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The 10+ Best Kids Tennis Rackets for Juniors

The 10+ Best Kids Tennis Racquets

Find the perfect racquet for your child

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By Jon Crim
TennisCompanion

Tennis is a lifetime sport. Introduce your kids early, and they’ll be able to enjoy the game long into their lives.

As a parent, you may be wondering what’s the best tennis racquet for your child or toddler and how to choose the right size. In this guide, we’re going to share our list of the best kids’ tennis racquets for juniors and provide you with a simple way to ensure you pick the right size to set them up for success.

If you’re in shopping mode and looking to jump straight to our top 12 picks, then check out the table below.

RacquetAvailable Sizes (Inches)
Wilson US Open Junior19, 21, 23, 25
Prince Attack Junior21, 23, 25
Street Kids Tennis Racquet17, 19, 21
Hello Kitty Pink Junior19, 21, 23, 25
Wilson Burn Pink Junior19, 21, 23, 25
Wilson Burn Black Junior19, 21, 23
Gamma Junior Tennis Racquet19, 21, 23, 25
Marvel Spider-Man Junior19, 21, 23, 25
Head Speed Djokovic Junior19, 21, 23, 25
Babolat Aero Nadal Junior21, 23, 25, 26
Head Instinct Blue Racquet23,25
Weierfu Kids Racquet17, 19, 21

We describe each racquet listed above in greater detail in the guide and reviews section of this article.

Article Contents

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1

Racquet Index

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2

Age to Start Kids in Tennis

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3

Evolution of Kids Tennis

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4

Racquet Sizing Chart

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5

Testing Racquet Length

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6

Grip Sizes

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7

Kids Tennis Strings

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8

Racquet Materials & Weight

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9

Boys vs Girls Racquets

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10

The Best Kids Tennis Racquet

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11

Buyers Guide & Reviews

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12

Common Questions

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Racquet Index

To learn more about each racquet and why they made it on our list of the best tennis racquets click any of the following links:

  1. Wilson US Open Junior
  2. Prince Attack Junior
  3. Street Kids Tennis Racquet
  4. Hello Kitty Pink Junior
  5. Wilson Burn Pink Junior
  6. Wilson Burn Black Junior
  7. Gamma Junior Tennis Raquet
  8. Marvel Spider-Man Junior
  9. Head Speed Djokovic Junior
  10. Babolat Aero Nadal Junior
  11. Head Instinct Blue Racquet
  12. Weierfu Kids Racquet

Let’s get started!

What’s the Right Age for Kids to Start Tennis?

We recommend that parents start their kids in group tennis lessons around 4 or 5 years old or as soon as they express interest. To get them involved, it’s key they have the right equipment, and the emphasis should be getting out on a court and having some fun.

Of course, if your child is older than 5, don’t get discouraged. It’s never too late to get kids involved in tennis. Roger Federer didn’t start playing until he was eight years old, and things worked out just fine for him.

It’s also worth checking with your local club or instructor to confirm what ages they accept for lessons because some instructors don’t teach all ages of players or have the appropriate equipment to do so.

The Evolution of Kids’ Tennis

In recent years, there has been a push to make tennis a kid-friendly sport that nurtures growth and maximizes the fun factor.

In the past, children were taught on the same size courts as adults, with equal size tennis balls, and generally, significantly less attention was paid to ensuring the appropriate size tennis racquet.

Luckily, through research, and the efforts of organizations like the USTA, the sport of tennis has significantly evolved for children.

In 2010, the USTA introduced 10 and Under Tennis, an effort to help ensure the success of children learning tennis. The general premise is to provide kids with the right size racquet, court, and balls to match their age range to aid in their development as well as enjoyment to increase the likelihood that they stick with it.

Below are the four stages of 10 and Under Tennis along with general recommendations for the right size tennis racquet. As you can see, the appropriately sized racquets are expressed in ranges.

StageAgesSize
Red stage 14-6 years23 inches or less
Red stage 26-8 years23 inches or less
Orange7-10 years23-25 inches
Green11-12 years25-27 inches

These recommendations get us in the ballpark, but they’re not quite specific enough, so let’s dive a bit deeper with more specific guidance.

