The Best Tennis Racquets Right Now?

Updated 4th March, 2024.

We have already created pages about Recommended Racquets and Recommended strings. But which are the Best Tennis Racquets Right Now?

I try to give a variety of options, including different brands and options, but since I got the question I am just going to list my favorite racquets on the market in each category. You can also watch the video about it on our YouTube channel.

If you want to know more about tennis gear, such as racquets, strings, balls, grips and bags. You can check out our expanding Tennisnerd Guide to Racquets and Strings.

Ps. When I write “the best racquets right now”, I mean my favorite racquets. It is always subjective, but we try to make sure we describe the racquet and who it might suit. Ds.

Control Racquets

For players looking for control, I find two options stand out above the rest. One is the Wilson Blade 98 V8, which is everywhere for a reason and the other is the HEAD Gravity Pro Auxetic (click the links to read our review).

The V8 Blade is great, but the V9 is also excellent and will give you a bit more power. You can check out the new Wilson Blade 98 18/20 V9 review here.

You can check out and purchase the new Wilson Blade V9 racquets from my friends at Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe and Tennis Only or at Wilson.com.

The Gravity Pro and Wilson Blade 98 are two racquets which work well for players looking for control, who can handle a slightly heavier racquet and can generate there own power.

There are other good control racquets such as the Dunlop CX 200 and the Tecnifibre TF40 but these are my favorites right now.

Power Racquets

If you want power, but power you can depend on and control thanks to a denser string pattern, there are mainly two options, I’d go for. The number one is the Yonex Ezone 100 (you can go 98 for more control) and number two is the Dunlop FX 500 racket. Two great frames that handle flatter shots better than most other power racquets.

The Ezone is a bit more muted and dampened in terms of feel, but it is also more stable than the Dunlop FX 500, which can benefit from more weight added.

I think these rackets offer better comfort than the current Babolat Pure Drive, which is an icon and is due an update later this year. One racquet you should not overlook for power, especially if you want it coupled with comfort, is the new HEAD Boom MP.

The new version is out now and an excellent racquet if you want help with height over the net and depth on your shots.

Spin Racquets

My favorite spin racquet is the Babolat Pure Aero (for more control, go for the Aero 98). They updated the line with a denser string bed and a softer feel. Two excellent ideas in my opinion. I add some weight at 3 and 9 to increase the twist weight and improve my flatter shots, but overall, it is a great frame.

My second favorite is a racquet I’m currently revisiting and that is the Prince Ripstick 300. It is super fun to use, offers great power and spin and above average comfort for the category of racquet.

There are many good racquets in the spin category, as it has been growing in popularity as tennis is becoming a faster and more physical sports on pretty much all levels (much due to everyone using polyester strings). The latest Yonex VCORE racquets are good too, but they can be somewhat “wild” regarding launch angle for some players. If you wonder about tennisnerd terminology, you can read up on it in our TN Guide to Racquets.

The HEAD Extreme MP is another popular spin racquet that holds its own against the Aero family. You also have lighter models like the MP L or Team versions if you want more help from the racquet.

Comfort Racquets

If you have a bad history of tennis elbow or you just prioritize comfort over everything, the Wilson Clash 100 needs to be on your list of racquets. Yes, it has a bit of a trampoline effect, but there are not many modern racquets that offer the same kind of dwell time in the string bed as the Clash.

Another favorite comfort racquet is the ProKennex Ki Q+ 300 or 315. The Kinetic tech works well if you need to dampen vibrations and not worry about tennis elbow too much. Remember that the string choice is still extremely important and if you use a stiff polyester at a high tension in comfort racquet, you will still, most probably, notice stiffness and discomfort.

What is most important if you struggle with arm comfort is the choice of strings. Even a comfort-focused racquet can be stiff if you use a firm polyester string at a tension of 55 lbs or higher.

There is a reason many players are going below the 50 lbs mark in tension these days. The string is more important than the racquet in terms of comfort, but also overall playability, so make sure you make a knowledgeable decision in terms of the best strings.

We helped Toroline develop their Toroline Omakase program, where you fill in a questionnaire to get a custom hybrid for your game. We made a video for their page detailing how it all works.

All-Rounder Racquets

What is an all-rounder racquet? Well, racquets that try to do most things well and fit a large demographic. The most famous one is the HEAD Speed MP, which many, many love. I am however more of a fan of the heavier, 18×20 HEAD Speed Pro if we are talking HEAD racquets.

My current favorite in this category and the racquet I will bring to my next tournament is the Dunlop CX 400 Tour, which offers a nice balance of power/control/spin/feel. It is pretty much all there in this racquet, which is why I enjoy playing with it, despite previously mainly using control racquets.

Another great all-rounder racquet is the Yonex Percept 100. Not too much power, not too much spin, but a little bit of everything. A well-balanced racquet with lots to like. Again, I prefer the denser 100D version over the regular 100.

A winner in this category for many players is the Wilson Blade 100. I have so far only tested the V8 version, but I have heard that the new V9 is great too, potentially even better.

Summary – The Best Racquets

So which are the best tennis rackets? All these racquets are excellent, and I would not hesitate to play match with either of them. You will find reviews of pretty much all them on our YouTube channel and this website. If you want to find the right racquet for your game, we do offer a personal racquet consultation via e-mail.

If you want to purchase a racquet and support Tennisnerd simultaneously, please do so through our affiliates Tennis Warehouse, Tennis Warehouse Europe, and Tennis Only. Any purchase through our links sends a small commission our way. Thanks!

What are your best tennis racquets right now? Let us know in the comments.