Just like any other sports like baseball, football, hockey, etc. you need more than shoes, balls, and a racket to be good in a game, but you need top of the line gear if you’re a beginner. If you aspire to be the Nadals of the world, the best cheap tennis racket is viable if you’re learning the game. Although they can’t compete with the more expensive versions, using an affordable tennis racket is adequate to help you with your fundamental skills. Once you’re able to connect with the game you begin to understand that kind of racket you need to suit your game.
Using a discounted tennis racket to fuel your interests in the game, you won’t lose much when it comes time to upgrade instead of starting with a pro racket which means you have to match even the other equipment which can be costly. Tennis is a game that focuses more on sound technique instead of the equipment. And although using better equipment will help you improve your performance and refine your skills, using affordable equipment will not hinder you in learning the fundamentals.
Points to consider when choosing the best cheap tennis racket
The biggest concern that most new players have is that a cheap racket will break which can cause an injury or affect your performance which can make it challenging to learn the game. As a beginner, you want to emulate your favorite players in the game and this gives you a great way of building your enthusiasm for the game. However, some racket features to match with an individual player without factoring in your experience and cost of the racket.
Weight
You can easily get confused by the technical details and you can get different views on the weight of your racket. As a newcomer in tennis, you must ignore all the advice you’re getting and just choose your racket purely basing it on feeling. If a racket feels good, the details will come later. A racket with a larger mass means the racket has greater stability during impact and greater reflection power, but if it has a lower weight it means to easy to maneuver and accelerate which makes it easier to prepare it for impact.
Most beginners like the lighter rackets because it’s easier to move and swing, but it’s harder to control and is less stable. Heavier rackets are more stable, but in the early development stages of your skills, a heavier racket isn’t the best.
Length
The length of your racket is very important. If you’re an adult, a 27-inch racket is the standard length that is the best when you’re a beginner. There are extendable rackets that can go up to 29 inches, but its better you stick to the 27-inch racket length to start with. A racket with a longer length means a longer lever that is difficult to maneuver and a slightly higher load with more reflection dynamics.
Balance
Weight is distributed on the racket in 3 ways; if a racket is balanced it means the weight is evenly distributed throughout the racket if it’s headlight it means there is more weight on the handle, and if it’s head heavy it means more weight is in the head. The headlight racket is heavier but easy to maneuver because most of the weight is on the handle, but a head heavy racket is lighter just like a hammer has increased power because the weight is on the head.
If you’re a beginner with a shorter swing, a slightly overweight racket with a neutral balance will help to accelerate the racket and adds impact dynamics. When it comes to balance, rely on feel and as you advance your skills, you can then go into the details of balance and how it affects racket performance.
Head size
Selecting the right head size for your racket will also come down to feel. Generally, rackets with larger heads make it easier for you to hit the ball and increase your margin of error. The racket also has increased power which is very helpful as you try to develop your technique. The average-sized racket is very popular with both players and beginners because it allows you to learn and play with full control. For adults, a racket with at least 100 inches or greater is better.
Grip
To determine the right size grip for your racket, you can take some quick measurements of your hand. If you go for a tennis racket with a small grip it’s stressful on your hand and forearm, but you can add an overgrip to make it easier. Larger grips, however, can’t be reduced easily and can overwork your hand and arm as you try to prevent your racket from twisting on impact.
Frame thickness and profile
The thinner frames give you a much better feel of the ball whereas a thicker frame gives you a greater impact force with fewer vibrations. When you’re considering thickness, you should also consider the shape of the frame. Some tennis rackets have different thickness frames which can affect your game like a racket head that is slightly thicker in the middle gives the racket stability and helps to increase the sweet spot.
Age
When choosing your racket based on age, for adults you should match the racket to hand size and arm strength. For children, get smaller rackets and as they grow you can change the dimensions of the racket depending on their game. For older players, you should consider the impact of the game on your body, elbows, and arms. The stiffness, weight, and size of the racket can also have an impact on your body, so you want to find a racket that you find comfortable to use.
