From the best brands that are used by professionals to budget options, we're serving up the best tennis racquet of 2023. In the spirit of Wimbledon, we're dusting off our old racquets and getting back into the high-intensity sport that is tennis. There's nothing quite like the adrenaline rush of surging around the court and working up a sweat to compete against your opposition for the winning point. Have you considered a workout app for home sessions?
Best tennis racquet at a glance
• Best recreational tennis racquet: Wilson Adult Recreational Tennis Racket - view on Amazon UK
• Best tennis racquet for beginners: HEAD Ti S6 Titanium Tennis Racket - view on Amazon UK
• Best tennis racquet for advanced players: Dunlop CX 200 - view at Tennis Point
There's nothing worse than realising your tennis racquet has seen better days as you pop it in your sports bag. From snapped handles, broken strings or a scuffed frame, these are all signs that you need to upgrade and buy a brand new racquet. With so many options, the choice can be hard. Below, are some factors to consider when choosing the right one for you and your own unique playing style. But remember, most of the time it simply comes down to preference!
We've put together this handy guide for you to select the best tennis racquet for you and your style of play. Plus, to help you figure out what you need from your racquet, we've put together a handy little guide at the end of the article.
The best tennis racquet 2023
Best recreational tennis racquet
If you're a recreational player who dips in and out of the game, this Wilson Adult Recreational Tennis Racket is an amazingly affordable option to get you into the swing of things. Its Volcanic Frame technology provides enhanced stability, while the AirLite Alloy construction means the frame is lightweight - perfect for beginners.
Customer Review: "The racket arrived two days ago and I tried it out yesterday for the first time. I think it is a good racket perfect for beginners like me. The oversized head helps you to hit the ball easily and it is really lightweight which helps with manoeuvrability. I need to practice my swings though but its still early days so I think I will improve soon."
Pros
- Extremely affordable
- Suitable for beginners
- Comes already strung
Cons
- Not suitable for advanced players
- Larger grip sizes unsuitable for certain players
| Size | 110 inch |
| Grip size | Grip 2 and Grip 3 |
| Weight | 454g |
- AirLite Alloy construction creates a lightweight frame with power and durability
- Stop Shock Pads reduce racket vibrations for improved feel
Best tennis racquet for beginners
The HEAD Ti S6 Titanium Tennis Racket is the bestselling racquet ever produced by the brand. Made from titanium and graphite, the frame offers power while being unbelievably lightweight. Offering great manoeuvrability, as well as control, It's the perfect choice for beginners and intermediates alike.
Customer Review: "This racket is suitable for those getting into tennis and regular players who seek both power and control. Perfect for beginners and intermediates (that's me!), and especially players who are not physically very strong or athletic (that's like me, also!). I would not recommend this racket for very physically strong or athletic players, or for very young players. The chances are these player types would take a huge swipe at the ball, hence hitting the ball out because this racket is very powerful. Don't forget to check your grip size for the racket as this is a very important part of your game."
Pros
- Great beginner racquet
- ShockStop system in handle for shock absorption
- Comes with a head vibration dampener
Cons
- Not necessarily suitable for more advanced players due to lightweight design
| Head size | 115 sq inch |
| Grip size | Grip 1 (4 1/8 inch) to Grip 4 (4 1/2 inch) |
| Weight | 225g unstrung |
- It features the open 16x19 string pattern for maximum power and spin.
- It features Ti technology that weaves titanium into the graphite construction which results in a powerful and stiff yet lightweight frame.
- This long racket has an oversized head with large sweet spot offering better accuracy on off-centre hits.
Best tennis racquet for advanced players
www.tennis-point.co.uk
The Dunlop CX 200 might appear intimidating to beginners; admittedly this racquet is best for advanced players due to its ability to carry a powerful swing. The PowerGrid Swing Tech means that power is evenly distributed across the swing bed. From the CX series, this racquet is all about precision and control.
Customer Review: "Quite satisfied with the purchase. After six or seven hours of play, I think I have found what I was looking for. My shoulder has benefitted." and "I don't regret buying this racket, as all of a sudden I have precision, speed and stability"
Pros
- Superior rebound and reduced vibration
- Enjoy the lower stiffness of the racket
- Well suited to advanced players
Cons
- Comes unstrung, however, can be professionally strung for an added cost
| Head size | 632 cm² |
| Grip size | Grip 2 and Grip 3 |
| Weight | 305g unstrung |
- Sonic Core located on both sides of the racket head provides superior rebound and reduced vibration
- Flex Booster technology filters out negative vibrations in the shaft area, allowing players to enjoy the lower stiffness of the racket
Best tennis racquet endorsed by professionals
www.decathlon.co.uk
A favourite of professionals such as Nadal, Tsonga, Paire, Wozniacki and Sock. The 300G Adult Tennis Racket Pure Aero from Babolat is aerodynamically designed to enhance your spin. For confident players looking to dominate on the court, this powerful racquet is definitely suited to more offensive and creative styles of play.
Customer Review: "Superb racket, powerful while keeping control!"
Pros
- Softer feel on impact
- FSI Spin Technology and Aeromodular frame
- Provides greater stability
Cons
- One reviewer had to restring after a few games
| Size | 645 cm² |
| Grip size | Grip 2 to Grip 4 |
| Weight | 300g |
- Cortex Pure Feel material offers a softer feel on impact
- FSI Spin Technology and Aeromodular frame
- Carbon Ply Stabilizer technology provides greater stability
VERDICT: Which tennis racquet is best?
If you're not competing in Wimbledon anytime soon, we'd recommend the Wilson Adult Recreational Tennis Racket, which is best for casual tennis players who break out the racquet on occasion. On the other hand, if you play often and want to make a habit of it, you can't go wrong with the professional-grade 300G Adult Tennis Racket Pure Aero.
FAQs
When is Wimbledon this year?
In 2023, Wimbledon commences between July 3rd to July 16th. It's the oldest tennis tournament in the world, held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. This Wimbledon Championships will be the first event of King Charles III since the death of the former patron, Queen Elizabeth II, on 8 September 2022.
Which tennis racquet is right for me?
Head size
The head size of a tennis racquet refers to the surface area where the strings create the face. Generally measured in square inches or centimetres, the vast majority of tennis racquets will have a head size that ranges between 85 to 110 square inches.
Tennis racquet grip size
There are grip sizes ranging from Grip 0 to Grip 5, and this is determined by the size of your hands. There are various charts to help you know your grip size. You'll want a racquet that fits comfortably in your hands, otherwise, it will affect your performance.
Weight
The weight of the racquet will affect your performance massively in balance, power and control. Choosing the right weight is crucial. The rule of thumb is that those with a smaller grip size, or beginners should stick to a lightweight racquet and work from there.
String tension
The string tension is the amount of pressure and how tightly the strings are secured to the racquet's frame. Generally, the higher your string tension, the more control you'll have and the lower your string tension, the more power you'll have. This is most commonly measured in kilograms or pounds.
Shock absorbency and vibration dampeners
A vibration dampener is a small piece of silicone rubber inserted into a tennis racquet's string bed. These work to reduce the loud noise the ball makes against the head of the racquet, which can be distracting for some players.
Samantha 'Sam' Price is a Beauty, Fashion & Wellness Products Writer at Yours magazine. In 2021, Sam began her journey as a Storytelling Executive at Closer and heatworld on an internship, creating beauty and fashion content across these brands. It was 2022 when Sam was employed as a Commercial Content Writer writing about Family Life on Yours, Mother & Baby and Spirit & Destiny. Now, she specialises in beauty, fashion and wellness content across many brands.