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Best Women’s Tennis Racket

Finding a racket is never easy. There’s just too many to choose from these days. Different versions of the same model, different, years, different string patterns…

It can definitely be a bit overwhelming. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. 

Today we’re going to be taking a look at the 10 best women’s tennis rackets. We’ll be breaking down each option, what kind of play style they suit and why we think they’re some of the best around. 

We’ve also put together a mini-buyers guide for you to check out. This should help to answer any questions you may have on choosing the right racket. 

But first…

Women’s Vs. Men’s Tennis Racquets

Before we get into the nitty-gritties what differentiates these two rackets, you should know there’s no such thing as a ladies or a man’s racket. You can use whatever racket you choose because gender is not really an issue when it comes to adult rackets.

That said, one area that we should pay attention to when looking for a women’s racket is the grip size. According to a study by NASA, men have hands that are, on average, 0.8 inches longer than women’s. Therefore, men typically use a racket with a bigger grip size

If you know anything about tennis and how rackets are designed, a 1/8-inch difference is no small difference. With that in mind, it’s important that you choose a racket to match the size of your hand. 

Don’t know how to measure your racket size?

No problem, stick around! We’ve got a guide towards the end of our post that will show you how to do exactly that.

Best Women’s Tennis Racquets 

1. Babolat Aero G Tennis Racket

Technology has made the world a better place. It has been pivotal in improving the effectiveness of a lot of the things that we never even knew needed to be improved. Babolat’s Woofer Technology is a fine example of what we’re talking about.

This woofer system allows the ball to maintain contact with the racket’s strings for a slightly longer period of time. This then provides the player with far more control, allowing for easier placement of their shots. 

To add to this, Bobolat has used graphite to construct the entirety of the racket. Thanks to this, they’re able to deliver a lightweight racket, whilst still offering the power and control of heavier rackets. 

Plus, the graphite material helps to mitigate shock and vibrations sent up the arm, reducing the chance of sustaining an injury such as tennis elbow. 

All in all, a great racket for an intermediate player looking for a comfortable, powerful racket that can also deliver a great amount of spin.

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2. Babolat Pure Drive 2021

best tennis racket under $100

You’ll quickly learn that there are two types of players in tennis. We have aggressive all-court players and aggressive baseliners. Players who prefer drawing their points from the baseline are the players that we refer to as baseline players. 

The Babolat Pure Drive 2021 is the type of racket that you’d typically go for as a baseline player. It’s unique combination of spin, power and speed is what makes it a versatile and one of the most popular rackets ever released.

It’s primarily designed for intermediate players, but since it has an easy acceleration and an outstanding playability, any player can use it regardless of their stroking style or ability level.

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3. Babolat Boost Drive - Best for Teenagers

best tennis racket for women

In tennis, every feature found in the racket is important.

You can’t go for the best frame and forget about the strings. Nor can you go for the best strings and forget about the racket. 

Fortunately, Babolat gives you the best of both worlds with their Boost Drive racket. This is due to the fact that not only do you get a top tier racket, you also get top tier strings in the form of Babolat’s SpiralTex synthetic gut. This is basically a synthetically made string, based on the performance and features of natural gut strings, which believe it or not, are made from cows’ intestines. 

Anyway, back to the racket. The Boost Drive itself is designed for teenage/ young adult players just reaching the intermediate level. With a slightly oversized design, a 16 x 19 string pattern, and a length of 27″, this is the perfect stepping stone for young women looking to take a step up in racket performance. 

You also get a nice addition in the form of a racket bag, obviously branded and tailored to fit the Boost Drive. 

All in all, a great racket for a very reasonable price given it’s overall quality and durability. 

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4. Head Ti S6

Do you remember what we once told you guys? Whenever you see Head, Wilson, Or the Babolat brand, just know you’re looking at guaranteed quality. And the Head Ti S6 is no different.

It has a fantastic grip, super light, made of titanium and graphite, and if you’re worried about tennis elbow, don’t be. You’ll feel little to no vibrations at all.

We would recommend this racket to any beginner to advanced level player as it’s a game changer.

The racket itself features an 115 square inch head size, which is considered an oversized racket. This in turn provides a larger surface area, and therefore a larger sweet spot. Why is this important exactly?

Because the larger the sweet spot, the more forgiving a racket is. If you accidentally miss-hit the ball, the racket’s larger surface area should allow you to maintain some form of accuracy. 

Overall, a great all-round tennis racket, perfect for beginners still looking for quality and performance.

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5. Babolat Aero G Tennis Racket

Would you call yourself an avid tennis fan? Then you know Wilson had a successful series when they revised the Blade line and introduced the Clash line, right? 

They got a lot of positive reviews and that’s good news for a brand that has dominated the industry for years. Currently, they’re improving the Ultra range of products and boy oh boy, aren’t they doing one heck of a job! 

