What tennis equipment Does your child need?

What Equipment does your kid need to play tennis

To play tennis, you need two pieces of equipment: a racquet and balls. Of course, you can spend a lot of money on a racquet if you want to. But if your child is keen to start learning tennis, they will get more benefit from buying the right size racquet and balls over spending a lot of money on equipment. Save your cash until they become really good!

how to choose a child’s tennis racquet

When buying a tennis racquet for kids, you don’t need to spend a lot of money. In fact, the most important consideration is size as opposed to cost.

Picking the right size tennis racquet is important for a number of reasons:

🎾 It will help their technique: Technique is crucial in tennis. If you choose a racquet that is too big or heavy, it will affect how your child swings the racquet and impact their progression.

🎾 Reduces injury risk: If the racquet is too big or heavy, your child runs the risk of developing wrist, elbow or shoulder injuries.

🎾 Encourages faster progression: The right size racquet will help your kid hit their shots. This will help them to rally, which will help them to progress.

Tennis racquet size guide

What Brand Should I Choose? There is a lot of choice when it comes to tennis racquets. The biggest brands in the sport are: Babolat, Head, Wilson and Yonex. However, there are plenty of other brands out there that make excellent racquets. At younger ages, there isn’t a lot to choose between them – that changes as you approach adult racquets.

The weight consideration: If you’re choosing between a few racquets, it’s best to opt for one that is lighter and that, ideally, has a slightly larger racquet head. This will make it easier for your child to swing.

Buying Tennis Balls

You can pick up a can of tennis balls from most supermarkets and sports shops. However, to give your kid the best opportunity for learning and having fun, it is essential to find the right type of kids’ tennis balls.

Kids tennis balls come in three types:

🎾 Stage 1 – Red Balls: Perfect for beginners and designed for children aged 8 and under. These balls are larger and less pressured compared to a normal tennis ball, and so travel 75% slower. They bounce lower and are much easier to hit, helping build confidence and coordination.

🎾 Stage 2 – Orange Balls: Designed for children aged 7-9, these balls are 50% slower than a normal tennis ball. They allow for longer rallies and more advanced technique development.

🎾 Stage 3 – Green Balls: Designed for ages 9-11, these balls are the final stage before a standard ball. They are 25% slower than a normal ball, and allow younger players to use the full court while having more time to react. Using green balls is an important step for developing proper technique before moving to an ‘adult’ (yellow) ball.

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