After several hours of searching and an exhaustive comparison of more than 50 models, we have made our selection of the best affordable tennis rackets available in the European market. For us, the best quality / price ratio is presented by the Babolat Pure Aero .
Indeed, this comfortable racket, used by Rafael Nadal, is powerful and gives good lifts, while offering excellent stability. It will be suitable for both advanced players and beginners.
9 Best Affordable Tennis Racket
It’s hard to find a quality racket for less than $ 100. However, here are two very interesting models of the head brand that offer some versatility to beginners and amateurs.
Rank#1: Head Youtek Graphene Instinct MP
Here is a model of the Austrian brand Head. It is a model used by great players (Tomáš Berdych, ATP-110) and great players (Maria Sharapova, WTA-80, 5 titles in Grand Slam).
For starters, this racket is designed with graphene, a light and solid material. It weighs 315 grams cordate and has a stiffness of 69 Ra that provides a feeling of solidity.
The size of the sieve (645 cm²), the string (16 × 19) and the thickness of the racket (25 mm at the height of the impact zone) offer good power, while saving effort and improving the effect on the ball .
The control, on the other hand, will be guaranteed with the 68.5 cm length of the racket, in addition to having an equilibrium point almost in the center of the 33 cm. This has the advantage of maintaining a certain stability. There is always the possibility of losing control, but it is still very rare.
In general, it is a versatile racket that adapts to different playing styles and is easy to use for those who want to start tennis. It also allows you to throw more powerful and effective punches, smashs and lifts.
Advantages
Drawbacks
Rank#2: Head Ti S6 tennis racket
The second model we present in this section is one of the most popular (especially for beginners), and is from Head.
The Austrian company has created a solid model (made of graphite and titanium) and remarkably light (252 gr) that compensates for the lack of arm strength and the effort to be made. With its 74 Ra of rigidity, it allows an interesting blow power for beginners.
The sieve has an area of 742 cm² with 16 ascending ropes and 19 crossed ropes, which once again favors a high level of power.
Its length of 70 cm improves the quality of the blows by giving it more speed and effects, if it remains behind the baseline. With a balance of 37.5 cm, it tends towards a head balance that facilitates maneuverability.
In short, this tennis racket is ultralight and very rigid. In addition, it has a large sieve and a good balance point to guarantee the power and maneuverability of the user. If you start playing tennis, you don’t know which model to look for and you don’t want to invest too much directly, this racket is very interesting.
Advantage
Drawbacks
Rank#3: Babolat Pure Aero tennis racket
Babolat is known for its line of powerful rackets. We see it here in its Aero range with the Pure Aero, model used by the legendary Rafael Nadal (Spanish, ATP-2, 18 victories in Grand Slam), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (French, ATP-72) or Caroline Wozniacki (Danish, WTA-19, 1 title in Grand Slam).
In this model, Babolat has focused on comfort. The Pure Aero is composed of graphite, an aerodynamic technology that allows a better effect and a Smacwrap that aims to reduce vibrations. It weighs about 315 grams with the string.
With a sieve of 645 cm² and a 16 × 19 string, the Pure Aero is known, among others, for its great power. However, this model of the Aero range is semi-rigid with an index of 67 Ra.
It has a handle balance of 32 cm, but the power is not less. This balance point allows fans to maintain control of the racket.
The Pure Aero encourages the player to throw his punches, as his form is designed for this type of game (especially for straight shots “lifted” or for the reverse). It is also effective for services and left.
In summary, this racket is comfortable and powerful, with proper control and good stability. It is ideal if you are looking for precision. If on the contrary you have a good serve, it may be better to opt for a model that allows greater control.
Advantage
Drawbacks
Rank#4: Babolat Pure Strike tennis racket
Advantage
- Powerful
- Best affordable tennis racket
- Polyvalent
- Stiff
Drawbacks
- Not suitable for the powerful serve
The French company Babolat has designed the Pure Strike, which in our opinion is almost equal to the Pure Aero or the Pure Drive in terms of popularity. This racket is used by Dominic Thiem (ATP-4) or Alizé Cornet (WTA-51).
It is composed of graphite and weighs 320 grams with the string, which places it at the top of the average, but maintains that feeling of lightness. Its 70 Ra make it a rigid racket that fits perfectly with beginners.
The sieve is in the middle (630 cm²) and the 16 × 19 string (21.5 to 23.5 mm thick) favors great power, even to throw the ball off the track. To place it, it is more powerful than the Head Graphene Touch Speed MP or the Wilson Blade, but less than the Babolat Pure Aero or the Pure Drive. Therefore, we must be careful to put a little more effect so that the ball does not leave the field.
The length is classic. The 68.5 cm allow to control the rapid blows and the excellent maneuverability is ensured by a balance in handle (32 cm). In addition, it offers a little more control than the Wilson Blade.
It is a versatile racket designed for both beginners and professionals. It is suitable both for the serve, and to control the pace of the exchanges.
