Tennis Racquet Head Sizes
The head size of a tennis racquet refers to the area of the racquet’s head where the strings create the face or stringbed, measured in square inches or centimeters.
These days, the vast majority of tennis racquets will have head sizes that range somewhere between 85 – 110 in² (548 – 710 cm²). The most popular head sizes used today are 97, 98, and 100 in².
There are three different categories for racquet head sizes, which roughly speaking coincide with the different types of tennis racquets.
| Head Size | Measurement | Type of Racquet |
| Mid | 85 – 97 in² | Control |
| Mid-plus | 98 – 104 in² | Tweener |
| Oversized | 105+ in² | Power |
For reference, here are a few examples of racquets that fit into each category.
A racquet’s head size is one of a handful of different attributes worth considering when buying a racquet, which impacts performance.
Let’s review how a racquet’s head size impacts performance.
Performance
When it comes to racquet head sizes, there are three primary considerations regarding performance:
- Power
- Hitting surface area
- Maneuverability
We’ll take a look at each of these individually.
Power
Generally, the larger the head size, the more power a racquet will offer. Conversely, a smaller head size will deliver less power, which translates to greater control.
An easy way to understand why this happens is to think of your racquet like a trampoline. The larger the trampoline, the more spring, and energy return you get, allowing you to bounce higher when jumping.
In other words, a larger racquet head will allow the ball to sink deeper into the tennis strings, resulting in a more significant rebound effect and, all other things being equal, more power.
As a racquet’s head size shrinks, the power potential shrinks along with it. Consequently, players will perceive a greater sense of control with a small racquet head because the racquet doesn’t generate as much power.
Even a small bump in a racquet’s head size from 98 to 100 in² (632 – 645 cm²) can provide a noticeable impact on a racquet’s power.
For example, in 2014, Roger Federer made a substantial shift in his tennis racquet’s head size, moving from 90 to 97 in² to help increase his power and margin for error. The change allowed him to remain competitive as the game of tennis evolved over the years.
Spin
Topspin is another area that a racquet’s head size can influence.
As the size of a racquet’s head increases, the strings typically end up spaced further apart, which allows them to enhance spin by embedding more deeply into the ball.
However, it’s worth noting that different racquets use varying string patterns, i.e., the number of vertical main and horizontal cross strings, so a larger head size doesn’t automatically guarantee enhanced spin.
For example, a 105 in² racquet’s 16×19 string pattern will be more open or have more space between the strings than a 95 in² racquet using the same pattern. Here are some of the most common string patterns.
| Pattern | Mains | Crosses |
| 16×18 | 16 | 18 |
| 16×19 | 16 | 19 |
| 16×20 | 16 | 20 |
| 18×19 | 18 | 19 |
| 18×20 | 18 | 20 |
The 16×19 pattern is by far the most prevalent, which you’ll find used across a wide variety of head sizes – larger and small.
Surface Area
Beyond power and spin, a racquet’s head size also directly impacts the hitting surface area of a racquet.
Larger racquet head sizes increase the surface area, which provides players with a higher margin for error when swinging to make contact with the ball. As a result, larger head sizes are ideal for beginners.
On the other hand, a smaller head size will provide players with less surface area, and ultimately, a lower margin for error when hitting and therefore require greater precision.
Furthermore, larger tennis racquet head sizes provide a more prominent sweet spot, a small area toward the center of the strings. When struck, it sends less shock to a player’s arm and hitting feels relatively effortless.
It’s common for athletes to describe a similar feeling in other sports, such as when swinging a golf club or baseball bat.
Maneuverability
All other things being equal, the larger a racquet’s head size, the more difficult it becomes to maneuver due to the extra mass at the top of the racquet and the minor addition of drag or wind resistance.
It’s common for manufacturers to combat this phenomenon by using lightweight materials and adding more weight to the handle for what we refer to as a head light balance.
When players are first learning, a highly maneuverable racquet can be beneficial because it makes it easier to learn proper technique. As a result, you’ll often find many racquets with larger head sizes that offer excellent maneuverability to cater to this audience.
Hello guys , I measure 1M98cm and i’m playing with a babolat pure drive , I’m willing to change this racket because i think that one is too short for me . So what’ll be the best racket lenght for me
thank you :D
Hey Jamil,
Thanks for your question. Do you mind telling me what problems you’re experiencing with your Babolat Pure Drive? Are you looking for more power, control, reach, etc…?
The standard length Pure Drive is a 27 inch racquet, which is a very common length so it’s likely you may be able to solve any issues you are experiencing without changing the length of your racquet.
For comparison, John Isner one of the taller players on the ATP tour uses a 27 inch racquet and he’s 6’9″ or just over 2M tall. Of course, every player is different, but I find it’s less common that the length of the racquet is the direct cause of problems for players.
Looking forward to your reply!
All the best,
Jon
Note John isner now use an extended racquet – that is 27.5
Thanks for the note on that update, Lars – much appreciated.
In your post, there is not discussing about grip size and type, can you please do it more clearly? thank for your helping.
Hi Lee,
Thanks for stopping by! Check out this article on grip sizes to learn everything you need to know about selecting the perfect size for your racquet.
Of course, if you have any follow up questions or need any clarification – just let me know.
Cheers!
