Which tennis racquet should I buy?
This is one of the most common question that beginner and even intermediate players ask themselves.
The tennis racquet market in enormous and it is quite easy to get lost and confused when looking for the right one. When you’re in the market for a new racquet there are many features you should pay attention to, such as power, control, comfort, maneuverability amongst many others.
But do not worry, this article will help you get a much clearer picture on which racquet to choose.
Tennis Racquets for Comfort
Most suitable for: Beginners or Returning players
1. Wilson Clash 100
Wilson Clash 100 is one of the most popular Wilson racquets in recent times amongst the beginner and intermediate player level. Below you can find some pros and cons of this racquet to potentially help you whether to choose the Wilson Clash 100 or not.
Pros: Extremely comfortable, Moderate power and control.
Cons: Challenging to handle balls with a heavy pace as well as to perform flat serves
Wilson Clash is by far one of the most comfortable racquets on the market with moderate power to get the ball across the net. Its control is also quite good and it surely won’t disappoint. The comfort of the Wilson Clash comes from the FortyFive technology in the Clash v2 which allows for horizontal as well as vertical bending, making it a great choice for players with elbow issues.
Wilson Clash 100 is our choice since it is excellent for beginners overall. There are also 100L and 100UL versions of the Clash series if you’d prefer something lighter. Additionally, more advanced versions like Clash 98 and Clash 100 Pro are available.
2. Head Boom MP
The Head Boom MP is an over-all great beginner and intermediate racquet with great comfort and maneuverability. Here are some positives and some drawbacks of this racquet, as seen below.
Pros: Spin-friendly, Easy to swing and quite swift
Cons: A bit stiffer than other competitors although still very comfortable, A lack of stability
This racquet is a great choice for players looking for a very player-friendly racquet with an easy access to power and spin, whilst maintaining a decent amount of control on your shots.
3. Yonex Ezone 100
The already-established racquet series by Yonex, the EZone 100 is an extremely player-oriented racquet due to it being very versatile.
Pros: Great touch, Suitable for a counter-punch play style with a good amount of power
Cons: Quite head-heavy, Isn’t all that easy to maneuver at all times
All in all, an exceptional players racquet with a great blend of features that make the Yonex EZone 100 a very viable option for a lot of players. However, be sure to demo this racquet to see whether you can maneuver it.
Tennis Racquets for Power
Most suitable for: Intermediate and Advanced players
1. Solinco Blackout 300
The Solinco Blackout 300 is a powerful racquet produced by Solinco, a manufacturer more known for the strings they make rather than racquets. But the quality of their product shows in their racquets as well. It is quite similar to the Babolat Pure Drive but more comfortable.
Pros: Very easy access to power, Great maneuverability
Cons: It can be fairly easy to hit out, Quite stiff
Overall, the Solinco Blackout 300 is a great choice for baseline players which are in the market for a spin-friendly racquet with loads of power paired with good comfort. Due to its excess power, it can be quite easy to overshoot your shots, but a solution for this might be switching to a low power string.
2. Head Extreme MP
The Head Extreme MP is a very spin friendly players racquet from Head. The Extreme series is a very well-known racquet series and it has kept proving its worth over the years.
Pros: Great power, Spin-friendly and easy to maneuver
Cons: Reduced comfort, A loss in control and stability can be felt against faster paced shots
This racquet is a great choice for players looking for a racquet with a lot of power with great spin and maneuverability, however pay close attention to the reduced comfort if you’re a player with previous injuries.
3. Head Instinct MP
The Head Instinct MP is also a famous racquet series by Head. However, compared to Extreme series, the Instinct is better suitable for flat-hitters. Here are some of its pros and cons.
Pros: Amazing power with nice spin, Quick handling
Cons: Quite stiff, Reduced feel compared to other competitors
The Instinct MP is generally a great power racquet which offers the player great maneuverability with a lot of spin. However, if you’ve had elbow problems, you might want to reconsider buying this racquet as it is quite stiff.
4. Babolat Pure Aero (spin friendly)
Babolat Pure Aero is a legendary Babolat racquet series endorsed by non-other than Rafa Nadal. It is an amazing players racquet with a lot of top spin paired with loads of power to get the ball across the net.
Pros: Incredible spin and power, Very swift
Cons: Vibration transfer on your hand resulting in a little less comfort
The Pure Aero by Babolat is an overall incredible racquet. Loved by many with a good reason. If you’re looking to buy this particular racquet keep in mind that it might be a little less comfortable on your hand as it transfers more vibrations than some of its competitors.
5. Babolat Pure Drive (flat-hitters)
Babolat Pure Drive is also an adored series, not only by Babolat fans, but many fans across the globe. When compared to the Pure Aero, the Pure Drive is more suitable for players with a more aggressive play style with flatter shots.
Pros: Great power and plow through
Cons: Comfort, Vibrations
As with a lot of Babolat racquets, despite how great they really are, there is no denying that some of them transfer more vibrations onto the hand than other competitor racquets. Nonetheless, the Babolat Pure Drive is a solid choice for someone who can handle the feel of this racquet.
6. Yonex VCore 100 (spin friendly)
Yonex VCore 100 is one of the most spin-friendly racquets by Yonex. It is a superb competitive racquet.
Pros: Effortless power, Great top spin
Cons: Control, Transfers only a little bit of vibrations
All in all, an amazing blend of stats making the Yonex VCore 100 a great racquet for players looking for a racquet with lots of power and great top spin ability.
