Buying Guide for the Best Tennis Rackets for Kids (Everything You Need to Know!)

Finding the right equipment for young children when they are starting out on a sport is very important. It means that they will be able to enjoy their practice and progress quite fast in their skill. Equipment that is hard to use may cause the children to feel frustrated, driving them to lose interest and eventually abandon the sport.

Tennis rackets are an important instrument for playing the game. They determine, in a big way, the way a child interacts with the tennis ball. They are a great determinant of the actual feel of the game. Before a child picks a racket to play with, it must appeal to them in the way it looks. Kids’ rackets have all sorts of colors and patterns on them so that they can attract their attention. Serious looks may be intimidating for them.

These colors and patterns are not the main properties to look out for when purchasing kids’ rackets, though. While they play an important role, they do not actually affect the performance of the racket. Good rackets should have the appropriate length, grip, head width, weight and string tension to ensure that they give good results. These parameters change depending on the child’s age.

In this article, we review a few outstanding rackets available in the market for kids that are looking to develop and grow their skill in tennis. We give you their characteristics along with a buying guide that expounds on how to identify a good tennis racket.

The Best Tennis Rackets for Kids

This section reviews some of the best tennis rackets for children with details on their outstanding features, pros and cons.

Wilson US Open Junior Tennis Racket 19”

This tiny racket is ideal for little tots who express an early interest in tennis. It is lightweight and has a small grip for tiny hands.

Specs

• It is 19 inches long
• It can be used by players aged 2-5 years
• It is made of aluminum
• It is light
• It has a grip of 3.5 inches

The Wilson US Open Junior Tennis Racket is an ideal racket for little kids to use as they are introduced to the game. It is made of lightweight aluminum which makes it quite light but sturdy. The racket has a length of 19 inches which is ideal for small children aged between 2 and 5 years.

It has a grip of 3.5 inches which is quite ideal for small hands. The racket has a string pattern of 16 main by 17 across and weighs 6.4 ounces which makes it light enough for small children to swing around. It makes them enjoy the game and hastens their learning process and skill development.

The racket size progresses as the child grows, and when they are past four or 5 years old, they can graduate to the 21”, 23” and 25” rackets.

Pros

• The racket is lightweight
• It is strong and durable
• It has a short grip which makes it more maneuverable
• It has a good hand grip
• It is quite affordable

Cons

• It is not ideal for children with smaller grips

 Verdict

Start your child off with this small racket that will give them a fun and exciting experience. The racket is light and strong, making it ideal for your child’s play. The fact that it is affordable and durable is an added advantage.

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Head Speed Kids 21” Tennis Racket

This racket is ideal for little beginners aged between 5 and 6 years. It is light and stable, and your kid will love the bright colors it comes in.

Specs

• It is 21 inches long
• It is made of aluminum alloys
• It comes pre-strung
• It weighs 6.0 ounces
• It has a string pattern of 16 main by 19 across

The Head Speed Kids 21 inch tennis racket is an ideal accessory for kids that have outgrown the smaller 19” rackets. It is made using aluminum alloys which makes it very light but strong. The 21” length grip makes it easy for the children to swing it around. The head width and beam are equal for easier control and added spin and power. The head width measures 107 square inches, and the racket weighs 6.0 ounces.

The racket also has a comfortable and excellent grip, making it easier to play with. You do not need to worry about stringing the machine as it comes strung. The racket has a string pattern of 16 main by 19 across. This pattern makes the racket responsive and facilitates balanced shots.

Pros

• It is light
• It is made with aluminum alloys which make it strong
• The racket has a comfortable grip
• It has a responsive stringbed

Cons

• This racket does not come with a cover

 Verdict

The Head Speed Kids 21” tennis racket is an ideal choice for kids who want to progress their skill with a racket that has many professional racket features. While it is meant for kids, it gives good response and balance during play.

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Senston 23” Kids Junior Tennis Racket for Kids

This racket has many professional caliber characteristics that set it apart from usual rackets. It is ideal for kids aged between 7 and 8.

Specs

• It is 23 inches long
• It has a head size of 92 square inches
• It weighs 7.4 ounces unstrung
• It is made from lightweight aluminum

The Senston 23” Kids Junior tennis racket is a lightweight piece of equipment that makes it easy for young children to enjoy the game of tennis. It is made from aluminum which also plays an important role in maintaining the structure of the racket and preventing it from being damaged quickly.

The head size measures 92 square inches, which is good for enhancing precision. The 23” length allows the kids to swing the racket with a lot of ease, which makes maneuverability much easier. It is also a light racket, with a weight of 7.4 ounces unstrung

This racket comes with a package that has other accessories that enhance its performance. The first is an over-grip which is essential in enhancing the grip of the player and keeping their hands dry. There is also a vibration dampener that absorbs vibrations that come as a result of striking the ball. Reduced vibration results in better performance since fatigue sustained by the hand is significantly reduced. The racket also comes with its own cover complete with straps which make it quite easy to carry. The cover protects the racket from damage and also maintains the integrity of the strings.

Pros

• The racket is light
• It is made with aluminum that makes it strong and durable
• It comes with a cover for protection and carrying the racket
• It comes with an over-grip that enhances grip and keeps the hands dry
• It comes with a vibration dampener

Cons

• The head width should have been a little wider

Verdict

This racket has the ability to perform quite well and hasten a child’s speed in learning the game of tennis. It is also going to last a bit of time due to its aluminum build and the protection it gets from the cover.