Jon
hello good day, i just want to ask what is the standard racquet for the beginners like me? thank you.
Hi Jay,
Excellent question – finding the right racquet for beginners can be tricky. There are a lot of options :)
I wrote this post to help beginners find a great racquet, and I think it will help point you in the right direction.
Of course, if you have any questions about it, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’d love to help out!
Until then, have a great day!!
All the best,
Jon
Hi,I am a new player,just started,
What are the differences between 99in and 100in?
Can I start with 99in?
Thanks
Hi Miltos – thanks for your question.
Assuming you’re looking at the same racquet (one with a 99 and the other with 100 in²), then the difference will be minor as it’s not a significant change in size.
With that said, the 100 in² version should have a little extra power. Outside of that, I wouldn’t expect much difference. If you can share the exact racquets you’re looking at, I’d be happy to get more specific for you.
All the best,
Jon
I have been using Wilson Ncode N2 which has a large head but has been discontinued. Any idea of equivalent substitute?
Hi Ratanlal,
Check out the Wilson K Factor KZero. The head size is a little smaller, but you’ll find it shares many of the same attributes as the Wilson Ncode N2. Have you come across it?
Good luck in your search.
All the best,
Jon
Hi I have just taken up tennis . I am 4ft10″ tall. Aged 64, female. I find the 27″ length racket I have brushes the floor when trying to serve. Should I go for a junior 26″ ?
Hi Shan,
Moving down a size in your racquet is absolutely an option. However, the only challenge you may find is that your selection will be mostly limited to junior tennis racquets. If you’re a recreational player that’s not overly concerned with racquet performance, then this would be a reasonable option.
One exception would be Tecnifibre’s T-Rebound line of tennis racquets, which are 26.5 inches in length. Perhaps that’s enough to make the difference for you.
Aside from that, you may want to take a look at your technique when hitting your serve. Even at 4’10,” I’d expect this shouldn’t be an issue for you, so linking up with a local instructor would also be worth the effort.
Good luck and let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help.
All the best,
Jon
Can anyone tell if head racquet size of 125 square inches can be used in USTA junior girls tournament?
Hi Julian,
There’s a good chance that racquet head size is too large for competition. If you can share the specific model, I can check out the specs and double-check for you.
Here’s the section of the article you’d want to refer to if you’d like to take some measurements yourself.
All the best,
Jon
Hi there, My 17 year old son is having some issues with his shoulder – it keeps popping out when he serves (currently being investigated by doctor) I need to buy him a new racquet. Any suggestions? Any help much appreciated. R
Hi Raelynn,
Ouch – that sounds troublesome. Sorry to hear about that.
I’d be happy to provide a few recommendations. As a starting point, it would be helpful to know which racquet your son is currently using. Answers to these questions would help too:
I’ll keep an eye out for your reply.
All the best,
Jon
Hello – I am just starting to take up tennis again but have a question. I played before with two good eyesbut now I am losing sight in my left eye. I am right handed and now I am having trouble hitting the ball and even missing it on a regular basis. I believe Iwould benefit from a larger racket as I now am using one that is 115 square inched. Would you agree with that?
Please let me know your thoughts
Thanks
Bob Scott
Hi Bob,
I’d agree with your thoughts. Increasing your racquet’s head size will afford you a larger margin for error, so it sounds like a great idea.
All the best,
Jon
Hello,
My girlfriend is fairly petite and she finds the standard length tennis rackets to be too heavy and the grip be too big for her small hands. She’s about 5’1 and 100 lbs. what length/weight/grip size racquet would you suggest would fit her appropriately/comfortably? Thanks in advance.
Hi Austin,
Thanks for stopping by – great question.
My first suggestion would be to make sure she’s had the opportunity to try a lightweight tennis racquet that’s full-size as some are surprisingly light and still could be a good fit. Also, making sure that she’s tried a size #0 or 4-inch grip, which is the smallest for these racquets. For some options, check out my article on tennis racquet weight and balance.
Another lightweight option that’s also affordable is the Babolat Boost Aero or Babolat Boost Drive.
If she finds the weight of a full-size tennis racquet she likes, but the #0 or 4-inch grip size is too large, then one last-ditch option would be to replace the grip with something thinner.
If she finds these to be tricky to handle and the grip size is too large still, then she can drop down to a smaller junior size racquet, but the build quality will begin to vary.
You have two buckets of junior racquets:
– Premium
– Inexpensive
Premium Junior racquets will have mid-range prices and offer better performance in 26 and 25-inch lengths. However, one of the challenges you might find with these is that they’ll typically offer a size #0 or 4-inch grip. Here are two examples:
– Babolat Pure Drive Junior 26″
– Wilson Clash Junior 26″
However, if she found the size zero grip size too large in full-size 27-inch racquets, then you might need to drop down an inexpensive junior racquet. Inexpensive Junior racquets will drop well below $50 and have the smallest grip sizes of them all, but they lack build quality – here are two examples:
– Babolat Nadal Junior 26″
– Wilson Junior Racquet
If she’s looking to play casually and for a little bit of exercise and not taking it too seriously, then a junior racquet could work just fine for her. However, if she’s taking it more seriously, I’d encourage her to experiment and exhaust some of her options of full-size racquets.
I hope that helps!
All the best,
Jon