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When looking for a racquet as an intermediate player, there are dozens of brands and dozens of more models within each brand. You can easily waste money by demoing dozens of racquets.
We’ve researched all the best tennis brands so you can find the best tennis racquet for intermediate players no matter what type of game you have. Below, you’ll learn how to choose a racquet that fits your game. Then, you’ll see the top 7 intermediate-level racquets on the market today!
Here are the 7 best tennis racquets for intermediate tennis players. We reviewed each racquet in more detail below.
- Wilson Clash 100 – Best Overall Intermediate Racquet
- Prince Ripstick 100 – Best for Topspin
- Babolat Pure Drive – Best Advanced Racquet
- Yonex Ezone 100 – Best for Power
- Head Graphene 360+ Instinct MP – Maria Sharapova’s Racquet
- Prince Textreme Warrior 100 – Best Light Racquet for Women & Juniors
- Babolat Pure Aero – Rafael Nadal’s Racquet
Read Our Wilson Clash Review
How to Choose a Tennis Racquet for Intermediate Players
We have a complete guide on how to choose a tennis racquet, so if you’re transitioning into tennis, or just haven’t learned much about racquets before, we recommend starting there.
Quick Summary of the Guide: Bigger racquets are for beginner players and provide more power. Advanced racquets are smaller, but typically a little bit heavier. Smaller racquets help more with control, but they do have a smaller sweet spot for the player to make contact with the ball.
3 Steps to Find the Perfect Tennis Racquet for Your Game
Free Checklist with 27 Racquet Recommendations
Are You Ready for an Intermediate Racquet?
Decide which of these best describes you to see what type of racquet you need.
Beginner Tennis Players
I’m new to tennis and have played only a few times. I’m thinking about getting more serious and am looking for a racquet to practice more. I might start taking lessons too.
If this is you, see our picks for the best beginner tennis racquets.
Intermediate Level Players
I used to play recreationally, but it’s been a long time, OR I started playing in the last 12-24 months and want to take my game to the next level. I can hit the ball over the net consistently but can’t always control where it goes in the court. I mostly just try to get it back. I prefer hitting from one side to the other (usually forehand). My groundstrokes and serve don’t have a lot of power or spin.
If this is you, you’re in the right place!
Advanced Level Players
I play regularly and control shots with placement, power, and spin. I also serve with power and spin. This would be 4.0 and higher on the USTA scale.
If this describes you, then check out our six best tennis racquets for advanced players.
Tennis Racquet Specification Chart
This table provides a good general guideline to follow. There is more that goes into making a racquet than just these metrics, however, if you don’t want to spend hours reading about things like swing weight and balance, these are the most important.
| Racquet Specifications | Beginner Players Only | Intermediate & Some Beginner | Advanced & Some Intermediate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head Size (sq. inches) | 107 – 115 | 100 – 110 | 95 – 100 |
| Length (inches) | At least 27.5 | 27 – 28 | 27 – 27.5 |
| Weight (strung) | Under 11 Ounces | 10.1 – 11.5 Ounces | Over 11 Ounces |
| Price | Under $150 | $100 & up | $150 & up |
| Power vs Control | More Power | Balanced Racquet | More Control |
If you’re still reading, then you’ve decided you’re in the right place 🙂
Intermediate players have more to consider when choosing a racquet than beginner players. You’re starting to become a better player, and there are more factors to consider.
- What type of swing do you have?
- Do you need help with power or control?
- Do you play doubles or singles? Are you a baseline or net player?
- How often do you play? Do you want to improve fast?
Answer the questions below for yourself to decide what kind of tennis racquet you need.
What Type of Swing do You Have?
If you’re developing a faster, longer swing, then you may start to look at a smaller tennis racquet (under 105 square inches). Faster swings typically mean you don’t need as much help with power, so a more controlled racquet will be a better fit. The best control racquet below is the Wilson Clash 100.
For a short or slower swing, you may still need extra power from your racquet. In this case, you can look at the 100-110 square inch racquets. Power comes from larger frames, so choose a racquet with a thicker frame like the Babolat Pure Drive or Yonex EZONE 100 below.
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Do You Need Help With Power or Control?
When you’re an intermediate player, you’re starting to place your shots better on the court. You’ve also developed a swing that consistently generates power from the baseline to get the ball back over the net, deep into the court. You’ll also want to consider the weight and size of the racquet when deciding what you’re looking for.
Racquets with big frames and a large surface area will have more power in general. Smaller frames will have more control.
Most physically fit adults with an intermediate skill level and good coordination can choose a racquet between 98 to 104 square inches, and 11 to 11.5 ounces. This will provide a good combination of power and control as you develop your swing.
