Are you hunting for the best tennis racquet for intermediate players out there? Good. You have clicked precisely on the right link as we have an array of the best options with the most organized and important details for you.
But first of all, what does it mean when they say the “best tennis racket ever”? Well, you might think that it’s the one with the most power and booming serves, easy to handle and what not. But honestly, we feel that your opinion of the best tennis racket is always a personal thing.
Honestly speaking, finding a right racquet is a daunting task. Don't panic, here we are with 10 best tennis racket for intermediate players that we think are nothing but the best.
Best Tennis Racquet For Intermediate Players - Comparison
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Best Intermediate Tennis Racquet
Perhaps, the name says it all; Pure Drive. It's actually full of pure power and plenty of pop as you hit the ball. Are you the kind of a player who is fully aware of using top spin at its best? Here’s something we have for you.
This racquet is a more advanced and updated version of the Babolat Pure Aero, so obviously it provides much of an improved spin capability. The power and the spin that the Pure Drive provides you with is a deadly combination on the court.
Comfort has always been a priority for Babolat, and this racquet is in perpetuum. However, if the stiffness doesn't really bother you, you can maximize the spin and power using this racquet, holding it for hours without getting sore arms.
Other racquets might have provided you with excellent control and tactile feel, but little did you know that there's a muted feeling while hitting the ball that the Pure Drive can provide you with. The Cortex Pure Feel technology attributed in the frame makes this possible.
The technology used to design this racquet dampens the vibrations as a way to lessen the stiff frame. This shows that Babolat has gone that extra mile in muting the feel of the racquet. If you prefer good control over your shots or prefer to place fancy drops shots right over the net, this would be a good choice.
Without much ado, the Babolat Pure Drive is undoubtedly one of the most hyped racquets out there. It has a refined power and an increased ability for spin which makes it stand out amongst the crowd.
Pros:
- Massive spin that tames the power
- Incredibly comfortable to hold
Cons:
- It comes unstrung, which might be a problem for some players who want to start playing immediately
Wilson is always one of our top choices when it comes to selecting sporty stuff. The Wilson Pro Staff RF97 is no joke. Play as much tennis you want, you’ll never get bored of neither your game nor your racket.
The RF97 brings out the best as well as the worst in your game. Since players are more generic believers of numbers, we’ll rate this racquet with numbers. Starting off with ground-strokes, it’s an eight out of ten. That’s because the racquet is pretty tough to whip out that topspin for which an attacking style would work wonderfully.
Moving on to volleys, it’s another eight out of ten. The RF97 is pretty stable, which allows you to hit some solid volley winners. Although it’s quite stiff, the racket has a nice feeling for which drop volleys and touch shots are highly encouraged.
One feature that amazed us the most is the control. Despite the racquet being so heavy and stiff, you'll be surprised at how it's so open that gives a little extra spin for you to hit the sweet spots. It's like a pack of punch for the Mr Big.
Okay, now for the comfort of the racquet, it would be a six out of 10 partly because of “reasons”. It's worth mentioning that stay away from this racket if you have arm or elbow issues. The RF97 is a little string sensitive for which it’s better to opt for something that has a slightly softer setup.
Although the racquet weighs about 11 ounces, it still feels heavier than an average racquet. Weirdly, it doesn't move very freely through the air. The balance saved it all. Additionally, the RF97 generates quite a bit of spin, which adds up to the level of control and power making it one of the best tennis racquet for intermediate players and some beginner players.
With that being said, attacking players should really go with the RF97.
Pros:
- Excellent balance
- Eliminates vibration
Cons:
- Considerably heavier than other racquets
The first one to make in our list for today is the brand new Babolat Pure Aero, which is undoubtedly going to give some raise to your game.
This racket is mainly for those who love to spin the ball; power swingers that is. If that sounds like you then read ahead to discover more about this racket that’s made just for you.
It is one of the best tennis racquet for intermediate player. For beginners, we'd say that they can't take full advantage of the racquet as yet. Having a head size of no less than 100 square inches and weighing about 11.3 ounces, the racket has a very solid frame.
