Just introduced to tennis and already in love with it? Then you definitely need to look at our best tennis racquet for beginners. Pick the one you like.
Choosing the best tennis racquets for your needs as a beginner can be quite challenging. There are many different types of racquet to choose from and each model comes in different shapes, sizes and weights. And we all know by now that racquet plays on important role on your gameplay.
As a beginner just starting out, you need to invest in a racquet that’s easy to use, comes with a great combination of power and control and should be extremely comfortable to play with.
When I was a newbie just starting out in the sport, I didn’t have the knowledge or anyone around to help me pick the right tennis racquet and I had a hard time on the court controlling.
However, you don’t have to worry because in this article I’ll explain everything you need to know when it comes to buying a tennis racquet and the best tennis racquet for beginners on the market today.
Best Tennis Racquet For Beginners
1. HEAD Ti.S6 Tennis Racquet – Budget Friendly
For beginners learning how to play tennis, this budget friendly racquet is just the right choice for you. For newbies, this tennis racquet features one of the largest head size on our list at 115 square inches for a large sweet spot.
The HEAD Ti.S6 Tennis Racquet is composed of a combination of titanium and graphite, it was certainly designed to offer maximum power while being extremely lightweight only weighing (8.9 oz strung).
What makes this high quality racquet stand out when compared to the others on our list is that it still feels like it has a decent weight to it when swinging.
With this racquet you’ll be able to generate power on your shots since it features a large frame and has its weight balanced towards the head.
It’s equipped with a 16×19 string pattern which means that you’ll be able to generate topspin on your shots as you improve over time at tennis. The main strings on the racquet spread wider as they move further from the handle.
As you can see the weight, size and grip are the perfect choice for adults, teens and female players. This racquet will surely boost your confidence as you learn the sport and will allow you to hit the shots more accurately.
One of the biggest advantages that comes with this racquet is the fact that it comes pre-strung. For beginners, that’s a huge bonus to be able to play with the racquet right out of the box.
If by any chance the strings snap, you should definitely keep in mind that it’s strung with Head synthetic gut 16 silver and its string tension is 61 lbs, which is an ideal range.
The The HEAD Ti.S6 is known to be extremely durable and will surely stand up to the pressure of the court. Blend with its mobility, reliability, stiffness and lightweight design, this is definitely the right choice for you.
Pros
- Graphite and titanium construction
- Its very durable and comfortable to use
- Comes pre-strung
- It has a pretty large sweet spot
- Great power from the baseline
- Extremely lightweight
- Affordable price
Cons
- Not for a high level player
- Can cause more vibration on hands, shoulder and elbow
2. Babolat Pure Drive 2018 Tennis Racquet – Editor’s Choice
Babolat surely makes some of the best tennis racquet on the market. For starters, this high end racquet will provide you with maximum control and stability. When it comes to comfort, this racquet is definitely on another level.
The 2018 comes equipped with a new frame technology called SMAC. It is integrated into the Pure Drive’s frame for a more comfortable play. Babolat made this racquet lightweight and easy to maneuver at the net.
This racquet is designed for all types of players, it doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner, intermediate or advanced. They even changed the spring space, the called it FSI technology that provides the racquet with more power and extra spin.
The reason we are a huge fan of this Pure Drive as a beginner racquet is that it allows beginners to grow with it. As your tennis skills develop over a period of time, you’ll be able to stay with this Babolat racquet instead of spending more money to upgrade.
The Pure Drive 2018 is equipped with a 100 square inch head size which is the perfect size for beginners. As you start to play with this racquet you’ll notice that it comes with everything you want for hitting groundstrokes from the baseline at any level.
The only drawback you’ll notice with this racquet when using it is that it’s a bit on the heavier side compared to other racquets out there on the market. If you’re more comfortabe playing with a lightweight racquet, then you should check out our number one recommendation above.
Control is a very important factor especially for beginners and Babolat did as much as possible to put control features in this racquet so they can help out. With this racquet comes a woofer system that provides the racquet with a lot more power by letting the ball fly even more.
There’s one thing that you will need to keep in mind is that it’s powerful with every swing, which means you will need to add your own spin to keep the ball from going out.
The Babolat Pure Drive 2018 is definitely the right choice for beginners who are looking for a racquet with increased maneuverability as well as a balance between power and control.
Pros
- Great choice for beginners, intermediate and advanced players
- Improved power, spin and control, Offers a great swing on balls
- Durable and versatile
- Amazing design with bright colors
- Provide accurate and stable strikes
Cons
- It’s a bit stiff, A bit on the expensive side
3. Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 Strung Tennis Racquet – Beginner Friendly
This high end tennis racquet is a great choice for beginners who are still learning and trying to improve by training on a regular basis. It’s very sturdy and has the ability to generate a lot of power even with a partial swing.