In other words, Babolat retains its identity sign, favoring power over this model. It is ideal for reactive players who wish to combine speed, attack strength and stability.
Rank#5: Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph
Wilson, the American tennis giant, proposes here a racket used by the famous Roger Federer (ATP-3, 20 victories in Grand Slam). This model is suitable exclusively for professionals.
Like most of these sports tools, RF 97 is essentially composed of graphite (which absorbs vibrations) and carbon, but its main feature is its weight of 340 gr (without string), which requires a certain muscular authority . In addition, its rigidity (68 Ra) further accentuates this sense of power.
The small 626 cm² sieve offers a good response for players who hit flat and presents a classic string (16 × 19) that finds the angles of the ground and gives more precision in the gesture. Its power is good, as long as it has strength in the arms and technical knowledge. However, despite its Countervail technology that reduces muscle fatigue, you will need a lot of energy.
This product is designed for powerful and aggressive players, who love heavy balls. Thanks to her, the serves are easier to perform (for doubles matches, eye …). However, it is not as practical for services because of its weight, although it offers good results in powerful services.
In conclusion, RF 97 is a competition model. Its heaviness requires a certain physical condition to control it well, but if it has a great blow, it will greatly improve its control and accuracy.
Advantage
Drawbacks
- Not suitable for beginners
- Heavy
Rank#6: Head Graphene 360 Speed Pro
We meet again in front of a Head product, but this time for more advanced players. That’s right, this racket is much appreciated by big names like Novak Djokovic (ATP-1, 15 Grand Slam titles) or Fernando Verdasco (ATP-37).
Made of graphite and carbon fiber, this rocket racket weighs about 325 grams, less than the Wilson Pro-Staff RF 97. It has a comfort with some flexibility with only 62 Ra and dampens vibrations.
In this case, the racket has a standard screen of 645 cm². One of its peculiarities is its rope composed with an 18 × 20, which privileges precision to the detriment of power. Therefore, the rope should be a little less tense with numbers ranging from 22 to 26 kg.
With a size of 68.5 cm and a handle balance of 31.5 cm, The Graphene 360 Speed Pro favors control, stability and maneuverability.
Finally, with all its features, this racket will be perfect if you are a powerful player and looking for accuracy and speed.
In addition, it allows you to accelerate from the bottom of the track and make good lifts . It will allow you a very agile and scary game for services. The service returns are precise and powerful, but it is preferable to do a little lift in the movement to have greater security.
Advantage
Drawbacks
Rank #7: HEAD Graphene 360 Speed Pro Tennis Racquet
We present the Graphene 360 Speed Pro ! Like its predecessor, this update brings a mix between the speed worthy of the modern game and the control of the classic game. Although this model comes with a fairly precise 18×20 pattern, Head expands the space between horizontal strings for more effects and greater power. They have also slightly extended the profile of the racket and reduced the cushioning material, Kraibon, to achieve a more solid and better sound response. With the incorporation of Graphene 360 technology, Head not only strengthens the racket’s fist, but also reinforces the head at 3, 9 and 12.
The result is an undoubted increase in the stability of the racket and its power. Although this update brings a little more power, what continues to stand out is the control. From the baseline, the Speed Pro transmits fast, solid and precise sensations. In addition to control and ease of handling (62 RA stiffness), with it you can redirect the ball to any point on the court. You can also create effect thanks to two points mainly: one, to which it is possible to achieve rapid acceleration; and two, to the wider space between the string. Like the previous model, It is very easy to place the Speed Pro in a volley position and redirect the blows and speed quite effectively despite its weight.
In the serves, the precision of the racket conveys confidence when performing power swings. It also responds well in the return of services when it is necessary to respond to precise blows. Having redesigned the framework and added more stability and rigidity in the response, Head again creates a very noteworthy update in the Speed Pro family. You have to try it if you are one of those players looking for quick control without having Than sacrificing precision in swings.
Rank #8: Wilson Pro Staff 97L CV tennis racket (Natural String)
Carbon layer with its innovative integrated in the frame, countervail technology is a material that maximizes the energy of a player, reduces muscle fatigue and reduces recovery time.
DNA from the game has never seen racket designs like this one before – those that focus solely on the Essentials and throw away all the unnecessary element designs. What remains are timeless, does not pollute, in detail and meticulous Bold in their beauty. They create rackets that want to be held and a psychological advantage for the bold player enough to pick one up.
Twisted braided graphite: Graphite provides a feeling of Pure, solid and Uniform that players have Loved for decades. This strong construction also dampens vibrations and improves touch and control. Wilson pro staff 97L tennis racket is among the best wilson tennis racket.
A flame thrower with control: Wilson Pro Staff 97L tennis racket intermediate black countervail effect technology for advanced players gives the coveted Spin in a lightweight frame to help you take your games to the next level. This technology attacker player is geared towards the most aggressive of the blade that wants to take over and dominate every point. Driven by Roger Federer racket, this elegant features a matte finish with a bright accent around the head and Wilson word mark on the throat.
