9 Best Tennis Racquets For Advanced Players
Once a player reaches a certain skill level a proper racquet is needed to maximize shop-making ability. Advanced tennis racquets are the same thing as performance tennis racquets used and endorsed by players at the highest level. These racquets are the best of the best, utilizing the best technology to improve a player’s overall ability.
Most players are looking for one of three different types of racquet: power/spin, balanced, or control. For the most part, it’s a bit of a sliding scale in that a powerful and spin-friendly racquet will need to sacrifice some control, and vice-versa.
With nine total advanced player racquets, there is something for everyone to try. Here they are, broken down by category.
Best Advanced Tennis Racquets For Control
Control is something that a lot of players are looking for when they hit the courts in tennis. It can sometimes be very difficult for advanced players to continually hit the ball hard, and also keep the ball in play against better opponents.
If the power is there naturally, all it takes is a little bit of added control to take the game to the next level. These racquets tend to be a little heavier and support a dense string pattern. Here are three to try.
1. Wilson Blade 98
- Head Size: 98 sq. in
- Length: 27 in
- Strung Weight: 11.4 oz / 323g
- Balance: 4pts HL
- String Pattern: 18×20
- Flex: 62
- Swingweight: 334
This latest version of the Wilson Blade improves on control quite a bit. It has always been a line that focuses on easy control and precision on the court, but that became even more apparent when they decided to put the FeelFlex technology in the racquet.
The first racquet they did this with was the Wilson Clash, and many people felt like it was a huge step in the right direction. The Blade is a more controllable racquet, especially with the 18 x 20 string pattern. Players who hit flatter balls will notice a difference with more strings hitting the ball, helping produce more control.
On serves, it can do the same thing. Balls jump off the racquet pretty well for a low-level power racquet, meaning that advanced players should be able to get some aces on their opponents. Where this racquet shines is on second serve, or serves that need to be put at a very specific part of the service box.
Known as one of the easiest racquets to adapt to that is out right now, people should be jumping at the opportunity to try this racquet out. Players will instantly start to keep more balls in, allowing them to keep up with the heaviest of hitters. You can read our full review in this post.
Pros
- Very dense string pattern
- Comfortable racquet for anyone dealing with arm issues
- Surprising power
Cons
- Somewhat inconsistent on volleys
- Hard to power through first serves
2. Head Graphene Touch Speed Pro
- Head Size: 100 sq. in
- Length: 27 in
- Strung Weight: 11.6 oz / 329g
- Balance: 6pts HL
- String Pattern: 18×20
- Flex: 63
- Swingweight: 322
Staying with the tradition of Head Speed Pros in the past, the Graphene Touch Speed Pro is a perfect solution for players who might be struggling a bit with keeping balls in the court. It doesn’t have quite the power that some advanced racquets have, but it makes up with things by providing some of the best control out there.
On the ground is where this racquet shines. It has a dense string pattern, but people still have the opportunity to develop a lot of spin off of both wings. Players can feel like they are capable of playing very aggressively at all times, and not sacrificing control.
Serving is also pretty good as far as control is concerned, but some people feel like the power is lacking most noticeably there. If a player is struggling a little bit to develop power on the serve, it might be worth looking at a different option that is out there. It won’t always be a perfect solution.
All in all, the touch comes as small as 93 square inches but as big as 99 square inches. Depending on the type of player a person is, they can get some great feel on shots at all times.
Pros
- Great feel and touch on all shots
- Easy topspin
- Controllable power for flatter shots
Cons
- Lacks a ton of power on the first serve
- Small sweet spot
3. Prince Phantom Pro 100P
- Head Size: 100 sq. in
- Length: 27 in
- Strung Weight: 11.4 oz / 323g
- Balance: 6pts HL
- String Pattern: 16×18
- Flex: 54
- Swingweight: 320
Whether a person wants to go with a very small 93 square inch head size or the 100 square inch size, the Prince Phantom Pro is known for providing a ton of control for advanced players. Not only is the control there, but it is a very flexible racquet that feels great at all times.
The first thing a player will notice when they are stepping up to a racquet like this is that the groundstrokes just feel natural. Not only is it easy to generate power off the ground, but the ball goes where it needs to go. Players who hit a very heavy ball will benefit from this back at the most, because it provides a good amount of power and spin opportunity.