A Racquet Sizing Chart for Kids

While selecting the right size tennis racquet for kids is less complicated than it is for adults, it’s still not an exact science.

Every child is unique and develops at a different pace, so it’s important to match each child with the appropriate racquet to help ensure they stay injury-free and have a blast on the court.

With that said, there are some simple guidelines that we can use to determine which tennis racquet will be a great fit.

The following chart outlines the approximate racquet length that is appropriate for kids of a certain age and height, which is a great starting point and should narrow things down for you.

Inches

AgeHeightRacquet
4 or younger40 in or less19 in
4-5 years40-44 in21 in
6-8 years45-49 in23 in
9-10 years50-55 in25 in
10 or older55+ in26 in

Centimeters

AgeHeightRacquet
4 or younger102 cm or less48.3 cm
4-5 years102-113 cm53.3 cm
6-8 years114-126 cm58.4 cm
9-10 years127-140 cm63.5 cm
10 or older140+ cm66.0 cm

As the chart suggests, the most critical measurements for selecting a junior tennis racquet are the length of the racquet and the height of your child.

The length of a tennis racquet is one of the main adjustments manufacturers make to ensure they are kid-friendly, while the height of your child will help determine which racquet length they should be using.

For most parents, the guide above will be sufficient for choosing the right size racquet. However, many parents will find their children don’t fit perfectly into the table above, so we have a quick test you can do to make sure you have the perfect fit.

Testing Racquet Length for Your Child

One method used to test the length of a racquet for kids is first to have your child stand tall. Next, place the tennis racquet to their side with the head of the racquet resting on the ground and the butt end of the racquet handle pointing up toward the sky.

Now, have your child place the palm of their hand on the butt cap of the tennis racquet (the very bottom of the handle) like a cane.

If your child’s arm is comfortably extended and resting on the butt cap of the tennis racquet, then you’ve found the right length racquet. However, if your child has to bend their arm to comfortably rest their hand on the butt cap or their hand doesn’t reach the butt cap, then you’ll probably want to move up or down a size.

Of course, if you’re looking to make your purchase online then you likely won’t have tennis racquets on hand. If that’s the case, you can simply measure from the floor to your childs hand to find the right fit. If it’s practical to do so, you may want to order two size racquets and then return the one that didn’t fit as well.

It’s important to note that there isn’t always going to be a perfect fit for every child. If you find your child is between two sizes and you aren’t sure which direction to go in, then we’d recommend the smaller size. It will be easier for them to handle.

It may be tempting to buy a larger junior racquet that your child can grow into to save money. We’d recommend against this approach and encourage you to match your child with the appropriately sized racquet for two reasons. First, they’ll have more fun with a racquet that’s designed for their age and height. Second, moving to a racquet that’s too big too soon can put children at risk of injury, which isn’t worth the small savings.

Helpful Tip
As a parent, it can be beneficial to listen and watch for signs from your child while they’re playing tennis. If they’re out hitting on the court and you see them shaking their wrist or arm between points out of discomfort, or they complain about a sore wrist or arm, then it might be worth taking another look at their racquet size.

Grip Sizes for Kids

Grip size refers to the circumference of a racquet’s handle and mismeasured in inches. For kids, selecting the appropriate grip size is made easy because manufacturers produce a 4-inch grip size for almost all junior tennis racquets. Compare that to adult grip sizes where there is a broader selection. You may find some variation; however, other grip sizes are rare.

In some cases, a racquet grip may be too large or too small for your child. If that’s the case, then some adjustments can be made to customize the fit. Making the grip smaller tends to be a little more challenging, so the best recommendation would be to speak to your instructor or take your racquet to your local tennis shop. They will be equipped to make changes while maintaining a comfortable feel.

If you think the grip size is too small, the easiest way to build up a grip is to merely add an overgrip, which will increase the grip size by about 1/16 of an inch. It’s unlikely that you’d need to increase the grip size too much, but your local tennis shop can help you build up your child’s grip with a more permanent fix if necessary.

Tennis Strings for Kids

Generally speaking, kids tennis racquets will come pre-strung by the manufacturer, and they do this for a good reason. Strings simply aren’t an essential factor in the early stages of learning how to play tennis.

