Rackets & strings

Under the Laws, a racket frame may be at most 680 mm long and 230 mm wide, and the stringed area at most 280 × 220 mm. Most modern rackets are carbon-fibre (graphite) composites weighing roughly 75–95 g without strings.

The four numbers that matter

Property	What it means	Effect
Weight	Often coded by manufacturers, e.g. 3U (≈85–89 g), 4U (≈80–84 g), 5U (≈75–79 g)	Heavier = more stable and powerful; lighter = faster to swing and to recover between shots.
Balance	Head-heavy, even, or head-light (where the balance point sits along the frame)	Head-heavy suits powerful rear-court attack; head-light suits fast defence and net play (doubles front players). Even balance is a safe all-round choice.
Shaft flex	Flexible → medium → stiff	A flexible shaft "loads and releases", helping slower swings generate speed. A stiff shaft gives precise control for fast, well-timed swings.
Grip size	Manufacturer codes (e.g. G4, G5; larger number = thinner in several brands)	Too thick limits finger control and grip changes. Most players use a thinner handle plus an overgrip to fine-tune.

Strings and tension

• Lower tension (roughly 18–22 lb / 8–10 kg): bigger sweet spot, more "trampoline" power for slower swings, more durable. Best for beginners and most club players.
• Higher tension (roughly 24–30 lb / 11–13.5 kg): more control and feel, but a smaller sweet spot. It needs fast, clean technique to benefit, and strings break more easily.
• Thinner strings (≈0.65–0.68 mm): more repulsion and feel, less durable. Thicker (≈0.70 mm+): more durable.
• Restring when strings lose tension or "notch" (for regular players, every few months, or after a break).

How to choose

Beginner: 4U/5U, even or slightly head-light, flexible to medium shaft, strung around 20 lb. Intermediate/advanced: choose balance by playing style (attack vs. defence), medium to stiff shaft, tension raised gradually. Try before you buy: comfort and confidence beat specifications.