On serves and volleys, the bigger sweet spot is going to come in handy for a lot of players. That means going with the 100 square inch option, although some just feel more comfortable with a smaller head size. The serve power is surprisingly very good, as players feel like they can snap through the ball and get some great piece on the first serve.
Prince has long been a company that relies on helping players with overall control and racquets that are very arm friendly. There is no reason to not take advantage of a players racquet like this if in the search for something that fits this bill.
Pros
- New technology improves control more than ever before
- Arm-friendly
- Big sweet spot on 100 square inch model
Cons
- Not the most spin-friendly
- Hard to hit hard volleys
Best Advanced Racquets For Power and Spin
Advanced players need to hit advanced shots to keep on the court with the best players. A racquet that can provide power and spin is a perfect solution for a lot of people.
Of course, all three of these racquets also have solid control, because no player is going to survive by recklessly hitting the ball all over the court. Consider these racquets perfect to take a hard-hitting game to another level.
4. Babolat Pure Aero
- Head Size: 100 sq. in
- Length: 27 in
- Strung Weight: 11.3 oz / 320g
- Balance: 4pts HL
- String Pattern: 16×19
- Flex: 67
- Swingweight: 327
The trademark racquet endorsed by Rafael Nadal certainly turned into one of the most popular models in the world. It’s a racquet that is very powerful in the right hands, while also producing some amazing spin. Even though it has a reputation of being full of power and spin, the control isn’t that bad, which is why it makes this list overall easily.
Babolat continually adjusts a few things with every new release of the Pure Aero, and 2019 is no different. They have made a few adjustments to the layout of the racquet to produce even more spin for players who hit with it. When used with a polyester string, these racquets can put some impressive spin on the ball without even trying.
Hitting the ball on a sweet spot is a very satisfying experience with the Babolat Pure Aero 2019. It has a huge sweet spot, which comes in handy for advanced players who like to turn defense and offense. That sweet spot allows for balls to easily be blocked back when they are coming hard, but also for players to take full swings at balls that sit up.
The main model is 100 square inches, and relatively lightweight for a player’s racquet. It also comes in a tour model as well as a plus model, which is perfect for people who might want a slightly different playing experience.
On top of that, they also have lighter options, as well as a VS model that is 98 square inches. They all still fit firmly under the Pure Aero umbrella, which only continues to grow. You can read our full review in this post.
Pros
- Best for spin in the game
- Plenty of power
- Volleys are very crisp
Cons
- Takes time to control shots well
- Easy to break strings with
5. Head Graphene 360 Speed Pro
- Head Size: 100 sq. in
- Length: 27 in
- Strung Weight: 11.4 oz / 323g
- Balance: 7pts HL
- String Pattern: 18×20
- Flex: 62
- Swingweight: 317
What makes this particular model stand out, comes down to having great controllable power. Even though it is considered to be a powerful racquet more than a balanced one, it still has an 18 x 20 string pattern. That means the ball is going to be on more strings when hitting, and can be the difference between keeping the ball in and sailing it long.
Big swingers will fall in love with this racquet and really love how easy it is to create power. It is a pretty light racquet as far as swingweight is concerned, and that allows advanced players to really develop power and spin.
Serving is very easy with his racquet as well. A player can really go after their first serve and swing through the ball without feeling like they are going to miss a large percentage of first serve. On a second serve, it is easy to develop a good amount of pace to allow the ball to explode off the ground.
Novak Djokovic endorses this racquet, and anyone who demos it can easily see why. He might not be the hardest hitter on tour, but he has very consistent, powerful groundstrokes that keep him at the top of the game. Expect a lot of that when playing with this racquet. You can read our full review in this post.
Pros
- Dense string pattern helps with control
- Spin is easy to develop
- Designed for flat or topspin hitters
Cons
- Some don’t like the dense string pattern for power
- Serve control is lacking slightly
6. Yonex VCORE 98
- Head Size: 98 sq. in
- Length: 27 in
- Strung Weight: 11.3 oz / 320g
- Balance: 6pts HL
- String Pattern: 16×19
- Flex: 65
- Swingweight: 322
Some might look at this as a pretty balanced racquet overall, but the power is too great and the spin potential is too high to put it in that category. With a very low swingweight and a huge sweet spot for a head size that small, players can develop a lot of power on all their strokes with their racquet.
