11 Best Tennis Racquets For Intermediate Players

Evolving into a quality tennis player takes time, energy, and the right equipment. Whenever a player is just starting out, they might use a very easy racquet to learn with. However, that same racquet is probably going to not provide the same type of value later on.

When people start to really take off as a player, it is time to invest in a racquet for intermediate or even advanced players. They will be more rewarding when hitting shots the right way, and players can compete against much more talented tennis players. Give these 11 racquets a try as an intermediate player.


1. Babolat Pure Aero

One of the positive aspects of the Babolat Pure Aero since its release is that it is meant to be for all different players. Some players have been able to have success with this racquet even when they are just starting out. It is a very forgiving racquet overall with a generous head size, sweet spot, and average weight.

When swinging around the main Babolat Pure Aero racquet for the first time, it is pretty easy to see why so many people recommend this for intermediate players. They can take it with them as a more advanced player in time, as former number one player in the world Rafael Nadal uses it to this day.

However, intermediate players can have just as much success, as it is not as demanding as some of the other performance racquets out there. Plus, getting free access to fantastic spin never hurts. You can read our full review in this post.

Pros

  • Best racquet for creating spin
  • Fairly easy power
  • Allows intermediate players to take full cut the ball

Cons

  • Standard version is relatively lightweight
  • Intermediate players can get caught up in trying different versions

2. Wilson Clash 100

As soon as Wilson announced that they were about to release a brand new racquet, many people were excited. What ultimately came to be was the Wilson Clash 100, and it is designed to be playable for intermediate players almost right away.

In fact, even beginners can get away using the Wilson Clash, as it is one of those racquets that can be used for all different types of players and see benefits.

For the intermediate player, it is such a great option because it is comfortable from the very beginning. It has some of the best technology available in the racquet, which helps with feel, control, and mobility.

A lot of beginners and intermediate players struggle a bit when they are transforming their game by using a more advanced racquet, but the Wilson Clash makes that a smooth transition.

Players will not get the most power out of this racquet as some of the others that make this list, but intermediate players can sometimes come up with their own power just fine. It is a matter of controlling it, and the Wilson Clash helps with that. You can read our full review in this post.

Pros

  • Feels very comfortable with all shots
  • Improved control
  • Easy to swing

Cons

  • Might start to feel a little too lightweight after some time
  • Not extremely powerful
 

3. Babolat Pure Drive

The Pure Drive has been around for a while, and it has been recommended to a lot of intermediate players as they try to get something that is of high-quality. While this can be a perfect option for professionals as well, intermediate players can enjoy the free power and increased spin.

For a long time, the Pure Drive has been known as the most potent racquet for serves and groundstrokes. Players who have a little bit of trouble generating their own power can benefit from the Pure Drive.

If a player already hits the ball pretty hard, but does not know how to control it, they might need to look elsewhere. However, everyone else will love that they can start to hit the ball a little harder and see improvements in the game.

Players who are trying to improve will need to create some spin for their game to go up against other modern players. The Pure Drive’s standard option is great, but even the Tour option is perfect for those who want a little bit more weight as an intermediate player. You can read our full review in this post.

Pros

  • Outstanding power
  • Plenty of spin potential
  • Perfect for serving with

Cons

  • Does not help with control that much
  • Can feel a bit little bit flimsy or hollow to some

4. Yonex VCore Pro 97 310

Along with the Wilson Pro Staff discussed in this article, this is the only other one that is 97 in.². That might seem a little too low for some intermediate players, but others like the outstanding control they get with a racquet at the size. Not only does the control get a boost, but so does the touch and feel around the court.

Yonex has done a lot to make sure that this racquet performs at a very high-level. Players are delighted with everything it brings to the table, and players feel confident that they are always putting the ball where they want to.

It has a little bit of a learning curve, but once people get things down, they will hit the ball consistently with all of their strokes.

This racquet is best off the ground, but keep in mind that players need to develop a way to create their own type of power. Otherwise, without creating power for themselves, it can be a little limiting. You can read our full review in this post.

Pros

  • Control
  • Feel

Cons

  • Takes time to get used to
  • You need to create your own power

5. Wilson Pro Staff 97

This is an intermediate racquet that should really only be considered for players who are on the cusp of jumping to another level. Someone who is still relatively new to the game will probably find this racquet to be a little bit too demanding. Still, intermediate players looking to get to the advanced level will love the extra benefits that it brings to the table.

Despite being just a little bit smaller than most of the others on this list, there are quite a few similarities. The same 16 x 19 string pattern is pretty open, but the difference is that it weighs in at 11.7 ounces.

That might seem a bit too heavy for intermediate players, but it does have a seven-point headlight balance, so the maneuverability is not that bad. With a swingweight of 321, immediate players should still handle this racquet in many different scenarios.

The biggest change to this new type of Pro Staff 97 is that there is better feel and ball pocketing with every stroke. Players feel like they are more connected with the ball, which means they are getting better control overall.

That is great news for people struggling to get that part of the game down, as touch and feel can play such a big role in advancing as a player. You can read our full review in this post.

Pros

  • Intermediate racquet built for advanced play
  • Excellent touch and feel
  • Improved control

Cons

  • Might be too heavy for some intermediate players
  • Not much free power
 

6. Yonex EZONE 100

This is yet another option for people looking for a quality 100 in.² tennis racquet for intermediate play. The Yonex EZONE 100 is pretty easy to control, and those who like a slightly different head size from Yonex will be willing to give us a try.

