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How to choose a racquet: brands and specs
What head size, weight, balance and string pattern actually do, and how the major brands really differ.
Buying a racquet because of the brand your favorite player uses is the most expensive way to get it wrong. The specs tell you far more than the logo.
The four specs that matter
| Spec | Typical range | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Head size | 95 to 110 sq in | Bigger forgives off-center hits and adds power. Smaller gives more control. |
| Weight | 270 to 340 g | Heavier is more stable and drives through the ball, but tires you. Lighter swings faster. |
| Balance | Head light to head heavy | Head heavy hits harder with less effort. Head light maneuvers better at net. |
| String pattern | 16x19 or 18x20 | 16x19 opens the bed for more spin. 18x20 is denser: more control, less spin. |
16x19 versus 18x20
These are the two patterns you will almost always see. The first number is the vertical strings, the second the horizontals. A 16x19 has wider squares, so the string bites the ball more and produces more spin, but breaks sooner. An 18x20 is denser: more control, more durability, less spin.
If you are undecided, 16x19 is the safe pick for most players today, because the modern game runs on topspin.
The major brands
- Wilson: the sport's oldest name. The Pro Staff line is pure control and the Blade is the most popular all-court frame at club level.
- Babolat: the brand that pushed the spin game. The Pure Drive is probably the best-selling racquet of recent decades, and the Pure Aero is the spin frame.
- Head: strong on control and feel. The Speed, Radical and Prestige lines run from fast, modern play to pure control.
- Yonex: recognizable by its squared head, which widens the sweet spot. A good reputation for arm comfort.
- Tecnifibre: French brand, also very strong in strings. Their frames lean toward comfort and feel.
- Prince and Dunlop: less visible on tour today, but with solid models and usually a better price.
The rule that works: hit with it
Specs tell you what to expect, not how it will feel in your hand. Before you buy, hit with it. Half an hour on court tells you more than any review.
And do not overlook the grip: a racquet with the wrong grip size feels wrong even when everything else is right. If you are between sizes, take the smaller one; you can always build it up with an overgrip, but you cannot shrink it.
A racquet does not fix what the string fixes
Before spending on a new frame, try changing string or tension. It costs a fraction and often solves exactly what was bothering you.
Read next: how to choose your string and what tension to use.