Choosing a tennis racket for children that perfectly suits your child is essential for them to thrive in this sport. The racket is the most important element for a tennis player, and its choice therefore deserves real consideration. If your child has decided to take up tennis or simply needs to change rackets, follow our guide to find out what size tennis racket to choose for your son or daughter. To facilitate this choice and select a racket that will allow your child to shine on the courts, you will need two important and essential pieces of information: your child's height and their level of play in tennis.
The first criterion to consider when choosing a junior tennis racket is therefore your child's height. A racket that is too large will be a real hindrance to progress, and a racket that is too small will lack power. In both cases, this could discourage your child and take away their enjoyment of the game. To allow your future champion to thrive on the tennis courts, follow the table below to find the junior racket size corresponding to your child's height.
| Child's Height | Age | Rackets |
|---|---|---|
| 80 to 89 cm | 2 to 3 years | 17 inches |
| 89 to 100 cm | 3 to 4 years | 19 inches |
| 101 to 112 cm | 4 to 6 years | 21 inches |
| 113 to 125 cm | 6 to 8 years | 23 inches |
| 126 to 140 cm | 8 to 10 years | 25 inches |
| 141 to 165 cm | 10 to 12 years | 26 inches |
In cases where your child's height does not match the age indicated in the second column, which can happen if they are smaller or taller than the average child of their age, choose the racket associated with your child's height without taking age into account. A tennis racket of the correct size will provide more comfort and allow your child to progress and, above all, to enjoy playing tennis more easily.
After your child's height, their playing level also has great importance in choosing a junior racket. A child who already has several years of experience in tennis will not go for the same type of racket as a child of the same age and height who has never played tennis in their life. A child's playing level can be separated into two distinct categories:
Your child is starting tennis and will therefore need maneuverability to facilitate learning tennis strokes. Their racket must be resistant to withstand the blows and impacts it will suffer. You should therefore opt for an aluminum racket. These rackets are offered at attractive and affordable prices.
Your child has the technical basics in tennis and participates in tournaments, so they need a quality racket that will allow them to progress. In this case, choose a graphite racket which will provide your child with all the power, forgiveness, and comfort they will need.
Head also offers three junior lines for each type of young player. A 100% graphite competitor range with the Extreme and Gravity, an intermediate range with Head Junior rackets IG Speed, Radical and Gravity in composite graphite ranging from size 19 to 26, then the beginner rackets with the Coco and Novak which range from size 17 to 25.
The brand simplifies its range of Tecnifibre junior rackets by renaming its beginner rackets "Bullit". They are available from size 17 to 25. The T-Fight range is available in a Team version for graphite/aluminum rackets and Tour for full graphite competition rackets.
Wilson divides its junior rackets into two ranges: performance and beginner. The performance range includes junior rackets with the same names as the adult ones (Ultra, Blade, Clash, and Pro Staff) and are intended for young competitors. The Wilson junior rackets for beginners are named Federer to allow the youngest players to identify with the Swiss champion.
Choosing the right tennis racket for a child is a crucial step to protect your child. Indeed, a racket that is too large or too heavy can pose risks for your child such as injuries, a slowdown in their progress, or even poor learning.
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