7 Best Intermediate Tennis Rackets To Try In 2024
Enhance your tennis skills with the right racket that offer impactful control.
James Shapiro, MS, CES, PES, has operated in nearly every position in the fitness and strength and conditioning industry for nearly a decade. His clients range from stay-at-home moms to division-I athletes. He primarily services the Los Angeles area but also works with clients virtually and online across the country.
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Experience: 5 yearsAditi Naskar has a postgraduate degree in English literature from Presidency University, Kolkata, a bachelor’s degree in education from WBUTTEPA, Kolkata, and a diploma in health and wellness. She is an associate commerce editor with 5 years of experience and specializes in reviewing fitness and health products.
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Experience: 5 yearsMedha Deb is a commerce editor with a master's degree in applied linguistics from the University of Hyderabad, which has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts. She specializes in the areas of beauty, health, and wellness and is committed to ensuring that the content on the website is of the highest quality.
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Experience: 3 yearsRajeshwari is a dedicated fitness and lifestyle enthusiast, deeply committed to enhancing our readers’ well-being and vitality. She has a master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from the University of Calcutta.
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Be it cricket or tennis, you cannot perfect your skills unless you have the right equipment. The best intermediate tennis rackets can help you upgrade to the next level of being an advanced player. They will assist you in polishing your game by enhancing your control and balance. The right racket gives you an impactful balance, control, power spin, and a comfortable grip. So, to help you pick the best from the pool of endless choices, we have listed below the 7 best tennis rackets for intermediate players based on brand recommendations and reviews by the buyers along with a highly informative buying guide. Check them out below.
In This Article
7 Best Intermediate Tennis Rackets To Try In 2023
1. Best Controlled Maneuverability: Wilson Adult Recreational Tennis Rackets
The Wilson Adult Recreational Tennis Rackets is for intermediate players, beginners, as well as seniors. It is made with 15% hyper carbon and 85% graphite. This racket is an ideal blend of controlled maneuverability, balance, and power.
It provides additional leverage with its additional reach compared to the standard length of any other racket. It does not impede the reaction to the balls that are hit close to the body and gives you swift and powerful movements. This heavy head racket is highly preferred by professionals and those who spend time in recreational adult tennis. According to reviewers, the racket is light, supremely designed, and worth the price.
Specifications
- Material: 15% Hyper Carbon and 85% Graphite
- Racket Length: 27 inches
- Weight: 11.2 Ounces
- Head Size: 110 square inches
- Grip Size: 1 – 4 1/8 inches
Features
- Cushion Aire conform grip
- Heavy head
- Pre-strung racket
- Lightweight
- Swift and powerful movements
- Easy to maneuver
- Beginner-friendly
- Includes a cover for storage
None
StyleCraze Trivia2. Best MicroGel Technology: Head Microgel Radical Midplus Tennis Racket
The Head Microgel Radical Midplus Tennis Racket is extremely versatile and suits a wide range of players of different levels. This revolutionizing tennis racket is made of graphite and microgel. Microgel is a revolutionary silicon-based, low-density material that has been combined with stiff and strong composite carbon fibers. So, when the ball hits the racket, the force gets uniformly distributed around the frame to provide sturdiness and superior touch. The racket is pre-strung with a wider cross-string pattern to give you better control and power. It allows sturdy and controlled movement each time you swing the racket. Check out the video showcasing the reviewer’s experience of using this product.
Specifications
- Material: Microgel, and Graphite
- Racket Length: 27 inches
- Weight: 11 Ounces
- Head Size: 98 square inches
- Grip Size: 4 1/8 inches
Features
- Microgel technology
- Wider cross strings pattern
- String pattern – 18 x 20
- Pre-strung racket
- Sturdy
- Durable
- Lightweight
- Comfortable grip
- Ideal for all levels
None
3. Best Lightweight: Senston Professional Tennis Racket
The Senston Professional Tennis Racket is a highly durable and high intensity racket. It is perfect for beginners and can also be used by recreational teenagers or adult players. The unstrung racket is lightweight and easy to hold and swing swiftly. With a comfortable grip, this racket gives you a convenient sports experience.