You’ll love the Wilson Ultra 110 if you’re more into stability and power. The gear-makers added a couple geometric improvements to the sturdy frame composition and consequently, created a magnificent design.

There’s also something we call the PowerProfile geometry list. And at the top of it, you’ll find the Sweet Point channels and an Integrated Perimeter Weighing System, tasked with increasing the frame’s stability. 

Versatility can be used to describe this racket, as it’s able to adapt to any environment with ease.

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6. Head MicroGel Radical

Saying that the Head MicroGel Radical is a good tennis racket designed for women is an understatement. It is by far one of the best rackets in this category and the entire industry. 

By the way, whoever came up with the idea of adding the MicroGel technology to it needs to be given a raise.

What ‘s MicroGel? It’s a substance that’s lighter than any other solid matter on planet earth. Being silicon-based, it’s uniqueness is what makes it a top-tier material for racket construction. 

Engineers in the research and development department for sure had an incredible light bulb moment when they discovered that they could increase the strength of any racket using MicroGel, and still make it feel lighter than most rackets. 

It can comfortably support more than 4000 times its weight, and when you sprinkle a little carbon fibre into that mix you’ve made a super-racket that can evenly distribute the load felt upon impact.

The Head MicroGel Radical also comes with a bigger head width, hence offering an incredible spin when the balls come off the strings.

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7. Head Graphene 360 Radical MP

The Graphene 360 Radical MP had to make our list because it offers the perfect blend of maneuverability and control. It might not be as powerful as other rackets, but it sure does compensate in a lot of other ways.

For instance, you’ll like the dynamic string pattern that would make you think you’re playing with an 18 by 20 string pattern.Since the spacing between the strings is smaller, you’ll be able to enjoy that extra control.

For me, this is a great all round racket. It doesn’t particularly shine in any particular area (apart from spin maybe), however it’s a very solid all round racket. 

Let’s also not forget about the fact that we have pro players who endorse this Radical line. The likes of Taylor Fritz, and Sloane Stephens have all played using this model.

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8. Yonex EZONE Plus 98

I’ve always been a fan of Yonex. I’ve used their rackets for years and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. I was incredibly excited to try out the 98 plus, having already been a fan of the regular Ezone 98. I found the extra 0.5 inches to be a welcome addition. 

Where this really helped was with ground shots. I was expecting to scrape the tip of the racket along the floor, however that extra half an inch really allowed me to find the sweet spot, even when using one of the weaker shots in my arsenal. Plus, there was definitely a bit of added power coming from the additional length, which I found just right and not too hard to control. 

You’ll also notice that the Ezone comes with the 16 by 19 string pattern, which should help in generating more top spin, whilst also maintaining a good level of control in your shots. 

Combine that feature with the Oval Pressed Shaft System and the 98 square inch head size and we have ourselves the perfect control oriented racket in the game.  

That said, the head size is more likely going to be too small for beginners, given that they’ll be less margin for error should you miss-hit a shot. With that in mind, the Ezone is definitely more catered towards intermediate & advanced players able to consistently hit the ball with the sweet spot of the racket.

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9. Babolat Pure Strike

best women's tennis racket

The Pure Strike is undoubtedly one of Babolat’s best releases to date. They’ve implemented a number of different technologies and changes that have taken this racket to the next level. 

For example, take a look at the control frame technology. This hybrid beam provides incredible control of your shots, allowing you to place the ball with pinpoint precision, even from the back line. 

Another noticeable change from previous renditions of this model is the swingweight, which is slightly higher. This helps to provide a bit more weight and stability to your shots, something that was definitely missing in earlier models..

With that in mind, the Pure Strike is definitely perfect for aggressive players, who prefer their racket to pack a punch in the power department, whilst still maintaining incredibly high levels of control and accuracy.

What’s more, Babolat has utilised dampening technology in the rackets frame. This in turn dampens the vibrations from impact, reducing the stress on your arm. This is incredibly important when trying to reduce the chance of injuries such as tennis elbow.

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10. Yonex VCORE 100

If you’re an advanced player, you surely know the VCORE series is a family of a large number of rackets. 

What distinguishes them from the rest of the series is the control and speed exhibited. 

There’s no denying that the VCORE offers more than what other rackets are offering in those two departments. 

It’s also worth mentioning that the Yonex VCORE sports a relatively small head size, measuring in at 100 square inches. With that in mind, it’s probably best to stay away from this racket if you’re a complete beginner and likely to miss-hit the ball. 

I think it’s safe to say that this racket has been designed for a player who loves to be in the driver’s seat whenever he/she’s in the court. It’s not a racket for defensive players. It’s lightweight yet powerful, easy to manoeuvre and is even designed with an aggressive looking aesthetic. 

