Best Tennis Racquets in the UK

Review & Comparison, Last Update January 17, 2024
To own a racquet is better than to rent one. It will be yours and yours only. And with our review, you will easily pick the very tennis racquet for your style of play. Have the best and most comfortable game of tennis possible! ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
BEST FOR
GRIP SIZE
LENGTH
WEIGHT
STIFFNESS
BALANCE
HEAD SIZE
STRING PATTERN
FRAME THICKNESS
MATERIAL
 
PROS

FSI technology and wider holes for strings make it so the ball hitting this racquet spins much better.

CONS

Fairly high stiffness forces load onto user's wrist.

OUR VERDICT

Babolat Pure Aero tennis racquet is a top choice for experienced players; with one of these racquets, you will surely reach a winning streak.

detailed parameters
BEST FOR

Adults

GRIP SIZE

G1, G2, G3, G4, G5

LENGTH

685 mm

WEIGHT

300 g

STIFFNESS

72 ra

BALANCE

4 pts Head Light

HEAD SIZE

645 cm²

STRING PATTERN

16 x 19

FRAME THICKNESS

~26 mm

MATERIAL

Graphite

PROS

Basalt carbon makes this tennis racquet sturdier without making it heavier; the shots you make will be faster and stronger.

CONS

The grip size selection is rather narrow.

OUR VERDICT

Many recreational players lay their eyes on this tennis racquet by Wilson as its characteristics make it good for any play style.

detailed parameters
BEST FOR

Adults

GRIP SIZE

G2, G3, G4

LENGTH

686 mm

WEIGHT

290 g

STIFFNESS

67 ra

BALANCE

2 pts Head Light

HEAD SIZE

677 cm²

STRING PATTERN

16 x 19

FRAME THICKNESS

24 mm

MATERIAL

Basalt Carbon

PROS
A combination of graphite and titanium provides Head tennis racquets with great power without adding excess weight.
CONS
Due to the length, figuring out the power needed for the shot may take some time.
OUR VERDICT

The outstanding characteristics of these Head tennis racquets make them one of the best choices for beginners and veterans alike.

detailed parameters
BEST FOR
Adults
GRIP SIZE

G1, G2, G3, G4, L2, L3

LENGTH

700 mm

WEIGHT

225 g

STIFFNESS

80 ra

BALANCE

8 pts Head Heavy

HEAD SIZE

742 cm²

STRING PATTERN
16 x 19
FRAME THICKNESS

29 mm

MATERIAL
Titanium / Graphite
PROS
When you hit the ball with one of these Prince tennis racquets, you feel no discomfort, it is very smooth.
CONS
The initial stringing is a bit loose.
OUR VERDICT
If you are an experienced player or just prefer powerful serves, one of these Prince tennis racquets is what you need.
detailed parameters
BEST FOR

Adults / Kids

GRIP SIZE

G1, G2, G3

LENGTH

687 mm

WEIGHT

300 g

STIFFNESS
61 ra
BALANCE

6 pts Head Ligh

HEAD SIZE

645 cm²

STRING PATTERN
16 x 16
FRAME THICKNESS

20 mm

MATERIAL
Graphite
PROS

Wilson made this children's tennis racquet shorter to provide more comfort and convenience during a game.

CONS

As far as kids' racquets go, the manufacturer should have considered colour selection.

OUR VERDICT

Wilson Children's Roger Federer racquet will be a good acquisition for your kid's regular practices.

