What are the rules for a tennis racket?
Officials' detail · The court, the net, the ball and the racket · 4 of 4Checked 13 October 2026
A tennis racket may be at most 73.7 cm long and 31.7 cm wide, with a hitting surface of at most 39.4 by 29.2 cm. The strings must form one flat, even pattern that plays the same on both faces. Nothing may be attached that changes how the racket performs, and no battery or other energy source.
How it works
- Frame: handle and head, with or without a throat.
- Hitting surface: flat, one pattern of crossed strings, generally uniform and not less dense in the centre.
- Both faces must play identically.
- Maximum 73.7 cm overall length and 31.7 cm overall width.
- No attachment or device that changes the racket's shape or performance during a point.
- Allowed: devices to limit wear or vibration, and approved player analysis technology. Vibration dampers must sit outside the pattern of crossed strings.
- No energy source that could affect playing characteristics.
- A player may use only one racket at a time.
Tricky cases
Is a vibration dampener legal?
Yes, if it is placed outside the pattern of crossed strings.
Can a player carry on with a broken string?
Yes, unless the event forbids it.
Is there a weight limit?
No. The rules limit size and stringing, not weight.
Why the rule exists
Limits on size and stringing stop equipment from adding spin or power that skill has not earned.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ITF rules | As above | L4; App II |
From the rule book
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 4 and its Cases and Appendix II. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: ITF Rules of Tennis (PDF).