As a new tennis player, you need a racquet that gives you a greater chance of hitting the ball, and a racquet that just generally makes the learning process easier. That is why I always recommend racquets that are light in weight, have a large head size, and are powerful enough to compensate for any lack of fundamental technique initially.
You want to have fun when learning the game, and the best way to do that is to use a racquet that meets these specifications.
As we are about to embark on this journey through a whopping 75 different products, I’d like to draw your attention to a quick page from the LTA, who is the governing body for tennis in Britain. They have quickly outlined what to look for whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced tennis player.
I will be running through the reasons behind this information in great detail throughout this piece, but first you can check out their page.
#1: Wilson Blade 101L
The Wilson Blade 101L steals the number one spot on my list for a number of reasons. The racquet is just perfect for beginners, with an oversized head and a very lightweight frame. These two combined give beginners a much higher chance of making contact with the ball and also allows them to wield the racquet without too much trouble.
Because that is what it is all about as a beginner. You want to be able to get a rally going, as this makes tennis fun, and you want to be able to perform all shots without your arm falling off because of the weight!
Key Features
Specification
Pros
Cons
#2: Babolat Pure Drive 110
Babolat has historically produced quality racquets for all forms of players. This includes amateurs, professionals, beginners, advanced players, and juniors. In my opinion, they are one of the best manufacturers of tennis racquets out there.
This racquet meets many key specifications that you need to look for in a beginner’s racquet, to add to the quality. It has a whopping 110-inch head size, can produce heaps of power and it's just generally a fun racquet to use. This racquet also suits players with a slower swing speed, which most beginners do have since they are still learning the strokes.
Let's get into the key features and specifications of this beauty!
Key Features
Specification
Pros
Cons
#3: Head Graphene 360 Speed Lite
Head has often been regarded as a brand that produces quite heavy and stern frames. Yet this reputation may just be shifting with the introduction of their range of speed lite racquets. I've actually tried this racquet personally, and I believe that it has excellent control while being very easy on the arm.
It's a racquet that is less focused on all-out power and is more focused on control thanks to the solid frame. This almost forces beginners to learn the correct form and swings to generate power, so it can be both a blessing and a curse depending on what you want to get from your tennis game.
Key Features
Specification
Pros
Cons
#4: Prince TexTreme Warrior 100L
While I absolutely love Wilson and Babolat racquets, I feel that I should give credit where credit is due. It's only fair, and Prince has developed an awesome frame for beginners in the form of the TexTreme Warrior. Prince has quite a unique angle on their racquets since the frames are usually quite open, which allows for masses of racquet head speed. This frame supports many of these classic specifications seen with other Prince racquets.
You can develop loads of topspin with this frame, and topspin is one of the most important things to learn as a beginner. Yet topspin isn't the only attraction of this frame, as seen with the key features.
Key Features
Specification
Pros
Cons
#5: Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3
First of all the Hyper Hammer is a classic frame, and it's served beginners well for years. I've coached players of all ages who have used this frame, and the complaints have been few and far between. In my opinion, it's very understandable why, since this racquet is very versatile.
It has quite a large head size for sure, and it is much lighter than other racquets in this category, but it has these specifications while still playing like a more solid and heavier frame. This is what provides the versatility of this frame, and it's a frame that has stood the test of time.
Key Features
Specification
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
While these are my recommended frames for beginner’s, some will inevitably be more suited to your game than others. You may prefer a racquet with an oversized head, or a racquet that is more head heavy than head light - it all comes down to what you prefer. If you are unsure about any of these frames, make sure that you test them before committing to a purchase, as the last thing you want when starting out in your learning journey is to pick the wrong frame!