For smaller women or teens who aren’t as physically strong as most adults, a heavy racquet can lead to tennis elbow and other injuries. In this case, compromise with a bigger racquet head (over 105 square inches), and choose something under 10.5 ounces. The Prince Textreme Warrior 100 below is the best option for this.
Do You Play Singles, Doubles, or Both?
Some racquets are better for singles than doubles, depending on what type of game you have.
For players who prefer to stay on the baseline and hit groundstrokes, you may be able to use a racquet that has less mobility with a bigger sweet spot and extra power.
Doubles players, especially those who like to get to the net, need a racquet that has good versatility. As you start playing more competitively, the pace of the ball will get faster, so a bulky racquet will hurt your ability to react. The best tennis racquets for doubles are under 104 sq. inches, making them easier to handle and maneuver. They also help with controlling and placing your volleys.
How Often Do You Play Tennis? Do You Want to Become an Advanced Player?
You’ll need a different racquet depending on where you’re trying to go. If you plan to start taking tennis more seriously, playing leagues and tournaments, then you’ll need to buy a racquet that allows you to improve to a more advanced skill level. Any of the choices below except the Prince racquet will help you do that. You may also consider purchasing a tennis ball machine to save on lessons.
As you keep playing more tennis you may want to read more tennis gear reviews so you can get better on-court gear like the right tennis strings, tennis bags to carry your racquets, and shoes for tennis.
If, however, you just want to hit recreationally for fun and to stay in shape, then you can work with a smaller budget and buy a racquet that isn’t quite as advanced.
3 Steps to Find the Perfect Tennis Racquet for Your Game
Free Checklist with 27 Racquet Recommendations
Reviews of the Top 7 Intermediate Tennis Racquets
Next, we’ll dive into the specifics of each racquet, reviewing what makes each one a good choice for specific types of intermediate-level tennis players.
At the bottom of each review below you will see a relative price on a scale from 1 to 3 dollar signs, and our recommended USTA Rating level for the racquets based on our research. Some racquets are good for all skill levels while others are for more specific types of players.
#1 – Wilson Clash 100
Wilson is a leading manufacturer of all things tennis, and their racquets are among the best in the industry. Their new Clash series came out in 2019, and the Clash 100 has quickly become one of the best-selling intermediate-level tennis racquets on the market.
Their new technology is what separates this racquet from Wilson tennis racquets of the past. It brings feel, control, and mobility to a whole new level. Singles players will have no trouble controlling the ball and moving their opponent around. You’ll find the comfort level on your groundstrokes is as good as it gets. For doubles players, it is easy to maneuver with great feel for your volleys.
At a weight of only 11 ounces, this racquet is easy to swing as well. The 16×19 string pattern will allow you to develop topspin on your groundstrokes. The 100 inch frame has a large sweet spot with control and comfort that is unmatched among other racquets.
This isn’t the most powerful racquet because of the focus on frame flexibility, but it’s the best option for adults who can generate their own power.
- Price | $$$
- USTA Rating | 2.5 to 4.5
Pros
- Easy maneuver with excellent control
- The best feel & comfort among all racquets
- Very easy to swing
- Great for adults who have fast swings
Cons
- Expensive for people who don’t play often
#2 – Prince Ripstick 100
The Prince Ripstick is a great tennis racquet for intermediate players who are still developing their topspin skills.
The standout feature of this racquet is the open 16×18 string pattern. This increases the friction between the strings and tennis ball, creating more spin than most other intermediate racquets. The Ripstick is available in two different weights, and also has Prince’s unique O-ports built into the frame. These open ports help reduce wind resistance which helps you generate faster racquet head speed.
This racquet also has excellent power and feel. Any beginner or intermediate player looking to develop their topspin groundstrokes from the baseline will get the most out of this racquet.
- Price | $$
- USTA Rating | up to 4.5
Pros
- Excellent power & spin
- Great feel & comfort
- Lightweight & easy to handle
- Great for players still learning topspin
Cons
- Not great for advanced players
#3 – Babolat Pure Drive 2021
This is our pick for the best overall racquet in tennis. The 2021 Babolat Pure Drive provides an unmatched combination of power and control, making it one of the best tennis racquets for doubles or singles. If you’re transitioning from beginner to intermediate, or even intermediate to advanced, this is an excellent choice.
The 100 square inch frame is a perfect size for intermediate players. The wide frame gives it extra power, and the string pattern allows for extra spin. This racquet has everything you want for hitting groundstrokes from the baseline. The 2021 Pure Drive has new technology that helps increase the feel and comfort level.
At 11.2 oz strung, it’s a nice weight for intermediate players. The Pure Drive Lite is Babolat’s lightweight model in the series. Read other Babolat racquet reviews, to see which model is best for you.
Read our full Babolat Pure Drive review.