detailed parameters
BEST FOR

Kids

GRIP SIZE

19 Grip, 21 Grip, 23 Grip, 25 Grip, 26 Grip

LENGTH

584 mm

WEIGHT

205 g

STIFFNESS

35 ra

BALANCE

2 pts Head Light

HEAD SIZE

612.9 cm²

STRING PATTERN

16 x 17

FRAME THICKNESS

19 mm

MATERIAL

Aluminum

X

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Babolat Pure Aero

Experience-based Quality

Babolat is one of the oldest companies engaged in manufacturing tennis equipment and all those years did not pass in vain. The experience gained led to the company achieving the highest quality in their products. Entwining innovations in their time-proven approaches makes helps create unique and competitive products. Babolat Pure Aero, if handled the right way, will become a weapon to completely crush your opponents. It is an upgrade from the previous Aero tennis racquets featuring improved aerodynamics that allow you to swing and hit the ball faster. The FSI technology implements somehow bigger distance between strings thus enabling the ball to sunk deeper; bigger holes for strings are another innovation, they damp vibrations and add spin. Try this racquet and there is a high chance you will never want to change your preferences—Babolat Pure Aero is just that good.

Review of Babolat Pure Aero Tennis Racket

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07HR11TQJ

 

Wilson Federer 105

Show It Off

The whole world knows the name Wilson, this company sells their sports goods in more than 100 countries. One of the greatest tennis players of all times Roger Federer has been using Wilson racquets for a long time now. To honour the player, the company designed a line of racquets in his name one of which is this Wilson Federer 105 created for recreational players. The racquet lies in your hand comfortably, to the extent that you might forget you hold it for the first time. Large head helps hit the ball successfully even without much experience whereas nice balance makes your shots powerful. Serving with this racquet is a kill, an ace is not a dream despite the experience level.

A bonus from Wilson! Buying this tennis racquet you also get a BLX Cover to carry the racquet in! Isn't it nice?

Review of Wilson Federer 105 Tennis Racket + BLX Cover

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00H3KIXGI

 

Head Ti.S6

Main Characteristics

The choice in grip sizes of these Head tennis racquets is formidable. You can get a G1 (4⅛"), G2 (4¼"), G3 (4⅜"), G4 (4½"), and additionally Head-unique L2 (4¼"), L3 (4⅜") for certain swing styles if you have a preference. It's quite considerate of the manufacturer to have thought about this. Whatever your built is, you will probably find the racquet that will perfectly fit your palm. The length here is 700 mm, it is a bit long. But, if to combine this with a 8 pts head-heavy balance? You can be sure that your shots will be super powerful! At the same time, the weight is pretty light, only 225 grammes, making it easy enough to control. It is also pretty stiff, 75 ra, which again hints to the racquet being power-oriented. Surprise your opponents with unexpectedly powerful attacks!

Review of Head Ti.S6 Titanium Tennis Racket

Head and Stringing Pattern

Pardon the unintended pun, but this Head Ti.S6 Tennis Racquet has a pretty big head, a whole 742 cm²! That's pretty convenient for performing a serve. Such a size also decreases the chance of missing the ball whether you are on a receiving or attacking side. The 29 mm frame is considered as quite thick and adds to the shots' power, too. The so-called "loose", or "open" string pattern of 16x19 creates more spin, and with this, you will have more options to answer your opponent with a great shot from any impact point.

Head Ti.S6 Titanium Tennis Racket in the use

Material

Head Ti.S6 is a composite, graphite-plus-titanium tennis racquet. A combination of these materials makes it a great option for any player as it is both comfortable and durable. You will play tennis with this racquet for literally years. The racquet is good for experienced tennis players as well as most beginners. Buy this Head Ti.S6 Tennis Racquet, get used to it, and it will help you win again and again.

Detailed review of Head Ti.S6 Titanium Tennis Racket

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B002KDRAI0

VIDEO
HEAD Ti.S6 Tennis Racket Review - AneelSports.com
 

Prince Tour 100T ESP

Main Characteristics

This racquet is represented in G1, G2, and G3, the most used and widespread sizes today. Prince Tour 100T ESP will be good for most adults as well as some older kids and teens. The length is the average 687 mm, too. Its weight is more heavy than not, which helps players make awesomely powerful shots and serves. At the same time, it is pretty flexible, 61 ra, and also 6 pts head-light; both numbers add to the control! All in all, Prince created a really universal tennis racquet here.

