Babolat Carlitos Junior 23 Tennis Racket Review & Buying Guide (India)
Babolat's 2026 Carlitos Junior 23 is a strung 23-inch kids' racket at ₹3,149. Here's the age and height it actually fits, and how it compares to the alternatives.
Babolat Carlitos Junior 23 review: the short answer
The Babolat Carlitos Junior 23 2026 Tennis Racket (Strung) at ₹3,149 is a 23-inch junior frame aimed at roughly 6-to-8-year-olds, sold pre-strung and ready to use. It sits in Babolat's Carlitos line — the junior range built around Carlos Alcaraz — and for Indian parents the practical appeal is straightforward: correct length, light enough to swing properly, and no separate stringing cost or wait.
If your child is in the 116–128 cm height band and starting structured coaching, this is a well-judged racket. Below is the sizing detail, and how it compares with the alternatives at the same length.
What size tennis racket does my child need?
Junior rackets are sold by length in inches, and height is a far better guide than age.
| Racket length | Typical height | Typical age |
|---|---|---|
| 19" | Under 100 cm | 3–4 |
| 21" | 100–115 cm | 4–6 |
| 23" | 116–128 cm | 6–8 |
| 25" | 128–140 cm | 8–10 |
| 26" | 140–150 cm | 10–12 |
The on-court check: have the child stand upright and hold the racket down at their side, arm relaxed. The butt cap should sit in the hand and the frame tip should hover near the floor without touching. If the racket is dragging, it is too long.
Full method in our junior tennis racket sizing guide.
Why "strung" matters at this price
Adult rackets are often sold unstrung so the player can choose string and tension. That logic does not apply to a six-year-old. A pre-strung junior racket saves ₹700–₹1,500 in stringing costs, saves a trip to a stringer, and comes at a tension already appropriate for a light frame and low-compression balls.
The one thing to know: junior racket strings will eventually need replacing, and at this level restringing a ₹3,000 racket is often not economical — by the time the strings go, the child has usually grown into the next size anyway. Plan for the racket to last roughly 12–18 months at this stage of growth.
On-court feel
The Carlitos Junior 23 is light in the hand and balanced so the head does not lag, which is the single most important characteristic in a junior frame. A racket that feels head-heavy to a small player produces the classic beginner fault: an arm-only swing with a dropped racket head and no shoulder rotation.
Head size is generous relative to length, so mishits still travel — important for keeping rallies going and keeping a young player interested. The grip is sized for small hands, and the frame pairs correctly with orange-stage balls, which is where most Indian junior programmes are at this age.
Alternatives at 23 inches
The Babolat Nadal Junior 23 SCV at ₹3,086 is the near-identical sibling from the Nadal line — same length, marginally cheaper, and the choice comes down to which colourway your child prefers, which at this age is not a trivial factor.
The Wilson US Open Junior 23 Strung Racquet at ₹2,989 is the value option at 200g, and the cheapest of the three. It is a perfectly good first racket if the ₹160 matters.
Buying ahead for a child who is about to grow? Do not. But if they are already near 128 cm, go straight to the Babolat Carlitos Junior 25 at ₹3,499, with the Carlitos Junior 26 at ₹3,499 as the next step after that.
Who should buy it
- Buy it if your child is 116–128 cm, starting or continuing structured coaching, and you want a properly sized frame that works out of the box.
- Size up instead if they are already past 128 cm — a too-short racket is less harmful than a too-long one, but you will be buying again in three months.
- Consider the Wilson if you want the lowest price at this length and are not attached to the Babolat line.
The one piece of advice worth more than the racket choice: resist buying long. Nearly every junior racket problem in coaching comes from a parent buying a size up to "get more use out of it", and the swing habits that come from it take far longer to fix than the money saved.
Shop the gear
- Babolat Carlitos Junior 23 2026 Tennis Racket (Strung) — ₹3,149
- Babolat Nadal Junior 23 SCV Tennis Racket — ₹3,086
- Wilson US Open Junior 23 Strung Tennis Racquet — ₹2,989
- Babolat Carlitos Junior 25 2026 Tennis Racket (Strung) — ₹3,499
Related reading
- How to Choose a Junior Tennis Racket by Age: A Buying Guide for India
- Tennis Racket Grip Size Guide: How to Measure
- Unstrung vs Strung Tennis Rackets in India: Which Should You Buy?
Frequently asked questions
What age is a 23-inch tennis racket for?
A 23-inch racket typically suits children aged roughly 6 to 8, or about 116-128 cm in height. Height is the better guide than age. A quick on-court check: with the child standing and the racket held down beside them, the top of the frame should sit at about wrist to lower-palm height, not dragging on the ground.
Is the Babolat Carlitos Junior 23 good for beginners?
Yes — it is designed for exactly that stage. It comes strung and ready to play, is light enough for a young player to swing through the ball without dropping the racket head, and the head size is generous enough to be forgiving on off-centre hits. It pairs naturally with red and orange stage balls, which is what most Indian junior coaching programmes use at this level.
When should a child move up from a 23-inch to a 25-inch racket?
Move up when the child crosses roughly 128-135 cm in height, or when they have clearly outgrown the swing — usually visible as the racket feeling too short to reach comfortably and the child crowding the ball. Do not move up early. An over-long, over-heavy racket forces compensations in the swing that take much longer to correct than a few extra months on a shorter frame.
