Kids Racket Size Guide
Use our handy size guide to help you choose the right racket for your child.
Why it’s important
A poorly sized tennis racket can both increase risk of injury and impede the growth of technical skills, so it’s vital for junior tennis players to find the right racket during the key stages of development. This article lays out some key methods and tips to ensure that you pick out the perfect racket.
By age/height
The easiest way to tell what size will fit best is to simply use this chart to find the right racket length for a certain age or height. This should give a good indication of the general sizes to look for, but keep in mind that outliers who are particularly tall, short, strong or weak for their age may need to size up or down. If the junior player in question falls below these ranges for age or height, consider a 17-inch racket.
The one-inch method
Another very simple method for finding the right racket length is the “One Inch Rule”. While not the most precise, this can be a good way to check whether an existing racket is still the right size or to find the right length if you have a variety of rackets to test, for example, at your local tennis club or school.
First, have the child stand up straight and hold their racket at their side, pointing downwards. Ideally, there should be a one-to-two-inch gap from the tip of the racket to the ground, but the most important thing is that the racket isn’t touching the ground or falling short of the player’s ankle bone because it’s likely far too big or small in those cases.
Use lead tape to bridge the gaps between sizes
If you’re not sure about sizing up, consider sticking with your current size and applying lead tape to condition yourself to playing with slightly heavier rackets. This can be especially useful for kids at that 12-13 age range, where the step up from junior to adult rackets can be particularly difficult to adapt to.
Note that lead tape can change the balance of your racket, so make sure you apply it strategically. Place it near the tip for a more head-heavy feel, the butt for a more head-light feel or both to maintain the previous balance.
Tips
- Stick with your current size if you’re not sure about moving up. A slightly undersized racket will impact power generation but shouldn’t impede the development of correct swing mechanics and grips or increase injury risk.
- A racket shouldn’t be so heavy that it impacts your grips or swing mechanics. Size down if you’re struggling to manage or holding with too high a grip to compensate for the racket’s weight.
- Test before you buy. If you have access to other racket sizes, through friends, tennis clubs or school, test them out and see if they’re more comfortable than your current size.
- When transitioning to adult rackets for the first time, aim for lighter varieties. Major brands often label these as Lite, Ultra-Lite or specify the model with an L.
