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Tennis requires precise equipment. Finding a racket that’s going to fit you perfectly is what this guide is all about. What’s the best tennis racket for your game? Does a list of best tennis rackets exist?
Your equipment matters. Just like a painter needs a paintbrush; a tennis player needs a racket.
If being the best player you can be is your goal, you need a racket that suits your game, not just whatever happens to be cheapest option on the market.
You have to be open to trying a brand that might not be the one who sponsors your favorite player. Tennis racket brand is only one factor of many when choosing your next stick.
One of the tricky things about tennis is finding the perfect racket that corresponds to your game.
Do you serve and volley? Hang out on the baseline? Need something with a little more power? Touch is your forte?
Do you prefer a racket with a larger sweet spot because it’s oversize? Is a lightweight racket with a low swing weight more appealing? Is tennis elbow a concern?
Regardless of how you want to spell it (racket/racquet), check out our picks for the best tennis rackets available.
Our Reviews Of The Best Tennis Rackets
#1 HEAD Ti.S6 Tennis Racquet
Top tennis racquets all have one thing in common: they’re lightweight.
Really good brands focus on making lightweight racquets that don’t skimp out on power.
The aluminum frame of this racquet makes it be super lightweight. It’s a total of 8 ounces for the entire racquet—you read that right, 8 total ounces.
Part of that is due to the nylon strings being extremely lightweight and sturdy.
The head size is 115 square inches so it’s considered to be oversized (greater than 100 square inches). A little extra real estate can help you to not shank the frame on shots.
The Ti.S6 Head tennis racquet is basically a racquet for an intermediate tennis player, but is meant to grow with you and can be used as a beginner racquet as well.
Technical specifications
- Size: 4 ¼”
- Weight: 8 oz
- Materials: Aluminum
- Head Size: 115 square inches
- String Material: Nylon
#2 Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3
Wilson didn’t just make a good tennis racket; they made one of the best we’ve ever used. It almost stole the top spot on our list.
Made of graphite and built with a counterbalance weight system, this is basically your go-to racket no matter the surface.
Clay, grass, hard courts… it doesn’t matter because you’re going to see a spike in your performance levels with this stick.
The open string pattern gives maximum power when trading groundstrokes with your opponent.
Equipped with a comfortable grip on the handle, it’ll feel right at home in the palm of your hands.
Nine ounces is not too heavy for you to lack sufficient touch while still having enough mass to return powerful shots.
Though it’s a little heavier, there’s still great maneuverability here. It’s a solid piece that will work from your beginner years and beyond.
Technical specifications
- Size: 4 ¼”
- Weight: 9 oz
- Materials: Graphite
- Head Size: 110 square inches
- String Material: Nylon
#3 Babolat Aero Tennis Racquet
If you need the best tennis racquet for beginners, this one may be exactly what you need. It’s not an unfamiliar racket as many on the tour are swinging this on court.
It’s no Wilson when it comes to pricing, but it’s worth the investment no matter which way you look at it.
Babolat spared no attention to detail on this one. It’s been updated over the years, but the general feel of it has remained.
This Babolat racquet comes strung at a tension of 55 lbs with nylon strings that are durable and inexpensive – and can last for ages.
Expect this racquet to get you through thick and thin out on the court. You’ll wonder how you could play without it!
The comfortable counterbalance of control in this 11-ounce racquet gives you excellent spin no matter what stroke you hit with it.
Compared to the 8-ounce Head Ti S6, this is definitely a heavier racquet. but if that’s your preference, this might be a great racquet for you.
Skill levels ranging from beginner through advanced will enjoy this well-rounded racquet.
Racquets are an investment, and when not in use keeping it in a cover is recommended. Babolat includes a high quality racquet cover for you with your purchase.
Technical specifications
- Size: 4 1/4”
- Weight: 9.5 oz
- Materials: Graphite
- Head Size: 102 square inches
- String Material: Nylon
#4 Yonex VCORE 98L Tennis Racquet
Some suggest that when you first start playing tennis, a bigger racquet head is recommended.
That may be true, but what’s also true is that you need to have a racquet that provides excellent control.
Yonex isn’t designed for the newcomer’s first time on the court, but after a little practice, you’ll be able to tame this wild beast and make some amazing shots.
Built out of graphite and elastic particles (yup you read that right!), the handle and frame gives more flexibility when you hit, so you aren’t feeling massive vibration in your arm.
Less vibration can help those with tennis elbow feel more comfortable while playing tennis.