Comparison table for the best cheap tennis rackets
Tennis racket | Features | Check Price |
|---|---|---|
Volcanic frame technology, aluminum construction, great power, and stability, stop shock pads | ||
Volcanic frame technology, stop shock pads, unstrung balance | ||
Lightweight with longer grip, larger sweet spot, stop shock sleeves | ||
Strung racket with cover, aluminum construction | ||
Aluminum construction, recommended by Nadal | ||
Stop shock sleeves, v-matrix technology for a larger sweet spot, airlyte alloy | ||
Large head size, 10.6-ounce weight, 27.0-inch length |
Best cheap tennis rackets
Wilson tour slam
This Wilson model has a careful design that has mixed colors like red in the whole body of the racket with an exception of a small portion at the bottom of the and two specks at the center of the frame. The more dark and intense tones will have a white contrast on the handle which is a bit smaller than other rackets. This cheap tennis racket has an oversized head with the same control and stability as the Federer, but it’s strung for power. It’s slightly longer so its balance is very different with a grip size of 4 and 3/8ths but with a lighter weight.
The spring pattern is 16×19 which increases the power on the strings and a string balance of 3 points headlight to help with maneuvering despite its huge head size. It’s made with a volcanic frame technology which gives you power and stability with stop shock pads to reduce the racket vibration to give you better control.
Verdict
Although this racket is made for a budget, safety, and comfort and not forgetting power. With this racket, you play with it closer to your body for more accurate blows but with less power since you’ll have to grab it correctly with both hands. You should note that it has a slightly wider and a bit more rounded so you don’t fail to hit which increases your effectiveness.
Pros
- A great racket for beginners who are trying out tennis
- You can easily maneuver it without struggling
- It has a very nice balance point
- It’s well constructed
Cons
- It has a heavy bottom that can be hard for beginners at the start
- It takes some time to adjust your aim
Wilson Federer
This is a racket named after a great name in tennis, Roger Federer and it’s meant to inspire you to hit the ball like Federer or become a pro like him. This racket is amazingly cheap and durable that targets adult beginners. It’s a medium-sized racket with a head light balance with a weight of 11.50z.
It has an oversized head of 110 sq inches that allows for a larger sweet spot and plenty of forgiveness in case you miss the sweet spot. The frame is made with Arch technology which improves the frame and to deliver a lively string bed with increased power and stability. It has a grip size of 4 and 3/8 and an oversized head and other features that improve your control and stability.
Verdict
It’s a cheap racket that gives you the ability to hit the ball with power and depth from any corner of the court.
Pros
- This tennis racket has very durable strings
- Great quality racket
- It gives you better control and stability
- A great starter racket
Cons
- It can be a bit heavy for beginners
- It can give you forearm fatigue before you get used to it
Wilson energy XL
This is a good tennis racket that will give you all the functions that you need to make it an ideal choice during those long hours practicing. It has a distinct black color around the upper and grip areas and some yellow around the center of the racket. The AirLite alloy material makes the racket light and still have good resistance to withstand the strong blows. It weighs about 399 grams which are perfect to give you that good feeling when you hold it in your hands.
Wilson energy XL has a head size of 112 sq inches and an extra 27.5 inches length and an ultra-lightweight which helps when maneuvering the racket. It comes with stop shock sleeves that help to reduce the vibration from the racket to give you better control. Thanks to the v-matrix technology, this racket has a large sweet spot which helps to increase the power to make great hits.
Verdict
This is a racket recommended for large hands since it has a grip of 3. It has been strung tightly which helps to balance the power and control of the racket making it easier to maneuver.
