If you love to play tennis whenever you got the chance, sooner or later you may find that your current racket isn’t sufficient anymore. As your skills have gradually improved, you no longer want a racket that just offers you a huge sweet spot for an easier hit. You’ll want something that has more control and power without being too heavy. This is when you’ll need one of the best rackets for intermediate players. There are a bunch of great options available on the market today, and each of them boasts top-notch features that suit your skill level and play style. With our special list, finding the best tennis rackets for intermediate players has never been easier. Just read on, and you’ll find the one that’s perfect for you.
To protect your precious tennis racket from any unwanted damages, make sure to have one of the best tennis bags for men or one of the best tennis bags for ladies. If you have a kid, you can also check out the 13 best tennis bags for kids!
How To Choose The Best Tennis Rackets For Intermediate
When looking for the best tennis rackets for intermediate players, you can’t just blindly pick one. There are some factors to consider so that the racket you’re eyeing meets your specific needs. Those factors are:
Weight
Some players prefer heavier rackets, while the rest love lighter ones. However, it’s recommended to use a heavy one if you’re an intermediate player, as they’re usually friendly to the arms and have a great balance of control and power.
Balance
What we mean by balance is the weight of the racket’s head. There are 2 options, balanced and head heavy/light. Head-heavy options work well for power but are harder to control. On the other hand, head-light rackets are less powerful but easy to use. Usually, intermediate players will choose a balanced one to have the best of both worlds.
Power and control
Generally speaking, some rackets will offer superb power, while the others feature more control for the players. If you’re an intermediate player, you might want to choose the one that has the right balance between power and control.
How do I choose an intermediate tennis racket?
Most physically fit adults with an intermediate skill level are recommended to choose a racket that’s between 98 to 104 square inches, and 11 to 11.5 ounces. It’ll provide a good combination of power and control as they develop their swing.
What is an intermediate tennis player?
An intermediate player is a player that has achieved improved stroke dependability with directional control on moderate shots but still lacks depth and variety. He or she has also started to exhibit more aggressive net play and has improved court coverage.
Babolat 2018 Pure Aero Lite (CU)
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Unlike its standard version, Babolat 2018 Pure Aero Lite is lighter. It’s one of the best tennis rackets for intermediate players, as it offers plenty of power, control, comfort, and maneuverability. Aside from intermediates, it will also work for dedicated beginners who want a racket that’ll reward continued improvement.
This racket comes with FSI Spin Technology that features wider spacing between the crosses along with larger grommet holes. The result is a racket that puts a tight grip on the ball before snapping it out of the stringbed loaded with spin. Although it’s not as stable as the heavier Pure Aero model, this racket’s even balance still gives it impressive stability considering its weight class.
What We Love
It’s an obvious choice for intermediate players who want easy access to pace and spin.
Pros:
- Offers control and great power
- Comfortable
- Great stability for its weight class
Cons:
- Might be too light for some people
HEAD Graphene 360 Speed Pro Tennis Racquet
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Whether it’s comfort or power, HEAD Graphene 360 Speed Pro Tennis Racquet can give you both. This racket is controllable and feels very comfortable, making it one of the best tennis rackets for intermediate players. Along with the control, there’s an ample amount of spin when you want to surprise your opponent.
Since the vibration experienced by this racket often undermines the performance, the brand has included a dampening system that significantly reduces the vibration of the racket. This will greatly improve the feel for many players. Even better, this racket is also lightweight because of its special type of space carbon fiber that’s woven into the structure of the frame.
What We Love
It’s way more user-friendly than its previous version, with a good balance of power and control that’s needed by intermediates.
Pros:
- Comfortable
- Easy to use
- Offers excellent control
Cons:
- Many other rackets offer greater power
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HEAD Graphene 360 Speed Pro Tennis Racquet
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Whether it’s comfort or power, HEAD Graphene 360 Speed Pro Tennis Racquet can give you both. This racket is controllable and feels very comfortable, making it one of the best tennis rackets for intermediate players. Along with the control, there’s an ample amount of spin when you want to surprise your opponent.
Since the vibration experienced by this racket often undermines the performance, the brand has included a dampening system that significantly reduces the vibration of the racket. This will greatly improve the feel for many players. Even better, this racket is also lightweight because of its special type of space carbon fiber that’s woven into the structure of the frame.
What We Love
It’s way more user-friendly than its previous version, with a good balance of power and control that’s needed by intermediates.