- Price | $$$
- USTA Rating | Any skill level
Pros
- Great for any level
- Fantastic balance of power and control
- Excellent spin for players learning topspin
- Great feel and big sweet spot
Cons
- Good control, but not the best option
#4 – Yonex EZONE 100
Yonex is a growing tennis racquet brand that many professional tennis players are now using. The Yonex EZONE 100 is used by several professional women tennis players.
The 100 square inch frame combined with the 16×19 string pattern makes it easy to control shots from the baseline with spin. Yonex is known for its unique frame design which creates more comfort than most tennis racquets. Also, the frame’s width and weight of 11.2 ounces, provide extra power for players who are just past the beginner stage.
This racquet is great for intermediate to advanced level players who need extra spin and power. It is not a great racquet for beginners who don’t make contact with the center of the racquet consistently, or a serve and volley player.
- Price | $$$
- USTA Rating | 3.0 & up
Pros
- Great power on groundstrokes
- Excellent topspin & comfort in the sweet spot
- Lightweight with good mobility
- Added power & spin on serves
- Consistent performance from the baseline
Cons
- High-end pricing for recreational intermediate players
- Not great for volleys at the net
#5 – Head Graphene 360+ Instinct MP
This is the best intermediate racquet for players who like to hit deep groundstrokes and control the point from the baseline. It’s also the racquet used by Maria Sharapova.
The 100 square inch frame gives it an excellent sweet spot. Combined with the lightweight, this racquet has good maneuverability if you play from the baseline or at the net. However, it excels for singles players looking to grind from deep in the court. You’ll be able to control the point and go for the lines better than most other racquets this size.
This tennis racquet is not a great racquet for doubles players who like to come to the net because it lacks some stability. But for most skill levels, it’s a great pick. Read our other Head tennis racquet reviews if you are partial to the Head brand.
- Price | $$
- USTA Rating | 3.0 & up
Pros
- Great spin & control for groundstrokes
- Narrow frame creates excellent maneuverability
- Relatively inexpensive for serious tennis players
Cons
- Not great for fast paced doubles at the net
- Not great stability or control on volleys
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#6 – Prince Textreme Warrior 100
Prince is one of the most trusted brands in tennis, and their Textreme Warrior racquet provides everything you need in an intermediate racquet.
A wide range of skill levels can adapt and improve their game with the Textreme Warrior. Also, it’s a more reasonable price than the Babolat choices above, especially for non-competitive players.
Its string bed of 100 sq. inches makes it an ideal racquet for low-level intermediates trying to improve their spin and control. The advanced technology Prince has put into this racquet, along with the frame design, allows you to get extra power on groundstrokes and serve. The 16×18 string pattern will help you hit better topspin and slice or kick serves.
The racquet is also only 10.3 ounces, making it the lightest-weight racquet on our list. This is great for juniors or adults who aren’t as physically strong. It also allows for more mobility in doubles.
- Price | $
- USTA Rating | 2.5 to 4.0
Pros
- Good control & spin for groundstrokes & serve
- Great feel & easy to swing
- Very lightweight with great maneuverability
- Good for beginner to intermediate skill levels
Cons
- Not great for high level intermediate to advanced players
Other Sellers:
#7 – Babolat Pure Aero
The Babolat Pure Areo, used by Rafael Nadal, is the top-rated racquet for spin on the market. If you have a fast, big swing and like to hit a lot of topspin from the baseline, this racquet is for you.
The frame is 100 square inches for a bigger hitting area and is also built with aerodynamic technology to cut through the air. This will help you generate more racquet head speed, and therefore spin on the ball. The recommended string tension is in the low 50’s so you can create tons of power on your serve too.
For intermediate players, this is a great option if you’re playing singles and want to develop your ability to control your shots and the point with topspin. This racquet isn’t ideal for fast-paced doubles or a player seeking more control. Check out the Pure Aero Lite if you want a racquet that is even easier to swing.
Read our full Babolat Pure Aero Review.
- Price | $$$
- USTA Rating | Any skill level
Pros
- Best racquet for power & spin
- Heavy groundstrokes & powerful serve
- Large sweet spot gives it good feel
- Good for all skill levels
Cons
- Not great for control
- Not ideal for doubles players
Conclusion: Our Pick for Best Intermediate Level Racquet
Intermediate tennis players have literally hundreds of racquets to choose from. Depending on your playing style and goals, you will need a specific racquet.
However, our choice for the best tennis racquet for intermediate players on the market is the Wilson Clash 100.
The Clash 100 works great for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players, so you won’t have to switch racquets as you improve your game. Wilson has made the perfect “players racquet” with the best control, comfort, and feel. This racquet provides mobility for doubles, and a combination of feel and spin for groundstrokes in singles.