So understand your style of play and then go get a racket that compliments it.

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best women's tennis racket

How to Choose a Women’s Racket

Some of the characteristics that you ought to be taking into account include:

  • Head size.
  • Weight.
  • Balance.
  • String pattern.
  • Grip size.

The items listed above will help you to determine the playability of your racket to your specific play style. Of course, the price is also a talking point and we’ll be looking at it later on.

Right, let’s crack on.

Weight

How much your racket weighs will determine three things: the feel, power, and how easy it actually is to swing. 

So, what is the ideal racket weight? 

Well, it all depends on your age and how much you can comfortably handle without feeling strained. It’s not as simple as choosing a lighter or heavier racket. You have to know your strength and conditioning.

Weight is often a balancing act between comfortability, endurance and power. If a racket is too heavy, yes it will provide power, but will you be able to maintain your swing spead deep into the second set? 

Find a weight that is comfortable, and provides a good amount of power. As long as you’re able to maintain your swing speed for a match, then you’re using a weight that is appropriate. 

You’ll also notice if a racket is too heavy from your technique. As we fatigue, our technique becomes sloppier, as we used more effort with each swing. If you’re noticing your swing technique go down hill with a heavy racket, trying using a slightly lighter one.

This all comes with experience, so try new rackets, try new strings, try new brands and see what works best for you.

Balance

The weight of a racket and the balance of a racket are correlated. Its balance is basically the weight distribution. It could either be evenly balanced, head heavy, or head light.

We honestly think the best racket is a head-light type of racket. It doesn’t really matter if you’re a rookie or a pro in the sport. The head light should always be the racket of choice.

Just take a look at the type of rackets that those elite athletes use on the court. If you spot a player using a head heavy racket, call us out. But we guarantee you that you won’t. Do you know why? Because they too agree with us.

On paper, the head heavy racket will look and even sound like the perfect match. But what’s that they normally say about deals that sound too good to be true? Oh right, they always are.

That power will make you feel great, but you’ll suffer from exhaustion and tennis elbow as a result of putting your body under a lot of stress. Go head light and you’ll never have to think about any tennis related injury. Also, head heavy rackets are less maneuverable—We thought you should know.

Grip size

First of all, what exactly is grip size?

Your grip size will be the circumference of the rackets handle, and it is typically measured in inches. 

Aside from the fact that the correct grip size increases performance around the court, it will also help you avoid injuries. Have you ever dealt with tennis elbow before? The inflammation of the tendons? Then you know why it’s important to go for a grip size that’s more appropriate.   

It will be engraved on your racket using the American Circumference System or the European ‘L’ ranking system. The units of measurement are different, but that doesn’t mean that the rackets are.

Side Note: Brands don’t usually have rackets in all grip sizes. So if you do have a brand preference, the wise thing to do is reach out and inquire whether they have your grip size in their inventory. If they don’t, look for a different brand.

Alternative, you could opt for a smaller grip size and use overgrips. As a matter of fact, that’s what pro players normally do, especially if they want to protect the racket handle from wear.   

Calculating the racket’s grip size

You can always ask for help from your coach or any tennis expert you know. But if there’s no one around, you could still do it on your own. Determining the grip size of any racket is pretty easy, and it can be done in one of two ways.

Method One: The first thing that you need to do is to hold the racket using your dominant hand. Some people call that the Eastern forehand grip, so don’t be confused or think that they’re speaking in tongues. It’s all semantics. Now try to fit the other hand’s index finger in the space left between your palm and ring finger.

If your index finger fits snugly in that space, pay for the racket. If the space seems too small for the finger, return the racket and look for a different one—That grip is definitely too small. If the space left can still fit another finger, you still have to return the racket because the grip is too big for you.

Method Two: We’re going to use a rule here. You don’t need a racket but a rule is a must-have. Once again, reach out your dominant hand, extend your fingers, and then measure the length from the tip of the ring finger to your palm’s bottom horizontal crease.   

Whatever measurement you get will correspond to your racket’s grip size. And since they’re usually sized in 1/8 inches, you’ll have to round it off to the nearest 1/8 inches.

Decreasing the grip size of any racket model is almost impossible without damaging the racket. For that reason, if the measurement happens to fall in between two measurements, go with the smaller one. As we said earlier on, you can always use a grip-build-up-sleeve or an overgrip to rectify that.

how to measure tennis racket grip size

Stiffness

Stiffness mainly touches on the degree to which the stick bends and how it affects the power behind a shot. The more the bend, the less power. A lot of energy will be lost upon impact and that’s what truncates most of the power. Just stop thinking about rackets as catapults and you’ll do alright.

