A Guide to the Different Parts of a Tennis Racket

If you and your kids are just getting into tennis, then it’s mighty useful if you all know and understand the different parts of a tennis racket. 

Why is that important? So that when your coach talks about a specific part of the racket, your kids are familiar with it and can quickly grasp the lesson they’re teaching better! Plus, for kids, it’s a confidence boost to know things.

As a parent, knowing the parts of a racket will also help you when purchasing a racket for your kids. So read on to find out more about rackets and the different parts.

The Different Parts of a Tennis Racket

Here are the different parts of a tennis racket that will help you understand tennis better and will also aid you in helping your kids understand the game and all the equipment included. Here are the different parts, starting from the bottom of the racket to the top:

Butt Cap

When we talk about the butt cap, we refer to the piece of plastic at the bottom of a racket’s handle. The butt cap helps to keep it in the hands of the player.

It’s pretty standard for racket makers to print their logo onto the butt cap.

Butt

The butt cap is generally known as the plastic at the end of a racket. On the other hand, the butt refers to the bottom of the handle of a tennis racket.

Handle

For the handle, it is the area where the player wraps their hands around. Handle length matters when it comes to tennis because longer handles add to the overall size of a racket. This is a factor as to how much more power and leverage a player will have.

Grip

As for the grip, this refers to the covering of the handle. The cushioned surface on the handle helps to protect the player from the rough surface of the handle. It can also provide a firm grip and lessens the chance of a tennis racket slipping from a player’s hands.

Grips can be easily replaced once they’re worn down.

Grip Tape

You’ll find a grip tape at the top of the handle to keep the grip from unraveling. This binds it all together and keeps the grip in place.

Handle Bevels

The handle of a racket has eight sides. This was created so the racket doesn’t twist in the player’s hands in play. Another thing about the handle bevels is that it’s a helpful guide for where to place your hands when learning the proper grip.

Shaft and Throat

The part of a racket that bridges the head to the handle (the Y part) is the shaft. Meanwhile, the throat is the open part of the shaft. How the throat is designed will determine the flex of the tennis racket.

Head

The head is the entire oval portion of the tennis racket, where you’ll find your strings. The size of a racket will vary, and it affects the power of the racket. A larger head means more power, but you’ll have a better chance of handling it. 

Rim

The rim refers to the outer edge of the head of a racket.

Beam

Meanwhile, the beam of the racket is the side of the head. This can be thicker or thinner, depending on what kind of racket you get. Rackets that offer more power have wider beams. Rackets with smaller beams are used more for control.

Grommets

Tunnels along the racket head where strings go through are called grommets.

Grommets can control the movement of the strings, which can affect the power you put when you do a stroke. Wider grommets allow more power while narrower grommets help constrict the strings, giving players more control.

Bumper Guard

Bumper guards can be found at the top of the racket. It helps to protect the racket and the strings and is the part that gets easily scuffed since it’ll usually make contact with the court. These bumper guards are replaceable.

Strings

Tennis strings are an important part of the racket and make up the hitting surface where the ball should make contact. Strings can significantly impact your game as the thickness, material used, and string type all contribute to this. Make sure you check out what kind of strings work best for your kids, and ensure they’re comfy.

Face

Lastly, with the strings all in place, this is the part we call the face of the tennis racket.

Final Thoughts

Though there might be a lot of different parts of a tennis racket, knowing each part will help your kids in their game. Plus, it’s pretty easy to learn once you understand why you need these parts and how they can help you.

Help your kids learn the parts of a tennis racket by playing a game with them or just helping them memorize it. 

At Street Tennis Club, we’re about showing kids support through our quality tennis apparel and equipment. We hone their love for tennis through great products, so check out what Street Tennis Club offers here.