Much like advanced and pro players, it’s extremely important that beginners also have the right racket.

For a beginner to feel confident and continue to develop, having the right racket is key. The racket must feel comfortable, have a bigger sweet spot, and be light but powerful. These are all the elements of a beginner racket.

Also, for beginners, you’ll want to choose between what the industry calls tweener or power rackets. Power rackets are lightweight, have oversized heads, are longer, and are stiffer. These are designed for those beginner players that don’t have full and smooth strokes developed yet. Tweener rackets are perfect for those beginners making the transition into intermediate. These rackets are usually lighter versions of the advanced player rackets. Usually, these lighter versions will have denominations such as “team” on them as it’s the case with Babolat and Head. Let’s take a look at a couple of options for each category. 

For power rackets, there are two brands that I think have dominated this space for a long time: Wilson and Prince. Here are two great picks:

• Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3: You can’t go wrong with the Wilson Hammer series. Hammers have been around for a long time. Everyone I know at the club level using these has continued using this racket for years. It’s light and maneuverable. 
• Prince 03 Legacy 120: This racket has a massive sweet spot and is long and powerful. This racket is great for doubles players, and also those of us that like big rackets with limited vibration. Stability is also a big sell with this racket. 

If you are a beginner that wants something that you can easily transition to, especially as you develop your baseline game, a good tweener racket will be perfect for you. These rackets don’t just give you power, but also control. Here are two great picks:

• Babolat Pure Aero Team: if you’re working on getting that top spin right, look no further. My wife uses this exact racket and absolutely loves it. It’s the lightweight version of Rafa Nadal’s racket. So, if you’re ready to swing through the ball with some deep top spin, look no further. 
• Head Boom Team:  If it’s a little bit more control that you’re looking for, then the lighter version of the Head Boom is just what the doctor ordered. The head is 102, so it’s slightly larger than most tweener rackets. This means your sweet spot will be large enough to avoid mishits on the ball, but you’ll be able to keep the power and control that this racket is known for.

All these rackets can be the perfect partner for your game. Consider Tennis Warehouse’s demo program. They’ll ship any of these rackets to you. They will only charge you the shipping fee of $15 to $25. However, if you do decide on one of the rackets, they’ll give you a $25 credit. That’s a pretty sweet deal if you ask me!

Also, don’t forget that you’ll need the right wardrobe to go with your shiny new racket. Check out the Melbourne Collection from Nike. You’ll certainly make a statement on the tennis court!