For a non-competitive athlete, is a patellar graft or a hamstring graft most effective for an acl reconstruction?

Acl tear: I would recommed a hamstring graft although the patella graft would work well too. The hamstring graft can be removed through a cosmetically nicer incision and there is probably less postop pain than a patella graft. I assume your question was in regards to autografts and not allografts?

Either: The best choice between the two is the one your surgeon is most comfortable with. The patella graft is more reliably large enough to replace your acl, sometime the hamstring tendons, even if you take two are very small and may put you at higher risk of tearing your graft.Patella grafts have risks too and some people have knee pain after surgery and have a harder time recovering.