racquets.
Grips
Grips that are smaller make it easier for your child to control the racquet and thus the ball’s direction. The racquet grip’s circumference is measured in inches and is generally found on the inside of the racquet’s throat.
Choosing the right grip size can be challenging but going smaller is generally better as it’s much easier to build up grip size by adding an overgrip or extra grip.
Your tennis coach or local pro should be able to help you with this if you are unsure of the correct size and fitting.
Weight
The racquet’s weight is a critical component, too, because it can cause injury if the racquet is heavy.
Racquets are made up of many different materials, and choosing the right one is critical when selecting the best tennis racquets for juniors.
Lightweight aluminum is generally the most used component due to its affordability, and as the name suggests, its lightweight nature. This is good news for parents as it means upgrading your child’s racquet is not as expensive as you think.
Size
Considering the height of your child is also an essential factor when choosing the best youth tennis racquet.
Having your child place the racquet head on the ground while standing and asking them to put their hand on the grip is an excellent test to evaluate the correct size.
If your child can touch the grip without bending their elbow, the racquet size is correct; however, it may be too small if they bend down to pick it up.
There are different sizes when it comes to junior racquets, and remember, not one size fits all. The best junior tennis racquets also provide a larger sweet spot for your child, giving them the ability to make good contact consistently.
| 4 or younger | 40 in or less / 102 cm | 19 in / 48.3 cm |
| 4-5 years | 40-44 in / 102-113 cm | 21 in / 53.3 cm |
| 6-8 years | 45-49 in / 114-126 cm | 23 in / 58.4 cm |
| 9-10 years | 50-55 in / 127-140 cm | 25 in / 63.5 cm |
| 10 or older | 55+ in / 140+ cm | 26 in / 66.0 cm |
As the chart suggests, the most critical measurements for selecting a junior tennis racket are the length of the racquet and the height of your child.
The length of a tennis racket is one of the main adjustments manufacturers make to ensure they are child-friendly, while your child’s height will help determine which racquet length they should use.
For most parents, the guide above will be sufficient for choosing the right size racquet. However, many parents will find their children don’t fit perfectly into the table above, so we have a quick test you can do to make sure you have the perfect fit.
Another common mistake parents make is buying a racquet too oversized in the hope they grow into it. Your child needs a racquet appropriate for them at their current age and level. This helps with their confidence as the racquet is more comfortable to handle and, most importantly, prevents injury.
This does mean your child will need to upgrade when necessary; however, the good news is most junior racquets are not expensive and range from $20-$100usd.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do junior tennis rackets cost?
As mentioned earlier, most junior tennis racquets fall in the $20-$100 price point range, making them quite affordable with plenty of options through the price point.
Where can I buy junior tennis rackets?
The best junior youth tennis racquets can be purchased online at amazon. However, if you are looking to demo the racquet first, then going into a tennis pro shop or sporting goods store is the best option.
Can you demo junior rackets?
It isn’t easy to find junior racquets to demo; however, your local club should have racquets for your child to test for size, comfort, and of course, looks.
What else does my child need for tennis?
Generally speaking, most clubs ask you to wear non-marking shoes such as tennis shoes; be sure the soles are non-marking. Comfortable clothing, a hat, and a water bottle are important things to consider as your child will definitely work up a good sweat while playing tennis.
How to Make the Right Selection
In the last few years, tennis has come a long way, especially when it comes to the best youth tennis racquets.
Different colored tennis balls with varying degrees of bounce, junior racquets, and even mini-nets and courts all aim to make the tennis game more appealing and enjoyable to children.
Junior rackets, in particular, have come leaps and bounds, and the racket itself is the most important piece of equipment for tennis, so choosing the best tennis racquet for junior players is critical.
When it does come time to buy a racquet for your child, there are important criteria that need to be considered, such as :
- Sizing
- Grip size
- Weight of the racquet
- Is it pre-strung
- Affordability
- Durability
However, grips and weight are the two most important criteria when choosing the best youth tennis racquets.
The appropriately seized grip makes it easy for your child to handle the racquet, making the game much more enjoyable and also helps prevent injury to the hand and wrist. Remember to choose a grip that is smaller as it’s always easier to build the grip up by adding overgrips. Grip size is generally marked on the inside of the throat of the racquet.
Weight is the other important factor to consider when looking for the best tennis racquets for junior players. Lightweight materials such as aluminum are good choices because of their durability and lightweight nature.
Again, choosing the right weighted racquet makes the game of tennis more enjoyable for your child and, most importantly helps prevent injury.
With the 10 best tennis racquets for juniors I’ve reviewed above, I’m certain you can find a racquet that suits your child’s needs and ticks off the selection criteria outlined above.
