Top 5 Beginner Tennis Rackets

Last updated: 28 August 2026

Choosing a first racket is harder than it should be, because the differences that matter to a beginner are not the ones the marketing talks about. TennisHQ is here to help, and our team has picked five tennis rackets that suit players starting out, from a first racket through to something you can grow into.

Three questions are worth answering before you look at any specific racket:

1. Where do you intend to play? In the garden, socially indoors or outdoors, or at a club?

2. How often will you play, and are you likely to stick with it?

3. Do you want the racket to do the work for you, or would you rather learn the technique and have something that will still suit you in two years?

As a rule, a bigger head and a lighter frame make the game easier when you are starting: more margin for error on off-centre hits, and less effort to get the ball over the net. All five below arrive strung and ready to play. If you want more general guidance first, see our How to Choose a Tennis Racket guide, or browse the full Beginner Tennis Rackets range.

1. Babolat Boost Drive Tennis Racket

The Babolat Boost Drive Tennis Racket in white, shown face on with a black grip and open string pattern.

Style of Racket: All Round
Player Level: Beginner
Build: Supplied strung

The best-selling beginner racket we stock, and the one we would hand to most people buying their first. It has an oversize head, which is the single most useful thing a new player can have: it gives you a much larger margin for error, so mishits still go over the net rather than into it.

It is also light and easy to swing, so you can get the racket through the ball without perfect timing. If you are starting from scratch, playing socially, or coming back after years away, start here. We hold this deeper than anything else on the page, so your grip size will be available.

2. Yonex EZONE Play Blast Blue 2025 Tennis Racket

The Yonex EZONE Play Blast Blue 2025 Tennis Racket, shown face on with a blue frame, black grip and white strings.

Style of Racket: Attacking Power
Player Level: Beginner
Build: Supplied strung

Yonex's entry into the EZONE family, which is the range their advanced players use, so this is a genuine tennis racket rather than something built down to a price. The ISOMETRIC head shape is slightly squarer at the top than a conventional oval, which pushes the sweet spot outwards and makes off-centre hits more forgiving.

It is very light and noticeably head-heavy, so the racket supplies some of the power you have not developed yet. A good choice if you want something that feels like proper equipment from a brand you will recognise on television, without paying performance-frame money.

3. Babolat Boost Strike 2024 Tennis Racket

The Babolat Boost Strike 2024 Tennis Racket in grey and red, shown face on with a black grip.

Style of Racket: Attacking Power
Player Level: Beginner / Intermediate
Build: Supplied strung

The step up from our first pick, and the one to look at if you are already playing regularly or picking the game up quickly. It has a smaller head than the Boost Drive, which means slightly less forgiveness and noticeably more control: the ball goes where you aimed rather than wherever the frame sends it.

It is also stiffer, so you get more of your own pace back. Choose it over the Boost Drive if you have played a racket sport before, or if you already find an oversize head vague through the ball. It carries an Intermediate tag as well as Beginner, so it will last you a while.

4. Babolat Evoke Team 2026 Tennis Racket

The Babolat Evoke Team 2026 Tennis Racket in red and black, shown face on with a black grip and white strings.

Style of Racket: All Round
Player Level: Beginner
Build: Supplied strung

The sensible answer if you are not yet sure whether tennis will stick. This is the least expensive racket on the page by a clear margin and it is a genuine Babolat rather than a supermarket frame, with a head-light balance that makes it easy to manoeuvre at the net.

It is the racket to buy for a first few months of lessons, for a spare to keep in the car, or for someone who plays two or three times a summer. If you find yourself playing weekly, you will want one of the three above before long, and that is fine.

5. HEAD Extreme Team 2026 Tennis Racket

The HEAD Extreme Team 2026 Tennis Racket in neon green and black, shown face on with the strings and grip visible.

Style of Racket: All Round, Attacking Power
Player Level: Beginner / Intermediate
Build: Supplied strung

The most serious racket here and the one you will not outgrow. It comes from HEAD's Extreme line, which is their spin range, and the Team build keeps that character in a lighter, more forgiving frame with an oversize head and a head-heavy balance that helps you generate depth.

It is worth the extra if you are already committed: taking lessons, joining a club, or playing weekly with a view to competing. The obvious caveat is that it costs roughly three times the Evoke Team above, so it only makes sense if you are confident you will use it.

Summary

If you want one answer, the Babolat Boost Drive is the one most beginners should buy. Beyond that: the Yonex EZONE Play if you want a recognisable performance brand, the Boost Strike if you are picking the game up quickly and want more control, the Evoke Team if you are testing whether tennis is for you, and the HEAD Extreme Team if you already know it is. All five come strung, so there is nothing to add before you play. Grip size matters more than most beginners expect, so if you are unsure, ask us rather than guessing. Browse everything on our Beginner Tennis Rackets page.