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What Are Recreational Rackets in Tennis?

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Recreational tennis rackets are more affordable and lightweight tennis rackets intended for casual or beginner players. These rackets prioritize ease of use, comfort, and forgiveness over high-level performance. They typically feature a lighter weight and a larger head size, making it easier to hit the ball and enjoy the game with minimal effort.

You can usually spot a recreational racket by its affordable price, often $150 or less (150€ or less), and the fact that it comes pre-strung, ready to use straight off the shelf.

🌪️ If you are interested in spin rackets, you can read more about them here.

🎯 If you are interested in control rackets, you can read more about them here.

⚖️ If you are interested in all-around rackets, you can read more about them here.

☁️ If you are interested in light rackets, you can read more about them here.

🫱🏻‍🫲🏽 If you are interested in Team rackets, you can read more about them here.

Who Should Use Recreational Rackets?

Recreational rackets are a great choice for casual players who play occasionally or beginners who are just starting out. Thanks to their affordable price, they offer an easy way to try tennis without a big financial commitment. Despite the lower cost, recreational rackets still provide a decent playing experience and help players develop a solid foundation in basic tennis strokes.

Specifications

These are the main specifications of a recreational tennis racket.

Lighter Weight

Recreational tennis rackets are typically extra lightweight, weighing around 7.4–9.2 ounces (210–260 grams). This lightweight design makes the racket easy to handle and highly maneuverable, which is especially helpful for beginners and casual players. While the lighter build means these rackets may not offer the same stability as heavier models, this trade-off is generally not an issue during relaxed or occasional play.

Large Head Size

Recreational rackets often have a larger head size of 100-100 square inches, which provides a good amount of power production and forgiveness.

Pre-strung

This setup gives decent control for casual play. More advanced players might notice less precision, especially when hitting the ball hard. But for beginners and recreational players, this is usually not a problem.

Pros and Cons of Recreational Rackets

Pros

  • Easy-to-approach
  • Light weight
  • Easy to maneuver
  • Pre-strung (no need for restringing)

Cons

  • Less control for experienced players
  • Less stability
  • Slightly weaker durability

Power Racket Examples by Tennis Brands

BrandRacket Series
WilsonPro Staff Precision, Hyper Hammer, US Open BLX 100, Six One, and Six Two
BabolatBoost Drive, Boost Aero, Boost Rafa, Boost Wimbledon, and Boost Strike
HeadGeo Speed, TI Instinct, TI Conquest, and Tour Pro
Yonex
DunlopTristorm and FX Start
Diadem

Recreational Racket Prices

Recreational rackets usually cost $150 (150€) or less, making them very affordable compared to premium rackets, which are priced at $250 (280€) or more.

Where Should I Buy Recreational Rackets

Recreational rackets can be bought directly from sports stores or the tennis brands’ own web stores. Big racket sellers usually don’t have them because they focus more on high-end rackets.

Wilson Recreational Tennis Rackets

Babolat Recreational Tennis Rackets

Head Recreational Rackets

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