Introduction
Have you been playing tennis regularly and started feeling it’s time to move up to the next level? An advanced tennis racquet will help you play your best game and control your ball placement better.
Considerations before buying a tennis racquet for an advanced player
But what do you need to know before buying an advanced-level tennis racquet? We’ll go through everything you need to know and show you the best available options, so read on.
If you’re in a hurry to get your hands on a new racquet, these are our top picks for the best tennis racquet for advanced players.
If you‘re an advanced player, you should be able to hit a ball with just about any racquet. Still, to keep improving, it’s best to look for one that complements your needs.
When to move on to an advanced racquet, and what type of racquet to pick depends most of all on comfort. Not every racquet will be right for every player, so think about what kind of game you like to play before making your pick. Are you aggressive and fast, or do you put tons of power and spin on your swing?
The good thing is that you’re now aware of your playing style and can take advantage of this knowledge to find your first advanced racquet.
Weight versus Power
While new players can get more power behind their shots with a heavier racquet, they’re not as fast to play with and may tire you more. When your moves on the court get a little faster and more aggressive, it’s good to switch to a lighter racquet to up your game.
Lightweight racquets are key for advanced players because of their speed, but you need to know how to use them to get power behind your shot.
To improve your control over a light racquet while saving your strength, you can also opt for a more head-heavy design. A bit of lead balancer tape on the head can also give you more power while you get used to a new, lightweight racquet.
Spin versus Control
When you’re an advanced player, you may not need as big of a surface area to create power as a beginner would. Still, your racquet’s head size and string pattern can also impact your ability to create spin.
An open string pattern with a larger surface is ideal for players with a long swing. It will also help you get more spin, so if that’s your playing style, opt for bigger head size.
A smaller surface area and tighter string pattern mean you won’t get as much spin. This is ideal for players who have a short swing and like to get lots of control behind every shot.
Reviews of the best tennis racquets for advanced players
These are our top picks for the best tennis rackets for advanced players in 2021. Check them out and try them for yourself!
Head MicroGel Radical
Best Value
This racquet from Head is a surprisingly high-quality find for a low price, and we recommend it for intermediate to advanced players. With its 98-square-inch surface and 18×20 string pattern, it gives you a surprising amount of control.
The racquet weighs 10.4 ounces unstrung, so with strings; it comes to around 11 ounces. It’s a lightweight racquet, but the head-heavy design still gives you lots of power behind every shot while saving your arm strength.
This racquet is affordable and comes strung, so you don’t have to pay extra to string it immediately. Many players do have their own stringing preferences, so you might end up making this investment anyway.
As a negative, some players do note that this racquet has some vibration. You can fix this with a good dampener, which is not a pricey investment.
Pros
- Affordable.
- Arrives strung.
- Head-heavy design for improved power.
- Tight string pattern that gives you control.
Cons
- Some vibration; a good dampener might be useful.
Wilson K Factor KZero
Most Lightweight
At just over 9 ounces strung, the Wilson K Factor KZero is the lightest racquet in our review. Despite its weight, the head is massive, at 118 square inches, giving you a big sweet spot. The 16×19 string pattern is great for players with a long swing who like to add a lot of spin, but it can be too loose for some players.
The racquet is stable to maneuver and is reliable, although it leans toward being head-heavy. It’s comfortable to hold and stiff, which helps keep all the power on your shot instead of absorbing part of the impact.
This racquet arrives strung, but Wilson’s stringing is not great quality, so you’ll likely need to change it before long.
Pros
- Massive head and sweet spot.
- Lightweight design.
- Stiff racquet that doesn’t absorb the power of your shot.
Cons
- The string pattern can be too loose for those who like control.
- Factory stringing is of poor quality.
Babolat Pure Aero
Best High-End Racquet
This Babolat model is the racquet Rafael Nadal uses, and it suits players with a long swing. The Babolat Aero series is based on an aero-modular beam construction that reduces air resistance and keeps the racquet light.
The weight of the strung racquet is about 11 ounces, light enough to keep your shots fast. The surface area of 100 square inches and the 16×19 string pattern gives you a big sweet spot to create spin. Still, you don’t have to sacrifice power or accuracy.
Note that this racquet doesn’t come strung, so you’ll have to invest in getting it strung on top of the already high price. Still, this is a professional-level racquet that’s a favorite of many advanced players.
Pros
- Big sweet spot for powerful shots.
- Lightweight.
- Lots of spin.
Cons
- High price.
- Ships unstrung.
Conclusion: the best tennis racquet for advanced players is . . .
Our favorite in this best tennis racquet for advanced players review is Head MicroGel Radical. It’s a user-favorite thanks to its affordable price and value and is a solid option for those transitioning to an advanced-style racquet.
At about 11 ounces when strung, the Head MicroGel Radical has a good balance of light weight and power in its head-heavy design. The large head and tight stringing give you a lot of control without sacrificing spin.
If this model wasn’t your favorite, check out the other options on our list to see if they’re better suited for your style.
the Head MicroGel Radical has a good balance of light weight and power in its head-heavy design
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