Buying tennis racquets online gives you more choices, better prices, and detailed specifications than most brick-and-mortar stores.
The key is to know where to buy, What each retailer does bestand How to avoid common mistakes.
Below is a comprehensive guide covering global retailers, specialty stores, marketplaces, direct-to-brand sales options and what to look for before clicking “buy.”
1️⃣ Large Professional Tennis Retailer (Best Overall Choice)
Focusing primarily on tennis, these stores usually offer the best balance of price, selection, stringing service, and expert advice.
🎾 Tennis Warehouse
- Huge selection of all major brands
- Detailed specifications and comparison tool
- Video Reviews and Playtests
- Demo racket program (in select areas)
- Separate sites for the US and Europe
Best for: Serious gamers who want detailed specs and expert reviews.
🎾 Tennis spot
- Strong influence in Europe
- Frequent sales and bundle deals
- Extensive youth and club range
Best for: Competitive prices and European delivery.
🎾 PRO: Direct Tennis
- Large British sports retailer
- regular promotions
- Various high-performance rackets
Best for: UK and Irish buyers looking for deals.
2️⃣ Buy directly from the brand
If you already know the exact model you need, buying directly from the manufacturer is probably a safe bet.
Popular brands include:
advantage:
- Guaranteed authenticity
- Comprehensive warranty
- Latest version first
shortcoming:
- Rarely the cheapest option
- Bundled deals reduced
Best for: Brand loyalists and players buying new versions.
3️⃣ General online market
Platforms such as:
advantage:
- fast shipping
- Easy returns
- Irregular deep discounts
shortcoming:
- Risk of counterfeit products (especially from third-party sellers)
- Limited technical advice
- Mix of old and new models
hint: Always check seller ratings and make sure the product is “sold” by a reputable retailer.
4️⃣ Sports Supermarket
Retailers such as:
advantage:
- Budget friendly option
- Good beginner racket
- Easy returns
shortcoming:
- Limited high-performance options
- Fewer advanced spec filters
Best for: Beginners and casual players.
5️⃣ What to check before buying online
No matter where you purchase, be sure to verify:
✔ Racquet specifications
- head size
- Weight (unstrung vs. strung)
- balance
- string pattern
- Grip size
✔ Grip size
Common sizes:
- 4 1/4 (L2)
- 4 3/8 (L3)
- 4 1/2 (L4)
Choosing the wrong grip size is one of the most common mistakes when buying online.
✔ Threading options
Some retailers offer:
- free basic string
- Paid custom threading
- Tension selection
If you are an intermediate or advanced player, custom stringing is worth considering.
6️⃣ Best choices by player type
| player type | Best place to buy |
|---|---|
| beginner | Decathlon or Sports Direct |
| primary | Tennis point or pro shop |
| club player | Tennis Warehouse or Pro:Direct |
| Advanced/Competitive | Tennis warehouse or brand direct sales |
| bargain hunter | eBay (carefully) or sales section |
7️⃣ Do you need a demonstration before purchasing?
If possible, yes.
Some specialty retailers allow you to test the racquet with demo programs before purchasing. This reduces the risk of purchasing the wrong weight or scale.
If the demo is not available:
- Read playtest reviews
- Compare specs to your current racket
- Avoid large weight jumps
8️⃣ How to get the best price
- Check end-of-quarter sales
- Buy the previous year’s model (usually 20-40% cheaper)
- Compare multiple retailers
- Look out for bundle deals (racquet + bag + rope)
For most players, Professional Tennis Retailer Offering the best combination of selection, pricing and reliability.
If you are buying your first racket, please prioritize:
- Correct grip size
- appropriate weight
- Trusted Retailer