If you’re looking for more control but a little less power, than the VCore 100, then you should add the Yonex VCore 98 to your demo list.
Tennis Racquets for Control & Precision
Most suitable for: Strong intermediate and Advanced players
1. Wilson Pro Staff 97 (and RF 97)
Probably one of the most legendary racquets, the Wilson Pro Staff 97 is endorsed by a tennis legend, Roger Federer. An incredible racquet, but quite challenging to master.
Pros: Great blend of power paired with immaculate control and precision, Superb touch
Cons: Difficult to master, Possibly too heavy for quite a few people
The Wilson Pro Staff 97 is an excellent racquet with loads of potential. The trick is, if you’re not able to wield it properly, you simply cannot get the most out of it. Nevertheless, an amazing choice for players with enough strength to maneuver this racquet.
2. Solinco Whiteout 305
Solinco Whiteout 305 is a control-oriented racquet by Solinco. Many people compare it to the likes of: Babolat Pure Strike, Tecnifiber TF40, and Wilson Pro Staff.
The following are its pros and cons.
Pros: Easy to swing, Moderate power, Good control, Comfort
Cons: It’s a bit launchy
The Solinco Whiteout 305 is a racquet that most people are amazed by, and rightfully so. It is on par with all its competition.
The Solinco Whiteout 305 is a great controllable racquet and it is more comfortable when compared to Babolat Pure Strike. It is quite easy to swing and, when compared to the Wilson Pro Staff 97 it generates more power. It is somewhat on par with Technifibre TF40 16×19, but at a lower price point. It is great when paired with the Solinco Hyper-G for more pop on your shots, and when paired with Solinco Confidential it has more control.
3. Tecnifibre TF40 18×20
The TF40 by Technifibre is a control-focused racquet due to its 18×20 string pattern. It is an overall great racquet with the following pros and cons.
Pros: Great control and Precision
Cons: Higher swing weight, Relatively not spin-friendly
This racquet is a great replacement for racquets such as the Wilson Blade 98 or Wilson Pro Staff 97, as it easier to swing than the Pro Staff and more powerful when compared to the Blade.
It comes in 16×19 and 18×20 string patterns which offer more versatility for the user. All in all, it is a great control-based racquet.
4. Wilson Blade 98
The Wilson Blade 98 is one of the most popular racquets from the blade series, known for its great blend of control, precision and power on your shots.
Pros: Superb control and touch, Precision
Cons: Might be a little too heavy for some people which makes it quite hard to maneuver
Wilson Blade 98 v8 is one of the most comfortable racquets thanks to the FortyFive technology which is also used in the Wilson Clash series. It doesn’t offer as much spin potential as some other competitors might, but it is very well-suited for flat hitters. It requires quite a lot of physical strength to get the maximum out of it.
An overall amazing racquet which is the most ideal for baseline-based players in need of a precise “weapon”.
5. Babolat Pure Strike
The Pure Strike by Babolat is a control-focused racquet with loads of precision which makes it a great players racquet.
Pros: A decent blend of control and power, Great feel
Cons: Less comfort, Dampened feel for some players
A great choice for players looking for a stable and controllable racquet without too many ambitious aggressive plays.
Babolat Pure Strike is great on groundstrokes, serve, volley and spin, whist also being a very forgivable racquet.
Its downside is comfort, and touch/feel when comparing to competitors.
6. Prince ATS Textreme Tour 98
The Prince ATS Textreme Tour 98, due to its head size and string pattern is also a good control-based racquet. Below are its pros and cons.
Pros: Good Control, Comfortable
Cons: Quite heavy, Slow-swinging
The Prince ATS Textreme Tour 98 is a solid choice for someone in the market for a control-oriented racquet.
It is more comfortable and has a bit more control, however it has less spin potential and less forgiveness than the Babolat Pure Strike.
As we all know, players are differentiated by their play style, preferences and many other factors, so we recommend you demo the racquet first.
Tennis Racquets for Control & Precision with a Low Swing Weight
Most suitable for: Seniors and Doubles Players
1. Head Prestige MP L
The Head Prestige MP L is a very good racquet made by Head. It offers great precision at a low swing weight which makes it more suitable for doubles than single games.
Pros: Great precision, Control and comfort
Cons: Small sweet spot, Not powerful
Due to its characters above, with the Head Prestige MP L it is easy to control depth, and to maneuver it.
However, it is not that solid for groundstrokes as it has a small sweet spot and is not powerful enough.
That’s why it is a great weapon for seniors playing doubles.
2. Yonex VCore Pro 100
The VCore Pro 100 is an excellent racquet by Yonex made to be the best of all world. With a larger sweet spot and lots of power, it is undeniably a great choice.
Pros: Large sweet spot, Great mix of power and control
Cons: A little bit on the stiffer side
The Yonex VCore Pro 100 is a great “weapon” of choice for players looking for an all-rounded players racquet.
Due to a large sweet spot which generates a lot of power, it is very suitable for Senior doubles players.
Wrap Up
Whether or not it’s your first, choosing a racquet is never an easy decision.
As we categorized the most popular tennis racquets above, the chance to choose the wrong racquet is slim.
Keep in mind that, the same racquet, strung with a different string is a complete other story. We will focus our attention to tennis strings in another article.
Strings aside, choosing your racquet is the primary step.
The greatest advice we can offer is to demo the ones that suit your play style the best, and correctly choose the string and string tension.
Whichever you choose, you will learn and grow alongside your tennis journey.
Lastly, keep it up and enjoy the game!
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