It is made of a carbon aluminum alloy and is built with one-piece molded technology for optimum durability. It gives you a controlled stroke, precise and powerful hit acceleration. The design also features an open string pattern that enhances maximum power and spin. This range of rackets comes in vivid colors. If you want to know more about the benefits of this product, check out this quick review on YouTube featuring the tester’s experience.
Specifications
- Material: Carbon Aluminum Alloy
- Racket Length: 27 inches
- Weight: 9.8 ounces
- Head Size: 100 square inches
- Grip Size: 4 1/4 inches
Features
- Balance: 315 mm
- Power level: 500 ~ 900
- Frame thickness is 21 mm to 28 mm
- Unstrung racket
- One-piece molded technology
- Open string pattern
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Comfortable grip
- Easy for swift movements
- Includes a premium quality protective carry case
- Prone to getting scratches easily
4. Best Shock-Proof Racket: Lunnade Adults Tennis Racket
The Lunnade Adults Tennis Racket is an ergonomically designed equipment that ensures a smooth gaming experience for the sports enthusiasts. It is ideal for both men and women and comes with a shock-proof handle that allows you to swing the racket without worrying about hurting yourself. The handle is also wrapped with PU foam material that is convenient to hold.
This professionally threaded tennis racket is lightweight and has an expanded sweet spot to ensure an improved hit rate. It has a head size of 102 square inches and its unstrung weight is 280g. The racket’s one piece design makes it more stable and the sweatband on the handles keeps it from slipping away from your hands.
Specifications
- Material: Carbon Aluminum
- Racket Length: 27 inches
- Weight: 9.8 ounces
- Head Size: 102 square inches
- Grip Size: 4 3/8 inches
Features
- Aero Modular Beam Construction
- Cortex Pure Feel
- Unstrung racket
- Sturdy
- Durable
- Lightweight
- Comfortable grip
- Not good for doubles players
5. Best Versatile: Babolat Pure Drive Tennis Racquet (10th Gen)
This Babolat Pure Drive Tennis Racquet is highly durable and is perfect for intermediate players. It comes strung with a white, 16-gauge syngut at mid-range tension. This racquet is used widely on tours and is one of the top sellers because of its versatility, powerful swing. and balanced control. The HTR or High Torsional Rigidity is utilized in creating a new lay-up composition in the racquet hoop for increased rigidity so you win every game on the court.
Specifications
- Material: Graphite
- Racket Length: 27 inches
- Weight: 58 Ounces
- Head Size: 100 square inches
- Grip Size: 4 ¼ inches
Features
- Made with Graphite
- String pattern – 16 x 19
- Pre-strung racket
- Sturdy
- Durable
- Lightweight
- Comfortable grip
- Ideal for all levels
None
6. Best For Free Swinging Accuracy: Wilson Clash 100 Tennis Racquet
The Wilson Clash 100 Tennis Racquet is a 3-in1 racket that provides control, flexibility, and stability all at once! This best tennis racket for intermediate players is made from graphite and provides excellent power and balance during swift swinging movements.
This racket has FreeFlex technology which has carbon mapping that gives your racket frame new dimensions of bending for optimum flexibility. This tennis racket also features StableSmart abilities, a unique frame geometry, that helps in maintaining sturdy and précised strokes each time. Here’s an honest and in-depth review of the product with some useful user insights.
Specifications
- Material: Graphite
- Racket Length: 27 inches
- Weight: 0.96 ounces
- Head Size: 100 square inches
- Grip Size: 4 3/8 inches
Features
- FreeFlex technology
- Carbon mapping frame
- StableSmart
- Unstrung racket
- Easy to swing
- Balanced head
- Comfortable grip
- Lightweight
- Value for money
- Highly expensive
Did You Know?7. Best For Advanced Players: HEAD Graphene XT Speed MP Tennis Racket
The HEAD Graphene XT Speed MP Tennis Racket is perfect for intermediate and advanced players to take a quicker and highly flexible swing. This racket is made from graphite and features Graphene XT Speed S that is designed to give you an unmatchable combination of swift movements and power.
