Best Tennis Racquet for Intermediate Player

What are the Top Rackets for Intermediate Level Tennis Players?

As you advance from being a beginner to the intermediate level, there are some things that you will have to change as well. What we mean by an intermediate player is that perhaps you were playing for leisure, but you now want to become serious with tennis.

So what are some of these changes that are necessary? Here is an illustration. One, a newbie will often need so much help since they have not yet mastered the basics of the game.

For instance, they require a bigger racquet that has a big hitting spot to help them with power generation. Besides, the racquet will, out of necessity, need to be a tad bit lighter so that it is easier for them to navigate.

On the other hand, intermediate players have slightly advanced their skills and developed their energy to some extent. What they need is more control, to help them direct the ball towards the right direction.

In effect, their racquets will often be a bit smaller and somehow heavier.

There are numerous models of racquets that have been specifically designed for intermediate players. That makes picking one very challenging.

We have prepared a comprehensive list of the best picks to go for. Take a look.

1. Wilson Clash 100

For years now, Wilson has been among the best companies in as far as production of tennis gear is concerned. Their reputation has always preceded them, and the quality has always been great. Wilson Clash 100 is no exception.

The racquet is an upgrade from previous models. It features a new technology aimed at improving the touch and feel. As such, you will not have difficulties making your serves and volleys.

Moving on, it has a string pattern with a 16 by 19 dimension. This means that the strings are closer together, and the ball will fall on a couple of them upon contact. In effect, controlling the ball becomes much easier.

It is also great to note that the racquet has a bigger head size measuring 100 square inches. Coupled with that, it also has a weight of about 11 ounces which makes it great for high level intermediate as well as advanced players.

As for power, this is not the best option available as the frame is very flexible.

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2. Babolat  Pure Drive 2018

If you want a racquet that will serve you regardless of your experience level, this should be an excellent purchase. Although it is meant for intermediate players, it is also a great option for experienced players.

The selling point of this Babolat racquet is how well it has balanced some of the key benefits a player would need. To begin with, it offers great control. You will be able to make perfect shots that go exactly where they should.

Thanks to the string pattern, the spin that you can generate is taken to a whole other new level. Opponents will not have an easy time trying to attack the ball, and that works to your advantage.

How about the head size? Given that it has a dimension of 100 square inches, it is big enough to give the player some extra power. Comfort is also guaranteed.

It is, however, a bit heavy and not meant for people without upper body strength.

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3. Head Graphene Extreme

Extreme MP is one of the models that have been released by Head Graphene, and is definitely worth a try. First things first. The racquet is relatively cheaper and costs just a single dollar.

For someone who is working around a budget but still wants something quality, Extreme MP is the deal. Are you wondering what else makes the racquet stand out?

The string pattern. It has a dimension of 16 by 19, making it easy for the player to effectively control the ball- it will have a longer contact duration with the strings.

Extreme MP incorporates a Graphene technological advancement meant to improve the racquet’s touch and feel. This is unlike most of the other versions made by the same company, and is thus an advantage.

As for the power, it has a head size with a dimension of 100 square inches which gives a bigger sweet spot. Coupled with the 11.2 ounces it weighs, beginners who are just advancing to the intermediate stage will have an easier time moving around the court.

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4. Head Graphene Instinct

Just to set the mood for this review, we note that Instinct MP as brought to you by Head Graphene 360 has been advocated for by Maria Sharapova. That means that you have no reason to be doubting its performance.

If you play from the baseline as opposed from the net, this is going to be your knight in shining armors. It makes hitting groundstrokes very easy, and will thus do you some great service.

Instinct MP, like the preceding options, has a head size measuring 100 square inches. It therefore gives you a bigger sweet spot with which you can hit the ball. If you still can’t make perfect shots, this is the racquet for you.

Its lightweight features make it an excellent option for both singles as well as doubles players, since they can easily move about. However, the high flexibility might be an inconvenience for doubles players stationed by the net.

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5. Babolat Pure Strike 100

Pure Strike 100 has been tested and endorsed by Dominic Thiem, a great tennis player. If you can manage to get around the price, then the racquet is definitely worth a shot. Like all Babolat products, Pure Strike is strong and durable. 

