Best Tennis Racquets of 2020

If you're looking for a new tennis racquet in 2020, we can help. Our team has carefully gone through the massive inventory of current racquets to find the best racquets for every ability level. Here are our top picks!

Best racquets for Beginners

Best racquets for Intermediates

Best racquets for Advanced players

A Closer Look at the Best Beginner Racquets

If you are just starting your tennis journey, you'll want a light and comfortable racquet that makes learning the game easy. Here are the three racquets you should be looking at.

Wilson Clash 100L

Why it’s the best: The Clash 100L is one of the lowest and most arm-friendly flex point racquets on the market. According to Wilson, this racquet's feel is achieved using FreeFlex and StableSmart technology, both of which help the racquet bend optimally at impact without sacrificing the crisp and solid feel that has come to define the modern player's racquet. From the baseline, the Clash 100L explodes through contact with remarkable ease. As a result, you'll find it easier to swing faster when adding pace and spin to your shots.

Prince O3 Legacy 120

Why it’s the best: The O3 Legacy 120 offers the most luxurious hitting experience in this guide. As such, it gives the beginner a large margin of error, ensuring that comfort and performance remain high even when contact is less than perfect. It also has Prince’s time-tested O3 Technology, which produces unmatched vibration dampening. If you’re looking for pure comfort and easy power, start here.

Babolat Boost Aero

Why it’s the best: This maneuverable point-and-shoot weapon makes learning the game easy. Although it lacks the massive power of the first two racquets, the exceptional control will enable you to keep the ball in play no matter how big you swing (think confidence). It’s also extremely maneuverable, which will help you position and swing the racquet effectively. The fact that it comes pre-strung for under $100 makes this starter stick hard to beat.

A Closer Look at the Best Intermediate Racquets

If you're an intermediate player, you will be able to rally with moderate power and consistency. You'll want a racquet that complements your developing style, whether it be grinding out long points from the baseline or banging forehand winners from a dead sprint. Here are the racquets you should be looking at across the most important categories.

Best Power & Spin: Babolat Pure Aero (tie)

Why it’s the best: Endorsed by Rafael Nadal, this racquet was built for the tornadic and angular mechanics of the modern game. Players looking to hit spin-loaded balls that drop hard and explode off the court will love how fast this stick whips through contact. Although it is weighted for intermediate players, the Pure Aero transcends ability level, making it as good for the dedicated beginner as it is for the wily veteran in the market for speed and spin.

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Best Power & Spin: Babolat Pure Drive (tie)

Why it’s the best: Launched in 2000, the Pure Drive is one of the most popular and versatile racquets ever made. Like the Pure Aero, this racquet delivers an easy learning curve to virtually any player who is looking to swing big and load the ball with pace and spin. Although it has inspired an army of clones, the Pure Drive is the undisputed king when it comes to light power frames.

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Pro tip: Spin comes primarily from your racquet’s speed and the angle at contact. You can add more spin to your current racquet by selecting a stiffer string with a low coefficient of friction and/or increasing your reference tension (which will enable you to swing faster).

Best Control: Head Graphene 360+ Gravity Tour (tie)

Why it’s the best: Loaded with the feel and control the Gravity Tour is also big on comfort. The flexible response will get you feeling connected to your shots and encourage you to go for the lines. The racquet is engineered to be more forgiving in the upper portion of the stringbed, making it a great choice for players who like to manipulate the ball with lots of topspin.

Best Control & Feel: Wilson Blade 16x19 v7 (tie)

Why it’s the best: A modern take on control the Blade 98 is spin-friendly thanks to its easy maneuverability and grippy 16x19 stringbed. Players looking to attack the ball with full swings will get the most out of this racquet. For comfort and power this stick pairs well with a multifilament or natural gut string. To maximize spin and control try the Blade 98 with your favourite co-poly string.

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Pro tip: If you’re looking for more control, select a racquet with a more flexible beam and smaller head size. For players with flatter mechanics, a dense string pattern can help with control. For players who hit with spin and higher trajectories, a more open (spin-friendly) string pattern can help with control. You can add control to your current racquet by increasing string tension and/or selecting a firmer string.

Best Arm-friendly frame: Yonex EZONE 98

Why it’s the best: Although this racquet doesn’t have the ultra-plush feel of a heavy player’s racquet, it offers impressive comfort for a lighter racquet. In addition to a large sweet spot, what separates the EZONE 98 from the competition is its user-friendly blend of speed, spin and power. Rising intermediates looking for the pop of a modern player’s racquet minus the stiff feel should give this stick a test drive.

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A Closer Look at the Best Racquets for Advanced Players

If you're an advanced player, you have a fully developed game and extensive experience playing competitive matches. In addition to finding a racquet that complements your strengths, you’ll need enough mass to drive the ball powerfully through the court or redirect higher levels of pace. Here are the racquets you should be looking at across the most important categories.

Best Power & Spin: Babolat Pure Strike 16 x 19

Why it’s the best: Take the easy power and monster spin of the Pure Aero and throw in some surgical control and you have the Pure Strike. From the baseline the Pure Strike 16x19 feels solid and surgical. It offers the spin-friendly precision of the Pure Drive but with a softer response and better ball feedback. Our playtesters love this racquet strung up with their favourite co-poly string so they can take their biggest cuts while finding extra control via massive spin.

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LOOKING FOR MORE OPTIONS?
Power Racquets Gear Guide

Best Control & Feel: Prince Phantom 100X 305g

Why it’s the best: The Phantom 100X (305g) remains one of the most flexible and arm-friendly racquets in its weight class. It also packs an open 16x18 string pattern, giving it enough spin-potential to bring the ball down hard. For this update Prince adds its Anti-Torque System, which features Textreme and Twaron in both the shaft and at 10 and 2 o'clock in the upper hoop. The upshot is less frame torque at impact, resulting in a more powerful and stable hitting experience.

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Best arm-friendly:
Head Graphene 360+ Speed Pro

Why it’s the best: Advanced players will love the control and feel they’ll find on every shot with this version of the venerable Speed. The Speed Pro packs a surgical 18x20 string pattern and a buttery 62-RA stiffness, making it slightly better at redirecting higher levels of pace or driving the ball through the court. The silky smooth response is loaded with comfort, making this the perfect option for the player wanting to be connected to the ball while enjoying an arm-friendly feel.

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