This is, perhaps strangely, not a popular category among racquet makers: all-rounders or versatile racquets.
I am not sure “versatile racquets” is the best way to describe it. These are all-round racquets that try to be balanced and do everything well.
These racquets are not limited to one category, since, for example, control racquets are becoming more forgiving and powerful. A few examples would be the Wilson Blade 100 V8, the Dunlop CX 400 Tour, and the Yonex Percept 100, which I have mentioned in other categories. You could also add the Wilson Pro Staff X to the list.
There are a couple of racquet lines that fit the bill. The HEAD Speed is the bestseller of all HEAD racquets, perhaps mainly thanks to being endorsed by Djokovic, but it also has players like Sinner being strong ambassadors. The Prince Tour line is also not quite a power, spin, or control line, but it stays somewhere in between.
Easier to use
HEAD Speed MP
This is becoming an icon among racquets and the latest Auxetic MP is my favorite one yet. The swing weight is relatively high on the new Speeds, closer to 330 strung, but they provide excellent playability without any real downsides. You can check out my review here.
String recommendations:
Power&feel – HEAD Velocity MLT 1.30 @55 lbs (25 kg) mains, HEAD Hawk 1.25 @53 lbs (24 kg) crosses
Control – HEAD Hawk Power 1.25 @53 lbs (24 kg)
Spin – HEAD Lynx Tour 1.25 @49 lbs (22 kg)
Prince ATS Tour 290
For a lower swing weight and easier maneuverability, you can check out the lighter Prince ATS Tour. This offers room for customization, but is relatively stable in stock form. Iga Swiatek used this racquet in its previous generation before she switched to Tecnifibre. My review.
String recommendations:
Power&feel – Prince Premier Control 1.30 @55 lbs (25 kg) mains, Prince Tour XP 1.25 @53 lbs (24 kg) crosses
Control – Prince Diablo Prism @53 lbs (24 kg)
Spin – Prince Vortex 1.25 @50 lbs (22.5 kg)
Wilson Blade 100
A similarly thin beam to the Blade 98 but with a larger head size for a slight increase in power. This racquet plays stiffer than the racquets above. You can watch our Wilson Blade 100 Review here.
String recommendations:
Power&feel – Wilson NXT or gut 1.30 mains @55 lbs (25 kg) / Luxilon Alu Power 1.25 crosses @51 lbs / (23 kg)
Control – Luxilon Alu Power 1.25 @52 lbs
Spin – Solinco Tour Bite 1.25 @48 lbs
Dunlop CX 400 Tour
An often overlooked racquet that offers brilliant feel and playability. A new Dunlop CX 2024 line is coming out soon. Check out my review here.
String recommendations:
Power&feel – Dunlop Iconic Speed 1.30 (or natural gut) @55 lbs (25 kg) mains, Dunlop Explosive Tour 1.25 @52 lbs (23.5 kg) crosses
Control – Dunlop Explosive Speed @50 lbs (22.5 kg)
Spin – Dunlop Explosive Bite 1.25 @48 lbs (21.5 kg)
Advanced players
HEAD Speed Pro
This is one of my favorite racquets in 2023 in its Auxetic version. The swing weight is relatively high on the new Speeds, mine was a tad higher than 330 strung, but they do provide great playability without any real downsides. You can check out my review here.
String recommendations:
Power&feel – HEAD Velocity MLT 1.30 @55 lbs (25 kg) mains, HEAD Hawk 1.25 @53 lbs (24 kg) crosses
Control – HEAD Hawk Power 1.25 @53 lbs (24 kg)
Spin – HEAD Lynx Tour 1.25 @49 lbs (22 kg)
Prince ATS Tour 310
Offers more power and spin potential than the Speed Pro. The new ATS version is a bit more dampened than the predecessor, which was a favorite of mine. My review.
String recommendations:
Power&feel – Prince Premier Control 1.30 @55 lbs (25 kg) mains, Prince Tour XP 1.25 @53 lbs (24 kg) crosses
Control – Prince Diablo Prism @53 lbs (24 kg)
Spin – Prince Vortex 1.25 @50 lbs (22.5 kg)
Yonex Percept 100D
This is a very interesting racquet with a nice blend of abilities. The 18×19 string pattern produces better control than the regular Percept 100. You can check out our Yonex Percept 100D review on our YouTube channel.
String recommendations:
Power&feel – Yonex Rexis Speed or gut 1.30 mains @54 lbs (24.5 kg) / Yonex Poly Tour Strike 1.25 crosses @50 lbs (22.5 kg)
Control – Yonex Poly Tour Pro 1.25 @51 lbs (23 kg)
Spin – Yonex Poly Tour Rev 1.25 @47 lbs (21 kg)
My favorites
The HEAD Speed Pro is the best blend of control and power/spin for me.
