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In tennis, your racquet can make or break your tennis game regardless of your skill level.Therefore, it is important to choose the best racquet for intermediate players that will amplify your current skills and make up for your weaknesses.
However, this could be hard if you do not know what you are looking for. So, to help things move along, I listed down some of my favorite tennis racquets picks for intermediate players and the criteria I used in choosing them to help things move along!
How To Pick The Best Tennis Racquet For Intermediate Players
When you are an intermediate tennis player, you already have a few basic skills but still need improvement on things like control and power of your strokes and serves. You also need to consider a few other factors to become a pro in as little time as possible, with regular practice, of course.
Here are the things thatI put into consideration while choosing my top picks, which I suggest you use in selecting yours as well:
1. Power
Intermediate players can already rally with consistency and moderate power. While you do not need much help inthat department anymore, the best racquet will offer even more power without you having to exert too much effort and without compromising on control. This way, you can develop your abilities and gain more points with powerful forehands and serves.
2. Control
Speaking of control, the best racquets will allow you to swing aggressively while still giving you the “feel” for placement and control.
Beginners mainly focus on hitting the ball and having enough power to get it back to the other court. However, your priorities as an intermediate-level player will have to change.
Instead, you will have to look for that certain feel or touch that will not only help you hit the ball but also apply various spins on it. These shots are more likely to just go over the net without bouncing too much.
Again, you do not need as much power since your strokes are probably medium to long by now. And because your skills are more advanced, what you really need is to have control over the racquet, the ball, and ultimately, the game.
3. Grip
The best racquet will feel stable and robust yet comfortable in your hand or when you are using it.
This property refers to the racquet’s grip. It is crucial especially when you play against a stronger opponent in which case you would need to reduce the power of their shots so that you can return them effectively.
Choose a racquet that is easy and pleasant to play with but also helps improve your game.
4. Comfort
Another factor to consider is comfort. If your racquet is comfortable to hold and use, you will experience fewer injuries, pain, and arm issues. Also, look for racquets with larger sweet spots and a vibration dampening feature if possible.
5. Spin
Spin refers to the amount of rotation a ball does after being hit by a racquet. This feature is also very useful for more advanced players. It is directly affected by the quality of the racquet and the string pattern and arrangement.
Mainly, you want a racquet with a wider string pattern to have a better “bite” on the ball. To give you an idea, the most spin friendly racquets usually have a string pattern of 18×16 or 16×15.
Having a greater spin allows for more net clearance and makes the ball drop faster. This way, you can prevent the ball from flying past the baseline or hitting the net.
Generally, the spin is what differentiates the strokes of professionals or better players from amateurs. Is that not enough reason to work on your own spin techniques?
6. Weight
Another thing you must remember is that a heavier racquet equals improved playability and better balance for more explosive strokes. However, this does not necessarily mean that a heavier racquet is always better.
In fact, a racquet that is too heavy will cause your arms to get tired easily and can even lead to injuries.
Choose something that is only slightly heavier than what you are used to as a beginner. This will not only allow you to receive and counter powerful shots from your opponent but will also prevent the racquet from shifting in your hand when you do so.
5 Best Racquet for Intermediate Player Reviews
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1. Wilson Blade 98 (16×19) Countervail Racquet
The Wilson Blade 98 Countervail racquet comes from a series of racquets featuring the innovative Countervail Technology. This means that it significantly reduces the shock received by the player and diminishes fatigue more effectively than most other racquets.
This racquet is ideal for players who suffer from arm, shoulder, or elbow issues but still want to play aggressively. By absorbing most of the shock from each shot you receive, the Wilson Blade 98 16×19 Countervail Racquet is a great option that will go easy on your joints.
The Wilson Blade 98 a considerable improvement from its all-around predecessor, the Blade 98 (16×19) in a lot of different ways as well. With a weight of just around 11 ounces (strung), it has a solid feel and easily absorbs powerful shots without being too heavy.
The 16×19 string pattern is slightly more open than the 18×20, making the Wilson Blade 98 somewhat more forgiving while also offering the same control and power you want.
Players who have been using the Head Microgel OS for years then switched to the Wilson Blade 98 (16×19) note that the latter delivers more spin, drive, and plow-through despite being much lighter than other models from the same brand, such as the Wilson RF97 Federer Autograph.
With the right strings that offer enough adequate flexibility, this racquet can provide even more powerful spins and arm-friendly response.
Pros
Cons
- Countervail Technology that absorbs shock and vibrations
- Helps reduce fatigue
- Dramatically improves spins
- Allows for more powerful baseline shots
- Great for aggressive intermediate players
- Quite expensive
- Not that maneuverable and controllable
- Too much dampening that could affect its feel
- High swing weight, reducing power on serves
2. HEAD MicroGel Radical Tennis Racquets
Among all the racquets in this list, the HEAD MicroGel is the cheapest. However, it does not fall too far back regarding features. The most notable feature of this model is the exceptional comfort it provides as well as its unique touch and solid feel that lets me control my swings and mobility.