Pros:
- Comfortable
- Easy to use
- Offers excellent control
Cons:
- Many other rackets offer greater power
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HEAD Graphene 360+ Gravity MP Tennis Racquet (404)
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This racket is one of the best tennis rackets for intermediate players thanks to its 100 square inches head size, flexibility, and feel. Players will have excellent control for their shots from the baseline and the net. You won’t be able to generate as much spin when using HEAD Graphene 360+ Gravity MP Tennis Racquet, but you’ll feel like you can place the ball anywhere on the court.
Used by Alexander Zverev, this racket also feels super comfortable and is arm-friendly. It’s a great option for both doubles and single players seeking a perfect blend of power, control, and feel. Other praiseworthy features include the open string pattern and the speediness of this racket which allow you to hit each ball with plenty of spins.
What We Love
Offers the most control out of all the rackets on this list.
Pros:
- Easy access to spin
- Good for most skill levels
- Great control
Cons:
- Doesn’t provide as much power as other rackets
HEAD Graphene 360 Radical MP (CU)
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HEAD Graphene 360 Radical MP is a nice choice for players that are looking for a wonderfully well-balanced racket that offers a good combination of power, control, and spin. As one of the best tennis rackets for intermediate players, this racket has everything you’ll possibly need to win the game. Did you know that this is also a popular racket among the pros? Yes, many WTA players, including Sloane Stephens, use this racket too.
Compared to the previous generations, this racket feels stiffer. At the net, the stick isn’t only quick but also rewards clean mechanics with penetrating volleys. Plus, it’s very easy to maneuver, which automatically allows you to keep improving your game.
What We Love
Has great stability, maneuverability, and power that are beneficial for intermediate players looking to upgrade their skills.
Pros:
- Crisp and precise
- Lightweight
- Easy to maneuver
Cons:
- Expensive
Wilson Pro Staff RF97
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Wilson Pro Staff RF97 is the result of the collaboration between the brand itself and Roger Federer. This incredible racket is a one-of-a-kind racket that’s brilliant in every way possible. It has been made with Amplifeel Technology that provides a cleaner and enhanced feel of the racket. The technology also allows players to customize the handle grip, providing additional handle comfort, and maximizing the feel in each racket and player segment.
This racket is one of the best rackets for intermediate players who are aggressive and don’t like to stay at the baseline. It offers you amazing balance which gives you a great advantage at volleys. Plus, with the large frame size, there’s no chance for you to mishit the ball. Moreover, this racket is made with a combination of Graphite and braided Kevlar, which helps with vibration reduction enhancing the touch of the racket.
What We Love
It provides a solid and consistent feel for players that’s arguably the best out of all rackets.
Pros:
- Easy to control
- Huge sweet spot
- Great for improving skills
Cons:
- Might be too heavy for some players
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HEAD MicroGel Radical Tennis Racquet
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HEAD has produced dozens of top-notch tennis rackets, but HEAD MicroGel Radical Tennis Racquet is a game-changer for the company. With a ravishing design and excellent features, it’s easily one of the best tennis rackets for intermediate players on the market today. This racket will help you deliver some lethal shots on the court and give you maximum control as well as stability. As if that’s not enough, it’s able to add a natural topspin in every shot too.
Among all the features, the one that steals the show is the MicroGel technology. It helps the racket to absorb the impact and distribute it evenly through the entire frame, providing great comfort and feel. The bat weighs around 10.4 ounces, which is slightly heavier at the handle than the head. This uneven distribution is one of the key attributes of the amazing maneuverability offered by this racket.
What We Love
A great choice for aggressive intermediates as it can absorb high levels of shock and provides comfort.
Pros:
- Distributes shock evenly
- Delivers great power and mobility
- More spin
- Offers added stability
Cons:
- A rather small sweet spot
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Babolat Pure Strike Tennis Racquet
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What’s amazing about Babolat Pure Strike Tennis Racquet is its broad appeal to a wide range of players and levels of play. As one of the best tennis rackets for intermediate players, it has an innovative design that enables players to generate exceptional pace and hit the ball with incredible force. With its 11.4 ounces strung weight and 98 square inches head size, you should really consider buying this racket.
Another feature worth mentioning is the racket’s frame design, which allows the string to move freely so that they can work together for a more generous sweet spot, additional power, and less shock. There’s also the FSI Power technology, which increases the spacing between cross strings. Thanks to that, you’ll have more power, spin, and comfort when striking the ball.
What We Love
Packs plenty of features in a lightweight frame.