It is completely evenly balanced and works as an exceptional choice for those looking for a versatile and overall précised playing experience. The graphene fiber technology makes this racket medium-weight, durable, and built to last. Here’s a video featuring a detailed review of the product.
Specifications
- Material: Graphite
- Racket Length: 27 inches
- Weight: 11.2 Ounces
- Head Size: 100 square inches
- Grip Size: 4 3/8 inches
Features
- Graphene XT Speed S
- Wide 22.5mm beam
- Graphene fiber technology
- Pre-strung racket
Pro Tip - Maximum maneuverability
- Durable
- Easy to use
- Comfortable grip
- Lightweight
- Sturdy and powerful
- Value for money
None
If you are planning to buy a good tennis racket as an intermediate player, then here are a few factors to consider first.
How To Select The Best Intermediate Tennis Racket
- Head Size
The power of hitting the ball is directly related to the racket’s head size. The larger the head of the racket, the more power and impact will be delivered. A larger head size gives you a larger hitting area and a sweet spot which results in unmatchable off-center hits. When it comes to picking the perfect head size, you can refer to the head size chart –
- Midsize ranges from 85 to 95 square inches
- Mid-plus ranges from 95 to 110 square inches
- Oversize ranges from 110 to 115 square inches
- Super oversize ranges from 115 to 135 square inches
For beginners, making contact with the ball is the initial step, which is why it is best to select a racket that falls under the over-sized or super oversized head size range. However, if you are a more experienced player, you definitely have acquired great power, precision, and skillful balance. So, you can pick a racket with a smaller head that is from the midsize or mid-plus head size range.
- Frame’s Stiffness
Frame stiffness doesn’t only affect power but also puts control and comfort at stake. If the racket is stiffer and bends less, it depletes less energy from the ball. A flexible racket bends more and results in more energy loss. Also, if the frame is stiffer, it may send more impact shock to your hand and arm as less energy is lost when hitting the ball.
- Grip Size
Everyone’s grip size is different. So make sure you check the grip size of the racket to ensure you pick the one with a comfortable grip. The racket grip sizes are generally measured between 0 to 5 but in the US chart, it goes from 4 inches to 4 5/8 inches. The most common grip sizes range between 4 1/4 to 4 3/8.
The best way to find your perfect grip size is to measure the length between the tip of your ring finger (of your dominant hand) and the second line on your palm. If you are in any doubt or unable to determine the right size, then choose a racket with a smaller grip size. You can later add your own grips or over-grips to build up the thickness of the handle.
- Length Of The Racket
The traditional length of the best tennis racket for intermediate players is from 27 to 29 inches long. Longer rackets are generally lighter and often reach more and have higher serving power and also help in aiming higher or steeper angles. The longer length of the racket also gives you greater leverage on a swing, thus giving more power to the shot.
- Weight Of The Racket
A heavy racket is considered to be more stable, more powerful, and transmits less shock than a lighter weight racket. Some players like heavy rackets while others do not. But for intermediate players, the weight of your racket plays a vital part in your swing and therefore plays a major deciding factor. Heavier rackets are considered friendlier on your arms and elbows. However this is debatable. It’s technique driven and based upon the users physical strength, quality of strings, and how long they played for. If you are doubtful, opt for a lighter racket and you can then add weight to a racket if you feel it requires more stability and power. But buying a heavy racket and being unable to handle it may be difficult as you cannot reduce the weight of the racket.
Here is a quick chart that will help you understand the weight of each racket –
- Lighter rackets are generally more powerful and range between 225g to 280g and are best suited for beginners.
- Medium rackets offer less power comparatively and range between 280g to 300g, and would be ideal for intermediate players.