Key Features
- Specifications: Head size: 97 m2 racket in .; Length: 27 inches; Weight: 10.2 oz (without string); Balance: Light head; Power level: low; Swing Type: Fast & Long; Tension: 50 – 60lbs; String pattern: 19 M x 16 C braided; Composition: graphite; Technology: Spin Effect; Color: Black
Rank #9: DUNLOP Srixon Revo CV 5.0 Tennis Racquet
Dunlop’s Srixon Revo CV 5.0 offers the best of both worlds. It offers much of the spin-potential and precision found in the more compact CV 3.0 model, but it also packs a slightly larger head size (102in²) for a more forgiving response on off-center impact. Boasting a head heavy balance, the CV 5.0 offers decent stability for a sub 11 ounce racket
. The signature technology is called Sonic Core VG , which adds a special rubber material to the standard urethane and silicon formula for enhanced dampening. This racket also comes with a material technology called Synchro Charge , which uses a flexible graphite in the racket’s upper hoop to counteract the stiff feel off off-center impact. From the baseline, the CV 5.0 combines easy handling with impressive accuracy.
The roomy 658 cm² head provides decent power without over compromising the control, and stability is impressive for the weight. With its whippy acceleration and open 16×19 string pattern, spin comes very easy, making this a great option for the burgeoning topspin player or anyone looking for easy spin. At net, the CV 5.0 glides into position with mindless ease, making it great on fast exchanges. Finally, this racket’s explosive acceleration will enable you to swing for power on serves. All in all, Dunlop has succeeded in creating a very user-friendly weapon for the improving player who wants to add pace and spin to their shots.
Why trust us?
The editorial team of Selectors dedicates thousands of hours in its searches in order to analyze and compare products, to choose those that offer the best quality / price ratio.
We do not have sponsored articles. Sometimes we receive commissions when you buy a product from our links, which allows us to finance our work. And of course, we are totally impartial. To know more .
How have we made our selection?
The difficulty in finding good tennis rackets lies in the large number of models available in the market, in addition to the different styles of use or the way you play.
To help you in your search, we have determined the necessary criteria to consider to find the product that best suits your needs:
- The weight : a racket for adults usually weighs between 250 and 350 grams. A heavy model absorbs vibrations, protects you from wounds and gives you more power, which makes it more suitable for competition (be careful, if it is too heavy, it will become a disadvantage). Conversely, a light racket allows greater maneuverability and less muscle fatigue, more suitable for beginners.
- The rigidity : this rigidity is expressed in Rahmen. The higher the value, the stiffer the racket will be. For more experienced players, it is better to carry a flexible racket (between 55 and 60 RA) that reduces vibrations, allows for less energy expenditure and offers better control. Beginners will undoubtedly be more comfortable with a rigid racket (often beyond 70 Ra), which brings more power.
- The materials : will influence the strength of the racket. Almost all rackets are made of graphite, a light and resistant material.
- The size of the sieve : represents the rope surface of the tennis racket. The sieve is located below 630 cm² and favors more control. Screening (between 630 and 645 cm²) is suitable for all game styles. Large sieves (between 660 and 740 cm²) focus more on power.
- Rope: corresponds to the number of ascending and crossed ropes arranged on the racket. The most classic is 16-19, which gives more power and better effect. On the other hand, the 18 20 offers greater precision and control. With the latter, a less tight string would be better to avoid the risk of injury.
- The balance : there are 3 types of balance. The balance in the center has a point located 34 cm from the base of the handle (for beginners). With the balance in the head, the point is beyond 34 cm (there is power, but the maneuverability is more complicated). Finally, the balance of sleeves, located below 34 cm, produces the opposite effect.
- The length : The standard length is 68.5 cm. Beyond 69 cm, the rackets will ensure better power at the service, but will be more difficult to handle.
- The style of play : you have to see what type of racket suits your game. Thus, a powerful player will lean more towards a stable racket with good control and good maneuverability. Similarly, a player who plays with lifts and slices will choose a more powerful racket.
Initially, we started with approximately 50 different models, but after a first thorough analysis of each of these criteria, our list was reduced to 16 models.
After performing another check on different specialized English and Spanish websites, blogs, and user opinions, we finally selected the 6 best rackets of the moment.
In conclusion, what tennis racket to choose?
Our choice is focused on the Babolat Pure Aero , which impresses in terms of power and comfort and makes it an ideal tool for players looking for precision and better effects.
With a smaller budget and for more amateur use, the Head Youtek Graphene Instinct MP is a solid, powerful, best affordable tennis racket and versatile model.
Finally, if you compete, the Wilson Pro-Staff RF97 Autograph is a very nice racket in terms of feeling, but it requires the hilt. It has great qualities (precision, control, rigidity) that will seduce you, but its acquisition comes at a price.