Speaking of the string pattern, it’s 16x19, which by the way, is an epitome of delivering excellent control for defensive player. For the technology enhancements that Babolat has made use of, it has received a significant boost in power, stability and comfort.
What's more is that the active cortex technology reduces the volume of shock and vibration when you strike the ball. This makes the hit feel so much cleaner with the racquet being in a more stable position. Therefore, the Babolat Pure Aero feels so much easier to carry without your arm feeling fatigue.
Furthermore, the frame string interaction spin lays the strings in such a configuration that it allows them to move more. In tune, there’s broader spacing between the crosses, the result of which is greater ball bite and the capability to apply some twisted spinning.
Did you notice its shape? The head areas are thoughtfully designed to reduce wind drag while increasing the swing speed. This means that you can quickly whip up the stick and catch up on the balls very fast.
To sum it up all, the Babolat Pure Aero is going to be your next best friend in your finesse game. Let us know if this works for you.
Pros:
- Comfortable hold
- High control and spin
Cons:
- Some may complain about the way it's strung
Did you ever play an aggressive game but soon after suffered from shoulder, arm or elbow ache? Well, that’s probably because you didn't have a choice than to play with a racquet that doesn't quite fit your style of play.
So, why don’t you give the Wilson Blade 98 (16x9) Countervail Racquet a shot? This racquet is unique in its own way and actually poses the perfect balance, stiffness and power. And of course, with the Countervail, it provides one-of-a-kind tackiness that retains the vibration and pain way before it could reach your wrist or elbow.
In tune to the Countervail technology, this wilson tennis racket absolutely reduces the amount of shock that some players might get when striking the ball and alleviate fatigue. We are sure you will love how much spin you can generate with this simple piece. Despite its weight, it’s very swingy.
While serving, you will feel the mass of the Wilson Blade 98 (16 x 9) Countervail Racquet head notably delivers a powerful and crisp feeling that is very likely to impress. Nonetheless, with such improvements that Wilson has bought to this racket, it’s going to last you easily years after years without any doubt.
Moreover, if you are a baseline player who loves to play with heavy topspin, with the right string choice, this could be all yours. The flexibility of the string, the racquet is going to be more arm-friendly and the response along with it, it’s going to be shredding spin!
Last but not the least, we would like to underscore its kick serves. The head-level and side-spin slice shots would have your opponent's trip over their feet! So, if you don't have anything in mind, go with this racquet, and it won't let you down. All in all, the Wilson Blade 98 (16 x 9) Countervail Racquet is the best tennis racket for intermediate player to advanced player.
Highly recommended!
Pros:
- Countervail technology reduces the amount of shock
- Arm-friendly
Cons:
- Comes unstrung
The Babolat Pure Strike is said to stand out among all other racquets. It's not only because of its new and improved pure strike frame, but this racket is full of surprises. Babolat pure stike is one of the best tennis racket for beginners.
What’s worth highlighting is its composite frame that's made out of both elliptical sections and squares. The racquet also incorporates FSI technology, meaning the upper crosses of the racquet are spaced out than normal ones. Therefore, it will generate more power and spin.
With a head size of no less than 100 square inches and weighing about 11 ounces, it's good enough for anyone with a reasonably muscular arm. Say good-bye to fatigue arms! On top of that, the skin feels grip makes it so much better.
So, now the important question is, how does it feel to play with a Babolat Pure Strike on the court? Honestly, amazing! It's all because of the low-density string bed that increases the power, playability, comfort and nonetheless – the SPIN!
You will be able to feel the mass of the racquet when it's your turn to serve. This makes it ideal for aggressive players. The weight and frame of the racquet help you hit deeper balls than ever before. This balance then allows you to easily manoeuvre the frame to get into its position and wipe out some volleys.
What do you think you're waiting for? All these qualities define the racket to be nothing but the best for you. Or if you are planning for a gift for your tennis enthusiast friend, choose this racquet blindly, and they'll love it!
Pros:
- Perfect balance
- Free stringing
- Very nice grip
Cons:
- The racquet comes unstrung, so you need to spend a little more if you are planning on buying this.