Pros
- A very sturdy racket with fantastic strings
- Comfortable grip for beginners
- Super lightweight with great strength
- Has a firm construction
Cons
- Its recommended for people with large hands
Wilson US open
This is a very popular racket and an ideal choice for a beginner junior player. It’s lightweight with an oversized face so that kids won’t have a hard time swinging it and connecting with the ball. It has a comfortable, shorter, thin handle which makes it easier for little hands to have a good grip on it. With an affordable price tag, you won’t feel a pinch if your kid moves on to something else after taking a few lessons in tennis. This junior tennis racket is available in 4 colors and 4 different sizes so you can pick the right one for your child.
Verdict
This makes the perfect first racket to give your kids to ease them into playing tennis.
Pros
- A nice starter racket that is lightweight
- Very easy for a kid to swing
- Good quality durable racket
- The short grip makes it easy for your kid’s wrist to maneuver
Cons
- The grip isn’t that good
Babolat Nadal 26
This is a 26-inch junior racket that has been named after Raphael Nadal. It’s a great motivator for kids who worship the tennis player and want to play just like him. This racket has a different swing feel and balance which is a very important contrast for a beginner to experience. It has an aluminum construction that gives it a lightweight feel which makes it easy to maneuver. It’s easy to use and your kid doesn’t get tired handling it.
Being light helps your child develop his/her tennis strike. This racket has a highlighted sweet spot for more power and better accuracy. The black and yellow colors on the racket give it an interesting contrast. This tennis racket comes with a cover that only protects the head and not the body of the racket.
Verdict
This racket is ideal for kids who are 4.7 inches rather than age or kids who are the ages of 9-10 years old.
Pros
- Very comfortable racket for a child to handle
- A light racket that is ideal for a beginner
- It can help improve your kid’s tennis skills
Cons
- The strings aren’t as tight as they should
Wilson triumph
This is an amazingly cheap tennis racket that is 112 sq inches with an extra-long 27.5 inches. It weighs just under 9.7 ounces which are perfect for a fast swing and a 16×19 string pattern that is known to favor spin artists. This racket is made with v-matrix technology which gives you a larger sweet spot for power balls that will go over the net. The v-lock bridge helps to add stability to the racket which makes it easier to handle and harder to fall out of your hands when you’re hitting the ball at an odd angle. The oversized head combined with the 27.5-inch length gives you power that assists you in the game.
Verdict
It has an oversized head and a smaller grip size which is excellent for an adult beginner.
Pros
- A good quality racket for someone just starting out
- Very comfortable handle with good grip
- A lightweight and well-built racket
- Perfect racket for a casual player
Cons
- This is only a beginner’s racket
- The racket is pink and not purple
Head graphene touch speed MP
This tennis racket has a very beautiful and attractive design and is made with quality materials that ensure it lasts even through an aggressive game. This semi-professional racket has a mixture of colors with a navy blue color on the upper part and a lighter blue on the lower part. It has an elongated handle which makes it possible to grab the racket with both hands to give you stronger swings and a white grip base for better control.
Verdict
This is a great racket for a wide range of players.
Pros
- A very comfortable racket for your arm, wrist, and elbow
- Lightweight and very controllable
- Has a nice soft touch
- It has a great balance
Cons
- It can be a bit too light for some players
Conclusion
Tennis is a great sport and as if you’re a beginner you need the best cheap tennis racket like the Wilson tour slam if you want to perfect your skills. This is a great beginner’s racket that is easy to handle with excellent control and power to hit the balls. It has an attractive design and it comes with shock pads to help reduce the racket vibrations when you hit a ball so that you have better control. It has a slightly longer handle which gives you good balance and its lightweight feel helps you to maneuver the racket perfectly.
Leornard
Hi, my name is Leornard! My love for sports started way back when I was in middle school. I participated in track field and tennis. Some of my greatest and proudest accomplishments during that time were playing against other schools in the state. When I college, I took up tennis as a fun sport or exercise due to my limited time but I still had passion in the sports. Now, I keep up with tennis as a hobby and for my health but my passion for the sports still run deep. I am interested in the highs and lows of tennis and that is why TennisWearguide exists.