It comes in two different models for the same exact price, but what you’ll notice is different distinct head sizes. The first one is the Midplus with a head size of 95 square inches while the other is oversized with 110 square inches. Even though with the larger head size you will large sweet spot, the Midplus still offers a great playing experience.
This racquet comes equipped with a head size of 110 square inches and features a tighter string pattern coming at 18×20, than most beginners racquet out there. As a newbie, this will help you to place your shots better all over the court.
The construction of the racquet is extremely durable which means that it will be able to last for several years and beyond upon proper care. It’s also pretty lightweight only weighing around 9 ounces.
Similar to the HEAD Ti.S6 tennis racquet the Wilson Hyper also has a pretty good weight to it when swinging. This is due to the fact that it has a substantial head heavy balance.
We also like the fact that it comes pre-strung right out the box so you can play right away. This makes it great for beginners and recreational players. Other than the basic features, this superb quality racquet is considered to be one of the most powerful you can find for the money.
While we don’t think this would be the right fit for an intermediate or advanced players, we strongly believe that this is a great starter racquet that will give you a few years to improve your gameplay even if you don’t play regularly.
Overall, it is pretty lightweight and provides you with maximum power and control. The Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 is extremely easy to use, which makes it nice and easy to get into position quickly.
Pros
- The string pattern allows for more control and feel
- Good for beginners
- It’s extremely durable
- Lightweight and versatile
- Pre-strung and ready to play out the box
- Frame provides significant power
- Great ball control
- Has great sweet spot
Cons
- Has little stability due to increased vibration
4. HEAD Liquidmetal 8 Tennis Racquet – Very Popular
The HEAD Liquidmetal 8 is known to be one of the most popular tennis racquet you can find on the market for the money. It comes with maximum power, control and comfort all packed in this single model.
This reliable racquet is made out of high quality materials that help to enhance its power output and energy. The liquid metal technology incorporated in this racquet does a pretty decent job.
This technology also give you the opportunity to transfer maximum energy in every swing you make. Apart from that, it also prevents the racquet from deforming or even contracting which is very common.
The head size is a big 115 square inches. This provides you with plenty of area to hit the ball and generate power as well. Overall weight of the racquet is 9.3 ounces which place it firmly in the category of lightweight tennis racquets.
Another bonus that comes with this racquet is the Total Sweetspot Construction, because of this you can expect a unique design and an increase in the torsional stability. For its quality the racquet is sold at a very reasonable price.
I can guarantee that beginners will enjoy the fact that the racquets are sold pre-strung with synthetic gut and a mixed 16×19 pattern. Basically, you’ll have the opportunity to play as soon as they arrive at your doorsteps.
The HEAD Liquidmetal 8 features a special kind of vibration dampening called No Shox. This dampening system usually leads to a claimed 27% less vibration and more power.
For the price, this is definitely one of the best option for beginners on the market to help players place and control their shots. If you’re a beginner or even an intermediate player you’ll surely appreciate this. It really takes a lot of the work off the wrists.
Pros
- It offers Total Sweetspot Construction for better shot control
- Perfect choice for beginners and intermediate players
- Advanced Liquidmetal technology
- Comes at a very reasonable price
Cons
- Not the best option for advanced players
5. Babolat 2019 Pure Aero Lite Tennis Racquet – High Quality
Here is another amazing racquet that’s totally worth every penny. One of the first thing you’ll notice about this racquet is its unique design. It comes with an yellow and black sophisticated design that’s very eye catching.
The Pure Aero is used by Rafael Nadal. If you are looking for a racquet that has everything perfect for a beginner, this is the racquet you need to invest in.
One of the best thing about Babolat 2019 Pure Aero Lite tennis racquet is that you’ll be able to continue playing with it for many years to come. Lots of intermediate players also use the Pure Aero 2019 for its amazing power.
At first when feeling this racquet it may feel a bit like a kid racquet but once you start playing with it over a period of time, you will get to know its true power. This superb quality racquet also comes with better control and stability.
The Pure Aero 2019 is known to be extremely lightweight only weighing around 9.5 ounces. You should keep in mind that as a beginner, you are likely to improve your game relatively quickly, so you might outgrow the Pure Aero Lite in a short period of time.
This racquet is equipped with a head size of 100 square inches. The large frame design gives superb power for not only beginners but any skill level tennis players. The frame is easy to maneuver, which means you can generate a pretty decent swing speed and the strings should take care of the rest for you.
This unique design racquet is customizable, robust, durable, spin friendly, user friendly and comes with next level stability for giving maximum control over every shot.
