As the title suggests, this post is covering details and info about junior rackets. This is more of an informative post. As you will see, the options can be overwhelming, and hopefully this info helps steer you in the right direction when considering junior rackets. I have a separate link with my current recommendations for junior rackets that you can check out here.
25-inch rackets
Junior rackets are designed to be lighter and easier to use for younger players. There are a variety of sizes for the growing tennis players. If your child is under 10 years old, a junior racket is a need. Additionally, some of the larger (26 inch) junior rackets could still be the best option for 11 and 12 year olds, depending on their size and strength.
Starting from the smallest and working our way up, here is some helpful information on junior rackets.
17-inch rackets
Racket manufacturers typically will make rackets as small as 17 inches in length. These smaller rackets are great for children 2-5 years old. They will be easy to wield and maneuver for the youngest students of the game. For my children, we have gotten 17-inch rackets for their 2nd birthdays and they are a great racket for introducing the children to the sport of tennis! 17-inch rackets typically cost between $20-$40.
19-inch and 21-inch rackets
I will group these next two racket lengths together because there really isn't too much different between the two. They are the next step up in terms of racket length and weight. As the racket gets longer, the higher the swing weight. With a higher swing weight, the more force it takes to make the racket move. Both 19-inch and 21-inch rackets are great for children starting tennis through red ball. 19-inch and 21-inch rackets will typically cost between $20-40, much like 17-inch rackets.
23-inch rackets
23-inch rackets are needed when children are starting to transition from red ball to orange ball. This is about the point where we can start to see the biggest difference in quality of rackets too. The quality does not come down to racket brands, but rather racket composition. Junior rackets 23-inches and up will either be budget friendly or performance friendly. Budget friendly rackets will be made with inexpensive materials: aluminum frame in two pieces. Two-piece rackets will have a separate piece that connects the outer hoop of the racket-head to the throat. The performance rackets are one-piece and higher quality materials, like a smaller version of the adult racket molds. You can see the differences in the following images. Budget-friendly 23-inch rackets will typically cost between $25-50. Performance 23-inch rackets will cost about $75-100.
Two-Piece Racket One-Piece Racket
25-inch rackets are great for experienced orange ball players who are starting to transition to green ball. A 25-inch racket, especially a single-piece performance mold, will typically have a lot of power for the orange ball court, but your child may find their ball landing short on the green ball court. I would highly recommend a performance model for anyone taking tennis seriously at this age: attending classes regularly, taking lessons, participating in tournaments. Budget (two-piece) 25-inch rackets will cost between $25-50, and performance (one-piece) models will typically cost between $75-125.
26-inch rackets
The last junior-sized rackets are 26 inches in length. "Full size" models will be 27 inches and some being stretched to 27.5 inches in length. 26-inch rackets will be ideal for green ball participants and younger yellow ball players. The length of the racket will be great for getting extra pop on the ball to help it travel the full 78 feed of the court, while still being easier to swing than a full 27-inch racket. Much like the previous section, my recommendation would be for a performance model if tennis is a sport your are putting time, effort, and energy into. All major racket brands will have at least one performance option for 26-inch rackets. A slight step up from the 25-inch versions, the performance lines will typically cost between $100-150.
After 26-inch rackets, the logical next step would be to a light 27-inch racket. The options increase within each brand when this happens, as most companies will make a light version within most of their racket lines; just focusing on Babolat, there are six lighter versions of their performance-line models (Pure Drive Super Lite/Lite/Team, Pure Aero Lite/Team, Pure Strike Team). The possibilities and options can be overwhelming, and hopefully this info helps steer you in the right direction when considering junior rackets and helps you boost your game!
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