The difference in performance that strings offer is nuanced and something that will come into play only once your child has developed sufficient skills to detect those differences.

Our general recommendation for parents is not to worry about the strings until their child is using a full-size 27-inch tennis racquet, which tends to happen once they hit their teens. At that point, the types of strings and the tension they’re strung at may start to become a fa

Kids Racquet Materials & Weight

Similar to strings, advanced racquet materials aren’t a crucial factor in the selection of a tennis racquet for kids. Except for weight, kids won’t be able to tell the difference in feel comparing one material with the next.

Typically, junior tennis racquets are made of affordable and lightweight aluminum and sometimes a mix of graphite. For parents, this is good news because these are inexpensive materials that make kids tennis racquets significantly more affordable than tour-level tennis racquets.

The most crucial factor with regards to material and a kids’ tennis racquet is durability, and all of the racquets in our list of the top racquets for kids stand up to the test.

Boys vs. Girls Racquets

As a parent, you may be curious about what, if any, differences there are between boys and girls tennis racquets.

Fortunately, there isn’t any difference between the two. All kids’ tennis racquets are unisex, and the same is true for adult tennis racquets.

With that said, there are styles and colors that manufacturers gear towards boys and girls, i.e., the Spiderman and Hello Kitty racquets on our list. However, neither racquet is explicitly designed for boys or girls, so they are entirely interchangeable.

The Best Kids Tennis Racquet

When it comes to buying children’s tennis racquets, the best racquet is one that meets the following criteria:

  • Appropriately sized
  • Durable
  • Lightweight
  • Pre-strung
  • Affordable

If you combine these attributes with a racquet your child is excited to play with, then you’ve got a slam dunk. To make things easy, all of the tennis racquets in our guide below meet the above criteria. All you’ll have to do is make sure the size is correct.

Buyers Guide & Reviews for Kids Tennis Racquets

Now comes the fun part! Once you’ve nailed down the right size tennis racquet for your child, it’s time to find one they’ll love.

For kids, we find it typically comes down to a few simple factors:

  • Color: We find toddlers and younger children tend to pick a tennis racquet based on the color, and there are plenty to choose from.
  • Theme: From Hello Kitty to Spiderman, there are a few kids’ tennis racquets that are themed, which may be something to consider.
  • Favorite player: When your child is old enough to start recognizing players, we tend to see they want the brand of racquet their idol uses. In some cases, brands even have a children’s version of their top sponsored players’ racquets, like Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, or Rafael Nadal.

Below, you’ll find our selection of the 11 best kids tennis racquets for juniors. Many of these recommendations come in different sizes and colors, so we’ve listed those specifics when available. All of the racquets in our list are made from sturdy aluminum and come pre-strung and ready for your child to start hitting right away.

Wilson US Open Junior Tennis Racquet

The Wilson US Open tennis racquet is one of the most popular racquets for kids getting started with tennis. One of the great things about this tennis racquet is that it comes in four different sizes and colors, so as your child grows, you can just move them up to the next size without having to change the type of racquet they are using.

Each racquet features the red Wilson logo on the strings and throat of the racquet, the size in inches printed on the frame’s edge, and the words US Open printed at the top of the racquets head.

SizesAges
19 inches (orange)4 years or younger
21 inches (green)4-5 years
23 inches (red)6-8 years
25 inches (black)9-10 years

Prince Attack Junior Tennis Racquet

If you’re looking for an alternative to the Wilson US Open kids tennis racquet, then the Prince Attack racquet is worth checking out.

The tennis racquet comes in a few different sizes and a variety of different colors. Each racquet comes pre-strung with color-coordinated strings that your child will be sure to love.

All of the racquets feature “Prince” printed on the top of the racquet’s throat while the head features the word “Attack” on the outer edge and inner hoop.

SizesAges
19 inches4 years or younger
21 inches4-5 years
23 inches6-8 years
25 inches9-10 years

Street Tennis Racquet for Kids

This fun kids’ tennis racquet stands out from the crowd with a huge smiley face printed on the strings, and it comes in three different sizes. Its primary colors are black and yellow, but it also has pops of red, green, and blue graffiti-style print on the edge of the racquet and makes use of a white grip.

