Equipment
Tennis: equipment
The official limits on tennis equipment, with metric and imperial figures and the rule each comes from.
Importance 5 out of 5Importance rating
Tennis racket
A tennis racket may be at most 73.7 cm (29 in) long including the handle and 31.7 cm (12.5 in) wide, with a strung face no bigger than 39.4 cm by 29.2 cm.
| Item | Specification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Overall length | 737 mm (29 in) maximum | ITF Rules of Tennis, Appendix II(c): 73.7 cm (29.0 in); SI units take precedence |
| Overall width | 317 mm (12.5 in) maximum | ITF Rules of Tennis, Appendix II(c): 31.7 cm (12.5 in); SI units take precedence |
| Hitting surface length | 394 mm (15.5 in) maximum | ITF Rules of Tennis, Appendix II(c): 39.4 cm (15.5 in), measured parallel to the handle; SI units take precedence |
| Hitting surface width | 292 mm (11.5 in) maximum | ITF Rules of Tennis, Appendix II(c): 29.2 cm (11.5 in), measured perpendicular to the handle; SI units take precedence |
| Hitting surface | Strings cross each other in a pattern, interlaced or bonded where they meet; the pattern must be broadly even and no sparser in the middle | ITF Rules of Tennis, Appendix II(b) |
| Weight | No limit set | ITF Rules of Tennis, Appendix II defines the racket and limits only its size; no weight limit is set (weight may be added to the frame for distribution, Appendix II(d)) |
Tennis ball
A standard tennis ball weighs 56.0 to 59.4 g and measures 6.54 to 6.86 cm across; the slow Type 3 ball is larger, at 7.00 to 7.30 cm.
| Item | Specification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter (Type 1, Type 2 and high altitude) | 65.4–68.6 mm (2.57–2.7 in) | ITF Rules of Tennis, Appendix I(b), table of ball types |
| Diameter (Type 3, slow) | 70–73 mm (2.76–2.87 in) | ITF Rules of Tennis, Appendix I(b), table of ball types |
| Weight (all types) | 56–59.4 g (1.98–2.1 oz) | ITF Rules of Tennis, Appendix I(b), table of ball types |
| Rebound (Type 2 medium and Type 3 slow) | 135–147 cm (4 ft 5 in to 4 ft 10 in) | ITF Rules of Tennis, Appendix I(b), table of ball types |
| Rebound (Type 1, fast) | 138–151 cm (4 ft 6 in to 4 ft 11 in) | ITF Rules of Tennis, Appendix I(b), table of ball types |
| Rebound (high altitude) | 122–135 cm (4 ft to 4 ft 5 in) | ITF Rules of Tennis, Appendix I(b), table of ball types |
| Colour | White or yellow | ITF Rules of Tennis, Appendix I(b), table of ball types |
Tennis net
A tennis net is 0.914 m (3 ft) high at the centre, where a white strap holds it down, and 1.07 m (3.5 ft) high at the posts.
| Item | Specification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Height at the centre | 914.4 mm (36 in) | ITF Rules of Tennis, Rule 1: 3 ft (0.914 m); stored as the exact conversion |
| Height at the posts | 1,066.8 mm (3 ft 6 in) | ITF Rules of Tennis, Rule 1: 3½ ft (1.07 m); stored as the exact conversion |
| Post position | Post centres stand 0.914 m (3 ft) outside the court on each side; for singles on a doubles net, singles sticks hold the net up at the same distance outside the singles court | ITF Rules of Tennis, Rule 1 |
| Net post size | 152.4 mm (6 in) maximum | ITF Rules of Tennis, Rule 1: 6 in (15 cm) square or in diameter; stored as the exact conversion |
| Strap and band | The centre strap and the band over the top of the net must be completely white | ITF Rules of Tennis, Rule 1 |
Related sports
Sources
- ITF Rules of Tennis, World Tennis (formerly the International Tennis Federation), 2026itftennis.comOfficial rulebook or governing body (tier 1 of 5)