Equipment for Kids

Pick The Right Racquet 

For a tennis player, there is no piece of equipment more critical than your racquet. Balls come and go, tennis shoes eventually lose their soles, and you can find a variety of courts in your local area – or even create one yourself. But the racquet is your own personal tool to play the sport for a lifetime. So how do you find the right one?

The good news is that there are racquets out there for every playing style, swing shape and level. The most important part, particularly when selecting a racquet for a child, is to choose  one that’s sized right.

Here's a look at the racquet sizes available and the best way to measure which is best for you.
 
19-, 21- and 23-inch racquets
These are all generally youth racquets for players age 8 and under.
 
23- and 25-inch racquets
These are generally best for the 9-10-year-old age group.

26-inch racquets
This is a great racquet for youngsters looking to make the transition to the 78-foot court.

27 inches and up
This length has typically been associated with adult-sized racquets, but there are now 27-inch racquets that are a great fit for players of all ages and levels playing on a 78-foot court. There are also some racquets available at 27.5, 28 and even 29 inches, with the longer racquets generally providing more power but less control.

Using the right-sized racquet is important to the development of a player’s fundamentals. A simple way to know if a racquet is the correct size for you is to hold it by your side with the head pointing down toward the ground; the racquet head should be just above the floor but not actually touching the ground.

***

Learn more about how tennis is sized right for kids at NetGeneration.com.

Tennis Racquets

Are you new to tennis and wondering how to pick the right racquet? Use the information below to guide you in the right direction.