How to Choose a Racket

Walk into a racket shop and you'll see forty rackets, six numbers on each label, and no obvious way to choose. Here's what actually matters.

Five specs decide how a racket plays: head size, weight, balance, string pattern, and stiffness. Get these right for your game and you'll enjoy every session. Get them wrong and you'll blame yourself for shots that are really the racket's fault.

Head size

Measured in square inches. Roughly:

95–98 in² — control frames. Small sweet spot, precise, unforgiving. What the pros play.
100 in² — the modern club standard. Big enough to be forgiving, small enough to have some control.
105 in² and up — oversize. Very forgiving, easy power, less control.

Rule of thumb: improvers and returners go 100 in² or bigger. Solid club players go 98–100 in². Only go below 98 if you're competitive and you know your timing is reliable.

Weight

The number on the label (e.g. 300g) is usually unstrung. Strung, add about 15g. The grip you choose adds a few grams too.

255–275g — light. Easy to swing, less power on your own, more affected by your opponent's pace. Beginners, improvers, juniors moving up.
280–295g — intermediate. The most-sold bracket. Balanced.
300–310g — club-competitive. Enough mass to punch through the ball, still manoeuvrable.
315g+ — advanced. Rewards good technique, punishes bad. Not a beginner's racket, even a strong one.

Heavier isn't better. Heavier is better if you can swing it late in a third set. Most club players over-buy on weight and end up tired and slow at the end of matches.

Balance

Where the weight sits in the racket. Measured in millimetres from the butt cap — the higher the number, the more weight in the head.

Head-light (under 320 mm) — feels quick in the hand, easier to volley with, softer on the wrist. Modern control frames.
Even balance (320 mm) — the middle.
Head-heavy (over 320 mm) — feels planted, punchy off the ground, tougher on the wrist. Lighter rackets are often head-heavy to compensate for their low weight.

If you're arm-sensitive, prioritise head-light.

String pattern

The number of vertical strings × horizontal strings.

16×19 — open pattern. More spin, more power, strings move around more (and break faster).
18×19 — semi-dense. A compromise — good control with reasonable string movement.
18×20 — dense pattern. Maximum control, less spin, strings last longer.

For most club players, 16×19 is the right answer. Only go denser if you're a flat hitter or you're specifically chasing extra control.

Stiffness

Measured on the RA scale. Higher = stiffer frame = more power and less flex on contact.

Honestly? Most club players don't need to obsess about this. The material and how the racket is built matter more. If you're arm-sensitive, avoid the very stiffest frames (RA 70+). If you want easy power without swinging hard, a stiffer frame gives it to you.

By player level

Adult beginner / returning after years off

100 in² or bigger. Under 285g. Head-light or evenly balanced. Something forgiving that lets you focus on where the ball is going, not on making the racket work.

Improver — playing weekly, taking lessons

100 in². 270–285g. Head-light or even. You want the frame to help you build technique without holding you back when it clicks.

Solid club player — matches, small competitions

98–100 in². 295–305g. Head-light. Enough weight to hit through the ball, forgiving enough to survive off-centre contact.

Competitive club / county

98 in². 305g+. Head-light, denser string pattern. You've got the technique to make a smaller sweet spot pay.

Advanced / expert

Whatever pro-spec frame matches your game. If you're at this level you know what you want; come and talk to us.

Common mistakes

Buying too heavy. The racket felt great in the shop for five minutes. Three sets in, your shoulder is done.
Buying "the racket a pro uses" off the shelf. Retail versions of pro rackets are not what the pros actually play with. Not even close.
Ignoring balance. Two rackets at the same weight can feel completely different in your hand.
Not restringing. A £200 racket with three-year-old strings plays worse than a £60 racket freshly strung.

Try before you buy — demo sessions in Norwich

Reading about rackets only gets you so far. If you're near Norwich, book a demo session with Josh at Eaton Park — he'll get on court with you and you can hit with the rackets you're choosing between before you commit. Sessions cost £20. Book through the contact page or message Josh directly on 07365 814252.

Norwich only for now — Eaton Park is our stringing and retail base.

Still not sure?

We coach every level from beginner to national junior. Tell us what you play and we'll help you pick. No commission, no upsell — we sell you the racket that suits your game.