With the available 17-inch racquet, it’s a perfect racquet to start your child with at a young age.

SizesAges
17 inches4 years or younger
19 inches4 years or younger
21 inches4-5 years

Hello Kitty Pink Junior Tennis Racquet

This Hello Kitty themed tennis racquet is a kid favorite! It’s pink and white with the Hello Kitty logo printed on the strings. Hello Kitty is written on the racquet’s throat and the inner edge of the racquet’s head. It even features a fun pink grip with the logo and words Hello Kitty printed on it.

With four different sizes available, this is an excellent racquet for a wide range of children.

SizesAges
19 inches4 years or younger
21 inches4-5 years
23 inches6-8 years
25 inches9-10 years

Wilson Burn Pink Junior Tennis Racquet

If your child is looking for a pink tennis racquet but isn’t into Hello Kitty, then this one is sure to be a winner.

This racquet’s bold pink paint job draws inspiration from the popular tour-level Wilson Burn tennis racquet, and it features super fun bright blue strings with a white Wilson logo. At 3 and 9 o’clock on the racquet’s head, it has black highlights with the Wilson logo and reads “Wilson” and “Burn” on either side of the racquet’s throat.

SizesAges
19 inches4 years or younger
21 inches4-5 years
23 inches6-8 years
25 inches9-10 years

Wilson Burn Black Junior Tennis Racquet

As an alternative to the pink version of the Wilson Burn kids tennis racquet, this version features a sleek black and orange paint job with yellow highlights and orange strings that include a black Wilson logo.

The racquet size is printed at the bottom of the racquet’s head, and the Wilson logo is featured 2 and 9 o’clock on the racquet head and throat.

Last but not least, “Burn” is displayed on the throat as well as the inner edge at the top of the racquet’s head.

SizesAges
19 inches4 years or younger
21 inches4-5 years
23 inches6-8 years

Gamma Junior Tennis Racquet

Gamma is a long-standing brand in the tennis world, and they offer a range of four tennis racquet sizes for kids.

Similar to the Wilson US Open line of kids tennis racquets, theirs are color-coded by size, including 19, 21, 23, and 25-inch models colored blue, red, orange, and green, respectively.

Each aluminum tennis racquet is lightweight, easy to use, and a perfect fit for boys and girls.

SizesAges
19 inches4 years or younger
21 inches4-5 years
23 inches6-8 years
25 inches9-10 years

Marvel Spider-Man Junior Tennis Racquet

If your child is into Spider-Man, then this tennis racquet from Marvel is a no-brainer for a variety of ages, as it comes in four different sizes.

It has a red, black, and blue paint job with white strings that feature a bold Spider-Man graphic. It also includes a fun red grip that will be sure to stand out from the crowd.

SizesAges
19 inches4 years or younger
21 inches4-5 years
23 inches6-8 years
25 inches9-10 years

Head Speed Djokovic Junior Tennis Racquet

Inspired by Head’s tour-level Speed tennis racquet, this frame is perfect for kids who idolize Novak Djokovic, one of the biggest names in tennis. Similar to the Wilson US Open kids tennis racquet, this one comes in four different sizes and a different color for each size.

On all four versions, it features the Head logo stenciled on the strings and printed on the side and bottom of the racquet’s head.

SizesAges
19 inches (green)4 years or younger
21 inches (red)4-5 years
23 inches (yellow)6-8 years
25 inches (blue)9-10 years

Babolat Aero Nadal Junior Tennis Racquet

If your child can’t get enough of Rafael Nadal, then look no further than this racquet, which has a paint job to look just like his professional model. With four different sizes, a wide range of children can enjoy this tennis racquet.

It features a black and yellow color scheme, with yellow strings that highlight the black Babolat logo, and a black grip.

SizesAges
21 inches4-5 years
23 inches6-8 years
25 inches9-10 years
26 inches10 years or older

Head Instinct Blue Tennis Racquet for Kids

Another option from Head for kids who love the color blue is the Instinct tennis racquet.

It’s painted a neon blue with pink and white highlights and white tennis strings that display the Head logo printed in black. There are three sizes available for this racquet, and we love the color!