For players trying to transition to the intermediate level, this racquet will be well suited for them. Thanks to the large hitting area (it has a head size measuring 100 square inches), it will buy you a lot of time to perfect your shots.

Even more important, this pure Strike 100 is among the best 3 racquets in this review that guarantee you excellent control of the ball. It can therefore be used by players stationed both at the baseline and at the net.

To add to that, the racquet also provides a player with great power and touch. If you are yet to develop your own power, this will be a good alternative. 

On the downside, you might not be able to generate a ‘heavy ball’ that will evade your opponents. 

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6. Prince Textreme Warrior

In the sixth place, we have this Textreme Warrior 100 by the prince company. The company has been around for quite some time. It has created a name for itself and its products are quite popular among tennis players.

One of the best features of this racquet has to do with the price. If you are an intermediate player who does not spend so much time out in the court, this is your perfect product since it is very pocket friendly.

Furthermore, it has a head size with dimensions of 100 square inches. As a result, the strings are closely knitted together for effective control of the ball. It will form a nice starting point for players looking forward to improve this aspect.

Also, that feature makes it pretty much impressive when it comes to generating spins. Plus, the frame is firm enough such that it is able to boost your power.

Finally, Textreme Warrior boasts extremely lightweight features. It is the lightest racquet on our review, weighing about 10.3 ounces only.

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7. Babolat Pure Aero 2019

Next, we present another Babolat product. Unlike the other releases by the company, this one is an improvement and has thus taken into account all advanced features and technology needed for effective games.

We must start this review by pointing out the fact that the 2019 Babolat Version is the best when it comes to spin generation. As such, it will be of great help to baseliners who make big swings since their topspin will be perfect.

The other feature that stands out is the streamlined design adopted by the manufacturers of the racquet. The design helps to minimize the resistance to movement caused by air currents when it is passing through it. 

The result is that the speed significantly increases, and that helps the ball to bounce high. These powerful spins put the opponents to challenge.

The large head size – which stands at 100 square inches – makes it easy for players who haven’t developed consistency to still hit the ball.

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Who are classified as intermediate level players?

All along, we have been talking about beginners, intermediate and advanced players. The real question is, do you know how to distinguish between these categories? Or rather, what are some of the features that set them apart?

Unless you are able to answer that question, you might not be able to follow through with this conversation. We are here to make sure that we start off on the same footing, so we will attempt to give you a working definition.

An intermediate player can be said to be that player that was not initially serious about playing tennis. Perhaps, he or she did it for the fun and pleasure. In fact, they don’t spend so much time playing.

The duration has a role in this definition. You must have played (whether for leisure or not) for a long period of time such that the skills needed for the game will have crystallized.

For instance, you are now able to generate your power and you are in a position to make consistent shots. 

However, the power might still be insufficient such that you need some boosting. Also, you will not have developed control over your shots so they end up landing anywhere across the net. 

To add on that, your spin will not be as perfect so you need help.

Selecting a Tennis Racquet for Intermediate Players; A Buyer’s Guide

Now that you already know who an intermediate player is and you are conversant with their strengths and weaknesses, you are ready to have this discussion. If you don’t fit within the described category, this buying guide might not be as helpful.

Needless to say, there are thousands of manufacturers out there who have established themselves as tennis racquets producers. The thing is, the options become too many to a point where selecting one becomes overwhelming.

That does not give you the leeway to settle for whichever comes first to your head. You will not only end up wasting your money on a sub-standard product, you could get one that doesn’t fit the type of game you play.

So what criteria do you use to choose one product and not the other? The first step that you should take is understanding yourself – be certain of the skills you have perfected and those that still need working on.

From the short description above, you can identify some of the features that an intermediate level racquet must possess. You can consider the attributes you want to gain as the first criteria; power, control, spin and touch.

You can also look at other features such as the head size, weight, length and your swing.

Make sure to go through this section before proceeding to buy your racquet.