Simple yet extreme, the HEAD Graphene XT Speed Pro is mind-blowing! Winning Popular Science’s “Best of What’s New Award” in 2013, it’s actually going to win your heart.
Now, why did they win the Award again?
HEAD introduced one of the most durable materials that have even been tested in the Scientific history; graphene to their rackets. Graphene is a form of carbon, the specialty of which is its shock-absorbing to the frame and reduces vibrations and which of course, increases feel.
The way the strings are tightly patterned, you can go all-in and still look for a controlled response that the racquet will give you. The 18x20 string pattern with 100 square inches head and 23 mm beam is an outstanding blend for you to be able to hit extremely hard and generate both power and spin. with a combination of power and control this racket is considered as one of the best tennis racquet for intermediate player and for some beginner player.
The main idea of this racquet is to deliver more stability, and that's why it's so remarkably framed. You seldom feel connected to the ball, and when you actually do, you will be able to deliver your best performance with more confidence.
For players who are looking for something comfortable yet speedy, this could be what you are looking for. It's of high quality.
HEAD is really concerned about their product development, and hence, they have worked hard on the aerodynamics of the racquet. The Hydrosorb Pro Grip is all you need to rock that game on the court. This to make it swing faster, which some of you will really enjoy.
Well, we really like the HEAD Graphene XT Speed Pro, and to all the tennis enthusiasts out there, we tell you, it's a racket worth trying!
Pros:
- Tight string pattern
- Excellent head speed yet control
Cons:
- Comes without a cover, which might have minor damages during delivery
Volkl may have always been an outsider brand when it comes to tennis, but we couldn’t resist but include the Volkl V-Sense in our list of best tennis racket. The amount of V series tennis racquet we have gone through, we think that this one is noteworthy.
Being softer, the V-Sense 8 has a thinner beam, slightly more weight and an open string pattern. Plus, there's not much noise in this racquet, and the arm-friendly, flexible frames make it so much better.
The racquet is mainly targeted towards the explosive mechanics of a modern game. The V-Sense 8 is not heavy at all. With only 10 ounces of a racquet, you can accelerate the ball to an intermediate and advanced level. That's good enough, right?
The firm beam transfers power to the ball, and on top of that, the 16x18 string pattern delivers ultimate access to spin. The racquet has been updated to V-feel technology, which is incorporated by a substance called V-cell. This light yet strong cellulose element adds up for a better feel and responsiveness.
Let's not forget about the V-Sensor handle. It's upgraded with a material technology known as Reva for absolute shock-absorption. Therefore, the racket on the groundstroke is completely firm, accurate and powerful, like duh!
As for the stability, we cannot really give good ratings for it. It's solid, considerably built for quick handling, but we cannot promise on the stabilization. Aggressive baseline players, who come to the court just to spin and hit the ball harshly, we’re sorry, this might not be the right racquet for you!
But hey, the Volkl has some great speedy and powerful delivery than many other racquets, which makes it an ideal option for beginners. Try it out if you’re a newbie in the tennis world!
Pros:
- V-Sensor handle provides great grip
- Speedy delivery
Cons:
- Not very stable
Another one of those down to earth tennis racquets with all the unique characteristics, which is sure to please you with its excellent technical abilities. Just as you take the Phantom Pro 100 in your hand, you’ll feel super confident.
Two things that make the Phantom Pro 100 particularly innovative and that is its thinnest beam width and its most flexible frame on the market. So, what do these two characteristics do?
Well, when the flexibility meets the thin frame, it creates one-of-a-kind energy, which keeps the ball within the court and then allows you to look for your targeted areas. Did you notice the round shape? That's what cuts through the air and improves your ability to hit spin. All the credit goes to the TEXtreme technology for absorbing all the shaft vibrations.
About the stability, you don’t need to worry at all! Weighing only about 10.7 ounces, the racquet is perfect for maneuverability during heavy flow from the court as well as the net. The materials are designed in such a way that it increases stability without putting on extra weight. Therefore, this makes the Phantom Pro 100 an accurate racket and is geared for players with intrinsically powerful abilities.
