Best Tennis Racquets of 2021

If you're looking for a new tennis racquet, 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 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 shot

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.

Looking for more options?
Find more on our Beginner Racquets Gear Guide.

A closer look at 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.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW

Best power & spin: Babolat Pure Drive (tie)

Why it’s the best: Since its launch more than 20 years ago, the Pure Drive has become 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.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW

Pro tip: Spin comes primarily from your racquet’s speed and 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 & feel: Wilson Blade 98 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 favorite co-poly string.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW

Best control & feel: Head Radical MP 2021 (tie)

Why it's the best: Another racquet with a long history, the Radical MP gets a bit of a bigger update. For 2021, Head gives this racquet a lower flex rating for a more arm-friendly feel. Head also increases the static weight and swingweight for the Radical MP, which translated into more stability. Built for control and feel, this racquet doesn't skimp on power either, making it a well-rounded pick for the intermediate and stronger player.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW

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: 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 sweetspot, 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.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW

A closer look at 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 Tour 2021

Why it’s the best: You may notice that the standard Pure Drive is listed as a top pick for power for intermediate players. With the Pure Drive Tour, you're getting all that power plus some additional plow through and stability from the additional weight. Changes to this version are slight. There's some additional material added to increase stability and more dampening material in the frame. Still, the heart of the racquet remains, making it an aggressive baseliner's dream.

LOOKING FOR MORE OPTIONS?
Power Racquets Gear Guide
Spin Racquets Gear Guide

Best control & feel: Prince Phantom 93P 18x20 (tie)

Why it’s the best: With its midsize head, flexible feel, buttery thin beam and dense string pattern, the Phantom 93P (18x20) belongs in the dictionary under control and feel. Advanced players looking for the undeniable precision of a traditional player’s racquet should start here. Be advised, the rock solid feel at impact is addictive.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW

Yonex VCORE PRO 97HD 18x20 (tie)

Why it's the best: This VCORE Pro 97HD delivers outstanding feel and control with a surprisingly quick swing. This 18x20 addition to the VCORE PRO line is a hit with our playtesters. The tighter pattern led to surgical precision, and spin potential didn't suffer. Experienced ball strikers will find the control and seductive feel of a traditional player's racquet in this VCORE PRO 97HD.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW

LOOKING FOR MORE OPTIONS?
Find more on our Control Racquets Gear Guide

Best arm-friendly:
Head Graphene 360+ Prestige 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 Prestige. Offering a true 98-square-inch head size, this Prestige MP is more forgiving than previous versions without sacrificing any control. 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.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW

LOOKING FOR MORE?
Read our Best Comfort Racquets Gear Guide

How We Pick

Wonder how we choose best gear recommendations? We gather from our playtesters' firsthand experiences reviewing and playing with all the tennis gear. We form our lists based on their reviews and feedback. You can find all of our product reviews here.