Are these the best racquets for intermediate players? Possibly. These racquets are excellent for a wide group of players.
The Best Racquets for Intermediate Players?
I get a lot of questions about the best racquets for intermediate players. This is a WIDE group, and racquets are very personal, so giving general statements is tough. However, I think the below racquets work really well for players in between the intermediate to advanced level. Since these are generalizations, I generally recommend you to demo a few racquets in a suitable category to find one that feels right to you. Try not to overthink it and don’t fall for the premise that there is one PERFECT racquet for you. There is no perfect racquet. All of them come with compromises. Instead, take comfort in that there are many racquets that can work well for your game.
If you want help to choose a racquet beyond these recommendations or the content on my YouTube channel, I recommend going for the Tennisnerd e-book, video course or consultation service. These sources will help you identify your playing style and give you racquet and string recommendations based on your game.
You will have different categories based on player style and level when you read the book or check out the course. These recommendations are versatile racquets that can work for different styles and preferences.
Racquet recommendations
HEAD Gravity MP Auxetic
The new Gravity has a great blend of some power, good control and comfort (RA 59). It is a versatile racquet. I know many advanced players that love it despite it being more suited towards the intermediate level. For more heft, you can go for the Gravity Tour instead.
You can buy it at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe or Tennis Only.
Check out my review.
If you don’t like the Gravity series, but enjoy HEAD racquets, the 2021 Prestige MP might suit you better for control and the Boom MP is excellent if you want more power.
Prince ATS Tour 100P
This has an 18×20 string pattern but is relatively spin-friendly and has a low stiffness rating, which is excellent for comfort.
Check out my Prince ATS Tour 100P review.
Buy the Prince ATS Tour 100P at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe or Tennis Only.
Wilson Shift 300
This is another balanced racquet that remains easy to swing and use. This is a bit more on the spinny side, so players with flat strokes might not like this one as much.
Check out my Wilson Shift 300 review
Buy the Wilson Shift 300 on Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe or Tennis Only.
Dunlop CX 400 Tour
This is an often overlooked excellent racquet with a nice blend of power, spin, but also a great connection toe the ball.
Check out my Dunlop CX 400 Tour review.
Buy the Dunlop CX 400 Tour from Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe or Tennis Only.
Yonex VCORE Pro 100
If you want more control but stay with a forgiving racquet, the VCORE Pro 100 is a good option. This racquet is a tad more dampened than the rest of the recommended racquets.
Check out my Yonex VCORE Pro 100 review.
Buy the Yonex VCORE Pro 100 at Tennis Warehouse or Tennis Warehouse Europe.
Wilson Blade V8 100
The Wilson Blade 100 is a more forgiving Blade with more power, spin potential, and forgiveness than the classic Blade 98.
Check out my Wilson Blade V8 100 review.
You can purchase the Wilson Blade V8 100 from Tennis Warehouse Europe or Tennis Only.
Volkl V1 Evo
This racquet has a tad higher swing weight on average than the others but offers a nice plush, comfortable feel. Good spin and power too.
Check out my Volkl V1 Evo review.
Purchase the Volkl V1 Evo at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe or Tennis Only.
Summary
The racquets above are all excellent choices for ambitious intermediate players that don’t want to go all the way to a power racquet or a spin racquet. With the above choices, you get a good blend of power, spin, comfort and forgiveness. It’s always best to demo if possible.
I would rate the power level of these racquets as follows, with the most power being mentioned first. Wilson Shift, Dunlop CX 400 Tour, Wilson Blade 100, Yonex VCORE Pro 100, Prince ATS Tour 100P, HEAD Gravity MP.
I hope this helps. Please comment below if you have tested any of these racquets. I encourage you to share your thoughts with other tennis nerds to help them in the process towards a good racquet choice.
13 comments
Excellent article Jonas! All my racquets are at lease 10 years old (some 20, I’m looking at you Head Liquidmetal Racial MPs) and I am looking for an update. I have been interested in the Head Gravity and this (along with your other articles and videos) seems to be confirming where I want to go. Been watching and reading for a few months and want to share my appreciation for what you are doing for tennis! I really liked the interviews with the Tennis Warehouse crew and your string reviews. Please keep up the great work! I’ll be sure to use an affiliate link when I make a purchase. Thank you and keep going!
Thanks Ralph! Appreciate the comment. Doing my best :)
Looks like Lucas Pouille (who was big time player with a 2015 Prince TT100P (which is basically the same as ATS 100P), but then moved to Babolat and dropped from the radar)… is back to Prince TT100P…
Nice article Jonas. I switched to the Head Gravity MP (2019) a couple of years ago. I took your advice and added 2g of lead at 12 o’clock which helped reduce the flutter on off-center hits. I now have three of them (they’re on sale for $129 while supplies last at Head, TW, etc). The heaviest and lightest of the three differed by 6g (so much for quality control). I’ve now weighted and balanced them all to match the heaviest frame and have been quite happy. I’m tempted to try the new Auxetic version but that might lighten my wallet again. How much difference did you find between the old 2019 version and the 2023 auxetic version? I was surprised to see that the RA had gone down several points since the 2019 version already seemed fairly plush (no elbow, wrist, or shoulder pain). Thanks.
Thanks for the article, Jonas. My question is what is an intermediate level player? When I book on to courses at my club, I book those for advanced players. However, watching your level in your videos, I would say that you would beat me in most sets we played. Maybe I’d take one set in three or four.
I think the NTRP scale is the best way to understand levels that we have at the moment: https://tennisnerd.net/tennis-tools/tennis-ratings-explained/24223
Oops. I’m using the Head Gravity MP 2021 (not 2019).
Hi Jonas, good content as always!
I’m wouderning about the Blade 100 v8, did you’ve been playing with IT on clay mayby? At latest podcast with Henrink on YT Henrik was mentioned, that this stick has not feld on this surface. I’m living on Poland, here we have practically only clay courts. I’m playing nów with Ezone 98 2022, but in two hours od hitting in sunny, hotty day I’m lacking a little bit with my forehand. It’s pretty good with my OHBH, but I’m interested with Blade for more forgiveness on the forehand side(bigger head size vs Ezone 98), but still manuvere on my one handed backhand.
Cheers Mate, keep going on tennisnerd activites ;)
Hi Piotr, thanks. No, I have not used it on clay, sadly. I think it could be an interesting switch for you, though, if you want more forgiveness.
Hi TN, can you please Compare the Blade 100 V8 with the Ezone 100(2022)? I cannot descide which one to buy.
Hi Jonas! After almost a year since the article, I would like to ask if there will be an update this year on the same topic. I’m wondering what your opinions are regarding two specific rackets in the above comparison, as if we compared the Blade 100 V9 to the V8, the Percept 100 to the VCP100, and whether you would set them higher in terms of power. After your reviews, together with Henrik, I changed Ezone 98 to Blade 100 and it’s great, but it lacks power at times. VCP 100, on the other hand, didn’t fly at all, that’s why I asked about Percept 100 ;) p.s. the new logo is great!!
Hi Piotr, the Dunlop CX 400 Tour, Percept 100D and new Phantom 100X 305 are all great!
From a while I’m a fan od Blade’a line ;) what string you’ve recommend for blade 100? And what tensions?