Accountably, the head size is about 645 cm². This allows for optimal power. Thanks to the optimised trampoline effect, which does not help you lose control. Nonetheless, the 16x18 string pattern is naturally open and tolerant that allows you to hit a reasonably good amount of spin.
Best tennis racquet for advanced level players and some intermediate player, who are looking for something different. Overall, the comfort level provided by the Phantom Pro 100 is extraordinary. This racquet will never let you down!
Pros:
- TEXtreme technology absorbs excessive spin and vibrations
- Comfortable, stable and stays in control
Cons:
- Comes unstrung
You can never be mistaken with a Yonex in your hand, can you? Nope, we don’t think so. Among so many best tennis budget rackets that Yonex has, we’ve selected the Yonex VCore Pro 97, which we believe has got some remarkable qualities.
Without speaking much about Yonex, let’s jump into the racket and its specialties. The racquet feels really nice and comfortable from the very first hit. The 20 mm thin beam does have an improved maneuverability but does take note that this may decrease stability to some extent. But of course, there's no doubt on how easy it is to spin with a thin beamed and open string pattern racquet.
If you are into heavy frames, this racquet might not interest you as much. However, for those who fancy playing with thin structures, this is an excellent racquet with better air passing through.
With a string pattern of 16 x 19, the racket easily has excellent spin and power, which makes it a win! The string pattern is really a good choice, and we feel that it makes it so much livelier than it already is. It's powerful enough to satisfy your needs on the court.
About the comfort, we did not notice any discomfort, even though the strings are stiff. Oh, the shots are so much better with the Yonex VCore Pro 97. The racquet enjoys the baseline just as much as you enjoy being a baseline player. So, stay aggressive and enjoy what you like!
So, on a scale of 1 to 10, this racquet is easily an 8.5! Comfortable on your arm, deadly accurate and with extreme control, there’s no alternative to this. If you have already used a Yonex racquet before, you’ll surely know what we are talking about. It's an upgraded version of all the previous ones.
Pros:
- High quality, custom colored synthetic gut gauge comes stringing for free!
- Fast and accurate with a comfortable grip
Cons:
- This product has not reported any negative issues
Wilson has already taken the industry by storm, so we’d like to end our list with this fantastic piece, which we are really happy to be able to introduce to you. So, ready?
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Before we move further into the specifications, let us tell you that if you’re looking for a leather grip racquet, here you go! This is your weapon.
Although the Wilson Ultra Tour is just perfect, you can still choose to customise it as per your needs. Add on some weight, try different strings, test and you’ll figure out what you need. But our recommendation on the strings for optimal smash would be 18x20, which we believe is going to give you highest precision.
Now, some may see this as a trouble, but those who prefer customisation will love it! Well, if you ask us, we see it as an enhancement to the racquet.
Coming back to the features, the racquet is totally arm-friendly with optimal control and feel. Plus, the head-shaped grip helps in so many ways. However, with weighing about 13.6 ounces, this might be a racquet that’s not for everybody. We would rather leave this for the advanced level players.
This racquet also comes with a thin beam, which stabilizes and controls it like no other. Moreover, the headlight balance will play its role and rip the balls off your court off the baseline. With that being said, this racket is a favorite of many!
The Ultra Tour brings an added precision to this versatile racquet. If you're one of those advanced level players, go for it! The Wilson Ultra Tour promises not to give many problems to your arms.
Pros:
- Delivers great shots fast and steady
- Able to customize the racquet
Cons:
- Comes unstrung and needs a perfect measurement for stringing.
What You Should Know Before Buying Your Tennis Racquet
It may not come as a surprise to some of you, but it also depends on your skillset and your style of play. The right racquet is just a bridge between you and your level of play.
If you are just like Myracketsports, you can't resist only to scroll down and look for the good stuff right now. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead! In the end, we hope you find your soul-mate like a tennis racquet.
Sometimes it’s hard to choose a racquet with such an array of options. Here’s all you need to know when buying the right tennis racket for yourself.
