Intermediate players need to have the right racquet for them to take their tennis to the next level. Having an entry-level model won’t do much good, but a true high-level racquet might not be forgiving enough.
What are some racquets worth checking out for intermediate players? These nine are friendly for players who still have room to learn but don’t want to be stuck using subpar racquets.
Here are the 9 best tennis racquets for intermediate players (ranked from number 9 to 1).
9. Yonex EZONE 100
The Yonex EZONE 100 can be seen on the professional tour quite often. With that said, it’s an excellent intermediate racquet that can grow with a player as they move on. Like a lot of the racquets to make this list, it’s a 100 in.² option with some of its tweaks here and there.
Like all Yonex racquets, the frame design works to create a bigger sweet spot. That might make a difference for a player still learning the game a bit. The sweet spot encourages better overall shots, but also gives a little bit more power as well.
The spin potential is also pretty good on the Yonex EZONE 100. It has a pretty open string pattern that can help players do what they want with the ball and not feel overwhelmed.
Growing into the racquet and taking the game to another level helps out quite a bit. No matter the play style, the Yonex EZONE can be the perfect learning tool to take the game beyond the intermediate level. There’s a reason why it’s one of the most popular racquets on the ATP Tour.
Pros
- Outstanding on groundstrokes
- Spin potential
- Increased sweet spot
Cons
- Head shape takes some getting used to
- Lacks some of the punch of other racquets
8. Prince Ripstick 100
A lot of people have gravitated towards this option from Prince at the intermediate level. While it’s not the most popular racquet out there from the company overall, this one is great for developing a big game and creating some topspin along the way.
Open strings with this 16 x 18 racquet help out with the topspin a lot. It also creates a pretty large sweet spot so players can rip through the ball and hit with a decent amount of power. It comes in two different weight options depending on what a player comfortably feels they can swing.
Like a lot of Prince racquets, the O Ports that are in the frame help out with faster swings. Instead of feeling like the racquet is lagging, players can hit through the ball with relative ease.
Pros
- Outstanding spin potential
- Feels light
- Comfortable on all strokes
Cons
- Not consistent enough for advanced players
- Tough to find consistency at first
7. Tecnifibre TFight 300 RS
An underrated racquet option for a lot of players comes from Tecnifibre. They have a few different options worth exploring, but the TFight 300 RS might be the perfect budget option for players wanting an intermediate racquet.
The first thing that jumps out is that the price is a little bit lower than some of the other racquets out there.
If people are worried about spending too much money on an intermediate racquet, this is an excellent place to start.
They don’t sacrifice quality either. Tecnifibre does everything possible to deliver the same standard of racquet as what’s out there from other companies.
People save a bit on Tecnifibre tennis racquets basically because they don’t spend as much on marketing as many other companies out there. They also try to use cost-efficient upgrades to the racquet to make it feel great.
The foam injections in the racquet make it soft and dampened when hitting shots. There’s still an Xtreme Touch Construction that has the stability to go along with the stick.
It’s an all-court racquet that’s definitely on the shortlist for intermediate players who want power along with control.
Pros
- Very comfortable on the arm
- Easy to create power
- Controllable shots
Cons
- Feels like there’s not enough stability at times
- 98 in.² head size might be challenging for intermediate players
6. Yonex VCore 100
The most notable quality features of the Yonex VCore 100 are its easy power and spin-friendly design. It is another 100 in.² racquet that’s fairly light at 11.3 ounces. Intermediate players can start to swing around pretty freely and find the sweet spot with ease.
A huge selling point of the VCore 100 is that it is designed for players looking to move up and skill level.
Intermediate players can start with it, but advanced players will love the speed that they can hit to overpower opponents. Is one of those racquets players can grow with and not feel like they have to upgrade later on.
A very flexible graphite known as FlexForce keeps the racquet bending just enough at impact to make it a very comfortable weapon.
There’s also vibration-dampening mesh that puts it up there as one of the most comfortable racquets available. Sometimes the soft racquet doesn’t provide power, but it’s there with every shot with the VCore 100.
Pros
- Very comfortable
- Good amount of power
- Spin potential
Cons
- Feels a little too advanced at times
- Lead tape might be necessary for fast-swing players
5. Head Radical MP
Everything about the Radical line has been well-loved over the years. They continue to make upgrades, with the latest version having all types of benefits for intermediate players.
Everything from serving to groundstrokes is very easy for players, given the balance of comfort, stability, and weight.
They use a technology, known as Graphene 360+, which gives a very enhanced feel on all shots.
