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Boys Rackets

Babolat Nadal 26 Junior Tennis Racket
Yellow/Black

£32.00
£40.00
Save £8.00
Which Babolat Racket Suits Your Playstyle?

Wondering which Babolat racket will suit your game? Read below as we give you the lowdown on each collection and which one is best for your style and level of play.

Aero

Originally a spinoff of the Drive, the Aero series was developed in the early 2000s, specifically to enhance Rafa’s spin-based game. The “Aero” name, if you hadn’t guessed, is short for aerodynamic, with the frame’s streamlined design increasing racket speed through the air and generating more rotations on the ball. Looking to dominate the court with spin? Pick up an Aero racket.

Drive

The Drive series is Babolat’s oldest and most iconic, having been a staple of the game since 1994. It’s primarily designed for power, but you’ll get plenty of spin from it too. We’d recommend it for explosive players who like to put opponents on the back foot with big shots.

Strike

First released in 2014, the Strike range takes the feel and precision of more traditional rackets and updates it for the modern game, offering a wide range of headsizes, string patterns, and stiffnesses to give you the exact performance you’re after. For players who grew up using frames with thin beams and smaller headsizes, it’s the ideal up-to-date option. Or, if you’re a younger player who favours control and wants to sample the “connectedness” the old guys are talking about, the Strike is the way to go.

Babolat Nadal 26 Junior Tennis Racket

Play like Rafael Nadal with the Babolat Nadal Junior 26 tennis racket in Yellow/Black, featuring a special edition colour scheme in honour of Spain’s Raging Bull.
Styled on Rafa’s signature frame, the Babolat Nadal Junior 26 features an open 16/19 string pattern so you can generate spin like his trademark ripped forehand, while its larger headsize gives extra built-in power and is more forgiving for off-centre hits. It’s light and manoeuvrable too, weighing in at just 245g.

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal, born in 1986 on the island of Mallorca, Spain, is one of tennis's most iconic figures. Nicknamed the "King of Clay," Nadal has dominated clay court competitions, most notably the French Open, which he has won an unprecedented number of times. Known for his intensity, physicality, and never-give-up attitude, Nadal's topspin-heavy game and tenacity make him a formidable opponent on any surface. His playing style, characterised by powerful groundstrokes and remarkable endurance, has earned him multiple Grand Slam titles and a place in the "Big Four" of men's tennis.

Babolat

One of the sport’s most historic brands, Babolat’s tennis story began all the way back in 1875, when, utilising their expertise in the processing of natural gut for musical instruments and archery bows, Pierre Babolat and his team produced the first ever natural gut racket string.

A series of innovations followed, including the tension-resistant Babolat VS string in 1925, which remains popular today, through to the Cordynel – the world’s first electric stringing machine – in 1981. The Lyon-based brand are also responsible for some of the most technologically advanced synthetic strings on the market, such as the RPM and Xcel ranges. In short, they are the masters of strings.

But what about rackets? It might surprise you to learn that Babolat’s first range of rackets was released relatively recently, with another Pierre Babolat, great grandson of the family company’s founder, creating the Pure line in 1994.

Having cleverly gifted their frames to talented up-and-comers, Babolat’s name began to ring out on the pro circuit, chiefly thanks to the Pure Drive. After Carlos Moya won the French Open in ’98 using the power-focused racket, Andy Roddick and Kim Clijsters became ATP and WTA No.1s with the same frame in 2003. A couple of years later, a youthful Rafael Nadal won his first Slam title, conquering Roland-Garros with the Aeropro Drive, which was specifically designed to suit his spin-based play.

Nowadays, Babolat split their rackets into three categories: the Pure Drive for power, the Pure Aero for spin, and the Pure Strike for control. Each series comes in a range of headsizes and weights to suit all ages, body types, and skill levels, with comfort-focused EVO editions available for players who prioritise fun and gradual improvement.

Control Racket

Control rackets usually have closed string patterns – essentially, more strings per area – to increase ball contact and give you more control over your shots. They tend to have thinner beams to allow more flex and often utilise material technologies to make you feel more connected to the ball.

Spin Racket

Spin rackets typically have open string patterns – fewer strings with more space between them – to allow the strings more “bite” on the ball and make it easier to produce spin. They often have specially designed grommets that increase the effect, along with aerodynamic frames for faster racket speed through the air.

Features


• Rafael Nadal colours
• Headsize: 698 sq. cm / 108 sq. in
• Weight: 245g / 8.6oz
• Length: 660mm / 26in
• Composition: Aluminium
• String Pattern: 16/19
• Grip Size: 0
• Please be advised that this racket will come strung unless the image displays otherwise
• Please note that this racket comes without a head cover

Additional Information

  • Quick Ref: 254514
  • Man. Ref: 140500-100
Choosing the Right Grip Size for your Tennis Racket

One often overlooked, but crucial, aspect when selecting a tennis racket is the grip size. The grip size is the measurement around the handle's circumference, and choosing the right one can significantly impact your comfort, control, and potential to prevent injury. This article will guide you through the process of selecting the right tennis racket grip size.

Importance of Choosing the Right Grip Size

A correctly sized tennis grip ensures you have optimal control over your racket and helps prevent injuries. Too small a grip may cause your hand to shift during play, reducing accuracy and increasing the risk of developing tennis elbow due to overuse of the forearm muscles. Conversely, a grip that's too large can make the racket hard to turn and manipulate, and it could also lead to hand, wrist, or shoulder injuries due to overgripping.

Measuring Your Grip Size

There are two common methods to measure your grip size:

  1. The Ruler Method: Open your dominant hand and extend your fingers. Align a ruler with the bottom lateral crease of your palm, measuring to the tip of your ring finger. The measurement in inches correlates with your grip size.

  2. The Finder Test: Hold the racket with a standard Eastern forehand grip, where the base knuckle of your index finger is on bevel #3. You should be able to fit the index finger of your other hand in the space between your ring finger and the palm that's gripping the racket. If there's not enough room for your finger, the grip is too small. If there's too much space, the grip is too large.

Grip Sizes: U.S. vs. European

In the U.S., grip sizes range from 4 inches to 4 ¾ inches, increasing in increments of 1/8 inch. European grip sizes use a different naming system, L0 to L5, each correlating to their U.S. counterparts as follows:

European Grip Size US Grip Size
L0 or G0 4 Inches
L1 or G1 4 1/8 inches
L2 or G2 4 1/4 inches
L3 or G3 4 3/8 inches
L4 or G4 4 1/2 inches
L5 or G5 4 5/8 inches

Choosing the Right Grip Size

When choosing the right grip size, consider the following points:

  • Go for the smaller size if you're in between: It's easier to increase the size of a grip than decrease it. You can always add an overgrip (which usually adds about 1/16 inch) to a smaller handle to increase its size, but shaving down a larger handle is not recommended as it can compromise the racket's structural integrity.

  • Consider your style of play: Players who rely on spin might prefer a smaller grip size, which allows for more wrist action. In contrast, players seeking control may benefit from a larger grip size.

  • Test it out: If possible, try before you buy. Visit a local sports store, hold the racket, and mimic your swing to see how it feels. Remember that comfort is key - if it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.

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