Progressions are an important part of developing good tennis skills. For adults and children, progressions take place through drills and technical development, but also by working with softer ball types, smaller court sizes, and simpler racquets. In this article, you’ll find an overview of racquet progressions.
Tennis racquets need to help you hit the shots you want at any speed that's ideal. Assuming you've learned a bit of tennis, you should be able to place the ball in the same corner at varying speeds and then change direction without losing control of the ball. Changing the ball speeds and placement should be natural, without resistance. It will make sense if you think of racquets as an extension of your arm. If you’re in a good position and want to slap a winner, your racquet should naturally help you. Your racquet shouldn’t feel like it’s getting in your way. The wrong racquet, at best, will allow you to handle most shots but cause some resistance every now and then. At worst, the wrong racquet will injure your arm. A racquet that is resistant to the way you play means you will feel the need to force your shots which could lead to tendonitis.
From children’s perspective, the wrong racquet is typically the one that’s too long and heavy. The adult racquets are 27 inches in length and weigh anywhere from 8 ounces to over 12 ounces. Now imagine how the 27-inch racquet is relative to the height of a four-year-old child, who is on average 40 inches tall. It will nearly be impossible to learn tennis, let alone proper form, with a racquet that is nearly as tall as the child. Kids should be able to wield their racquets with ease, like Jedis with lightsabres. Heavy racquets are a barrier to learning tennis because long and heavy racquets are unwieldy. Moreover, a racquet too large and strenuous for a child will likely lead to an injury.
Smaller racquets are made from aluminum which makes them lighter and the head size is large. A large head size will make it easier to get strings on the ball. The modifications of children's racquets are designed so that kids can learn to hit many balls sooner rather than later. Parents and students sometimes want their children to play with more advanced tennis balls, there similarly might be a temptation to jump to a larger racquet too soon. The key is to take time and let your child's game grow into longer racquets and more advanced ball colors. Conversely, you don't want your child playing with a racquet that is too small or light either. It is detrimental to developing acceleration and good swinging form with a racquet that is short and light. That's a problem that 8 to 11-year-olds face sometimes.
One way to determine the correct racquet length is to hold the racquet and let your arm drop to the side. If the racquet barely touches or brushes the ground then it's about the right size. If the racquet slams to the ground, then it's too long. If it does not touch the ground then it is too short. You don't have to stress about being perfectly correct as a quarter or half an inch off won't make a significant difference. You can always talk to a pro tennis coach who will help you find the right racquet length for your child.
Below is a general guideline for choosing the correct racquet length based on age:
Ages 2 & 3: In the past, 19-inch racquets were the smallest you could find. But today, some manufacturers began producing 17-inch racquets for the tiny tots who play for the first time.
Ages 3 & 4: 19-inch racquets are most appropriate.
Ages 4 to 6: 21-inch racquet length, a bit longer and easier to swing with more speed.
Ages 6 to 8: 23-inch racquet length.
Aged 8 to 11: 25-inch to 26-inch racquet lengths, getting closer to the full-length racquets