Head size and strings: which tennis racket gives you more help?

Picture two rallies. In one, your off-centre hits still clear the net. In the other, every ball goes exactly where you aim. Head size and string pattern decide which tennis racket gives you which. A bigger head gives a bigger sweet spot. Wilson says the Blade 100 V10 steps up to 100 square inches for a bigger sweet spot and easier depth than the Blade 98. The Tour Slam Lite carries a 112 square inch head for recreational players.

Strings matter too. The Blade 98 18x20 uses a dense string pattern for directional control, while the Blade 98 16x19 uses an open pattern for a mix of spin, precision and feel. Wilson Burn rackets use an 18x16 Spin Effect pattern built for spin.

Light or stable: which weight suits your swing?

Lighter frames are easier to swing. Dunlop lists the Tristorm Pro 100 Lite at 265 g for effortless handling. Wilson calls the Pro Staff 97UL the lightest Pro Staff, made so beginners and intermediate players can use it. Heavier frames feel more stable: Wilson builds the Burn 100S V6.0 as a heavier, more stable frame for players who hit from the baseline.

Many adult rackets here are sold unstrung, and the title says so, as on the Babolat Pure Drive Unstrung. Pick up tennis strings with those. The grip size is the size option you pick on each racket, from 1 to 3 on adult frames.

Which tennis racket length fits your child?

Junior rackets are sized by length in inches, and each brand links a length to an age. Dunlop sizes its FX Junior range like this:

• 19 inch: ages 3 to 4.
• 21 inch: ages 4 to 5.
• 23 inch: ages 6 to 7.
• 25 inch: ages 8 to 9.
• 26 inch: ages 9 to 10.

Wilson draws the lines differently, putting its Ultra 25 V5 at ages 9 to 10 and its Ultra 26 V5 at 11 and up, so check the age on each product before you buy. See every junior frame in kids' tennis.

If you are new to tennis, start with a light racket with a 100 square inch head or bigger, such as the Dunlop Tristorm Team 100 Lite or the Wilson Allure 105. When you want more precision, move to a 98 square inch head like the Blade 98.