1. For toddlers (2 to 4 years)
- Child’s height : Less than 100 cm
- Racquet length: 17 to 19 inches
At this age, it’s important to opt for a lightweight, easy-to-handle racket, so as not to tire the child while encouraging his or her first strokes.
The choice of racket for a child is crucial to ensure their comfort, safety and progress on the court. An unsuitable racket can not only hinder a young player’s progress, but can also lead to injury. There is a wide range of equipment for juniors, adapted to every age, size and level of play. These essential criteria are regularly discussed as part of the junior courses offered by the Mouratoglou Academy, where the importance of having the right equipment for each child is emphasised. In this guide, we will help you to understand the essential criteria for making the right choice, taking into account well-known brands such as Dunlop, Babolat, Wilson, Head and Technifibre, as well as the questions parents frequently ask.
Size: an essential criterion
Size is the most important criterion when choosing a racket. An adult model will not be suitable for a child, especially a beginner. Equipment that is too small will be easy to handle but will lose power. On the other hand, a racket that is too big will cause technical and even physical problems. The importance of making the right choice according to size and level is also a key point in the Mouratoglou Academy‘s tennis-study programme, where each young player benefits from personalised support.
How do you know the size of your racket?
It’s important to choose a snowshoe that’s the right size for your child. To find out the ideal size, follow this simple method:
- Let the child hold the racket with his or her arm at his or her side.
- The head of the snowshoe should touch the ground without the child bending his or her wrist or arm.
- If the snowshoe is too long or too short for the child’s height, it is advisable to choose another model.
Another method is to measure the distance between the fingertips and the ground when the child is standing with the arm relaxed. This distance corresponds to the ideal length of the racket.
Children's snowshoe material
There are different types of material for snowshoes.
- For the very small models, 17 and 19 inches, they are made of aluminium, which makes them fairly shock-resistant.
- From 21 inches upwards, it is possible to find rackets made of aluminium and graphite, which provide more power. However, graphite is more fragile than aluminium, and these models will break more easily on impact.
- From 25 inches, i.e. a child of around 9 years of age, rackets can be made entirely of graphite. They are designed for tennis players who are starting to play well and/or who want to play competitively. They are true scale models of adult rackets. The price is higher, but the performance is much better.
Weight: a question of manoeuvrability
The question of weight for a children’s racket doesn’t really arise. For every size of tennis racket, the weight is the same to within 5 grams. So weight is not a factor when choosing a children’s model. However, from the age of 12 and with a good level of play, some youngsters will turn to adult models. In this case, it’s important to choose lightweight equipment to avoid injury. A lightweight adult model weighs between 230 and 260 grams. Note that you don’t necessarily need to change models if you’re looking for a heavier racket for your child. There are small strips of lead that can be glued to your racquet to make it heavier, to the nearest gram, and which can also be used to alter the balance of the racquet.
The grip: choosing the right handle size
The grip is the size of the handle on the equipment. There are several handle sizes to suit all hand sizes (junior, child, teenager, adult).
In Europe, grip sizes range from 0 for the smallest players to 5 for adults. On some models for younger tennis players, it’s even possible to find double or triple zero sizes. Sizes are marked on tennis rackets but are sometimes expressed in American inches.
American sizes, expressed in inches and fractions, are less legible than European sizes. A European 2 handle corresponds to an American “four and a quarter” handle.
It is important to choose the right handle size for your racquet. To choose the right handle width, hold the model in your hand. There should be enough space between your middle finger and your palm to fit a finger. If there isn’t enough space, then the handle is too small. If the space is wider than the width of a finger, then the handle is too big and could cause muscle fatigue in the forearm. If you are hesitating between two sizes, choose the smaller handle. You can add an overgrip that will slightly enlarge the handle of your tennis racket.
The sieve
The sieve corresponds to the strung surface area of the model and is expressed in cm². Some manufacturers offer different sieves for the same model. Sieves range from 610 cm² to 690 cm².
- Racquets up to 21 inches almost all have a sieve of 610 cm².
- The 23-inch models have surfaces ranging from 610 to 630 cm².
- From the 25-inch models upwards, there are several choices available ranging from 645 to 690 cm².
With a large screen, the hitting surface is larger, giving the player more power but less control. On the other hand, a model with a small screen gives greater control but less hitting power.
The balance
Balance is the distance between the base of the handle and the racket’s balance point. It is expressed in centimetres. A centrally balanced racquet will have a balance point at around 32cm. These models offer a good compromise between power and manoeuvrability. Racquets with a balance point of more than 32.5cm are head-balanced racquets. They provide the player with more power but lose control and are less manoeuvrable. Equipment with a balance point of less than 32cm is head balanced. They provide control and manoeuvrability but generate less force. They are recommended for tennis players with elbow problems because they cause less pain.
Choosing a tennis racket is not an easy task. There are many parameters to take into account if you want to avoid making a mistake. The first criteria to take into account are the size and level of the child. Ideally, you should be able to try out several models to compare how they feel, and turn to a tennis specialist who can help you make the best choice. Financial considerations are also important. The price of a 26-inch racket, for example, ranges from around thirty euros to over a hundred euros for a graphite model.
Delivery and payment
Online delivery options are often fast, and several sites specialising in tennis products offer a variety of payment methods. Prices for junior models vary widely, from around €30 for basic models to over €100 for top-of-the-range graphite rackets. The Mouratoglou Shop website will certainly help you.
Parents' most frequently asked questions when choosing a school
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For a 3-year-old, the equipment needs to be both light and small. At this age, children are just discovering hand-eye coordination, and their strength is still very limited. A model of around 17 to 19 inches (43 to 48 cm) is ideal to allow them to enjoy the game without tiring too quickly.
It is essential to favour lightweight materials such as aluminium, which reduces the weight of the racket while offering a degree of robustness. Tennis rackets designed specifically for toddlers, such as the Wilson US Open, are often accompanied by fun graphics to stimulate the interest of young players. -
For a child just starting out, it’s crucial to choose a model that offers good manoeuvrability and is easy to control. Here are a few tips for choosing a beginner’s racket:
- Striking surface: Choose a racket with a large striking surface (between 600 cm² and 660 cm²). This will give your child more forgiveness in his shots, even if he sometimes lacks precision.
- Lightweight: For beginners, a lightweight racquet is essential to facilitate movement and reduce fatigue.
- Tolerance: Racquets for beginners need to be very forgiving. This means that they should absorb some of the vibrations and offer good energy return so that the child can hit the ball with less effort.
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As mentioned above, the age of the child is a key factor in determining the size of the racket. For greater clarity, here’s a summary of the best tennis rackets by age group:
- Racket for children aged 3 to 4: Opt for a 17- to 19-inch model. The Babolat Nadal Junior 19 is an excellent choice for young children.
- Racquets for children aged 5 to 6: Choose a 19 to 21 inch model, like the Wilson US Open 21.
- Racquets for children aged 7 to 8: A 21 to 23-inch model is ideal. The Head Radical 23 offers an excellent balance between power and manoeuvrability.
- Racquets for children aged 9 to 10: A 23 to 25 inch model will be required. The Babolat Pure Drive Junior 25 is a high-performance racquet for young competitors.
- Racket for over 10s: At this age, a 25- to 26-inch racket is recommended. The Wilson Blade Junior 26 is a good model for advanced young tennis players.
A good example for beginners is the Head Speed 23 Junior, which is light, easy to handle and very forgiving for young tennis players.