Head has quite a few racquets that are built for intermediate to advanced players, but this one is one of the best in covering all aspects.
As long as it’s not feeling too heavy, intermediate players should excel with this in their hands.
Pros
- Solid amount of power
- Excellent control
- Comes in many different variations
Cons
- A little heavy
- Head size is smaller at 98 in.²
4. Wilson Clash 100
The Wilson Clash was designed with intermediate players in mind. While there are professionals that use the racquet, this is an option that players can go with as much as they want to find consistent success at the intermediate stage of playing.
When the Clash first came out in 2019, it became a very highly-rated racquet at the intermediate level. The new technology made it very comfortable with the right amount of control on shots. Maneuverability was great, and the volleys felt very crisp.
The second version of the Wilson Clash has made some slight improvements. It’s still a racquet that mostly caters to intermediate players, but there are different variations depending on what feels best.
If frame flexibility and overall comfort are what a person is after, it doesn’t get much better than the Wilson Clash. A player will need to generate their power for the most part, but it’s a racquet that is built for all types of players.
Pros
- Excellent maneuverability
- Solid control
- Very comfortable
Cons
- Different types of Wilson Clash racquets make it tough to fit the right one
- Expensive
3. Babolat Pure Drive
The Babolat Pure Drive pretty much goes hand-in-hand with the Babolat Pure Aero. Both of them have the same head size, and there are a lot of similarities at first glance. It mostly comes down to the style of play of a player, as the Drive offers a bit more power instead of spin.
Intermediate players will gladly take advantage of a bigger sweet spot than a lot of other player racquets. It’s a pretty forgiving racquet, especially with a solid string setup.
Some people will put in polyester strings right away, knowing that they still have some pretty good control with shots.
The Pure Drive isn’t going to be a great option for those who already have some tennis elbow problems.
It’s known as a fairly stiff racquet, which can come in handy for some players, but not those battling elbow issues. Other than that, it’s a great racquet to start with at a lower level and then begin to evolve.
Pros
- Excellent power
- Spin potential is still there
- Big sweet spot
Cons
- Very stiff
- Easy to hit balls long
2. Wilson Blade V8
The Wilson Blade V8 comes in so many different setups that it is in a category by itself. While going with the standard 98 in.² version that offers a 16×19 string pattern is a good way to go, others might want a slightly bigger head size at the intermediate level.
Regardless of the ultimate size selection, this is the newest and best version of the Wilson Blade. They’ve always done a great job of offering control, and the feel is very similar to the Wilson Clash at this point with similar technology.
Out of all the offerings from Wilson, the Blade family seems the best for intermediate players. They aren’t too demanding, and they offer some nice customization. Give them a try and see how they perform.
Pros
- Very balanced, all-around feel
- Stable on all shot types
- Durable
Cons
- Lacks a little bit of free power
- Other Wilson options might cater to different playstyles better
1. Babolat Pure Aero
Anyone who’s supported tennis in the last two decades has seen the Babolat Pure Aero in many professional players’ hands. Rafael Nadal has used the racquet throughout his career, but it’s known recreationally as well as one of the best options for intermediate and above players.
As soon as a player gets a chance to play around with the Babolat Pure Aero, they’ll notice it has an outstanding blend of spin and power.
Even players who don’t normally hit with a ton of spin will be able to generate it, allowing them to improve their game in a short amount of time.
The power is nice with the racquet, but having something that’s very controllable helped out tremendously as well. Players don’t have to feel like they are constantly risking hitting the ball out when they are playing.
All in all, this racquet is perfect to improve as time goes along. Players can still upgrade their model by adding weight, changing the string, and more. Intermediate players can have success with a pretty large sweet spot and plenty of forgiveness overall.
Pros
- Outstanding spin potential
- Easy power
- Large sweet spot
Cons
- Feels stiff to some
- Gets pushed around a bit by harder hitters
Graduating to the Next Level
All of the intermediate racquets that make this list perfect are for those who want to take their games to the next level as well.
Plenty of players have used these types of racquets at the highest levels of play. It’s not unusual to see the same racquets in the hands of players at Grand Slam events.
Ideally, a player wants to switch racquets as little as possible. They don’t want to mess around with what could be a good thing.
That’s why starting with something that works for intermediate players can then be tailored for more advanced play.
What can make a racquet better from a performance perspective? While everyone’s different, players often mess with weight, balance, and strings as fairly simple ways to make subtle adjustments.
Once a player feels comfortable with their racquet of choice, there’s nothing wrong with trying different options out there. Eventually, one just feels like the right fit.