Junior tennis rackets, shoes and clothing. What to buy, what to avoid.
Junior tennis rackets are sized by the child’s height, not their age. Age is only a rough guide — two children of the same age can need different lengths. These bands follow the LTA’s published junior racket guidance. Stand them upright holding the racket down at their side: the tip should sit just above the floor. If it drags on the ground it is too long, and if there is a large gap they are ready to move up a size.
| Racket length | Child’s height | Typical age | LTA stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 inch | Under 100cm | 4 to 5 years | Red |
| 21 inch | 100 to 120cm | 4 to 6 years | Red |
| 23 inch | 120 to 130cm | 6 to 8 years | Red to Orange |
| 25 inch | 130 to 140cm | 8 to 10 years | Orange |
| 26 inch | 140 to 155cm | 10 to 12 years | Green |
| 27 inch (adult) | Over 155cm | 12 years and up | Yellow |
Most six-year-olds use a 21 or 23 inch racket, but measure rather than assume. A child of 110cm needs 21 inch; one of 125cm needs 23 inch. Height decides it.
Usually 23 or 25 inch. At 130cm and above, move to 25 inch. A racket that is too long is far worse than one that is slightly short.
Once they are over about 155cm tall, playing full-court yellow ball tennis, and can complete a full swing without straining. Most players make the move between 11 and 14. A strong junior may be better on a light adult frame of 260 to 280g than on another 26 inch racket they will outgrow within the year.
No. This is the most common and most expensive mistake. A racket that is too long forces a child to choke up the handle, drop the racket head and muscle the ball, and the technique that results is hard to undo. Buy the size that fits now and expect to change every 12 to 18 months.
No. Running shoes are built for forward movement and have soft, rounded soles. Tennis is played sideways, and a child stopping and changing direction in running shoes is far more likely to roll an ankle. They also mark and damage court surfaces, and many clubs will not allow them on court. Tennis shoes also differ by surface: clay needs a herringbone outsole, and artificial grass, which is what many UK clubs have, wants a shallower and denser tread.
Not polyester. Polyester strings are stiff and transmit far more shock into the arm, and in a player whose growth plates are still open that load is linked to wrist, elbow and shoulder problems. Wait until after the growth spurt, around 14 to 16. Ask for a multifilament or synthetic gut at 40 to 50 pounds, which is about 18 to 23 kilos, and string at the lower end because juniors need depth more than control.
Anything quick-drying rather than cotton, which soaks up sweat, gets heavy and rubs. Tennis shorts and skorts have built-in pockets for a spare ball, which fashion skirts and general sports shorts do not, and a child who cannot carry a second ball cannot serve properly. Check whether the club has a whites rule before a first match, as plenty of UK clubs still do and rarely say so anywhere obvious.
British junior tennis is organised in colour stages. Red is played on a small court with a soft low-bounce ball, orange on a three-quarter court, green on a full court with a slightly soft ball, and yellow with a normal ball. Racket length follows roughly: red 19 to 23 inch, orange 23 to 25 inch, green 25 to 26 inch, yellow 26 to 27 inch. Height still takes precedence over the stage.