Unlike the other two power racquets, this one makes a big statement early on with serves and volleys. Maybe it is the big sweet spot that racquet has that creates such easy power. Maybe it also has to do with how easy it is to whip through the ball and create acceleration. Whatever the case may be, players will feel very comfortable going for it on service and putting balls away at the net.
On the ground, it is a very fast racquet that is easy to maneuver. Players can whip the racquet around and create a good amount of spin off of the ground. It’s a great racquet for players who are very fast and sometimes play defensively from the baseline, because those players need extra power to keep in the rally.
Yonex is always a great racquet to try out for players who want a little bit bigger of a sweet spot. Their isometric head shape is something a bit out of the ordinary. Some people can adjust pretty easily, what others think it is a bit of a challenge. You can read our full review in this post.
Pros
- Isometric head size for bigger sweet spot
- Easy spin
- Great punch on volleys
Cons
- Different shape not for everyone
- Lacks power occasionally on the ground’
Best Advanced All-Around Racquets
The three racquets this category are known for having are the ability to provide a decent amount of control and a decent amount of power. Maybe they don’t particularly excel at one or the other, but it is exactly what a player out there is looking for.
It’s a great starting point if a player is still trying to figure out the best part of their game. Sometimes, people just don’t know, so they need a bit of a boost in everything.
7. Babolat Pure Drive
- Head Size: 100 sq. in
- Length: 27 in
- Strung Weight: 11.2 oz / 314g
- Balance: 4pts HL
- String Pattern: 16×19
- Flex: 71
- Swingweight: 308
As far as first advanced racquets are concerned, it’s hard to argue against a person going with the Babolat Pure Drive. Not every player is going to absolutely love this setup, but it is designed to help out various types of players.
It provides a lot of power and spin in the right hands, but it is stiff enough to provide great control as well. With a perfect modern head size of 100 square inches, it’s not hard to consistently hit balls in the sweet spot.
Like a lot of professional racquets, it really comes down to what type of string a person decides to put into the Babolat Pure Drive. If using polyester, a player should expect plenty of power and span at lower tensions. With a softer string, control is going to be a little more and more play. It will also feel a little more comfortable on the arm as well.
Perhaps the best overall shot with the Babolat Pure Drive is the serve. It seems like more often than not, any person who demos the racquet feels like they can put the ball whatever they want with a lot of velocities.
A great first serve is a huge weapon to have for any advanced player, and the racquet provides a lot of kick and control on the second serve. You can read our full review in this post.
Pros
- Great serving power and control
- Easy to volley with
- Spin potential is excellent
Cons
- Lacks quality comfort
- Only available in bigger head sizes
8. Head Graphene 360 Radical MP
- Head Size: 98 sq. in
- Length: 27 in
- Strung Weight: 11 oz / 312g
- Balance: 6pts HL
- String Pattern: 16×19
- Flex: 68
- Swingweight: 324
The Radical line for Head brings a little bit of everything to the table. It is considered to be the definition of a modern player’s frame, allowing players to experience a good amount of control, fuel, speed, power, and spin.
There are a bunch of different weights to choose from, so a person can find exactly what they want to play with. For most advanced players, either stick with the standard model or upgrade to the pro, which is a little heavier.
One of the real standout features of this racquet is that Head uses a dynamic string pattern to condense all the strings in the middle. This helps to add control and make it seem like a denser string pattern than it actually is. Those players who can hit the sweet spot consistently will notice a difference.
Swing speed is very fast, especially on the standard model. It’s easy to generate power with all strokes, and spin is there as well. It is just impressive to see how much control comes out of your bracket that is a 16 x 19 string pattern. It is often not going to be the case as far as that is concerned.
The Head Radical Line might not be for everyone, but most players will quickly be able to see why it is such a popular racquet. It doesn’t do anything poorly and allows players to feel very confident add different levels.
An advanced player can step their game up using a rag like this if they are moving away from something else. You can read our full review in this post.
