A racquet sizing chart for children
I see a lot of children with the wrong sized racquets at sessions. Parents have been well intentioned, usually buying an expensive racquet that children can grow into.
Whilst every child is unique, it’s important to take the time to match each child with the appropriate racquet to help ensure they stay injury free and enjoy their tennis. Having said that, here are some basic guidelines to work out which tennis racquet will be a great fit.
The following chart outlines the approximate racquet length that is appropriate for kids of a certain age and height, this is a good start, my quick rule of thumb is that racquet should not touch the ground when held by the child’s side.
| Age | Height | Racquet Length |
| 4 years or younger | 40 inches or shorter | 19 inches |
| 4-5 years | 40-44 inches | 21 inches |
| 6-8 years | 45-49 inches | 23 inches |
| 9-10 years | 50-55 inches | 25 inches |
| 10 or older | 55 inches or taller | 26 inches |
Racquet length for children
Without a doubt the most important measurements for selecting a kids tennis racquets is the length of the racquet and the height of your child. The length of the tennis racquet is the primary adjustment manufactures have made to make them more child friendly.
Currently, children’s racquets come in the following sizes measured in inches: 19, 21, 23, 25, and 26. While the above chart can help serve as a good guide, there are some additional things to consider when selecting the right size.
Testing racquet length
One common method used to test the length of a racquet for kids is to first have your child stand nice and tall. Place the tennis racquet you have selected next to their side with the head resting on the ground and the racquet handle pointing upwards towards the sky.
Next, have your child place the palm of their hand on the end of the tennis racquet handle like a cane. If your child’s arm is comfortably extended and resting on the butt cap of the tennis racquet, then you’ve likely found the right length racquet. On the other hand, if you child has to bend their arm to comfortably rest their hand on the handle or their hand doesn’t reach the handle, then you’ll probably want to try another size.
Helpful Tip
As a parent, it can also be beneficial to listen and watch for signs from your child while they’re playing tennis. If they’re out hitting on the court and you see them shaking their wrist or arm between points out of discomfort or they complain about a sore wrist or arm, then it might be worth taking another look at their racquet size.
Grip sizes for children
Grip size refers to the circumference or the distance of the edge of a racquet handle, and is measured in inches. For children, selecting the appropriate grip size is made a bit easier than it is for adults mainly because manufacturers produce a 4 inch grip size for almost all children tennis racquets. You may find some variation, however you’ll likely find other grip sizes to be rare.
In some cases, a racquet grip may be too large or too small for your child. If that’s the case then there are adjustments that can be made to customise the fit. Making the grip smaller tends to be a little more challenging, so the best recommendation would be to speak to your coach or take your racquet to your local tennis shop where they are equipped to make the changes while maintaining a comfortable feel.
If you think the grip size is too small, the easiest way to build up a grip is to simply add an overgrip, which will increase the grip size by about 1/16 of an inch. It’s unlikely that you’d need to increase the grip size too much, but your local tennis shop can help you build up your child’s grip with a more permanent fix if needed.
Final Thoughts
With a little effort you can have your child matched up with a great racquet in no time at all. Doing so will help prevent injury that can be caused by using a racquet that’s too large and keep your child out on the court having fun for hours.
I buy my racquets from Tennis Nuts
mention TopShotTennis and they’ll give you a discount 🙂
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