The benefits 

As we described an intermediate level player, we noted some of the main skills they are yet to develop. In this context, the benefits to be gained from the racquet refer to those skills. Let us look at them in detail.

• Power 

While some of the intermediate level players will have developed the upper body strength needed to make powerful hits, some will still be struggling with that. Therefore, it naturally follows that the latter category needs racquets that will boost their power.

And how do power racquets look like? 

Some of the distinguishing features of power racquets will be the head size. Often, they will have a larger head that has a dimension of about 100 square feet. Additionally, they will also have a firm frame.

A racquet that is very flexible might not serve the purpose as well. That said, you should ensure that you don’t settle for a smaller head size or a very flexible racquet model.

• Control 

Intermediate players don’t really have the power to determine where the ball will land after it is hit. Arguably, they just strife to pass the ball over the net and back to the other side.

Any tennis player will agree that control is very key for any person who dreams to make it to the advanced level. Although a lot of practice is needed to perfect the skill, you can also use other training aids to help with the journey.

Control racquets are some of those training aids. To identify such racquets, you look at aspects like the string pattern. The pattern should be close enough such that the ball lands on many strings upon contact.

That will mean that the ball will have a longer contact duration that allows you to determine where you want it to land. A 16 by 19 pattern will be just perfect for the role.

You will also have to compare the size of the head. The smaller the size, the easier it is to control where the ball goes. But, if you can’t make consistent shots yet, just stick to the 100 square inches.

• Spin 

Spin refers to the ability to create a ‘heavy ball’. That is, the ball should be able to bounce so high that the opponent cannot easily attack it. Just like for control, you will need a racquet with closely strung strings so as to improve the spin.

Besides, you might also want to check the design in which the racquet has been built. Aerodynamic shapes will go a long way in improving the spin generation. So, you will have to prioritize such racquets if you want to acquire that benefit.

• Touch 

You also want to consider the touch or feel of the racquet. You might not be able to make some of the tennis shots if you are not comfortable with how the racquet handle feels in your hands. Topspin and serves can be a case in point. 

To remedy that, you have to look at some of the technological advances that have been used for the racquet. The better the technology, the more priority you should accord it.

Your Swing

A swing can be described either as being long or short. The difference, in some way, lies in how fast you make it. The former means that you are fast enough while the later denotes slow movement.

Here is the relationship that exists between the swing type and the type of racquet. Long swingers will often generate more power while short swingers will not. Hence, short swingers require some boosting from the racquet.

For intermediates with long swings, they require a racquet that is controlled. That is, all the benefits are equally taken into account, with minimum power. Short swingers, on the other hand, need racquets with big heads for improved power.

Size, length and weight

Intermediate players need racquets with smaller head sizes as compared to beginners, but larger as compared to advanced players. Thus, they should check to ensure that the head size ranges between 100 and 110 square inches.

The same applies when it comes to the racquet length- it decreases as the experience level increases. For intermediate level, a 27 or 28 inches racquet will be great for the task.

Unlike the rest, the weight of the racquet increases as we go up the ladder. While beginners need to keep it below 11 ounces, intermediates need to weigh between 10.1 and 11.5 ounces. Advanced racquets should weigh more than 11 ounces.

Conclusion

Players who are transitioning to the lower intermediate level need to stick to particular types of racquets so as to improve on their skills. The most common question has always been; what is difference between beginner, intermediate and advanced racquets?

While the line isn’t very clear (some racquets can be used by all players regardless of the levels), there is a fundamental difference. The weight of the racquets increases as you go up the ladder.

Also, the head size reduces as you go up. These are some of the main differences. So what racquet can best serve an intermediate tennis player?

After conducting this review, we recommend the Wilson Clash 100. 

Wilson makes some of the best tennis gear in the market. This racquet model meets the required standards. It has been fitted with an advanced technology geared towards improving your touch and feel.

Also, the strings have been closely strung together to see to it that you have perfect control of the ball. With a dimension of 16 by 19, the ball will land on more strings and stay there for quite a while such that you can direct it wherever you want.

It is also designed with a big head size to give you power. 

Get yours today!