If you only want just a little bit of help in terms of power but are more focused on improving your strokes, then the Pure Aero Lite is just the right choice for you. You can’t go wrong with this racquet as a junior or beginner. It is a racquet that can prepare people for a more advanced racquet.
pros
- Features high control and better spin
- Great choice for beginners
- Endorse by Rafael Nadal
- Allows a player to improve fast
- Excellent sweet spot for feel and comfort
cons
- No drawbacks
6. HEAD MicroGel Radical Tennis Racquet – Top Tier
If you’re on a tight budget looking for a racquet that’s packed with unique features, then this Head Microgel Radical is definitely the way to go. It is considered to be one of the most popular racquet you can find on the market for the money.
What I really like about this racquet is the sheer control you have over the ball. As a beginner just starting out in the sport, you definitely want a tennis racquet that is going to help you place the tennis ball where you want it.
This is a really fun racquet to play with. It’s also known to be inexpensive and will allow you to easily move from beginner to intermediate level quickly. Its MicroGel feature is its main selling point. This is a silicone based material which is very low density and is evenly along the entire length of the racquet frame.
This tennis racquet comes equipped with a 98 square inch head size and a tight string pattern so it’s a bit better in terms of control than power. However, the head weight of the racquet and looser string tension should be able to provide the right amount of power for most strong adult players.
This is by far one of the most maneuverable racquets that you could ever lay your hands on. It’s pretty lightweight only weighing around 11 ounces with an 315 swing for maximum power. Even though the MicroGel Radical is a bit heavy at the handle than its head, this gives you the ability to swing faster and maneuver the stick easily.
This racquet is more ideal for players who prioritize control over power. If you’ve never played tennis before then using this racquet might be a bit challenging at first.
Pros
- Great for beginners and intermediate players
- Good mobility for double
- Very easy to maneuver
- Comes at a affordable price
- Increased width means more spin
- Provides amazing comfort
Cons
- Provides less power
- Feature small sweet spot
Deciding elements when buying a beginners racket
Interest in the sport – Most tennis players join the sport from a very young age and they have the passion to outperform and grow in the field of tennis. Some players however take up tennis as more of a hobby and may not necessarily play at higher levels. In this situation again it would be advisable to invest in an affordable racket lightweight racket if you want to continue tennis as a hobby. If you’re in it for the long haul, you can consider a more advanced frame.
Upgrade element – Tennis is competitive in nature and leading brands are often using new technology combined with innovation to introduce some new features to enhance performance, with every launch. You need to consider what features will benefit your gameplay as you will only start building new skills as a beginner. You can always customise the racket to get the best out of it, in time. At this stage, recommendations from fellow players also help in the selection process. After all, you would want the best racket to prove your mettle.
Cost factor – As you are just beginning in the sport, you need to select a frame that compliments your physique and gameplay. New players tend to shop based on appearance, styles and colours, as they may not yet need all the additional upgrades and advanced features associated with a higher level of gameplay in their racket. Moreover, as and when they familiarise themselves with the sport, they will get more confident with court coverage and directional control and can then switch to a more comprehensive model to complement their gameplay. Therefore, it would make sense for players to invest in affordable models with some good features until they are absolutely ready to take on an advanced racket to take their game to the next level.
How to Choose the Best Tennis Racquet For Beginners
There are a few factors that comes into play when it comes to choosing the best tennis racquet for beginners. Some of these factors include:
Weight
The weight of the racquet is one of the most important things you should take into consideration when it comes to buying a tennis racquet for your needs. Generally speaking, weight is going to provide you with more or less power. A heavier racquet is considered to be a lot more powerful when compared to using a lighter one.
We strongly recommend using a lightweight racquet as this will provide you with the opportunity to play longer an DC help to develop your form and techniques. Since you’re just starting out, having a heavier racquet will b be harder to play with and maneuver so it’s best to go with a lighter one to start with.
Spin
Another thing that you should definitely take a close look at as a beginner is the spin of the racquet. A lot of racquet on the market will offer extra spin, even though this is consider to be very helpful as a beginner having a racquet with excessive spin will make it difficult to learn. This is why you need to pick a racquet with a minimal amount of spin.
As a beginner we recommend using a 16×19 and 16×18 patterns which tends to have minimal spin.
Head Size
You should also take the head size into consideration when choosing a tennis racquet. A lot of people will tell you that the bigger the head size the bigger its sweet spot but that’s not the case. As a beginner, we think the best option would be a bigger head size also known as oversized racquets. With this you won’t miss the ball too often which will eventually boost your confidence.
Power
As a beginner just starting out you need a racquet that will provide good amount of power so that you can easily get the ball over the net and be competitive in games. Power and head size as a lot to do with each other, so when you invest in a racquet with a larger head size, it will eventually give you more power.
Conclusion
With so many options on the market to choose from, it can be really challenging to decide which racquet best suits your needs. If your ready to improve your skills over time on the tennis court, then you would certainly want a racquet that best fits your playing style.
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