Head Tennis Rackets Resale Value

Head tennis rackets: price by condition

Seller-declared grades, sterling with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). What each grade means.

What holds its value across Head

• The Radical and Prestige lines, which are the players’ frames and are searched for by model and year
• Rackets in the common grip sizes, which suit far more buyers than the extremes
• Frames with no cracks and unworn grommet strips, which is what makes a racket safe to string properly
• Discontinued models with a following, which players hunt down when they find a frame that suits them

What pulls Head resale value down

• Cracked frames, which cannot be strung to full tension safely and should not be sold as playable
• Worn grommet strips, which cut the strings and are a fiddly replacement
• Frames stored in hot car boots, where the resin degrades and the racket loses stiffness invisibly
• Dead strings, though buyers expect to restring and this is only a small deduction

Identifying and dating yours

1. The model, head size and weight are printed on the frame — quote all three, since that is exactly how players search
2. The grip size is stamped on the butt cap; photograph it, because it is the specification buyers filter on first
3. Run a finger round the whole frame feeling for ridges, and photograph the throat where hairline cracks appear

What lifts any tennis racket, whatever the label

Rackets have a hidden shelf life: the graphite frame loses stiffness over years even if the racket looks new.

• Recent frames from recognised makers
• No cracks at the throat or hoop
• Original grommets intact
• Cover included

And what pulls one down

• Cracks at the throat, which end the frame
• Frames more than a decade old, which lose stiffness
• Broken or missing grommets
• Cheap aluminium rackets

Working out what yours is worth

1. Inspect the throat and hoop closely for hairline cracks
2. Check the grommet strip is complete
3. Note the head size, weight and string pattern

What to state in the listing

• Brand, model and head size in square inches
• Unstrung weight and balance if marked
• Grip size, and whether an overgrip is fitted
• String condition and when last strung

Brand, model, head size and grip: “Wilson Pro Staff 97, 4 3/8 Grip, Strung”. Grip size is essential and printed on the butt cap. Say whether the strings are fresh, playable or dead — restringing is a known cost buyers factor in.

Preparing and photographing it

1. Press the strings and check whether they still have tension, and note when they were last strung if you know.
2. Find the head size in square inches, the unstrung weight and the grip size, usually printed on the frame or butt cap.
3. Check the frame for cracks and the grommets for wear, and clean or replace the overgrip.

1. The racket flat, whole, strings visible
2. The throat showing head size, weight and grip size markings
3. The strings close up, showing wear or notching
4. The frame edges and grommets, plus any chip or crack

When it sells best, and handing it over

April through August, peaking around the summer tournament season. Recognised models sell within days in season.

Light and easy to post in a long box or racket bag. Protect the frame edges, which is where transit damage happens.

What buyers ask

Should I restring a racket before selling?

No. Buyers restring to their own tension and string choice, so save the cost and simply say when it was last done.

How do I check a used racket is safe?

Feel round the frame for ridges and look for paint crazing at the throat. A cracked frame cannot hold full string tension and should not be sold as playable.

How much is a Head tennis racket worth?

Roughly £16 to £121 depending on condition, against £15 to £110 for tennis rackets generally. The identification points above are what move a listing to the top of that range.

What the fees would take elsewhere

At the mid-range £68 for a Head tennis racket, against what the commission marketplaces would deduct:

Seller-side rates verified 26 Jul 2026, percentages only — the per-order and processing charges those platforms add are excluded, so the real gap is wider.

Listing is free and there is no commission — read how to sell a tennis racket for the title, handover and timing, or the general tennis racket value guide if yours is not a Head.

See also: all Head value guides · value guides by brand · buying a tennis racket · Sports & Outdoors · condition grades.