Much like a lot of other racquets that this directly competes with, players will get the opportunity to have a bit more power and spin with their shots. Beginners will struggle because the sweet spot is a little small, but intermediate players should not have any problems.

It actually teaches a player to be more consistent in hitting the sweet spot, and that is about all a person can ask for out of a performance racquet. You can read our full review in this post.

Pros

  • Unique head shape
  • Helps with spin for the baseline
  • Easy power

Cons

  • Not the best at the net
  • Sweet spot is a little small

7. Head Graphene 360 Instinct MP

For intermediate players to try to get their game to a more advanced level, they need to learn how to hit consistent groundstrokes deep into the court with some pace. That is exactly what this racquet is built for, as it is one of the best off the ground a person can find today.

A person who is intermediate right now can make this purchase, and then they can continue to use this as an advanced player without any issues.

Just like many other racquets to make this list, the head size comes in right at 100 in². There is a pretty big sweet spot for people to find, and the light swingweight of the racquet ensures that a person can take great cuts of the ball from the baseline. It has excellent maneuverability not only off the ground, but with volleys as well.

The racquet’s lightweight feel might not be perfect for serves, but a lot of people get used to it as time goes on. It is also not the best with stability at the net, but there are some minor sacrifices people need to make when they are shopping for a new racquet.

Overall, this is one of the best for intermediate players, and it can make the leap to the next level of play with a person as well.

Pros

  • Outstanding for baseline groundstrokes
  • Quality sweet spot
  • Great maneuverability

Cons

  • Net play is a bit hit or miss
  • Serving takes some getting used to

8. Head Graphene 360+ Gravity Tour

Not all immediate players want to have a very lightweight racquet to learn the game and push themselves to the next level. For those who want to be a little bit more heaviness to the racquet, this is the perfect option to go with.

Yes, it is still 100 in.² with the head size, but with a little more heft behind shots, people can put some power and control behind everything.

Players do not have to swing as hard to make the same type of impact on certain shots for starters. Players still want to make sure that they are taking quality cuts the ball, but it feels different from the very beginning.

Despite being heavier, the swingweight makes it so that is one of the most unfriendly racquets available right now. Players will also notice that there is quite a bit of flexibility and feel with the racquet overall.

It is for flatter hitters on the tennis court, as it is not the best at creating spin, but a lot of intermediate players will find that fits their game perfectly well. You can read our full review in this post.

Pros

  • Works very well on groundstrokes and returns
  • Comfortable feel at all times
  • Arm-friendly

Cons

  • Not as much spin potential as one might like
  • Players need to have a somewhat fast swing to benefit

9. Prince Textreme Warrior 100

Over the years, Prince has put out some quality options for the intermediate player. Their best option right now is the Textreme Warrior 100, as many different types of players can benefit from what it brings to the table.

As one of the most reasonably priced racquets for intermediate players, this is a no-brainer as far as trying things out are concerned. Those who end up liking it will find it to be just as good as all the other brands out there, and saving a little bit of money along the way certainly helps.

The frame design is meant to help a little more with people who have trouble generating power. It can sometimes be frustrating for intermediate players to get to that next level, and getting some free power can help. The string pattern is 16 x 18, which also opens up things a bit and creates more topspin on all types of shots.

To benefit from all that speed, the racquet needs to be lightweight. It weighs in at just 10.3 ounces, and is one of the lightest weighted racquets for intermediate players. Going any lower than this would be probably too much, so get used to what this brings the table and go from there.

You can read our full review in this post.

Pros

  • Provides a solid boost in power
  • Very lightweight
  • Spin potential available

Cons

  • Some intermediate players will grow out of the racquet quickly
  • Can struggle at net against hard hitters

10. Wilson Blade 98

Dropping down to 98 in.² as an intermediate player is a bit of a risk in the eyes of some. For others, they are going to really notice the difference, especially with a 16 x 19 string pattern. The Blade is a very comfortable racquet that plays a lot like the Xlash, but there are some small differences that some people will enjoy.

When the Blade got a slight redesign, the focus was mostly on comfort and control. Players felt like the Blade was getting a little too uncomfortable with certain shots, and they went back and reworked everything.

Control is also something that has always been a major focus of the Blade, and it is now the most controllable racquet Wilson makes right now.

This racquet might seem a bit more advanced than most of the other ones that make this list, but intermediate players with aspirations to get even better will undoubtedly benefit.

Getting used to how this racquet performs early on will let a person grow as much as they can. It is not so overwhelming that they can’t play with it consistently. You can read our full review in this post.

Pros

  • Control is outstanding
  • Volleys
  • Stability

Cons

  • You need to create your own power
 

11. Babolat Pure Strike

Yes, with the Babolat Pure Strike making this list, that means all three of the main options from Babolat are quality intermediate player options. This one might be the most advanced of them all when looking at the standard version, simply because it is a smaller head size.

It is meant more for those who need more control with their shots, and for intermediate players who produce a lot of power themselves, that might be the exact ticket to increasing a person’s game.

The softness and feel of the Pure Strike is something that a lot of people have fallen in love with when looking at the third generation. It is comfortable when hitting shots on the ground, but it also performs well serving and at the net.

It might be the most well-rounded Babolat racquet out there, and it is different from the others that people are giving it a try. You can read our full review in this post.

Pros

  • Added control
  • Outstanding precision
  • Enlarged sweet spot

Cons

  • Not as powerful as the other Babolat racquets
  • Not as much free spin potential as the other Babolat racquets

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