Most listings on any marketplace fail at the same point: the seller spent ten minutes on photos and thirty seconds on the words. A buyer who cannot answer "what grip size is this?" from your listing will not message you to ask. They will move on to the next one.
If you have already read our photography guide, you know how to show the frame honestly. This post is about what you write alongside those photos. The description is where trust actually forms. A buyer who has never met you is deciding whether to send money to a stranger based on a paragraph of text. Getting that paragraph right is not difficult, but it does require thinking like the person on the other side of the screen.
The specs that must appear in every listing#
There is no such thing as too much information on a pre-owned racket listing. Buyers filter, search, and compare. If your listing is missing a spec that matters to them, it disappears from their consideration without you knowing.
These are the four non-negotiables, regardless of sport:
Weight. For tennis, quote the unstrung weight in grams. If you have strung it and know the string and tension, state that separately. For padel, quote the weight as it sits, since the frame comes with its hitting surface already in place. If you have added overgrip, mention it and note it adds roughly 5-8 g.
Grip size. Use the European L-scale (L0 through L5) if you know it. If you bought the frame in the US and only know the inch measurement (4 inches through 4 5/8 inches), write both. A buyer in Europe searching for an L3 will not automatically know that 4 3/8 inches is what they want.
String status (tennis only). State whether the frame is strung or unstrung. If strung, name the string, the tension in kilograms or pounds, and roughly when it was strung. Strings lose tension over time even without play. A frame strung two years ago at 25 kg is not playing at 25 kg now. Say so. Buyers respect honesty here far more than silence. Padel rackets have no strings, so this field does not apply.
Visible wear. This is covered in detail in the next section, but it belongs in the spec block too, not just the prose. One line: "Light scratching on the throat, no frame cracks, bumper guard intact" tells a buyer more than a paragraph of reassurance.
If you include these four things clearly and accurately, your listing is already better than the majority of what players are competing against on any marketplace.
How to describe condition without selling yourself short#
"Good condition" means nothing. Every seller thinks their frame is in good condition. The phrase has been drained of meaning through overuse, and buyers know it.
What actually builds trust is specificity. Describe what you can see, where it is, and how it got there. Here is the difference in practice:
Vague: "Some signs of use but overall good condition."
Specific: "Two small paint chips on the top of the frame from a net cord, each about 3 mm. The bumper guard has light scuffing from hard court play. No cracks, no structural damage. Grip was replaced six months ago and has been used for roughly fifteen hours since."
The second version takes an extra forty seconds to write. It also tells the buyer exactly what they are getting, which means no disappointment on arrival, no disputes, and no negative feedback. It signals that you are someone who pays attention to their gear, which is exactly the kind of seller a buyer wants to deal with.
A useful mental model: describe the frame to someone who cannot see the photos. If the photos disappeared, could a buyer reconstruct what they are buying from your words alone? If yes, you are done. If no, keep writing.
One more thing on condition: do not bury bad news at the end of a long description. If there is a crack, a delamination on the face of a padel frame, or a significant gouge, put it early. Buyers who would have been put off will leave quickly. Buyers who are fine with it will read on and trust everything else you say. Hiding problems does not make them disappear; it just moves the conflict to after the sale.
The phrases that signal a trustworthy seller#
Beyond specs and condition, there are small signals in how you write that tell a buyer whether you are the kind of person they want to buy from. None of them require you to be a professional copywriter.
State why you are selling. "Switching to a heavier frame" or "upgraded and this one is sitting unused" tells a buyer the frame is not being sold because something is wrong with it. It also makes you sound like a real player rather than someone clearing out a garage.
Mention how much it has been played. "Used for one season of weekly doubles" is more useful than "lightly used". Buyers can picture a season of weekly doubles. They cannot picture "lightly".
Offer to answer questions. A single line at the end, something like "happy to take more photos or weigh it on my kitchen scales if that helps", costs you nothing and removes the friction of a buyer who is almost convinced but has one lingering doubt. Most buyers will not ask. The offer alone is enough.
Be accurate about what is included. If you are including the original cover, say so. If you are not, say that too. If the overgrip is new, mention it. Small inclusions matter to buyers who are comparing two similar listings at similar prices.
Spec checklist: what to include before you publish#
Use this before you list. If you cannot fill in a field, that is worth noting in the description rather than leaving blank.
| Field | Tennis | Padel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand and model | Yes | Yes | Full name, e.g. Babolat Pure Aero 2023 |
| Frame weight | Unstrung (g) | As played (g) | State if overgrip added |
| Grip size | L0-L5 or inches | L0-L5 | Include both scales if unsure |
| String and tension | Yes | Not applicable | Padel has no strings |
| Date strung | Yes | Not applicable | Approximate is fine |
| Head size | Yes | Yes | In sq cm or sq in |
| Condition summary | Yes | Yes | One line, specific |
| Visible damage | Yes | Yes | Location and size |
| Reason for selling | Yes | Yes | One sentence |
| What is included | Yes | Yes | Cover, overgrip, original grip |
What to do now#
If you have a frame sitting at home that has not been played with in six months, the description above is all that stands between it and a player who needs exactly that gear. Writing a good listing takes less time than a single warm-up session.
List your frame on the marketplace and use this checklist before you publish. If you are on the buying side and want to understand what a trustworthy listing looks like from the other direction, the tips on spotting a fake tennis racket are worth reading before you commit to anything. And if you are browsing now, pre-owned tennis rackets and pre-owned padel rackets are both worth a look.
Good gear should be played with. A description that tells the truth is the fastest way to make that happen.
