Tennis racket grip size greatly impacts the racket’s performance and playability. The handle must fit your hand right for you to show the best of your abilities in the court. If the grip is too big, you won’t be able to control the racket, it will be extremely difficult to change position, and you might end up with an injury.
On the other hand, if the grip size is smaller than your hand, you won’t feel comfortable, and you’ll be putting a lot of strain and stress on the wrist and risk injury or sometimes even dislocations.
Choosing a proper tennis grip size can be a daunting task, especially for a beginner player who is just starting out and is overwhelmed by all the new things that have to memorize in a short time. If that’s you, worry no more!
In this guide, I will teach you everything you need to know to measure the size of a tennis racket’s grip. This is all the information you’ll ever need, and I promise you it is not as complicated as it might seem, so keep scrolling!
Tennis Racket Grip Size Chart
The grip size of a tennis racket indicates the distance or the circumference around the handle, including the grip. The sizes start from 4 inches, the smallest, to 4 3/4 inches, the biggest.
Depending on the country you live in, the tennis racket grip size guide can be expressed in different measurements; that’s why it’s important to always refer to the chart. While most of the rackets are available in different sizes, some might have only a specific measurement.
Children of junior rackets, for example, always come in size zero, but this is a rare exception. Rackets for an adult player usually come within the size range of 1 to 5. Even though the size six is still on the chart, it has become part of the past because fewer and fewer rackets of this size are being produced.
Here is the tennis racket grip size chart.
| Size | Inches | Millimeters |
| 00 | 3 3/8 | 98 |
| 0 | 4 | 102 |
| 1 | 4 1/8 | 105 |
| 2 | 4 1/4 | 108 |
| 3 | 4 3/8 | 111 |
| 4 | 4 /2 | 114 |
| 5 | 4 5/8 | 118 |
| 6 | 4 3/4 | 121 |
How to Measure Tennis Grip Size
There are two common ways on how to measure tennis racket size. You can use both of them to get the best result, but please keep in mind that none of these methods is 100% correct.
To achieve the optimal grip fit, you have to test different tennis grip sizes, and that might take a little time, especially if you are a beginner.
First Method: The Ruler Test
For the ruler method, you’ll only need a ruler or a measurement tape. In the palm of your dominant hand, you’ll notice two prominent lines, on the top and on the bottom, that run horizontal with each other.
Place the ruler or the measurement tape vertically with your ring finger. The ruler’s bottom should line up with the horizontal line on the top of your palm so that you can measure the tip of your ring finger. The measure should be anywhere between 4 inches to 4 3/4 inches, as shown on the chart.
Second Method: Index Finger Test
The index finger test is another popular method that you can try for measuring tennis grip size. It’s quite easy, and you’ll only need a tennis racket and some focus.
With your dominant hand, grab the handle in an eastern forehand grip. With your other hand’s index finger, measure the gap between your palm and fingers. The width of your finger should fill in the space; if it doesn’t, the size is too big, and if it doesn’t fit, then the grip is too small.
If your finger almost fits in, it means you fall within the sizes, which is completely normal. In this case, you should go a size up or down, depending on the size of your hand.
Tennis Grip Size 4 3/8 vs. 4 1/2
Many men tennis players can struggle to choose their correct tennis grip size when they have to choose between a size 3 (4 3/8 ) or a size 4 (4 1/2). The wisest thing you can do in this case is to go for a size down and choose a 4 3/8 grip because you can always add more volume and build up a racket.
Reducing the size is a completely different story, though, because it is very hard to do so and not worth the trouble. The difference between a size 4 3/8 and 4 1/2 is only 1/8 inch, or 3.2 mm, which can become totally insignificant by simply adding a tennis overgrip. This trick helps to increase the size if needed, so you’ll have that perfect tennis racket grip.
Most Common Tennis Grip Size
The most common tennis racket grip size is 3 or 4 3/8. This seems to be the middle ground for men and women players that crossover this size. Since women have naturally smaller physiques compared to men, they tend to go for sizes anywhere from 1, 2, and 3.
Men typically go for grip sizes 3, 4, and 5. With that being said, there is no such thing as a gender-specific size. As I already mentioned, it is also completely natural to fall in between this size, so make sure to test yourself what the perfect tennis racket grip size would be.
Tennis Grip Sizes for Kids
Compared to adults, kids tend to have fewer grip size options. Usually, the size of a child’s racket is 4 inches or less, depending on the tennis racket brand. If you want to purchase a racket for your child, instead of focusing on the size, it’s better to consider the length. That’s because the racket’s length corresponds to the child’s height.
If you manage to pick the right tennis length size, your child will be very comfortable with the grip size, too, and will feel more confident on the court. Even if the grip runs a bit larger than you expected, don’t stress it! Children tend to grow quickly and don’t risk injury because they aren’t aggressive players.
| Age | Height | Racket |
| 4 or less | 40 inches or less (102 cm) or less | 19 inches (48.3 cm) |
| 4- 5 years old | 40 - 44 inch (102-113 cm) | 21 inches (53.3 cm) |
| 6-8 years old | 45 - 49 inch (114 cm- 126 cm) | 23 inches (58.4 cm) |
| 9-10 years old | 50 - 55 inch (127 - 140 cm) | 25 inches (63.5 cm) |
| 10 or older | 55+ in (140 + cm) | 26 inches (66.0 cm) |
FAQs
While you now know more about choosing the best grip size for a tennis racket, you might still be looking for more information. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about tennis racket grip size.
Q: What size racket grip should I get?
The size of your racket grip depends on the size of your hand. To find out, you can use either the middle-finger test or the index finger test. If your index finger is halfway between the top of your palm and your fingers, then you should go for a size 4 (4 1/2). If it’s closer to your fingers, then choose a size 3 (4 3/8).
Q: Is a smaller grip better for tennis?
No, a smaller grip size is not necessarily better for tennis. In fact, most players are more comfortable with medium or even larger grip sizes because it gives them more power.
If you want to increase your power, go for a tennis racket with a bigger grip size rather than decreasing the size of your current one.
Q: What does L1 L2 L3 mean on a tennis racket?
The L1, L2, and L3 markings on a tennis racket refer to the grip size. L1 is the smallest size, while L3 is the largest. In between these two, you have L2, which is the medium size.
Q: What is the most popular grip size for a tennis racket?
The most popular grip size for a tennis racket is 4 3/8, which is also the size that most men players use. This seems to be the perfect size for many people because it provides a good balance between power and control.