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Head Maria 23 Junior Tennis Racket

The racket was named after the legendary Maria Sharapova. It is an ideal racket for little girls between the ages of 7 and 8 years and gives the kids a role model to look up to.

Specs

• It has a length of 23 inches
• It weighs 7.6 ounces when strung
• It has a string pattern of 16 main x 19 across
• The racket is made using lightweight aluminum

This racket has a strong and sturdy build owing to its aluminum construction. It still manages to remain lightweight and easy for the kids to swing. The pink and white colors make it quite beautiful and ideal for little girls who look up to the tennis guru Maria Sharapova.

The length of this racket is 23 inches, which makes it a good fit for kids between the ages of 7 and 8. It is quite light and it comes strung at 7.6 oz. The 16 main by 19 across string pattern makes it ideal for play as it adds more power to the strikes and gives the ball more spin.

The racket’s grip has the Damp Technology Plus feature which acts as a vibration dampener. This addition makes the racket much easier to use and provides a better feel and grip in general. The racket also includes its own cover that protects the racket from fast wear and tear and helps to maintain the integrity of the strings.

Pros

• It is lightweight
• It is built to last
• It has a comfortable grip
• The racket’s grip has a vibration dampener
• The string pattern allows it to add power and spin to the ball
• It comes with a cover

Cons

• It is quite pricey

Verdict

This racket is constructed with features that are usually seen in professional adult rackets. Inspired by Maria Sharapova, this piece will give inspiration to the little ones as they practice to grow and develop their skill.

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Babolat Nadal 25 Junior Tennis Racket

This racket is ideal for children who are looking to have fun in tennis. It is an easy to use racket, but it may not necessarily be for competitive use.

Specs

• It is 25 inches long
• It has a head size of 105 square inches
• It weighs 8.6 ounces
• It has a grip of 4 inches
• It has a string pattern of 16 main by 19 across
• It is made using lightweight aluminum

While this racket is recommended for children aged between 9 and 10, it also makes for an ideal piece for children above ten. It is made using lightweight aluminum which makes it both light and durable. It is 25 inches long and weighs 8.6 ounces which is a comfortable weight for children within the age bracket.

This racket is Rafael Nadal’s go to piece, and your little kids will also be inspired if they are big fans. The Babolat Nadal 25 Junior racket comes pre-strung and has a string pattern of 16×19. This pattern is ideal as it adds more control to the ball and gives it more spin, allowing for more accurate projections.

The grip of this racket is 4 inches which are comfortable for kids. It has a head size of 105 square inches which gives room for reaching the ball and to accommodate errors.  It is also comfortable and easy to hold. The racket comes with its own cover which helps to protect the racket from damage.

Pros

• It is lightweight
• It is durable
• It has a good grip
• The big head size helps to accommodate errors
• The string pattern allows for good control
• It comes with its own cover

Cons

• It yields considerably less power as compared to other rackets
• It is not ideal for competitive games.

Verdict

If a child is more interested in having fun than they are in competing in tennis, this racket is an ideal piece. Its lightweight and good grip will give them a good experience as they play, and it will gladden them even more if they are Rafael Nadal fans.

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Wilson Ultra 25 Junior Tennis Racket

This racket is made using innovative technology that makes it ideal for playing in competitive matches. It is good for kids aged between 9 and 10 years.

Specs

• The racket has a length of 25 inches
• It weighs 8.3 ounces when strung
• The racket is made using graphite
• The head width measures 100 square inches
• It has a string pattern of 16main by 19across

The most outstanding feature of this racket is the Power Rib with an Integrated Crush Zone Technology which gives more explosive power due to the enhanced geometry. The racket also features a yoke grommet which is quite innovative. This results in longer dwell of the ball on the racket strings, giving a powerful response.

The 100 square inches head width is a good addition since it gives room for error accommodation. Made with graphite, this racket is light and easy to swing, adding to the power generated during play. The string pattern adds more spin to the ball, making for more powerful and precise projections.

Pros

• It is lightweight
• It gives more power and spin
• It offers incredible stability
• It has a comfortable grip
• It is easy to swing

Cons

• This racket is quite expensive

Verdict

The Wilson Ultra 25 Junior tennis Racket is an innovative piece of equipment that is ideal for kids who want to learn the game professionally. It is highly responsive and easy to use and will allow kids to grow and develop their skills fast.

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Characteristics of a good tennis racket for kids

When finding a racket for kids to use constantly, these are the properties you should look out for.

Length

Unlike adults who have an almost consistent length of rackets, kids have to keep changing them as they grow. Ensure that you get a racket that is of appropriate length for the child depending on their age. A racket that is too short will make the child unable to reach the ball or pass it over the net.

A long racket will be difficult to swing, making them struggle to hit the ball. If, however, the kid is taller or shorter than usual, have them try out a few lengths to see what is most ideal for them.

Grip size

The standard grip size for kids’ tennis rackets is 4 inches. However, due to different growth rates, some children have smaller grips while others have bigger grips.

To know what your child’s grip is, measure their hand from the palm’s middle crease to the ring finger using a ruler. Be sure to get a racket that fits just right in your child’s hand to enable them to handle the racket efficiently.

Strings

Get rackets that have strong strings that can withstand constant use. The string pattern also determines the response of the ball upon impact.

Final verdict

Supporting your child’s interests and talents is an imperative exercise. In the case of tennis, finding the right equipment helps your child enjoy playing the game and develop their skill fast while at it. Choose equipment that fits their age and play level, and cheer them on as they enjoy.