Pros
- Built off years of success with the Radical line
- Uses a condensed string pattern in the middle
- Does everything above average
Cons
- Not that much different than previous models
- Tough to customize
9. Wilson Clash 100 Tour
- Head Size: 100 sq. in
- Length: 27 in
- Strung Weight: 11.5 oz / 326g
- Balance: 9pts HL
- String Pattern: 16×19
- Flex: 55
- Stiffness: 55
- Swingweight: 322
After considerable hype surrounding the racquet, the Wilson Clash has delivered in a big way for a lot of advanced players. It is mostly gaining attention for being extremely arm-friendly and flexible, but it is a great overall racquet that comes in many different sizes for people to choose from.
The Wilson Class 98 and the Wilson Clash 100 Tour are the most popular options for advanced players, as they can hit with power and spin without sacrificing control.
Some people feel like the racquet is just a little bit too flexible, but that usually changes once a person adjusts accordingly. There is a slight learning curve with a racquet like this, mostly because people are not used to getting so little feedback on shots.
Wilson is very confident with this technology, and that is why it is making it into other racquets as well. The Wilson Blade currently has the same type of flexibility, and it is probably only a matter of time before the Ultra gets the same treatment.
Since its release, the Wilson Clash has certainly made a huge impact on the tennis racquet industry. It took a little while longer for advanced players to start using the racquet consistently, but now they are just as happy as other players out there. It’s worthy of a demo, especially if there is any sort of arm trouble whatsoever going on. You can read our full review in this post.
Pros
- Best arm-friendly racquet available
- Provides great overall touch
- A thicker beam provides just enough power
Cons
- Takes time to fully adjust to how the racquet plays
- Some feel too much flex at impact
When Is It Time To Jump To An Advanced Tennis Racquet?
Even though all nine tennis racquets are labeled as advanced, many intermediate players also use similar racquets. That really comes down to just how comfortable a player feels with their racquet, and if they are seen more positives the negatives.
For the most part, advanced players will be able to hit with pretty much any racquet to a certain degree. Having the ability to create power without relying on a racquet’s setup is very important. Not everyone knows how to do this early on, but in time, a person will be able to hit winners against decent opponents.
If you don’t feel like you are an advanced player yet, check out one of these posts below
What Makes an Advanced Racquet So Advanced?
The number one thing to look for in an advanced tennis racquet is a head size that is 100 square inches or smaller. Anything bigger than that, and it just isn’t really seen on tour much at all. There are exceptions to the rule, as Serena Williams uses a 104 square inc racquet, but those exceptions are usually few and far between.
Racquet weight varies quite a bit as well, but should be at least 10.5 ounces on the low end. Some racquets will get up there in a hurry, and this allows for some weaker players to stay in rallies because they are able to deflect power very well.
Finally, racquets tend to stay in the 27 inches to the 27.5-inch range for the most part. Anything longer than that becomes a little too difficult to handle and maneuver out on the court.
Smaller players like slightly longer racquets because it allows them to really reach for a serve and hit certain balls off the ground that they normally wouldn’t get to. Anyone who has a serve they rely on should look into the opportunity to hit with a longer racquet.
Why Advanced Racquets Are Important
An advanced player needs an advanced racquet to advance their game. It seems simple enough, but anyone who has gone through the racquet buying process understands that there are so many different variables to consider.
Without question, the best way to get some answers with a tennis racquet is to demo as many as possible. No one will truly be able to understand how something will feel in someone else’s hands. There is no true racquet that is perfect for every player, so part of the experience is trying out everything available.
Think about whether or not the racquet needs to handle topspin or flat strokes. Also, think about fast or slow swings. Hitting a short and compact ball off of the ground requires a different racquet than someone who has a longer swing. It’s also helpful to understand if points are played mostly from the baseline, or if there is a lot of serve and volley play.
Once an advanced player finds the racquet they like, invest in at least two of them. There is nothing worse than playing tennis and breaking a string, and that is the only racquet a person owns. They are essentially done for the day unless they borrow someone else’s racquet. Don’t be that person, and invest in two racquets. Perhaps, even a third to be on the safe side.
Here is the full list of the best tennis racquets for advanced players
- Wilson Blade 98 18 x 20
- Head Graphene Touch Speed Pro
- Prince Phantom Pro 100P
- Babolat Pure Aero
- Head Graphene 360 Speed Pro
- Yonex VCORE 98
- Babolat Pure Drive
- Head Graphene 360 Radical MP
- Wilson Clash 100
