We see this often in Singapore. Someone decides to pick up tennis — maybe through ActiveSG lessons, a community court, or a friend’s invitation — and the very first question becomes surprisingly stressful: Which racket should I buy?

Walk into any sports store and you’re immediately overwhelmed. Lightweight. Power frame. Control frame. Oversized. Head-light. Head-heavy. Everyone seems to have a different opinion, and most advice online is written for players who already swing well.

But for beginners, the issue isn’t performance.
It’s how the body adapts to load.

A Recent Trigger We’ve Been Noticing

Over the past year, we’ve noticed more beginner tennis players coming in with early wrist, elbow, or shoulder discomfort — not from overtraining, but from starting with equipment that was simply too demanding.

Recent local tennis buying guides published in Singapore continue to emphasise lighter, more forgiving rackets for beginners, especially those returning to sport later in adulthood or starting without a strong athletic background. These recommendations consistently prioritise comfort, head size, and ease of swing — not power or control specs.

That aligns closely with what we see clinically.

The Internal Conflict Most Beginners Feel

Here’s the quiet conflict most people don’t say out loud.

You don’t want to “waste money” on a beginner racket — but you also don’t want something that punishes your joints every time you mistime a shot. You might even feel slightly embarrassed buying an entry-level option, thinking you’ll “grow out of it quickly.”

The reality is this: your body needs time to adapt — not just your skills.

Starting with the wrong racket doesn’t make you progress faster. It usually does the opposite.

What’s Actually Happening (In Plain English)

When you’re new to tennis:

• Your timing is inconsistent
• Your swing mechanics are still developing
• Your forearm, shoulder, and trunk aren’t yet conditioned for repeated ball impact

A beginner-friendly racket helps by:

• Offering a larger sweet spot, so mishits don’t transmit excessive vibration
• Being lighter, reducing load on the wrist and shoulder
• Absorbing shock better, lowering the risk of overuse injuries

From a movement perspective, this isn’t about “playing better tennis”.
It’s about allowing your nervous system and tissues to adapt safely.

A Practical, Body-First Way to Choose Your First Racket

Step 1: Prioritise Comfort Over Specs

Ignore advanced terminology for now. As a beginner in Singapore, you’re better off with:

• A lighter racket
• A slightly larger head size
• A comfortable grip you don’t have to squeeze aggressively

If your forearm feels tense after just 20–30 minutes, that’s a red flag.

Step 2: Choose a Forgiving, Beginner-Appropriate Option

From what’s commonly available in Singapore, these types of rackets tend to work well for beginners from a movement and injury-prevention standpoint:

• Decathlon Artengo beginner series – Simple, lightweight, and forgiving. A very sensible place to start.
• Wilson recreational or entry-level models – Comfortable frames that don’t demand perfect timing.
• Babolat Evoke or Boost ranges – Often easier on the arm compared to stiffer performance frames.

You don’t need to spend a lot.
You need something your body can tolerate repeatedly.

Step 3: Give Your Body Time Before “Upgrading”

Stick with your first racket for a few months. Let your joints, grip strength, and movement patterns settle. Once your strokes feel more natural and soreness is minimal, then it makes sense to reassess.

Upgrading too early usually leads to compensation — not improvement.

Summarised Checklist

Step 1: Screen Your Starting Point (Before You Even Look at Rackets)

Answer honestly.

• ⬜ I have not played racket sports regularly in the last 12 months
• ⬜ My forearm, wrist, shoulder, or neck gets sore easily with new activities
• ⬜ I am learning tennis as a form of movement, not competitive performance
• ⬜ I currently fatigue within 30–45 minutes of play

If you checked 2 or more, your priority is load tolerance, not power or control.

Step 2: Racket Weight — Reduce Unnecessary Load First

Clinical principle: Lighter load = easier adaptation for joints and tendons.

Look for:

• ⬜ Lightweight or beginner-friendly rackets
• ⬜ Easy to swing repeatedly without gripping hard

Avoid:

• ⬜ Heavy performance frames
• ⬜ “Advanced control” rackets marketed to competitive players

Body signal check:
If your wrist or shoulder feels heavy or tight after short rallies, the racket is too demanding.

Step 3: Head Size — Increase Margin for Error

Clinical principle: Larger sweet spot = less vibration and shock on mishits.

Look for:

• ⬜ Larger or mid-plus head sizes
• ⬜ Rackets described as “forgiving” or “recreational”

Avoid:

• ⬜ Smaller head sizes designed for precision
• ⬜ Frames that punish off-centre contact

Why this matters:
Beginners mis-time shots. That’s normal. The racket should absorb errors, not amplify them.

Step 4: Grip — Prevent Overuse Before It Starts

Clinical principle: Excessive grip tension increases forearm and elbow strain.

Check:

• ⬜ Can you hold the racket without squeezing tightly?
• ⬜ Does your hand relax between shots?

Avoid:

• ⬜ Grips that feel too small (forces over-gripping)
• ⬜ Ignoring grip size entirely

Simple test:
You should be able to maintain control without your forearm feeling “on” the entire session.

Step 5: Vibration & Comfort — Your Early Warning System

Clinical principle: Repeated vibration + poor load tolerance = overuse injury risk.

Pay attention to:

• ⬜ How your arm feels the next day
• ⬜ Lingering soreness in wrist, elbow, or shoulder

Red flags:

• ⬜ Sharp forearm pain
• ⬜ Elbow tenderness after only a few sessions
• ⬜ Shoulder tightness that worsens over time

If these appear, the racket may be contributing — even if technique is still developing.

Step 6: Price Reality Check (This Matters Clinically)

More expensive does not mean safer.

For beginners:

• ⬜ Affordable, forgiving rackets are often better tolerated
• ⬜ You are paying for comfort and adaptability, not performance

A racket that lets you play consistently without pain is always the better choice.

Step 7: Time-Based Reassessment (Not Skill-Based)

Clinical rule: Do not upgrade based on confidence alone.

Reassess your racket only if:

• ⬜ You can play multiple sessions per week without soreness
• ⬜ Your grip and swing feel relaxed
• ⬜ Recovery between sessions feels normal

Upgrading too early increases compensation patterns — and compensation often leads to pain.

A Reassuring Note We Want You to Hear

There is no perfect racket.
There is only a suitable starting point for where your body is right now.

If you’re new to tennis, choosing a forgiving racket isn’t a step backwards — it’s a way to give yourself the best chance of enjoying the sport without unnecessary setbacks.

If this helped clarify something you’ve been quietly unsure about, feel free to share it with someone else who’s just starting out too. A lot of people are asking the same questions — they just don’t say it out loud.