Tecnifibre Junior Level Up 25 (230g) Tennis Racket

The 25 inch racket, the last step before adult frames

The Tecnifibre Level Up 25 is aimed at children measuring 135 to 150 cm, roughly 8 to 11 years old. It is the largest in the starter range, the one that comes immediately before moving to adult rackets. Developed with Tecnifibre's coaches and the TecniLab, it weighs 230 g with a 645 cm² head, the same face as a versatile adult racket. Supplied strung, in red and white.

What sets it apart

• 645 cm² head: this is already the adult format, which makes the eventual transition far more natural.
• 000 handle size: the range moves from 0000 to 000 at this size, a sign the child's hand has grown.
• Slimmer beam section: it contains power, which matters at an age when the child already hits hard but does not control everything yet.
• Dampener included: comfort counts for more as ball speed rises.
• Aluminium frame, 230 g, 305 mm balance and a 16x19 pattern.
• Glossy video-game inspired finish, in red and white.

The Extreme Tennis team's take

One difference from the smaller sizes is worth flagging: the two-tone grip disappears on the 25 inch. Tecnifibre assumes the grip is settled by this stage, which is fair enough. If your child is still unsure of their grip, the Level Up 23 remains the right call even slightly above 135 cm. This is also the size where the move to a competition racket comes up: if the child plays at a club several times a week, look at the graphite Team models instead. Supplied strung, warranted 2 years.