The Best Tennis Racquet Brands on the Market
A simple search online will show a lot of different tennis racquet options for people to consider. Not only are there a lot of racquet brands, but each brand has several different racquet options to pick from as well. What is the best way to figure out what to go with?
Most people narrow down their search by picking their favorite brand of tennis racquet. There are plenty of quality options, but the best tennis racquet brands are going to stand out from the rest.
Not only have these brands been around for a long time, but they also are endorsed by top professionals. Who doesn’t want to use the same racquets seen on the pro tour?
Here is a deeper look at the 4 best and most popular tennis brands right now.
1. Wilson
Out of all the major tennis racquet brands, Wilson is probably the most recognizable to anyone who is familiar with other sports. That is because they are a major player not only in tennis, but baseball, basketball, tennis, golf, and more as well. They have been manufacturing racquets for a long time now, and they are only growing their company at the moment.
Wilson is the most popular racquet brand among ATP pro players. Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Kei Nishikori are just a few current headliners for the company. Federer, in particular, has his own signature racquet, and it has been a top seller since he first started winning Grand Slams. A lot of people buy his racquet simply because he endorses it. They don’t even check the specifications.
Known mostly for not taking a ton of risks and offering stable, playable racquets for all ages, they have recently started to show off some innovation. The Wilson Clash release a few months ago is a perfect example of that. It has quickly turned into a hot seller, despite the fact that it currently has no one on the pro tour endorsing the racquet.
No matter what skill level a person is, Wilson has as many choices as anyone in the industry. Even the local store usually has extremely entry-level beginner/kid models for $30 or so with the Wilson logo on them.
Let’s go through Wilson’s best racquet for beginner, intermediate, and lastly advanced players.
Best Wilson Tennis Racquet For Beginners
- Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3
For beginners, it makes sense to have an oversized racquet to be a little more forgivable with mishits. There is always a chance to move up to a more professional level model later, but this is still a great option that beginners and older players enjoy using.
What makes the Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 great begins with the large head size. Players will also notice that it is a very head-heavy racquet, and the swing rate is pretty low. This means it doesn’t take much for a player to get some noticeable power behind the shots.
This instant level of gratification is important for a lot of people getting into tennis, because they don’t want to be constantly trying to figure out how to play the game correctly.
Best Intermediate Wilson Tennis Racquet
- Wilson Clash 100
Many people have been blown away with the new Wilson Clash after it was released earlier this year. It has evolved into one of the top sellers in tennis right now, and people love the new technology that makes this feel great on every single swing.
Intermediate players should still stick around 100 square inches for the head size. This racquet has enough of a sweet spot that people are not going to be completely overwhelmed. It’s a little bit lighter than most player racquets, but there is also an option to get a heavier model if this one doesn’t provide enough heft.
At the very least, people should try this racquet out as a demo. Even advanced players are starting to make the switch. For the intermediate type of player, there might not be a better new option on the market today.
Best Advanced Wilson Tennis Racquet
- Wilson Pro Staff RF97 (Roger Federer’s Racquet)
At the beginning of his career, Roger Federer did not endorse a racquet that was necessarily friendly to the masses. He has since increased the head size of his racquet, and at 97 inches, it is perfect for players who can control their own shots and want tour-level stability.
Federer is one of the best on tour at redirecting power. This racquet does a great job with that as well. Weighing in at 12.6 ounces, a person doesn’t have to take a full cut at a ball to still get plenty of power behind it. Mishits won’t be forgiven too often, but advanced players will like what it brings to the table.
For all our Wilson racquet recommendations, check out this post.
2. Babolat
A few decades ago, Babolat was not really considered to be a major player in the sport other than making solid strings. They jumped into the racquet business, and a few solid endorsements later, they have jumped up the rankings. Now, they can compete with any racquet company in the world.
The stereotype surrounding the Babolat racquet is that the focus is on accessibility. This is great for people just getting into the game, but enough pros use their rank is to show that they make quality more models for that level as well.
Current players endorsing Babolat include Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Garbine Muguruza, and Caroline Wozniacki they also have a huge presence at the junior level, hoping to gain market share each year.
Best Babolat Racquet For Beginners
- Babolat Pure Aero
It’s not often that a racquet used by a professional player is perfect for beginners, but the Babolat Pure Aero 2019 is very good for those starting out. It is light enough that people can control it, and the sweet spot is there for plenty of power.
Babolat makes a few different models of the Pure Aero, so people should test out the different options to see which one really fits perfectly in their hands. The strings can also make a difference, so make sure to get an arm-friendly option in the beginning. You can read our full review of this racquet in this post.
Best Intermediate Babolat Tennis Racquet
- Babolat Pure Aero Tour
As one might expect, this option is perfect for many different types of players. It can be used by any player, but intermediate ones ranging up to advance should try out the Tour model. This is the heaviest racquet in the family, weighing in at just under 12 ounces. It will provide a little bit more power and stability in the right hands.
Everything else is basically the same compared to the standard option. There are definite chances to add a lot of spins if that fits into a person’s game, and serves are very easy to hit as well. This racquet fits just about any type of playing style, and it is a major reason why it is so popular at any local club a player stops by.
Best Advanced Babolat Tennis Racquet
- Babolat Pure Drive Tour
The easy vote would go to the Babolat Pure Aero once again, but the Pure Drive is actually slightly better overall for advanced players. Not everyone is going to feel the exact same way, but the tour model offers stability against hard hitters, and great maneuverability to put away anything that sits.