- Heavy rackets are often picked by advanced players as they offer more control, and range between 300g to 340g.
- Balance Of The Racket
The balance of the racket is determined by the weight distribution along the length of the racket. And it is categorized into three types – head light, even balanced head, or head heavy racket.
The head light is perfect for generating spin, easy maneuverability, and netplay. These three aspects are something that more of an experienced player would look for in their tennis racket.
The even balanced racket gives you a blend of maneuverability and stability that can be achieved without making the racket way too heavy or too light. They are ideal for players with all-round play who play from behind the court or also come close to the net.
And lastly, the head heavy racket gives you maximum power at the expense of maneuverability. And this makes it perfect for those who are beginners or are less experienced as they might want to have a shorter swing and use lesser strength.
So, making sure you choose a racket with the right balance is exceptionally important!
- String Pattern
The string pattern is very important while picking the best tennis racket for intermediate players as it impacts your overall performance. They come in two patterns –
- Open string (16 x 18 or 16 x 19)
The open string pattern will enable the ball to bounce and at a higher launch angle. Usually strung at the same tension, the open string pattern allows you to find easier access to depth and pace with ease. They offer more speed and spin. However, the durability of the strings is less as the increase in string movements may result in faster abrasion and string breakage.
- Dense or Closed string pattern (18 x 20)
A dense or closed string pattern does not deflect the ball, thus resulting in lesser rebound energy. They offer you more of a controlled feel and do not allow spin generation. But, the closely spaced strings tend to last longer as compared to the open string patterns as they distribute pressure equally without being compressed too much. This makes them more durable and long-lasting.
- Cost
Regardless of which racket you pick; it is important to check the price and ensure if it is worth it. If you are a beginner or just starting out, then opt for a racket that is up to $100. If you are an intermediate, then look for a price that ranges between $100 and $150. And if you are an advanced player and well-trained, you can go ahead and invest in a racket that is above $150 to $200.
The Bottom Line
The best intermediate tennis rackets are designed to perfect your skills, aid in your personal transformation as a player, and enhance your control and balance during every game. The rackets mentioned in our list are lightweight and sturdy. They are ergonomically designed with non-slip handles that offer comfortable grip. Some of these durable rackets have shock-proof bodies that increase hit rate and allow you to perform better. They also come with carrying cases for easy portability and maintenance. The Wilson Adult Recreational Tennis Racket enhances stability and is easy to maneuver for beginners as well as intermediates, while the Head Microgel Radical Midplus Tennis Racket is sturdy and most ideal for players looking to improve their game. The rackets are affordable, easy to swing, and ideal for beginner to intermediate level male and female players. Consider factors like weight, length, grip and head size before investing in a racket or you may reach out to a certified personal trainer for recommendations.
Why Trust Stylecraze?
The author, Aditi Naskar, has a diploma in health and wellness and she loves to create comprehensive articles on everything related to fitness. She has spent hours researching product reviews and specifications on various trusted e-commerce websites to curate this list of the best intermediate tennis rackets. The listed products are ergonomically designed, easy to swing, and improves your balance and control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does L1 L2 L3 L4 mean on a tennis racket?
The letter L and the numbers refer to the grip size of a tennis racket, where L5 means the largest handle on the racket and L1 is the smallest.
What are the 3 main types of tennis rackets?
The three main categories of rackets include Head-Heavy, Even-Balance and Head-Light. All three types have the mass differently distributed, with Head-heavy having most of the weight towards the head.
How often should you change your tennis racket?
In general, there is a two-year rule that says that a new racket should provide optimum performance for two years without worrying about it affecting the game. This rule applies to players who play two or more times a week.
Are expensive rackets worth it?
Yes, it is worth investing in expensive rackets if you plan on taking up tennis for a long term. An expensive racket will provide a better string job and spin than a less expensive one.
How many tennis rackets should you have?
You should at least have one extra racket if you break a string or damage one. As a beginner, you can start away with just two rackets and gradually keep adding to your collection.
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