Best Tennis Racquets For Beginners: Top Picks & Reviews

Through personal experience giving lessons to 100+ beginners just starting tennis, my top choice for beginners is the Babolat Pure Aero Tennis Racquet. Packed with power and easy to handle, this tennis racquet will let you get on the court and start playing immediately.

The most important part of starting to play tennis is choosing the right tennis racquet for a beginner. Your tennis racquet affects EVERYTHING about tennis and is one of the most important decisions to make.

I’ve been playing tennis for 10+ years and in that time I have coached hundreds of beginners just learning the game. Here are my top recommendations for the best tennis racquets for beginners.

After reading this article, you’ll be prepared to grab a tennis racquet and get on the court.

Whether you’re looking for the best tennis racquet for adults, beginner tennis racquets for women, or need a cheap beginner tennis racquet, we’ve got you covered.

We’ll take you through the main characteristics of the best beginner tennis and explain why throughout the entire thing.

Ready? Let’s get started.

10 Best Tennis Racquets for Beginners

1. Babolat Pure Aero Tennis Racquet

For beginners who are looking to take tennis a little more seriously, the Babolat Pure Aero racquet could be an ideal option. Unlike many beginner racquets, this is built to last for years to come as you improve your game of tennis.

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This is actually Rafael Nadal’s weapon of choice when he hits the court. If he can get such incredible success with a Pure Aero racquet, what’s stopping you from improving your game?

Over the years, Babolat has upgraded these racquets beautifully. The latest models have the Aeromodular beam construction which results in less wind drag and an increased racquet head speed.

The latest models incorporate Babolat’s Cortex Pure Feel to make the response a little more friendly on the arms at contact. Lightweight and easy to maneuver, the Babolat Pure Aero Tennis Racquet is ideal for beginners.

2. Wilson Clash Tennis Racquet

The Clash tennis racquets from Wilson are some of the very best available for beginners on the market today. Whether you’re a complete newbie or becoming a higher-level intermediate player, the Wilson Clash Tennis Racquet will help you improve even quicker.

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Its additional .25 inches in length produces more power on your serve as well as groundstrokes. If you want to learn how to hit the ball with topspin, then you will love the amount of spin this Clash racquet provides.

The Wilson Clash racquet is one of the most forgiving and comfortable models available. While it’s more expensive than some other beginner racquets, it is worth the investment if you plan to play regularly.

3. Wilson K Zero Performance Value Racquet – Best Beginner Tennis Racquet for Women

This Wilson tennis racquet often doesn’t come up in conversations about beginner tennis racquets but it should.

In my opinion, this is the best tennis racquet for female beginners and for anybody who struggles with joint pain and generating power.

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The biggest advantage this tennis racquet has for beginners is its lightweight and large head size. The Wilson K Zero weighs just under 9.1 oz which is exceptionally light. On the tennis court, it will feel like you’re swinging air.

The weight on the racquet is slightly balanced towards the head which gives you some weight behind your strokes.

You’ll have absolutely zero problem hitting the ball with the large 118″ head size. 3″ larger than most!

This is actually the tennis racquet I recommended to my mom when she first started playing tennis. 4 years later, she’s still going strong and still using the same racquet (although she had it painted pink)!

The Wilson K-Zero is the perfect tennis racquet for beginners looking for comfort and power.

4. Head Microgel Radical OS – Best for Control

One of the first tennis racquets I ever played with, the Head Microgel Radical is a very affordable tennis racquet for beginners.

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Featuring another oversized head (you’ll find a lot of these on this list) of 107 sq inches, beginners should be able to hit the ball with ease using the Head Radical MP.

My favorite thing about this racquet though is the sheer control you have over the ball. As you’re just learning to play tennis, you want a tennis racquet that is going to help you place the tennis ball where you want it.

The Head Radical MP OS  is that racquet. One thing to note when buying this racquet though is that it is very stiff. This tennis racquet will transmit more vibrations from the ball to the arm than a more comfortable one like the Yonex.