SizesAges
21 inches4-5 years
23 inches6-8 years
25 inches9-10 years

Weierfu Kids Tennis Racquet

A brand that you may not have heard of, Weierfu has been around since 1990 and offers three different size kids’ tennis racquets.

Each racquet has a base color of white with either yellow or red highlights, and all of them come with a white grip. On the inside edge of each racquet’s head, it reads Tornado and then the size, i.e. Tornado 17. Both are great starter racquets for young children.

SizesAges
17 inches4 years or younger
19 inches4 years or younger

Common Questions

How much do kids’ tennis racquets cost?
Most kids’ tennis racquets will fall in the $20-30 range. You’ll find a few tennis racquets priced lower and some larger tennis racquets priced higher, but parents should be able to find a racquet at these price points.

Click here to learn more about tennis racquet pricing.

Where can I buy kids’ tennis racquets?
Kids tennis racquets can easily be found online, at big box stores, and your local tennis shop. Here are a few where you’ll typically have luck:

  • Amazon
  • Target
  • Walmart
  • Dicks Sporting Goods

If you’re looking for some in-person advice, you’re most likely not going to find that at the above stores, but your local tennis club or retailer will be more than happy to lend a helping hand.

Of course, feel free to comment at the bottom of this article if you have any questions, and we’ll be happy to help there as well.

What else do I need for my child to play tennis?
For many kids, the only thing you’ll need to get them started in tennis is a racquet. However, depending on where they’re learning or taking lessons, you may find they need non-marking shoes as well.

This is typically the case if kids are being taught on full-sized hard courts, where shoes can leave undesired marks or skids on the court. It’s worth checking with the instructor or tennis club beforehand to see if this is a requirement.

Luckily, top shoe brands all offer non-marking soles, so it’s not particularly challenging to find a pair that will be suitable.

Can you demo kids’ tennis racquets?
Typically, you’re not going to find demo racquets for kids. Your local tennis club may have a few on hand to help you find the right size, but because of the simplicity of kids’ racquets and low price points, it’s not common.

What are the differences between kids’ and adults’ tennis racquets?
There are a host of differences between kids’ and adults’ racquets, but here are some of the key differences:

  • Price: While there are affordable adult racquets on the market for beginners, most popular racquets for adults are significantly more expensive.
  • Size: Adult tennis racquets are full size or 27 inches in length. In fact, some extended-length adult racquets can be as long as 28 inches. On the other hand, kids’ tennis racquets can be as small as 15 inches.
  • Materials: Racquet manufacturers use advanced materials to provide adults with a selection of different racquets that each offer unique attributes and feel. Kids’ tennis racquets are typically made of inexpensive aluminum to keep the price down.

What age should a child use a full-size tennis racquet?
Most kids won’t graduate to a full-sized 27-inch tennis racquet until they’re age 13 or older and roughly 60 inches or five feet tall.

With that said, it’s important not to rush your child into a full-sized racquet. We find it’s the kids that are eager to upgrade their racquet, so it’s good to know when it’s time to make the transition.

Of course, every child progresses differently, so this a great decision to make with the help of your child’s tennis instructor.

Final Thoughts

With a little effort, you can have your child matched up with a great racquet in no time at all. Doing so will help prevent injury that can be caused by using a racquet that’s too large and keep your child out on the court having fun for hours.

Do you still have questions? Feel free to ask in the comments below. We’re here to help!

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The last comment and 23 other comment(s) need to be approved.
8 replies
    • TennisCompanion
      TennisCompanion says:

      Thanks for your note Vikas – glad you found it useful and thanks for visiting :)

      ~ All the best, Jon

      Reply
  2. Marge Skipper
    Marge Skipper says:

    I’m not getting the email from you to allow me to see the 3 hints for buying kids tennis racquets, despite 2 tries. I used the same email for the tennis racquet recommendation and it worked. What’s up?

    Reply
    • TennisCompanion
      TennisCompanion says:

      Hi, Marge! I apologize that you had trouble accessing the 3 tips for buying a kids tennis racquet – I imagine that was a bit frustrating. I’ve just sent you an email with a link to this content. Of course, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to let me know. Otherwise, enjoy the free content :)

      ~All the best, Jon

      Reply

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