One of the reasons why this is best suited for intermediate tennis players is the 3D vector shaft as it gives more stiffness to the inside of the racquet, so you can be a bit more precise.
Unlike others who use a simple stringing system, Yonex has a hybrid system in place which enhances both power and spin – quite the combination.
Every aspect of this racquet is designed to improve your game by small percentage points all over.
Technical specifications
- Size: 4 ½”
- Weight: 10.6 oz
- Materials: Elastic, graphite
- Head Size: 98 square inches
- String Material: Nylon
#5 Wilson Tour Slam Lite
Last but not least we have Wilson’s beginner model that helps you get the grip of the game, so to speak.
In addition to a solid grip on the handle, the counterbalanced weight in the racket head gives the player good control of their shots.
It’s a little bit of a heavier racket than most beginner models, but many prefer a little more heft in their hands when first starting out.
At 110 square inches, it’s an oversize racket that has a larger sweet spot.
Graphite is durable and less expensive and that translates to a much lower cost of investment. This racket is a budgeter’s dream come true. This racket can be picked up for less than a steak dinner.
What you see is what you get, and for the low cost, there’s nothing wrong with that.
Despite it being marketed as a beginner’s racket, it holds a lot of the same features that more advanced players look for when buying a new tennis racket.
Technical specifications
- Size: 4 ⅜”
- Weight: 10.2 oz
- Materials: Composite
- Head Size: 110 square inches
- String Material: Nylon
Tennis Racket FAQ
What Size Tennis Racket Should I Get?
You have to take three different aspects of your racket and look at them objectively: length, head size, and grip size.
Your racket size should be relative to your arm span, hand size, and strength.
Traditionally, most adult-sized rackets are 27″ long with junior rackets being as short as 19″.
Most top-rated tennis rackets are 27″. When they’re longer (29″ or 31″), they’re also quite a bit heavier.
As the total racket length gets longer, the grip size options will also increase. You can find some smaller head sizes for rackets with long handles to account for larger hands.
Sizing means a number of things and fortunately many combinations are available.
Which Tennis Racket is Best for Beginners?
The best tennis racket for the money and the best tennis racket for beginners may be two different things.
You can always find a cheaper racket, but it might not be the best option for you. The best beginner racket is the 4 ¼” Head Ti.S6 on the top of our list.
It landed in the top spot due to design from the grip options, being a lighter racket, and everything in between.
It’s the ultimate beginner racket that can continue to be used as your skill level improves and you transition into an intermediate player.
What Tension Should I String my Tennis Racquet?
Each racquet comes with manufacturer information telling you the range of string tension that’s recommended for the racquet.
The string tension range depends on the head size, but the range is usually 55-65 lbs.
Going outside the recommended ranges can negatively impact the durability of your racquet.
Lower string tension has more give/spring when the ball hits the strings which equates to higher power.
Higher string tension makes the ball spend less time on the racquet which equates to more directional control.
Do all Pro Tennis Players Use the same grip size?
No. All professional tennis players do not use rackets with the same grip size.
Top rated tennis rackets come in a variety of grip sizes because everyone’s hands aren’t the same size.
Most beginner racket models that you’ll come across have a 4 ⅛” racket grip size.
When first playing tennis, having a smaller grip size offers the player more control than larger handles.
Sooner or later, everybody upgrades unless they have very small hands.
On average, women use a 4 ⅜” grip size since they tend to have smaller hands and many men use 4 ⅝”.
It’s only a quarter inch difference, but it can be a big difference when wanting to hold the racket comfortably.
Here’s more info on how to find your sweet spot grip size.
What Head Size Should I Get?
Just like with grip size, racket head size is a personal decision.
Some prefer a smaller head size while others prefer oversize rackets due to the larger head size (100 square inches plus).
Head size matters on a racket because the larger it is, the more string rebound area there will be. For beginners, a larger head size can equate to a larger sweet spot and a reduced chance of shanking the ball with the racket edge.
Smaller racket heads will provide less power due to less surface area. Control, rather than power, is the focus with a smaller racket head.
Much like with other sports, your instrument comes down to your own body specifications.
What’s the Best Tennis Racquet for you?
I hope you’ve found this guide helpful for researching the best tennis racquet on the market for your specific needs.
Tennis is so much fun and a great source of exercise until well into your eighties.
For more information on the best accompanying tennis gear and about how to elevate your game, check out our other buying guides and ever-growing library of tennis content.