I’ve also written a full review of the Head Microgel here!

5. Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 Racquet – Cheap Beginner Tennis Racquet

A cheaper tennis racquet than most, the Wilson Hyper Hammer makes it on this list because of it’s list price. The Wilson Hyper Hammer is for beginners just looking to start tennis but not willing to plop down a lot of cash for a hobby they may only play a couple times. And that’s completely fair!

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Beginners typically have shorter and more compact swings which can make it hard for them to hit from baseline to baseline.

To fix this, the Wilson Hyper Hammer gives you more power in your strokes making it perfect for beginners.

The head size of 110 sq inches makes hitting the ball easy for beginners also.

Beginners everywhere love the Wilson Hyper Hammer purely because it’s cheap, it’s powerful, and it’ll get you playing instantly!

6. Wilson Tour Slam Tennis Racquet

If you’re looking for a more affordable option, the Wilson Tour Slam Tennis Racquet is worth considering. For those on a tighter budget, this is certainly one of the best on the market.

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Fortunately, this Wilson Tour Slam racquet weighs only 10.3 oz making it extremely comfortable to use during long rallies and for serves.

This racquet has a power frame making it perfect for players with short, more compact swings. Therefore, children and teenagers can take advantage of its design and improve their game.

Its open string pattern helps you achieve more power and spin to give you a better chance of beating your opponent. If you’re looking to take tennis a little more seriously, this is the racquet for you.

7. Wilson Burn 100S

Wilson is one of the most well known brands in tennis and with good reason. Their products are always superbly made and designed with the result that they’re fabulous to play with.

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This is a real player friendly racquet and one that will make a great tennis racquet for any beginner. With a 100 sq inch head size, there is ample space for those new to tennis to easily hit tennis balls in the sweet spot. One of the aspects of the Wilson Burn that I like specifically is it’s degree of control.

While testing this racquet for the full Wilson Burn 100 review, I found this racquet amazing at controlling where the tennis ball went. If you’re having trouble with your aim in tennis, I’d advise the Wilson Burn or the Yonex Ezone (below) over others on this list.

The Wilson Burn is a little heavier at 11.8 oz than most of the best beginner tennis racquets that we’ve recommended so far. On the court though, this Wilson racquet feels light and you can easily swing it through the air.

8. OPPUM Adult Carbon Fiber Tennis Racquet

Next up we have the highly impressive Oppum Adult Carbon Fiber Tennis Racquet. With its triangular structure and supremely comfortable wooden handle, you can enjoy a double shock absorption to relieve any stress on your hands and arms as you play. This also allows you to switch the racquet angle more freely and quickly.

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This doesn’t only make for a beautiful-looking racquet but it also makes it more stable and durable for long-lasting use. It also maximizes the elastic effect as you hit the tennis ball giving you more power.

Weighing on 0.61 lbs, this Oppum racquet is extremely light and perfect for beginners or younger players. This lightweight racquet also means you do not have to worry about any shoulder pain that can be caused by heavier models.

9. Wilson Blade Team Tennis Racquet

A high quality tennis racquet that’s light on the wallet, the Wilson Blade (Team version) allows beginners to develop their stroke and then grows with them as they get better at tennis.

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I started playing with the Wilson Blade when I was first transitioning from a beginner to more intermediate skill level and absolutely loved it.

The Wilson Blade (Team) is the team version of a tennis racquet that pro’s play with. Featuring a 99 sq inch head size, beginners may find it a little bit harder to hit the tennis ball at first with this racquet.

Patience here will be rewarded though. Beginners using the Wilson Blade will soon be hitting powerful strokes and serves. Additionally, as you progress in tennis, you won’t have to constantly upgrade your racquet.

Many intermediate players use the Wilson Blade racquet as well due to its superb mix of power and control.

