Tennis is the ideal combination of physical activity and social connection, with several health advantages. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned pro, selecting the correct racquet can improve your game. When choosing the appropriate one for your next serve, keep your hitting style, level of play, and cost in mind.
When selecting a racquet, consider whether you are a novice or advanced player, how frequently you play, and the strength and accuracy of your shot. It can also be beneficial to be able to test-drive a racquet. For our list, we looked into tennis racquets based on their cost, durability, the type of play they’re most suited for, head size, and weight.
According to a tennis coach, these are the greatest tennis racquets on the market.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Wilson Clash 100 Tennis Racquet
- Best Budget: HEAD Titanium Tennis Racket
- For Beginners: Babolat Pure Aero Lite Tennis Racquet
- Advanced: Babolat Pure Drive 2021 Tennis Racquet
- Top Spin: Yonex VCORE 95 Tennis Racquet
- For Best Control: Wilson Blade 98 V7 Tennis Racquet
Best Overall: Wilson Clash 100 Tennis Racquet
Pros
- Maneuverable
- Exceptional control
- Flexibility
Cons
- Expensive
Because of its unique blend of flexibility, power, and control, the Wilson Clash 100 is our best overall option. It’s adaptable and simple to utilize without jeopardizing a player’s ability to hit forcefully. This is a long-lasting racquet that is appropriate for players of all ages and skill levels.
Wilson launched a new frame that incorporates FreeFlex technology, which allows the racquet to purposely bend in all directions: horizontally or vertically for any swing type, improving a player’s ability to hit consistently and correctly. The StableSmart design’s unique simulation frame geometry ensures stability and power with every hit.
The racquet’s strongest feature is that it lets the player maintain an aggressive edge in play. You can still generate a lot of power and spin. While it is an investment, this is a comfortable racquet that will not disappoint.
Weight: Unstrung 10.3 ounces | Head Size: 100 sq inches | String Pattern: 16 x 19 | Length: 27 inches
Best Budget: HEAD Titanium Tennis Racket
Pros
- Large sweet spot
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Not meant for advanced players
- Slight vibration
The Head TI.S6 racquet is widely regarded as one of the most popular racquets on the market, so it’s not surprising that we’ve ranked it as the top budget racquet. This racquet is less expensive when compared to other racquets of same quality.
On the technical side, Head’s TI.S6 provides substantial power thanks to its titanium and graphite fiber blend. Despite its huge head of 115 square inches, this racquet is rather light, allowing you to quickly glide around the court. The larger head also offers a greater sweet area for making contact with the ball.
Weight: 10.6 ounces | Head Size: 115 sq inches | String Pattern: 16 x 19 | Length: 27.75 inches
For Beginners: Babolat Pure Aero Lite Tennis Racquet
Pros
- Very user-friendly
- Spin boosting
- Easy targeting
Cons
- Relatively Expensive
The Babolat Pure Aero Lite is the best racquet for beginners who want to develop and enhance their game. With Rafael Nadal partnering on the Pure Aero series, this racquet delivers as an extremely user-friendly, ultra-lightweight racquet with some extra spin.
Despite its ultra-lightweight design, which can make a racquet feel less solid on the court, this racquet maintains even balance and optimal agility on the court. As a result, the Pure Aero Lite feels significantly more stable than its weight would imply.
Babolat’s FSI Spin Technology allows shots to be loaded with spin for growing novice players developing on their skills. This is a very responsive racquet that lets players to create more power and motility as they develop their strokes. While this may appear to be a high price for a novice racquet, it is well worth it for individuals who are serious about improving their game.
Weight: 9.5 ounces unstrung | Head Size: 100 sq inches | String Pattern: 16 x 19 | Length: 27 inches
Advanced: Babolat Pure Drive 2021 Tennis Racquet
Pros
- Explosive power
- Increased spin
- Great for serving
Cons
- Less control
The Pure Drive Tour from Babolat is the best racquet on the market for professional players. It was launched in 1994 and was once known as the Pure Drive Roddick after retired ATP player Andy Roddick3, and it’s ideal for experienced players searching for a combination of explosive speed, power, and spin.
Because the thick frame generates raw power, this racquet is designed for advanced players with excellent control. A new elliptical frame structure measuring 100 square inches is included in this upgrade to Babolat’s Pure Drive Tour. Despite having a large sweet spot, the frame is rigid enough to keep control. Furthermore, Babolat employs a new technology known as SWX Pure Feel to further improve the amount of feel and connection.
Weight: 11.2 ounces | Head Size: 100 sq inches | String Pattern: 16 x 19 | Length: 27 inches
Top Spin: Yonex VCORE 95 Tennis Racquet
Pros
- Great feel
- Very stable
- Shot predictability
Cons
- Advanced players’ racquet
- Expensive
The Yonex VCORE 95 is the perfect racquet for players who like to attack with aggressive spin and precision. Denis Shapovalov endorses the compact VCORE 95, which has the core elements and benefits of Yonex’s VCORE line. 4
This racquet has a few characteristics designed to maximize spin potential. The NAMD2 graphite frame is highly flexible, increases shaft torque, and aids in unlocking additional spin. When it comes to off-center shots, the VCORE 95 sports a newly developed set of straight hole grommets that allow for more string movement.
This 11.5-ounce lightweight racquet features Yonex’s unique Isometric square head shape. Furthermore, the thick 16 x 20 string design gives players more control and accuracy over their shots.
Weight: Strung 11.5 ounces | Head Size: 95 sq inches | String Pattern: 16 x 20 | Length: 27 inches
For Best Control: Wilson Blade 98 V7 Tennis Racquet
Pros
- Strong connection
- Comfortable grip
Cons
- Heavy swingweight
- Expensive
If you’re seeking for the ultimate control, look no further than the Wilson Blade 98 18 x 20 v7 racquet. Serena Williams and Stefanos Tsitsipas are two of the advisors behind the Blade’s creation, and it performs well thanks to the full update and FeelFlex Technology.
FeelFlex entails strategically placing carbon mapping throughout the frame to improve connection and feel for the ball. This racquet is ideal for strong hitters searching for more control in their game, as it absorbs and redirects pace while letting them to plow through the ball without worry of overhitting.
Contact between the ball and the strings is boosted thanks to improved racquet flex through the use of braided graphite and basalt composition and an enhancement of the Wilson BLX technology. This provides players with a greater feel for their strokes as well as an overall sense of control over their game.
Weight: Unstrung 10.7 ounces | Head Size: 98 sq inches | String Pattern: 18 x 20 | Length: 27 inches
What To Look For When Purchasing A Tennis Racquet
Style of Play
The racquet you choose will depend on how you swing the racket. As you begin your quest for a new racquet, here are some considerations: You are either a novice or an expert in your field. On an average week, how many games do you play? Spin or natural force, which do you like to use when striking the ball? Do you want to be able to better manage your shots? What about buying a racquet, last but not least?
Racquet Head Size
For new players, a larger racquet head provides more forgiving shots and a greater area of contact with the ball. However, advanced players who generate their own power frequently look for the polar opposite—a smaller head that provides them with greater control over their shots—to achieve the same results. The average racquet’s surface area is between 85 and 110 square inches. 5 In this price range, you may get a racquet head that gives you both control and power in equal measure.
Racquet Weight
Consider the racquet’s weight, which varies from brand to brand and style to style. The steadiness of the racquet improves with weight. Beginners and juniors will benefit from lighter racquets, which are less stable but more agile.