Review of Prince Tour 100T ESP Tennis Racket

Head and Stringing Pattern

The widespread head size of 645 cm² provides a good size of a SweetSpot, therefore, you can shoot the ball with a greater power and control. Prince Tour 100T ESP Tennis Racquet has a 16 x 16 stringing pattern which is a loose one that produces great spin and rebound in your shot. These are power-intended numbers. And to balance that, these Prince tennis racquets have a frame thickness of mere 20 mm, which is an invaluable parameter for the players seeking additional control.

Prince Tour 100T ESP Tennis Racket in the use

Material

Here is a graphite tennis racquet. It is very durable, reliable, and powerful. Graphite is a renown and popular material among tennis racquets' manufacturers for a reason. With one of these Prince tennis racquets, you will feel each shot of every game you play. You will hardly have a chance to complain. A great choice for a player striving for comfort and who likes manoeuvring shots without sacrificing power.

Detailed review of Prince Tour 100T ESP Tennis Racket

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00GT12CZ0

VIDEO
Prince Textreme Tour 100T Racquet Review
 

Wilson Children's Roger Federer

The Best Start

If in a wide selection of sports activities your kid has chosen tennis you probably want a quality racquet to make learning faster, easier, and more enjoyable. After all, at the beginning success is a better motivation to hone the skills further, the love for rivalry and competition comes later. The racquet from the Wilson's Roger Federer series designed specifically for kids is a top-notch choice for this. Great aerodynamics that highlights this series among other racquets is represented in full here, Wilson Children's Roger Federer Racquet makes swinging a breeze, the balance makes it easy to manoeuvre. The handle is the perfect size for kids and large head increases the successful hit rate, be it serve or return shot. Make your kid's first steps in this sport one of the brightest memories of his/her childhood.

Review of Wilson Children's Roger Federer Racquet
Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B01KOR0VGG

 

What is a Tennis Racquet

Tennis nowadays is really popular among people of different ages, from really young to pretty old. We play tennis for various reasons, some just enjoy the game, some use it to distract themselves and release the work and life stress, some try to get healthier and fitter. And, of course, there are people who play professionally and aim for the tennis Olympus.

Any sports enthusiast needs proper equipment that will provide comfort and help avoid injuries. Although there are a lot of things that you will need for tennis, we can think of only two items that are irreplaceable. One of them is a tennis racquet. When you start playing, you may go for rented racquets but, as time passes, you will definitely need a racquet that is customised for you personally. It may seem simple but in reality choosing a tennis racquet may be challenging if you have never done this before. You need to consider quite a few factors. We would like to help you with this task. We've collected a variety of opinions and tried out some good racquets ourselves so that we could give you an advice or two. Below are the factors we see as important when choosing a tennis racquet. And we also offer you a selection of 5 best tennis racquets, some for children and some for adults. So go on, accept the assistance, it is free, after all. We do hope it helps.

If you are an avid table tennis player we recommend reading our tennis tables review.

What Features to Compare

Well, where to start? Probably, from the Main Characteristics. After all, they are not called "main" for nothing. So, what's there?

