Many tennis players have strong brand loyalty. It’s similar to Apple vs. Samsung. Which brand of racquet should you buy, and why?
Every industry has a battle of the brands, and tennis is no exception. The major manufacturers compete for the endorsement of the top players as well as the best way to reach the retail consumer. One method is to create smart marketing and sponsor the right players, but it all comes down to the product in the end. Is it satisfactory? What are the best tennis rackets brands?
What makes it difficult to select the best tennis rackets brands?
There are dozens of tennis racquet brands on the market, each claiming to be the best. Each manufacturer offers unique features and technologies that distinguish their racquets from the competition (such as head size, string tension, grip size, strung weight, and so on).
Such variety provides tennis players with a wide range of options when purchasing or upgrading their racquets.
However, it makes it difficult to select the best tennis racquet that is specifically designed for your game type. Because each player has different preferences and a different playing style.
When purchasing a new racquet, you may be tempted to select the least expensive frame, as we all try to save money. When it comes to your passion, however, you must make the right choices.
A bad choice can be an enemy of your arm; for example, a racquet that lacks the characteristics you need for your game style can cause a tennis elbow if it puts pressure on your arm.
However, to make your purchasing decision easier, we will review the top 7 tennis racquet brands so you can select the best one for your skills.
*** Read more: 4 Types Of Tennis Rackets: Buying Guide for Tennis Players
The top 7 best tennis rackets brands
You should never buy a racquet that will be discontinued soon, as it will be difficult to obtain a replacement. Fortunately, the quality of the various products is roughly the same across the various mainstream racquet brands.
While you will see professional players using a variety of racquets, the truth is that they are all manufactured by only seven different brands. These brands have been around for a while and are known for producing high-quality racquets suitable for both professional and beginner players. So, when selecting a racquet, stick to one of the seven brands listed below.
For quality control, we would still recommend Yonex because they appear to place a premium on weight and balance. However, for most players, this may not be a significant issue.
#1. Wilson
To begin, we believe Wilson, a Chicago-based sporting goods company, is the best tennis racquet brand. Wilson works with a variety of sports, including basketball (Mr. Wilson!), volleyball, baseball, golf, and football. Wilson began in 1913 and has been expanding ever since.
Wilson racquets are well-balanced, offering a good mix of power, control, and touch. Wilson racquet users typically do not have a game style that requires a lot of topspin, as the racquets are not known for providing that. Pete Sampras, Justine Henin, Jim Courier, Gaston Gaudio, Stefan Edberg, Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors, and Steffi Graff are among the tennis players who have used Wilson racquets in the past.
Wilson racquets are currently used by the majority of players in the top 100 of the ATP and WTA, which speaks volumes about their quality. Roger Federer, Juan Martin del Potro, Serena, and Venus Williams, David Goffin, Gael Monfils, Grigor Dimitrov, Kei Nishikori, Petra Kvitova, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Simona Halep are among the most successful Wilson players.
Wilson currently has four main product lines: Blade, Clash, Ultra, and Pro Staff. Most racquets cost between $139 and $249, depending on the model.
#2. Babolat
Babolat began as a tennis string manufacturer in France. Babolat is a very old brand, with its origins dating back to 1875. Some of the early French stars (Suzzane Lenglen, and Henri Cochet) used Babolat strings, propelling the brand to the forefront of the tennis world.
Babolat finally launched its first line of racquets in 1994, and Carlos Moya became the first person to win a Grand Slam tournament while using a Babolat racquet in 1998. Since then, Babolat has expanded into footwear and clothing, and several tennis stars, including Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters, Fernando Gonzalez, and Li Na, have begun to use the brand’s racquets.
Babolat racquets have traditionally been used primarily by players who prefer clay courts, as clay courts require players to use more topspin, which Babolat racquets are ideal for. However, as the game has become slower, with harder courts allowing shots to bounce higher, Babolat is now regarded as a good racquet for all surfaces. Rafael Nadal, Benoit Paire, Felix-Auger Aliassime, Fabio Fognini, Johana Konta, Jack Sock, Dominic Thiem, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Kristina Pliskova, Caroline Wozniacki, and Garbine Muguruza are among the top players who use Babolat racquets.
Babolat currently has three main racquet lines: Pure Drive, Pure Aero, and Pure Strike. These lines are designed for elite or even intermediate players. The brand also has five beginner lines: Aero, Strike, Drive, Evoke, and Pulsion. The latter lines are lighter and have larger head sizes, allowing for better ball contact. Prices for racquets range from $139 to $249.
*** Read more: A Comprehensive Guide to Tennis Court Dimensions & Surfaces
#3. Head
Finally, when it comes to tennis racquets, Head is one of the “Big 3.” The American-Dutch company produces equipment for a wide range of sports, including skiing, snowboarding, snorkeling, and swimming. In 1960, the company began manufacturing tennis racquets.
The list of players who represented Head is far longer than the list of players who represented the other brands mentioned above. Among the notable names are John McEnroe, Arthur Ashe, Andre Agassi, Marat Safin, Gustavo Kuerten, Goran Ivanisevic, and Robin Soderling.
Novak Djokovic, Matteo Berrettini, Andy Murray, Alexander Zverev, Diego Schwartzman, Jannik Sinner, Maria Sharapova, Gilles Simon, Coco Gauff, Bianca Andreescu, Ashleigh Barty, and Sloane Stephens currently represent Head.
Aside from racquets, Head also makes balls, shoes, bags, and strings. The Head’s main racquet lines are Instinct, Speed, Radical, Gravity, and Extreme. Each line is distinct from the others and can be used by a variety of players. Most racquets cost between $129 and $229.