However, sometimes when you’re too choosy, problems may still arise. A powerful racquet is the easiest to find, but the same racquet may not be very arm-friendly. So, is that really worth it?
Let's take an in-depth look into each section:
Power and Control
Power is significant when it comes to determining how far the ball would go. The more power your racquet will have the harder you'll be able to hit. Like pickleball racket, tennis racket has a fine line between power and control. Too much force will lead to the shots going out of bounds while too little power may lead to your opponent hitting wins on you.
Therefore, the best racquet that we would say is the one that has got a good mix of both power and control. As per our observations, Wilson rackets are tilted more towards energy, whereas, the Yonex ones are aimed more at control.
And of course, every racquet that we have listed entails excellent power as well as control from the baseline, on your server and at the net.
Feel
Let's face it! If we don't feel right about something, we tend to ignore it. Similarly, if you buy a racquet and just leave it as new, there's no use of getting one at all. That's why it's important that the racquet must feel good in your hands.
You will see that your favorite tennis player holds a new racquet every time he or she is out in action. Doesn't matter what technical specifications the racquet might have, if it doesn't seem to fit it right in the hands, it’s not the ideal one.
Balance
Balance. Yes, this is what determines whether your racquet has more weight towards the head (head-heavy) or more towards the butt (head-light), which by the way, is a matter of some interesting debate.
While many professional players have claimed that the more massive the racquet, the more likely it is to remain balanced towards head-light to avoid the excess power. This, in turn, would improve the maneuverability. Although those racquets are said to have less stability than the ones with more head weight.
Anyway, our suggestion for beginners is that your racquet should have a balance of at least five points of even either way.
Maneuverability
When a racquet feels lighter in your hand, that’s when you know that it’s easy to make a change of the direction of the racket head. You can get this feeling when the overall weight of the racquet along with its frame balance is correctly weighed. Simply put, a more significant part of the racquet’s weight depends on the racket towards the handle.
Strings
Your expertise level influences on how much weight you want to put into your tennis strings. Note that the type of strings that you choose and the tension you string your racquet holds a huge impact on your performance on the court.
So, choose your strings carefully and select a pattern that you feel you will be able to handle much easier.
Stability
Stability is extremely important, like duh! That's what helps a racquet to be responsive and install a sense of consistency as well as accuracy that you can comfortably rely on when you prepare yourself on striking the ball. Stable rackets are usually heavier and have smaller heads and lack the stiffness in its frame.
Price
If the price is a concern, then you are in luck! An entire adequate beginner racquet is priced about $30 or less. It's made of aluminum, prestrung and comes with a cover for the head.
The aluminum material is quite flexible for someone who hits hard. If you think that you already have enough knowledge about tennis and that you will develop to be an advanced level player soon, we’d say just consider one of those graphite racquets. The rackets could be quite expensive, but they are really comfy to play with.
Grip Size
It's no surprise that different people have different hand sizes. To give your best when playing tennis, you need to find the right grip size that you can play with comfortably. If you're not using the correct grip size, not only will it give you poor performance, but also lead to hand, elbow and shoulder injuries.
Therefore, we've concluded that the best way to determine the grip size just walks into a store and hold a racquet. If it feels comfortable, then it's for you. However, if you want an even more exact result, try the index finger test or the ruler test to check what your grip size is.
The universal grip sizes, as per our research is anywhere from 123 mm / 4 inches in the United States. Coming forward to Europe, the grip sizes are measured in a number from 0 to 5.
To make stuff easier for you, let us tell you that if you need to find a racquet's exact grip size, look at the butt or the frame's throat and you will know the racquet's grip size.
Tips to Improve Your Tennis Game
Although demonstrations are a lot easier in the case of sports and exercises. Well, here are some simple tips and tricks that we have listed in simple words. We hope that it will help you.
- Be Prepared: In tennis, there’s no early preparation. You need to be alert even before the oncoming ball bounces off at your side.
