How to Draw Racquet — Free Practice Sheets

A racquet is easy to recognise but surprisingly easy to draw out of proportion. The head is a broad oval, the frame has visible thickness, the strings form a diagonal grid, and the handle tapers into a throat before ending in a wrapped grip. This page explains a reliable order for drawing those parts and describes how to use the practice sheet formats: tracing the outline, copying onto a blank grid, placing the silhouette with a bounding frame and centre guide, and completing a blank right-hand portion.

Start with the head and its frame thickness

Begin with the largest shape: a single oval for the racquet head. Keep it wider than it is tall only if your reference shows that; many racquet heads are close to circular or slightly elongated, so check the reference before committing. Draw lightly, because the oval sets the proportion for everything below it.

Inside the first oval, draw a smaller oval that follows the same curve. The gap between the two outlines is the frame thickness. Keep that gap even around the whole head; an uneven gap makes the frame look bent. Do not fill the inner oval yet, because the strings belong there.

1. Draw a large oval for the racquet head.
2. Draw a smaller inner oval to form the frame thickness.
3. Check that the gap between the ovals stays even all the way around.

Add the strings as a diagonal grid

Inside the inner oval, draw one set of evenly spaced diagonal lines in one direction, then a second set crossing them in the other direction. The result is a crosshatch grid that reads as strings. Keep the lines inside the inner oval so they do not spill onto the frame.

Spacing matters more than count. If the lines crowd together at one edge and spread apart at the other, the grid will look warped. Aim for consistent gaps, and stop each line at the inner oval rather than letting it run past the frame.

1. Fill the inner oval with a diagonal crosshatch grid for the strings.
2. Draw the first diagonal set, then cross it with the second set.
3. Trim each line at the inner oval so the frame stays clear.

Build the throat, handle, and grip

From the bottom of the head, draw a long tapered handle. The taper should narrow gradually toward the end. Where the handle meets the head, add a throat triangle: two short lines that connect the lower frame to the top of the handle and form a V or triangular junction. This junction is what makes the drawing read as a racquet rather than a lollipop.

Near the end of the handle, mark grip wrap lines. These are short diagonal lines that suggest overlapping tape. Keep them within the handle width and space them evenly. The handle should be long enough to look usable; compare its length with the head in your reference before finalising.

1. Draw a long tapered handle from the bottom of the head.
2. Add a throat triangle where the handle meets the head.
3. Mark grip wrap lines near the end of the handle.

Using the practice sheet formats

Each sheet format isolates a different drawing skill. Tracing the reference outline builds familiarity with the contour; then practise the contour independently and compare with the separate full reference sheet. Copying onto a blank grid trains you to match grid intersections, which helps with proportion. The bounding frame and centre guide help you place the silhouette before adding identifying details. The blank right-hand portion asks you to complete the missing side using the full reference.

In every format, compare your drawing with the reference by checking visible features and proportions rather than pixel-perfect matching. Different line weights, string densities, and grip patterns can all be correct.

1. Trace the outline first if you are unsure of the contour.
2. Move to the grid or bounding frame to practise placement.
3. Finish with the blank-portion sheet to test independent completion.

Check your work

• The head is drawn as a clear oval with an inner oval that keeps the frame thickness even.
• The string grid is diagonal, crosses in two directions, and stays inside the inner oval.
• The handle tapers gradually and is proportionate to the head.
• A throat triangle connects the lower frame to the top of the handle.
• Grip wrap lines sit within the handle width and are evenly spaced.
• The drawing is compared with the reference by visible features and proportions, not pixel-perfect matching.

Worked example

racquet: Trace the reference outline, then practise the contour independently. Compare with the separate full reference sheet.

Common mistakes

• Drawing the handle before the head is settled, so the proportions drift. Complete the outer oval and inner oval first, then measure the handle length against the head before drawing it.
• Letting string lines cross the frame or bunch unevenly. Stop every string line at the inner oval and check spacing at both edges before adding the crossing set.
• Skipping the throat triangle, leaving the handle attached with no junction. Add two short lines connecting the lower frame to the top of the handle to form the throat.

Questions and answers