COACHING CORNER · EQUIPMENT
Tennis equipment: choosing the right gear
The wrong racquet, strings or shoes slow your progress and can cause pain. Our guides help you choose the right equipment for your level, your game and your court surface.
How should you choose equipment for your level?
Start with what protects your body: a racquet with the right weight and grip size, then shoes suited to your surface, such as clay court shoes. Strings come next: nylon suits most players, a hybrid suits regular hard hitters. For children, racquet length and a foam or mini-tennis ball matter more than the brand.
At the Mouratoglou Academy on the French Riviera (Biot, near Nice), coaches check every player’s equipment: in the Mouratoglou Method, gear is fitted to the player.
Racquets
Equipment · RacquetsHow to choose a tennis racquetWeight, head size, balance, stiffness, string pattern, grip: the six criteria for finding the right racquet for your level.
Equipment · RacquetsChoosing your racquet grip sizeHow to measure your hand, the L0 to L5 size chart, and what happens when a handle is too small or too big.
Equipment · RacquetsChoosing a tennis racquet for your childThe size chart by age, how to measure, and when to move from a junior racquet to an adult one.
Equipment · RacquetsChoosing a racquet when you have tennis elbowFlexible frame, moderate weight, head-light balance, soft strings: the set-up that takes the strain off your elbow.
Equipment · AccessoriesWhere to put a dampener on your racquetThe right spot under the rules, fitting it in 4 steps, what it really does for comfort and how to choose one.Strings
Equipment · StringsGuide: choosing tennis stringsNatural gut, nylon, polyester, multifilament, hybrid: compare the strings and find the one that suits your game and your arm.
Equipment · StringsChoosing your string tensionWhich tension for your level, style and string? The reference points to set up your racquet without getting it wrong.
Equipment · StringsRestringing your tennis racquetHow often to restring, how to spot worn strings, and which string and tension to choose when you do.
Equipment · StringsPro players’ strings and tensionAlcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Medvedev: which string and tension each one uses, and what you can take from it.
Equipment · StringsPolyester tennis stringsControl, topspin, durability… and stiffness: what to know before switching to polyester, the competitors’ string.
Equipment · StringsMultifilament tennis stringsThe string closest to natural gut: how it works, who it suits and how it compares with a monofilament.
Equipment · StringsNatural gut tennis stringsComfort, power, tension maintenance: what natural gut is worth, who it is for and how to make it last.
Equipment · StringsNylon tennis stringsSoft, comfortable and affordable: why nylon remains the ideal string for beginners and recreational players.
Equipment · StringsHybrid tennis stringsOne string in the mains, another in the crosses: how to build your hybrid and set both tensions.
Equipment · StringsKevlar tennis stringsThe toughest string, but also the stiffest: who Kevlar is for and how to use it without hurting your arm.Balls
Equipment · BallsHow to choose your tennis ballsPressurised or pressureless, kids’ balls, court surface, lifespan: everything you need to choose the right tennis balls.
Equipment · BallsMini tennis ballsRed, orange and green balls: which age, which court, and when to move up to the next stage.
Equipment · BallsThe foam tennis ballWho it is for, why it helps, how to use it with children or indoors, and when to move on to the red ball.
Equipment · BallsPressureless tennis ballsHow they work, what sets them apart from pressurised balls, and when to choose them for practice.Shoes
Equipment · ShoesHow to choose your tennis shoesSizing, outsole by surface, playing style and signs of wear: everything you need to pick the right tennis shoes.
Equipment · ShoesChoosing shoes for clay courtsHerringbone outsole, lateral support, cushioning, fit and care: what makes a good clay court shoe.Frequently asked questions
Where should I start when buying equipment?
With a racquet suited to your level and build, then tennis shoes suited to the surface. Strings and tension come next to fine-tune the feel.
Should a child play with an adult racquet?
No: racquet length and ball type should follow the child’s age and height. See children’s tennis racquets.
What budget should a beginner plan for tennis equipment?
There is no need to aim for top-end gear: a mid-range racquet suited to your build, a pair of proper tennis shoes and a can of balls are enough to start. Regular restringing is a better investment than a pro-level racquet. See also when to restring.
Should I bring my own equipment to a tennis camp?
Yes for your racquet and shoes, which need to suit you and the surface; ideally bring two racquets strung the same way. Balls are provided on court. Before a Performance Camp Adult or a junior camp, coaches can recommend a tension or string adjustment on day one.
MOURATOGLOU ACADEMY · FRENCH RIVIERA
Train with our coaches
Put this advice into practice on the courts of the Mouratoglou Academy, on the French Riviera.
AdultsFull daysAll levelsPerformance Camp AdultA week of intensive tennis, 4 players per coach: technique, match play, physical and mental training.DISCOVER 
Ages 6–17MorningsAll levelsPlayer Camp JuniorFun and demanding tennis mornings to make progress during the holidays.DISCOVER 
Ages 3–5MorningsSummer and holidaysBaby Tennis CampFirst steps on a court, with adapted equipment and plenty of play.DISCOVER