#4. Yonex
Yonex, a Japanese brand that has grown in popularity in recent years, is the most popular Asian tennis racquet brand. The company began as a manufacturer of badminton racquets before expanding into the production of tennis racquets in 1969.
Yonex rose to prominence after signing contracts with tennis legends Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King. Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, Richard Krajicek, Marcelo Rios, Ana Ivanovic, and Lleyton Hewitt were among the other successful Yonex players.
While the brand has previously been represented by several successful players, it was only recently that it became a mainstream racket on tour. Yonex racquets are currently used by several top 100 players, including Stan Wawrinka, Frances Tiafoe, Denis Shapovalov, Nick Kyrgios, Belinda Bencic, and Naomi Osaka, and Angelique Kerber.
Yonex offers five racquet lines in 2019: Ezone, VCore, VCore Pro, Astrel, and Junior. Yonex racquets are known for providing both control and power, but players must have a “fast hand” and strong arms. Most Yonex racquets cost between $169 and $239.
#5. Tecnifibre
Tecnifibre is a French racquet brand that began as a tennis string manufacturer. The company began in 1983, moved into the tennis ball market, and then began manufacturing its own racquets in 2004. While the brand is still relatively new in comparison to some of its competitors, it has steadily gained a place among the top racquet brands.
Tecnifibre has recently expanded into other racquet sports such as squash and paddle. Daniil Medvedev, Janko Tipsarevic, Jeremy Chardy, John Millman, and Denis Istomin are among the most successful tennis players who use Tecnifibre racquets. Aside from Daniil Medvedev, they are all players ranked in the top 30 to 100 of the ATP rankings. Daria Kasatkina is the best Tecnifibre representative on the women’s side.
Tecnifibre currently offers four racquet lines, three geared toward male players and one geared toward females. The male racquet lines are the T-Flash, T-Fight, and T-Fit, while the female racquet line is the T-Rebound. The racquets are priced between $149 and $199.
#6. Prince
Prince is a sports equipment manufacturer that specializes solely in tennis equipment. This is an American corporation that was founded in Princeton, New Jersey in 1970. Price, like Dunlop, has lost a significant amount of market share to Head, Wilson, and Babolat.
Prince previously sponsored players such as Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, Michael Chang, the Bryan Brothers, and Jennifer Capriati, propelled the brand to prominence. John Isner and Lucas Pouille are currently the most successful players to use Prince racquets.
Prince racquets are known for giving players a lot of power (but not a lot of control), which may be one of the reasons the company has lost market share. As tennis matches become longer and more physical, players must maintain control throughout the game, prompting them to seek out other brands.
Prince currently offers five racquet lines: Tour, Beast, Attack, Premier, Phantom, and Pink Series. The majority of the new models are priced between $89 and $189.
#7. Dunlop
Dunlop Sports is a manufacturer of golf and tennis equipment. In 1889, the British company began as a manufacturer of rubber goods and later expanded into the sports world. Dunlop entered the tennis market by producing tennis balls, and it is still best known for this.
Dunlop rackets have lost market share to top brands such as Head, Babolat, and Wilson over the last few decades, but it was once a very popular brand. Dunlop racquets were used by some of tennis’ greatest legends, including Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Rod Laver, and John McEnroe. Kevin Anderson in singles and Jamie Murray in doubles are currently the most successful players who use Dunlop racquets.
Dunlop currently has three main racquet lines: CV, CX, and CZ Series. The CV Series is ideal for players who like to hit topspin shots, while the CX Series is ideal for heavy hitters and the CZ Series is ideal for players who like to hit the ball flat. These racquets cost between $169 and $229 each.
*** Read more: Tennis Net Dimensions and Ultimate Guide To Tennis Nets
Frequently Asked Questions
#1. Is Babolat a reputable company?
Babolat, the inventor of tennis string, is a long-lasting brand with a devoted following for its racquets in a variety of racquet sports, including badminton, tennis, and, more recently, paddle.
#2. Is it better to play Wilson or Babolat?
There isn’t much of a quality difference between Wilson ProStaff and Babolat Pure Aero. Different types of players require different types of rackets, but for recreational players, the decision is usually influenced by their preferences for design or brand awareness.
#3. Is the Head superior to Wilson?
Wilson is the undisputed champion of professional tennis. It is the first choice of both ATP and WTA players. Head, on the other hand, is at least attempting to challenge Wilson’s position among men. Both brands have a global ambassador who is well-known beyond tennis fans.
#4. Is light or heavy tennis racket better?
A heavy racket is more powerful, stable, and transmits less shock than a lighter racket (all other things being equal). A lighter racket is easier to maneuver, allowing the player to swing it faster.
#5. How frequently should you replace your tennis racquet?
But assuming you don’t splinter it on purpose, a new racquet should last at least two years before you have to worry about performance-affecting fatigue. Club players who play two or more times per week are subject to the two-year rule.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are numerous best tennis rackets brands to choose from. We understand that selecting a racquet can be difficult, but as long as you stick to one of the brands mentioned above, you should have a good racquet in your hands.
You will still need to decide on which specific racquet you want, so consider your skill level, budget, and body. If you have a tennis shop nearby, someone there should be able to give you more advice on which racquet to buy.
You should be aware that the majority of tennis stores allow customers to “test-drive” racquets. You’d only need to leave some money as a security deposit, and you’d be able to leave with three or four racquets to try out. We strongly advise you to do so before deciding on one.