10. Geelife Junior Tennis Racquet

The Geelife Junior Tennis Racquet is aimed at younger players in the junior age range (1 to 12). It’s always best to begin at an earlier age and with this junior racquet, kids and teenagers can rise through the ranks to tennis stardom.

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Although light, this racquet is very strong and should see many years of use before a child moves onto more adult-friendly sizes.

How to Choose a Tennis Racquet for Beginners

Large Head Size

One of the trickiest things when playing for the first time is timing your shots so that you strike the ball correctly. Ideally, you want to hit the tennis ball exactly in the center of the racquet. This spot is called the sweet spot.

Having a racquet with a larger head size gives you more space to hit the ball and allows you to hit the ball in the sweet spot more often. The best beginner tennis racquets will usually have a bigger sweet-spot allowing you to easily build up the habit of hitting the tennis ball correctly.

Luckily, there are lots of racquets now that have big head sizes and generous sweet spots so you have plenty of choice(for my favorites see below!). A large head size is especially important if you are a beginner as it will help you enjoy the game more and improve quicker.

Guess what the biggest part of enjoying tennis is? Hitting the balls over the net! A tennis racquet with a large head size (specifically 100 sq inches or greater) will allow you to do this.

Power

As a beginner, you need something that will give you a good amount of power so you can get the ball over the net and be competitive in games. In fact, power is usually related to head size. So when you grab a racquet with a larger head size, it will typically give you more power.

But why is power important? When you first start learning tennis, you will most likely have a shorter stroke. Common beginner mistakes are forgetting  to setup for the shot properly or follow all the way through.

What this means for you though, as a beginner tennis player, is that your shots won’t have a lot of power! And as a result, you’ll stand  in what’s called “No Mans Land”.

Choosing a powerful tennis racquet will allow you to stay at the baseline and still get shoots over the net. My favorite tennis racquet for power that I recommend for beginners is the Babolat Pure Aero Tennis Racquet. If you’re just starting out, its combination of a large head size and powerful strings is designed exactly for you.

A powerful racquet combined with a large head size, will make you unstoppable against your friends.

Lightweight (7 – 10 oz)

A good starter racquet will also usually be lightweight as this will allow you to play longer and help develop your form and techniques. Heavier pieces of gear tend to be harder to play with and maneuver so it’s best to go lighter to start with.

If you go somewhere in the middle between 7 to 10 ounces, you should be fine and have a good balance between punch and playability.

Determining Your Grip Size

Overall: Your grip size varies by person but on average:

Men – 4 1/2

Women – 3

In terms of how to check the grip like a pro, check if you can fit your little finger between the ends of your thumbs and other fingers when holding the racquet.

If you want more information on how to find your grip size, check our article on it!

Now, to answer some of the most frequently asked questions that I get, I’ll answer them all at once here.

What’s the Best Tennis Racquet for Female Beginners?

Honestly, there aren’t many differences from the list above! Most women prefer a more arm friendly racquet that gives them more control than the Head Ti S6 though.

I would recommend the Wilson K Zero as the best beginner tennis racquet for women. It’s very easy on the joints, packs a punch, and looks great! You used to be able to get it in pink as well.

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Besides the Wilson K Zero, I would also recommend the Wilson Ultra Team version. It’s in the same price range and it’s a very comfortable tennis racquet that many women play with.

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What’s the Best Tennis Racquet for Beginners to Intermediate?

For people a little more advanced than a beginner but still working their way up to an intermediate level in tennis, I would highly recommend a tweener racquet. I’ve written a full post on the best tweener tennis racquets here but I’ll suggest my favorites below.

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What’s the Best Cheap Tennis Racquet for Beginners?

There are definitely cheap tennis racquets for beginners available! The Babolat Pure Aero Tennis Racquet is my #1 Pick for a cheap tennis racquets for beginners. Ranked in price (from highest to lowest), other options include

Last update on 2023-05-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Last update on 2023-05-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API