Racket sports retail covers tennis, squash, padel, badminton, and table tennis — each with distinct product specifications. The customer base is technically engaged, particularly for rackets, where head size, balance, and string pattern are make-or-break decisions. Racket stringing services add a service dimension to an otherwise product-focused catalogue. Migrating to Shopify is straightforward, but requires careful specification data handling.

Product categories

Tennis rackets: Beginner, intermediate, advanced/performance. Head size, weight, balance, string pattern as key specs.
Padel rackets: Round, teardrop, diamond shapes. Power vs control oriented. Growing UK market.
Squash rackets: Teardrop vs traditional head shapes. Balance and weight as key specs.
Badminton rackets: Racket weight (U notation: 4U, 3U, 2U), flex, and balance point.
Table tennis bats: Blade composition, rubber type (tacky vs grippy), sponge thickness.
Tennis balls: Pressurised vs pressureless, altitude rating (Type 1/2/3), court surface.
Racket strings: Gut, polyester, multifilament, nylon/synthetic gut. Gauge (0.65–1.35mm), stiffness.
Tennis footwear: Court surface variants (hard court / clay / grass / omni). Fit and stability.
Tennis clothing: Standard size variants. Technical fabric specifications (UV protection, moisture-wicking).
Accessories: Grips (overgrip, replacement grip), dampeners, bags, ball machines.

Tennis racket specifications

product.metafields.racket.sport = "Tennis / Padel / Squash / Badminton"
product.metafields.racket.head_size_sqin = "100"          // sq inches
product.metafields.racket.weight_g = "300"                // unstrung
product.metafields.racket.balance_mm = "320"              // from butt end; >320=head heavy
product.metafields.racket.stiffness_ra = "65"             // Babolat RA rating; higher=stiffer
product.metafields.racket.string_pattern = "16x19 / 16x20 / 18x20"
product.metafields.racket.beam_width_mm = "23-26-23"      // tapered beam
product.metafields.racket.grip_size = "L1 / L2 / L3 / L4"  // L notation (Babolat) or 4 1/8" etc.
product.metafields.racket.skill_level = "Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Professional"
product.metafields.racket.playing_style = "Power / Control / All-court"

Padel racket specifications

product.metafields.racket.padel_shape = "Round / Teardrop / Diamond"
product.metafields.racket.padel_core = "EVA / Foam"
product.metafields.racket.padel_surface = "Fibreglass / Carbon / Carbon 3K"
product.metafields.racket.padel_level = "Beginner / Medium / Advanced"

Stringing service

Many racket sports retailers offer a stringing service alongside racket sales. Options in Shopify:

Stringing as a product add-on: Use Infinite Options app to add "Stringing service: [string name] at [tension]" as a paid line item property on racket products. Customer selects string from a dropdown; price is added to the racket price.
Stringing as a separate service product: A standalone "Racket stringing service" product that customers add to cart alongside their racket purchase. Note required in order to specify string preference and tension.
String tension variants: Some retailers offer rackets "pre-strung" at different tensions as a product variant — less flexible but simpler operationally.

Tennis footwear by court surface

Tennis shoes are designed for specific surfaces — using clay court shoes on hard courts wears them out rapidly; hard court shoes lack clay court grip:

product.metafields.footwear.court_surface = "Hard court / Clay / Grass / Omni / All-court"
product.metafields.footwear.outsole_pattern = "Herringbone (clay) / Modified herringbone (hard) / Pimple (grass)"
product.metafields.footwear.sole_type = "Non-marking"     // required for indoor courts
product.metafields.footwear.stability_level = "Neutral / Stability / Motion control"

Grip size compatibility

Racket grip sizes vary by brand notation. A cross-reference helps customers:

European notation: L0, L1, L2, L3, L4, L5 (size in mm: L2 = 4¼" = 108mm circumference)
American notation: 4, 4⅛, 4¼, 4⅜, 4½ (inches)
Add a grip size guide page explaining how to measure and choose; link from all racket product pages
Overgrips (wrapped over handle): listed separately; gauge/thickness as spec

Post-migration checklist for tennis and racket sports stores

Racket head size, weight, balance, and stiffness as metafields on all rackets
String pattern as metafield (important for players choosing their strings)
Skill level / playing style as metafield for browse filtering
Grip size as variant (L1/L2/L3/L4)
Stringing service: line item property add-on or separate service product configured
Tennis footwear: court surface as metafield
String gauge and material as metafields on all string products
Grip size guide page linked from all racket products

Migrating a tennis and racket sports store from WooCommerce to Shopify (2026)