- Exaggerate Your Follow Through: Don't just hit the ball; move your feet along with it too! When you run your feet, your opponent will think that he needs to move also and that's when he has chances to miss the ball.
- The Ball Bounces Twice, and You're Out: Never let the ball bounce twice. Make a run for the ball even if you know that you have a higher chance of missing it.
- Foundation: It is highly essential that you practice and build a good foundation before you start moving back at the baseline. Know that you need to have a solid foundation and complete balance before to hit between the lines.
- A Safety Target: Many players have the tendency to overplay the ball, including playing the lines. Defy the odds and go for the winning points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: What defines the best racquet?
Answer: We often get asked that question a lot, and the answer to it is straightforward. Nothing is perfect, and so is a tennis racquet. You'll see that each brand has over 10 models to meet different types of needs of a player. The worst mistake that you could do is buy a racket just because a professional player uses it or it's the latest one in the market right now. While that racquet might be a good one, the big question is: does it suit your style of play?
Question 2: Should I choose mid-plus or an over sized racquet?
Answer: Head size entirely depends on you, but for your convenience, we have included some guidelines here. Over sized racquet offers a big sweet spot and thus a greater margin for forgiveness. This is really helpful if you are just a beginner or an intermediate player. Advanced level players usually choose mid-plus over other sizes partly because of its great maneuverability and control.
Question 3: What about my grip size?
Answer: When you hold your preferable racquet, does it snuggly fit the index finger of your non-gripping hand in the room between your ring finger and your palm? This is how you can determine the proper grip size, but we will tell you some other tricks too.
Do you use a lot of wrist movements in your strokes? Well, in that case, a racquet with a smaller grip will enable you to do that. That's why badminton and squash racquets tend to have a smaller grip size than tennis rackets. Do bear it in mind that if the grip is too small, the racket may twist during off-center hits. A big grip, at times, is impossible to reduce, specifically in the new super lightweight racquets.
Question 4: Should I buy the lightest racquet?
Answer: Lightweight racquets may grab your attention just because it feels great to hold it in hand and gives a lot of swings. But we would say that you should pay more attention to the heavier rackets that you can hold comfortably for a whole match.
Question 5: What about more extended racquets?
Answer: Longer racquets are good! It gives you higher power and reaches. Usually, we recommend going for a standard-length racquet, which is about 27 inches. That's because those racquets are easier to control and maneuver.
6. What qualities should I look for in the best tennis racquet for intermediate players?
When choosing a racquet, consider factors like weight, head size, and string pattern. Look for a balance between power and control to suit your playing style.
7. Can you recommend some popular tennis racquet models for intermediate players?
While the best racquet varies from player to player, popular options include the Babolat Pure Drive, Wilson Blade, and Head Graphene 360 Speed. Try these out to see which suits you best.
8. How do I determine the ideal racquet weight for my intermediate level of play?
Typically, intermediate players often prefer racquets with a medium weight (around 10.6 to 11.5 ounces). Experiment with different weights to find the one that offers the right balance of power and maneuverability for you.
9. What grip size is suitable for intermediate tennis players, and why does it matter?
The appropriate grip size depends on your hand size and comfort. A proper grip size enhances control and reduces the risk of injury. Many intermediates opt for a grip size of 4 3/8 or 4 1/2.
10. Should I prioritize control or power when selecting a racquet for intermediate play?
It's a personal preference, but many intermediates seek a racquet that offers a balance between control and power. A racquet with a medium head size and a moderate string pattern can be a good choice to maintain that balance.
Final Words
Do you need a new tennis racquet but you aren't sure which one to get? You have just read the right article at the right time. We have included some of the best brands as well as some lesser known brands of racquets for you to choose from.
What you need to do is, make sure you choose the right racquet for you. If you already have selected a racquet, we hope that our review has given you an expert knowledge to work as a second opinion while you still decide to buy it.
You must have come across with a few reviews of the best tennis racquet for intermediate player , but trust us when we say that we have compiled the best of the best. So, do let us know which ones your favorite. Or if you think we have skipped any of the best tennis racket, write it in the comments section and we'll add it to our list.
Happy Shopping!