The biggest difference between the two main racquets from Babolat is that the Pure Drive has a bit of a different feel. The stiffness is a bit difficult for some people to get used to, but in the end, it usually works out for people just fine.
For all our Babolat racquet recommendations, check out this post.
3. Head
Head has always been a very strong, dependable option for tennis players of all skill levels to turn to. They have several racquet lines available depending on how a person plays. Even though it is not always considered the most popular, a lot of teaching pros swear by the brand over any other option.
Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Ash Barty are the three main endorsers of Head racquets right now. They have all played with racquets from the company for years now, and their versatility shows just how different racquets can play depending on the player.
Best Beginner Head Tennis Racquet
- Head Ti.S6
Head makes a lot of great tennis racquets for different skill levels, and beginners are not overlooked at all. In fact, they might have the best overall beginner tennis racquet with the Head Ti.S6.
To start with, it is very affordable, which is always a plus for a person who will want to upgrade at some point. With a 115 square inch head size, it is more than enough for players to take swings freely and not worry about hitting it perfectly every time.
The racquet weighs only 8 ounces, and the added length makes this perfect for early success. It’s a great foundation tool for anyone trying to learn the game and get the proper strokes down. Once a player starts to make progress, it’s easy to upgrade to something a little more playable against hard hitters.
Best Intermediate Head Tennis Racquet
- Head Graphene 360 Instinct MP
Out of the different families of racquets offered by Head, the Instinct is probably the best for intermediate players. It allows for a lot of power off of the ground and service, and spin is also pretty easy to develop.
The Head Graphene 360 Instinct MP is currently endorsed by Maria Sharapova, and it is a very comfortable racquet to hit with. Intermediate players will not feel overwhelmed at all, as it has a low swingweight and isn’t heavy at all. With the latest technology added to the racquet, it is definitely one to check out for at least a demo.
Best Advanced Head Tennis Racquet
- Head Graphene 360 Radical MP
If you ask two tennis pros at a local club what rank are they like, chances are one of them will mention the Radical from Head very early on. It has been a very popular model for years now, and the Head Graphene 360 Radical MP is the perfect option right now.
It swings very easily and has plenty of control built-in. The swingweight is 324, but it feels much easier in any player’s hands.
Spin is also very easy to develop with this racquet. It seems like it is almost too easy at times, as players are able to hit shots that they normally don’t. Spin is never a bad thing to develop, especially at advanced levels.
Serving with this racquet is close to perfect, and overall it is just a balanced option to try out. There is a reason why it has been a huge seller for years and years.
For all our Head racquet recommendations, check out this post.
4. Prince
Whether they like it or not, Prince has a reputation as being very popular with the older crowd. That is necessarily a bad thing, as plenty of tennis players love playing post-retirement.
They don’t have the same stable of pro tennis players sponsoring their racquet as the other three, but John Isner is just one pro who uses the company. They have plenty of modern, advanced player racquets, but they do specialize in helping out beginners and intermediate players as well.
Best Prince Tennis Racquet For Beginners
- Prince Textreme Premier 110 racquet
This oversized frame is a great take on the classic look that made Prince popular. Players love not only the look of the racquet, but how it plays overall. Beginners will never feel like they are overwhelmed, taking advantage of a huge sweet spot while still having some power available.
Like a lot of the other beginner racquets, this is a very lightweight racquet that is slightly head-heavy. It really encourages proper strokes and is a great option for anyone learning the game. It offers some of the best control out there for beginner racquets, which is never a bad thing for people who usually struggle to keep the ball in play.
Best Intermediate Prince Tennis Racquet
- Prince Textreme Warrior 100
If a player wants to step their game up to a new level, this is the perfect tweener racquet for a lot of people. It allows for very easy swings off the ground, and the power is definitely there with the serve as well. The only thing a person might sacrifice a little is stability, but volleys and put-aways are still fairly easy.
This racquet is also very helpful when it comes to developing spin. It is easy to take a full swing at the ball and not feel completely overwhelmed. Some people hate that feeling when they are trying too hard to compensate.
Best Advanced Prince Tennis Racquet
- Prince Phantom Pro 93P
Prince is one of the few tennis companies that still make small heads sizes for people who prefer them. The Prince Phantom Pro 93P has the smallest head size out of any racquet in this article, but it plays well for people who love to have great control and feel on their shots.
A racquet with a 93 square inch head size is always going to perform better with control and accuracy than larger models. Couple that with a dense 18 x 20 string pattern and players have a very unique weapon.
The only real downfall to this racquet is that players have to develop their own power with a fast, efficient swing. If a player can pull that off, there is no doubt that the Prince racquet will never get blown off the court. If the head size isn’t too small, it’s definitely worth trying now.
For all our Prince racquet recommendations, check out this post.
Final Thoughts on The Major Brands
Tennis players are a lot like many athletes in that they love to stick with what works for them. Some professional players actually sign with different racquet manufacturers, but still use a racquet from a different company and paint over it.
It is very easy to get caught up in the game of trying out every racquet available on the market. The truth is, a lot of them play very similarly, and it just comes down to personal preference overall.
From a price perspective, all of the companies stay in pretty much the same price range. A high-end tennis racquet is going to cost around $250, while beginner racquets can be found right at or below $100 in many cases. Make sure to always shop around, and look at previous models that might be discounted as well.
Buying from a trusted tennis brand is usually recommended for any player just starting out. It’s easier to move around within a brand to find the exact model that fits a particular game. Once a person starts jumping around to different manufacturers, it becomes more and more difficult to nail down exactly what is needed.