Pros:
- Impressive precision
- Amazing control
- Broad sweet spot
- Easy access to power and spin
Cons:
- Some people have complained that it comes unstrung
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Wilson 2019 Blade 98 (CU)
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Wilson’s Blade line has been very popular among tennis players, as it provides great precision. Wilson 2019 Blade 98’s new technology will help to combine carbon fibers into the frame to keep it lightweight, allowing it to absorb energy better. This technology also can dampen the speed of the ball, so that you can take more controlled shots. Pretty awesome, isn’t it?
With a head size of 98 square inches and a 16×19 string pattern, this racket offers solid control from all the areas of the court. Thanks to its Top Grip Taper, intermediate players will be able to position their hands well while playing. The stringbed also has a uniform feel no matter the spot of the shot.
What We Love
With the right size, intermediate players will notice massive improvements in the game by using this racket.
Pros:
- Flexible and stable
- Provides great control
- Comfortable grip
- Extremely lightweight
Cons:
- Doesn’t provides that much power
HEAD Graphene 360 Instinct MP
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Used by the amazing Maria Sharapova, HEAD Graphene 360 Instinct MP is one of the best tennis rackets for intermediate players who love to hit deep groundstrokes and control the point from the baseline. Although it’s not suitable for double players, it excels for single players looking to grind from deep in the court. They’ll have the chance to control the point and go for the lines better.
One of the perks of having this racket is that you’ll have a huge sweet spot, thanks to its 100 square inch frame. Combined with its lightweight feature, this racket offers impressive maneuverability for players on the baseline.
What We Love
Offers excellent power and spin in a very maneuverable package.
Pros:
- Used by Maria Sharapova
- Great maneuverability
- Great spin and control
- Affordable
Cons:
- Not a good option for fast paced doubles at the net
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Babolat Pure Drive
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Say hello to Babolat Pure Drive, Babolat’s most popular product that’s loved by many players. This is one of the best tennis rackets for intermediate players who are seeking more power, feel, and spin on their groundstrokes. Fun fact, plenty of professional players like Andy Roddick also use this racket as their lethal weapon on the court.
At 11.2 ounces strung, it’s a nice weight for intermediates. The 100 square inch frame is also just nice, giving players extra power and suits almost everyone. This racket has a huge sweet spot too, giving you more chances to hit the ball. Meanwhile, the Cortex Smooth technology will dampen vibrations in the frame before they reach your wrist or elbow, making it very arm-friendly.
What We Love
The ideal all-court racket for intermediate players looking for power without specializing in one area just yet.
Pros:
- Offers excellent spin
- Great for any level
- Fantastic balance
- Huge sweet spot
Cons:
- Other rackets can offer better control
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Wilson Clash 100
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Wilson Clash 100 is among the few best tennis rackets for intermediate players that have managed to combine the opposite qualities, like power, control, flexibility, and stability all within the same frame. With this racket, you can take advantage of the vertical swings in the game. It’ll bend in a particular way that creates a pocket around the ball and enhances the overall feel of the frame, all while providing impeccable stability at the same time! All of this is because of the amazing FreeFlex and StableSmart technologies.
Since it’s great for intermediates, you don’t have to be a pro player to see the benefits of this racket. Players who have used this racket love the fact that it can provide them the ability to hit with plenty of power and spin. With its open 16×19 string pattern, this racket promises nothing but stunning performance.
What We Love
Its impressive features make it worth the money spent.
Pros:
- The perfect blend of power and control
- Lightweight but powerful
- Suitable for advanced players too
- Offers great spin and stability
Cons:
- Quite expensive
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Babolat Pure Aero 2019 Tennis Racquet
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Fans of Rafael Nadal would be delighted to have Babolat Pure Aero 2019 Tennis Racquet, as it’s endorsed by him. This racket is known for its easy power and topspin potential. It’s one of the best tennis rackets for intermediate players out there, and it’ll allow them to hit a spin-loaded ball. Thanks to its transcends ability level, professionals can also use this racket!
This racket is just 10.5 ounces, and it’s reinforced in the head by the Cortex-System that’ll protect the arm in the hitting position. With this racket, players can feel that the ball stays super long on the strings, which will give them a chance to hit the ball harder and put an extra spin into it. If you’re one of those who use topspin a lot, you’ll definitely love this racket.
What We Love
Boasts significant improvements from the previous line.
Pros:
- Suitable for professional players too
- Amazing ball control
- A great option for topspin
- Great on both the offensive and defensive
- Endorsed by Rafael Nadal
Cons:
- Might be too stiff for some players
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