Featuring the company’s new MicroGel Technology, this racquet is constructed with MicroGel. In combination with the carbon composite racquet head, this allows everything to compress and adjust upon ball impact.
Thanks to this feature, HEADMicroGel Racquet absorbs and distributes impact load uniformly throughout the frame although it does not have the same vibration dampening of the Wilson Blade 98’s Countervail Technology.
Unlike the Wilson Blade 98, the HEAD MicroGel also has a lighter swing weight, larger sweet spot, and a broader appeal. The HEAD MicroGel also has an 18×20 string pattern which adds a sense of control even during aggressive exchanges.
The HEAD Microgel has a softer yet still solid feel and is a massive improvement from the previous model, the HEAD Flexpoint Radical Midplus.
Pros
Cons
- Offers excellent comfort on the hand and arm
- Soft, comfortable feel
- Nice blend of power and control
- Lighter swing weight
- A bit lacking on spin
- Tighter string pattern
3. Wilson Pro Staff 97 Tennis Racquet
Although I love the Wilson Blade 98 (16×19), the Wilson Pro Staff 97 competes and even surpasses it in multiple areas. On the get-go, the Wilson Pro Staff RF97 may not have the same dampening feature and offers a little less power than the former.
However, both have relatively the same spin and the Wilson PS RF97 does win in other categories.
For example, the PS 97 has a noticeably much softer and plusher feel. Because it is head-light rather than head-heavy, it is also easier to swing. The Wilson PS 97 also offers better control, longer grip, and a larger sweet spot than the Blade 98.
At more than 12 ounces weight, the Pro Staff 97 allows you to feel all parts of it better when strung. This, in turn, lets you apply more power and spin to every shot or swing. The weight also makes it perfect for powerful serves without much effort.
Pros
Cons
- Offers more control
- Larger sweet spot
- More controllable
- Heavier for more power and better serves
- Longer grip
- Softer yet solid feel
- Less powerful
- No vibration or shock dampener
4. Prince Textreme Tour 100P Racquets
The Textreme Tour 100P racquet is very similar to another great racquet that is not listed here, the Yonex EZONE Ai100. Both racquets provide a great combination of control and power, although the Textreme Tour 100P offers slightly more power.
Although the Textreme Tour 95 and the Textreme Tour 100P both offer the same feel, the Textreme Tour 100P is much easier to use. It also provides powerful shots without being too hard to swing.
Out of all the racquets from the Textreme series, the Textreme Tour 100P is my favorite because it has an even combination of power and control while the Textreme Tour 95 gives a slightly more control yet much less power.
The Textreme Tour 100T, on the other hand, is another similar but lighter racquet without the stability of the Textreme Tour 100P.
This racquet is also very responsive, and for something with an 18×20 string pattern, it delivers an impressive amount of spin. These features make it great for hitting groundstrokes from the baseline and serves.
Pros
Cons
- Optimum control
- Has a solid feel
- Comfortable to use
- Provides more power than most racquets from the same series
- Stable and maneuverable
- Smaller sweet spot
- A massive drop in power outside the sweet spot
5. Babolat Pure Strike 100 Tennis Racquet
Last but not the least is the Babolat Pure Strike 100, a popular model among both intermediate and advanced players mainly due to its phenomenal control and maneuverability. These factors make it such a nice tool for competitive playing.
While the Pure Strike 100 is slightly heavier than the previous versions, it does offer the same comfort and solid feel of other Pure Strike counterparts. This model also gives the player better control of serves and returns.
Babolat Pure Strike 100 has a lively stringbed made for the aggressive player with extended swings. The FSI system, which makes the gaps between the strings a bit wider towards the corners, also adds power to your swings.
At only 11 ounces when strung, the low swing weight helps you get wider shots as well by effectively containing and reflecting the ball’s power. I highly recommend this racquet for agile and quick players who like surprising their opponents.
According to a Tennis Magazine Review, the Pure Strike is Babolat’s way of compromising and combining the positive features of both the Pure Aero and Pure Drive.
Pros
Cons
- Spin friendly
- Light swing weight
- Great serves and returns
- Solid feel
- Lacks stability and comfort
- Feels stiff
- Has a hard time generating power
- Smaller sweet spot
Conclusion
Overall, the best tennis racquet for intermediate players is the HEAD MicroGel Radical Tennis Racquet. It is not only comfortable to use but also has a soft feel, a nice combination of power and control, and a light swing weight.
The HEAD Microgel is also the most affordable in this list, which makes it even more ideal for people who plan to upgrade their racquets as their skills improve.