The most important part of your game is definitely your tennis racket. There is no general opinion which rackets is the best in the world. Every group of players has different preferences. Tennis Racket suitable for professionals can be too hard for an amateur to use. What is good for women playing recreationally could be bad for a junior amateur. We look at different categories and give you a hint of what are the best tennis rackets for every group of players.
Content:
How to choose the best tennis racket?
Best Tennis Rackets for Women
— Professional players
— Intermediate & Advanced Players
— Beginners
Best Tennis Rackets for Men
— Professional Players
— Intermediate & Advanced Players
— Beginners
Best Tennis Racket – What has to be taken into consideration?
The term “best tennis racket” can be tricky. The best for one player is not the best for another player. Different players have different needs and what suits one does not necessarily suit all. Therefore we need to be very careful with the use of the best tennis racket. Basically, you need to consider more features and elements to pick the best tennis racket for you.
At first, you need to consider the length, weight and head size of the racket. Then you should think about the features needed for your playing style.
Length
Length is the basic and the most simple parameter. The adult tennis racket is usually 27 inches long, that is the same almost for all tennis rackets. No need to think about it for a long time.
Weight
Weight of the racket is usually in the range from 250 grams to 350 grams. The heavier rackets are for more advanced players. The lighter rackets are suitable for intermediate and beginner players. Recreational players use rackets with a weight of around 300 grams. Professionals go with 330+ grams rackets. Lighter rackets are easier to swing and have a shorter reaction time. Heavier rackets have more power and you will be able to hit harder and play more aggressive.
Head Size
Head size is directly connected with the size of the sweet spot. The sweet spot is the place that directly hits the ball. Larger head size means a larger sweet spot. Then you will have fewer off hits.
95 square inches and 98 square inches head sizes are really for more advanced players. Intermediate players usually play with 100 square inches rackets. Beginners use bigger head sizes (100+ square inches).
Features – Control & Spin & Power
There are three basic features you need to have in a balance. Control, spin potential, and power.
Control means that the ball will land at the place you target. The spin potential is the ability of tennis racket to give the ball topspin or backspin with lower possible effort. Power is the ability of the racket to add speed to your hits.
It is hard to have all these three factors at the highest possible level. If your racket has big spin potential and precision of the shots is high, then you will probably need a lot of extra effort to play aggressive tennis with strong hits. The more powerful racket you get than you will lack either the control or you will have a problem to play hits with a spin.
Therefore you need to find a tennis racket that will suit your needs. Offensive players prefer heavier rackets (315+ grams) with smaller head sizes (95 to 98 sq. inches) to maximize the power. Defensive players use lighter rackets (300 grams) with head sizes around 100 square inches.
Below you will find our recommendations for the best tennis players for different categories of players.
BEST TENNIS RACKETS FOR WOMEN
Best Tennis Racket for Professional Players
BABOLAT PURE DRIVE
Head size: 100 sq.inches
Weight: 300 g
CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON
Best Tennis Racket for Intermediate and Advanced Players
WILSON BLADE 104
Famous brand, a famous racket used by famous tennis players. Serena and Venus Williams won a lot of games and tournaments with this piece of tennis art. The Bigger head gives you extra reach, the sweet spot is adjusted to the bigger frame. All clicks together and you have probably the best racket for women in the world.
Head size: 104 sq.inches or 98 sq.inches
Weight: 289 g
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Best Tennis Racket for Beginners
TECNIFIBRE T-REBOUND TEMPO
Our review of Tecnifibre T-Rebound Tempo
Head size: 100 sq. inches
Weight: 255 to 290 grams (depending on the exact model)
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BEST TENNIS RACKETS FOR MEN
Best Tennis Racket for Professional Players
WILSON PRO STAFF RF 97 AUTOGRAPH
Our review of Wilson Pro Staff 97LS [290 grams version]tennis racket
Head size: 97 sq. inches
Strung Weight: 355 g
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Best Tennis Racket for Intermediate and Advanced Players
Wilson Clash 100
Our review of Wilson Clash 100 tennis racket
Head size: 100 sq. inches
Strung Weight: 310 g
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BABOLAT AEROPRO DRIVE
Racket used by Clay King, one and only, Rafael Nadal. This racket is an absolute killer from the baseline but still lets the player have a great ball feel. The racket frame is probably the fastest in the world.
Head Size: 100 sq.inches
Weight: 300 g
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Best Tennis Racket for Beginner & Intermediate Players
HEAD GRAPHENE XT SPEED PRO
The higher version is used by Novak Djokovic. This version with an 18 x 20 string pattern is more forgiving than other comparable rackets. The Dense pattern gives you an increased sweet spot and you will always hit the target.
Head Size: 100 sq.inches
Strung Weight: 332 g
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BEST TENNIS RACKETS FOR KIDS & JUNIORS
Read our special article here – Best rackets for Kids and Juniors
WILSON
CLASH | SHIFT | ULTRA | BLADE | BURN | PRO STAFF |
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Power and Control and Spin | Power and Spin | Power and Spin | Spin and Control | Power | Control |
Read our review of WILSON BURN 100 Countervail tennis racket | |||||
SHOP WILSON CLASH v2 at official Wilson store HERE | SHOP WILSON SHIFT at official Wilson store HERE | Shop WILSON ULTRA at official Wilson Shop HERE | Shop WILSON BLADE at official Wilson store HERE | Shop WILSON BURN at official Wilson Store HERE | Shop WILSON PRO STAFF at official Wilson Shop HERE |
HEAD
GRAVITY | PRESTIGE | SPEED | RADICAL | INSTINCT | EXTREME |
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New! Force | Full Control | Ultimate Power | Control and Spin potential | Power and Comfort | Power and Spin |
SHOP HEAD SPEED TENNIS RACKETS ON AMAZON | SHOP HEAD RADICAL TENNIS RACKETS ON AMAZON |
BABOLAT
PURE AERO | PURE DRIVE | PURE STRIKE | EVO |
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Spin | Power | Control | Transition |
YONEX
Check also our guides for other pieces of tennis equipment you could need for your tennis play
Find out more about how to choose the best tennis shoes for every surface
Find out more about how to choose the best strings for your racket
Find out more about how to choose the best tennis ball machine and best tennis balls for your practice
Just curious how much has changed since Wilson 2000’s. Last good games were earlier than 77 and sad to see it impossible to find a court anyway. Thanks folks for still doing what you like. Even in Spokane in 76 we had courts south of town under the Interstate now parking. Back issues keep me away but not as much as terrible choice of people left to ask.
It’s sad that the one brand of racquet that had more top pro’s behind it in history, isn’t even among your listing. I’m referring to Slazenger, which is the schtisk I’ve behind since “96”. I use a 1’st generation Silhouette, which is around 350 g, and generates enough cahonies to take racquets out of peoples hands, and to even lay out opponents on my serve. I don’t need any of those fancy newfangled ones.
Thanx.
Best Tennis Rackets for Power
Babolat Pure Drive. Head size: 100in² / 645cm² String pattern: 16×19. …
Yonex EZONE 100. Head size: 100in² / 645cm² String pattern: 16×19. …
Prince Textreme Beast 98. Head size: 98in² / 630cm² String pattern: 16×20. …
Head Graphene 360 Extreme Pro. Head size: 100in² / 645cm² …
Wilson Ultra 100 V3. Head size: 100in² / 645cm² visit here