Expert Tennis Racket Advice for Every Player

Most adult beginners are best served by a strung weight of 270–300 g with a head size of 100–105 sq in. That combination is light enough to swing late without straining the arm, but heavy enough to stay stable against a decent ball. Sub-270 g frames get pushed around once you start playing opponents who hit with pace, so they are usually a short-lived purchase.

The standard rule is to restring as many times per year as you play per week — so twice a week on court means roughly two restrings a year. Polyester strings are the exception: they lose tension and go dead within 15–25 hours of play regardless of whether they break, and Australian summer heat shortens that further.

Heat softens strings and makes the ball fly, so most players string 1–2 lb (0.5–1 kg) tighter for summer than for winter. A typical starting point on Australian hard courts is 50–54 lb for polyester and 55–60 lb for multifilament or synthetic gut. Never leave a racket in a hot car — boot temperatures can exceed 70 °C and will permanently de-tension the string bed.

Hold the racket in an eastern forehand grip and check the gap between your fingertips and the base of your palm: it should be about the width of your index finger. Most adult Australian men use grip size 3 (4 3/8") and most adult women size 2 (4 1/4"). If you are between sizes, buy the smaller one — an overgrip adds roughly half a size, but you cannot make a grip smaller.

Look for a stiffness rating (RA) under 63, a flexible thin beam, and a strung weight above 300 g — heavier frames absorb shock rather than transmitting it to your arm. Pair the frame with a multifilament string at a lower tension. Frames such as the Wilson Clash and Prince Phantom sit in this category; stiff, light power frames are the combination most likely to aggravate the joint.

Not automatically. Above about $250 AUD you are paying for specific playing characteristics rather than better build quality, so the right $260 frame for your swing will beat the wrong $400 one every time. Spend the difference on a proper string job and a fresh grip — both change how a racket plays more than the price tag does.

A graphite frame played twice a week typically stays at full performance for two to four years before the layup softens noticeably. Cracks, a rattling handle, grommet damage, or a sudden loss of control are the signals to replace it. Storage matters more than age: rackets kept in hot cars or damp garages fail years earlier.

The frame matters less than the strings. Synthetic grass, which is common at Australian clubs, plays lower and slower than hard court, so players usually benefit from a slightly more open string pattern and marginally lower tension to add depth. Keep the same racket and adjust the setup.