  • Grip size. There is a system for specifying the grip size of a tennis racquet. The grip size is usually specified in inches and/or by a special designation consisting of letter G (stands for grip) and a number from 0 to 5 (rarely 6) where each unit represents one-eighth of an inch; G0 is the smallest and G5 is the largest grip. To know your personal grip size without having to visit a tennis store, measure the length from the bottom lateral crease of your palm to the tip of your ring finger when your palm is open and the fingers are extended close together. The sizes go like this: G1 — 4⅛", G2 — 4¼", G3 — 4⅜", G4 — 4½", G5 — 4⅝". If your precise grip size is in-between two measures, buy the racquet with a smaller one. Remember — you can make the grip larger with tape, but you can't make it smaller.
  • Racquet Length. An adult of average height will need a 685–686 mm long racquet, mostly. The larger racquets are also available but they might be better suited for professional players who need more power. For a non-specialist, it might be challenging to use a long tennis racquet. That being said, the length largely depends on the player's height. If the player's height is 1 meter or less, the best racquet will probably be the one that is 480 mm long. 100–116 cm height calls for a 533 mm racquet, a 584 mm one is better for 119–135 cm height, 137–150 cm players need a 660 mm racquet, and for a person over 150 cm — a general 685 mm and longer ones will be perfect. That's about it.
  • Racquet Weight. The heavier the racquet, the more powerful the shot. But at the same time, it is harder to control a heavy one. You may miss the court boundaries and get your ball into out. If you lack confidence in your control skills, we recommend you to buy a racquet below 275 grammes so that to not overstrain your wrist.
  • Racquet Stiffness. The more stiff the racquet is, the less impact energy it absorbs. Therefore, more flexible racquets return shots with less power than the stiffer ones.
  • Balance. Now this is important. The racquet can be either evenly-balanced, head-heavy, or head-light (also called grip-heavy). To see which yours is, place it horizontally on your outstretched pointer around the middle of the length. If it balances just right, it means your racquet is evenly balanced. If it tilts to one of the sides, it is heavy on the side it tilts. There is a difference in performance between these types. Head-heavy racquets tend to have more power and they seem heavier when you hold them. And head-light ones are better with shot control and easier to manoeuvre. Think about what you prefer and then buy.

Head and Stringing Pattern

The head sizes have their categorization too: Midsize — 452–574 cm², Midplus (or Mid-over) — 580–677 cm², Oversize — 710–742 cm², and SuperOversize — 748–871 cm². If you (or the person you are buying a tennis racquet for) only start your journey to a marvellous tennis player, it is recommended to purchase a racquet of at least 645 cm² as it will help you learn control without burdening your wrist all that much. There is a very special zone in the middle of the racquet's hitting area, called the Sweet Spot. When you hit the ball in this spot, you have more power in the shot with less effort applied. The bigger the head, the bigger the spot, and the more "forgiving" the racquet. Also, while we are talking about the head, we need to mention the frame thickness. It usually varies from 18 to 30 mm, and the meaning is the following: the thicker beam provides more power, the thinner one grants you additional control.

The string pattern of the racquet represents the number of main and cross strings. More "open" pattern with fewer strings will offer less stiffness to the stringing than the "dense" (or "closed") one, making it more loose. Loose stringing creates more spin and rebound, again making the shot more powerful. Dense stringing is better for controlled shots.

Material

In the past, the racquets were made of wood, but today you will find those only in museums or up in the attic of your great-grandparents' house. Up-to-date tennis racquets are made of modern materials. Aluminum ones are probably the cheapest tennis racquets. They are pretty lightweight, too. But they can bend with time. However, they are good for complete beginners as their first racquets. Hyper Carbon racquets are a creation of Wilson and NASA, made of the "space age material" you can find in the aerospace industry. The manufacturer claims it to be stronger and stiffer yet much lighter. Sometimes, they seem too light even, huh. Graphite is the most widespread material among today's tennis racquet manufacturers, it adds to the power without adding weight. Titanium is often compared to graphite and often combined with it to create more reliable and durable tennis racquets. Fibreglass is used as an additional material, it adds to flexibility and enhances feel. Composite materials are made to combine the best features of each material. And, finally, ceramics. You will have to try a bit hard to find ceramics racquets today, they are hardly used. Why? Well, they are stiff, yes, but also heavy and fragile.

As you can see, all the differences, in the end, come to this: do you want a powerful tennis racquet or the one with more control? Or maybe you'd like to try and find the happy medium? That's up to you to decide, we've done what we could. Hopefully, this review helps. Now please proceed to the 5 best tennis racquets we have found, there is a chance you will find the one you've been looking for all this time. Have a nice play.

Sources:

1. Basic Facts About Frames & Strings, Tennis Warehouse (information supplied by USRSA Technical Advisor Steve Davis).

2. How To Choose The Right Racquet, Tennis Express.

3. Lou Smarrelli How to Choose a Tennis Racquet, be. magazine. January 7, 2014.

4. Tennis Racquet Guide - How to Choose the Right Racquet, Sportsmans Warehouse.

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