String Pattern

This pattern will dictate the amount of spin that impart, and thus give you an idea of how durable the strings are. A racket’s string pattern will be denoted in the form of; 16×19 or 18×20.

The first number refers to the total number of horizontal strings while the second one is the cross strings. 16×19 is a loose string pattern, and it helps impart more spin. Hence those strings will wear out faster. 

Head Size

It’s safe to say that head size is an incredibly important aspect to take into consideration when choosing a tennis racket. 

Often, the racket’s head size is a key indicator of what experience level you should be to use the racket. For example, larger head sizes are easier to use, given that they have a larger surface area, making it much easier to hit the ball. 

Below is a table breaking down different head sizes and their key attributes. 

Size Inches Power Control Sweet Spot
Mid
85-97
Low
High
Small
Mid-Plus
98-104
Medium
Medium
Medium
Oversized
105+
High
Low
Large

Price 

Remember when we mentioned pricing as a factor? Yes, it actually is. High quality rackets are often more expensive compared to low-grade rackets. It’s all in the material. The other thing is the technology that the racket comes with. If it offers more on the court, you’ll be asked to invest more money.

Last but not least, we have the gender difference. Believe or not, even though aadult rackets are mostly known to be unisex, rackets that are more geared towards women are cheaper than those designed for men. 

Popular Tennis Racket Brands

Before we talk about the brands, there’s something we feel obligated to remind you. Some of the brands that we’re about to list here have existed for decades. Charles Darwin once talked about evolution and how different animals went extinct because they couldn’t adapt to changes in their surroundings.

Well, these brands adapted, and in doing so, they evolved. They’ve seen the rise and fall of legends, and jumped so many hoops to get to where they are now.

Also, even though we’re going to list down a few brands in the industry, that doesn’t mean that the remaining brands offer nothing. Don’t think even for a second that that’s what we’re implying, because it’s not. 

In tennis, no brand is superior to the other. The only thing that sets them apart is the years of experience. So, what we’re basically trying to tell you is, every brand offers something unique but the listed brands just happen to be more popular.

Wilson

Currently, Roger Federer is the name that pops to mind whenever guys start talking about Wilson and the contributions that they’ve made in the industry. He’s been using Wilson from day one, and we don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon. The Wilson Pro Staff 90 is and has always been his racket of choice.

As an athlete, you need more than just hard work to reach your full potential. You’ll also need support from people who believe in you and what you’re trying to achieve. Wilson understands this and that’s why it strives to empower the sporting community to improve.

It’s rackets are a tad bit pricey but that’s what you get when you demand for a better quality racket.

wilson logo

Yonex

Asian countries are known to produce some of the top racquets in the industry but the brand that stands out is Yonex. It’s a known Japanese tennis brand, but when it first started, it mainly specialized in badminton racket production. Yonex only started producing tennis rackets years later after realizing there’s still a gap in the market that needs to be filled.

The signing of Billie Jean King and Navratilova Martina, two of the best tennis players at the time, is what propelled Yonex to the global stage. The brand suddenly grabbed the world’s attention and that’s when they decided to sign even more top seeded players.

If you thought Wilson only produced pricey rackets, you’ve not seen the price tags on Yonex. Because the cost of production is often high, they’re forced to sell at higher prices so as to break even.

Babolat

Do you remember when we talked about how old some of these brands are? Well, get this; Babolat was founded in 1875.

It first set shop in France, and only specialized in string production. According to ex pro-athletes, the kind of strings that this brand manufactured at the time were so good that players would buy pre-strung rackets and replace their strings immediately with Babolat strings. 

More than a century later, the brand launched its first racket line and signed Moya Carlos, who went on to win the Grand Slam. Since then, it’s reminded us the sky’s the limit by succeeding in other industries, such as the clothing and shoe industry.

When it comes to the technologies applied here, the brand designs all its rackets using Cortex Active Technology, Graphite Tungsten Technology, Aero Beam, Woofer, and Aero Modular. That’s why Babolat rackets guarantee power, stability, control, flexibility, a firm grip, more spin, and durability.

Head

The brand has been in business for more than 60 years now, and we can tell it’s still going strong. Many tennis enthusiasts know this company first set up shop in the United States, even though it’s now stationed in the Netherlands.  

During the first 10 or so years, Head was just another company that specializes in manufacturing tennis rackets. But after Jimmy Connors got defeated by Arthur Ashe who was wielding a Head racket, the brand quickly gained recognition and credibility.

Today, it produces some of the best quality bags, alpine skis, and clothing, in addition to the best women’s tennis racquets. Top players who are signed under this brand name include Maria Sharapova, Andy Mury, and Nokak Djokovic.

head logo

Final Thoughts

The best women’s tennis racquets are defined by their sleek designs and quality. It’s never about the pricing. Therefore, if you’re looking to improve your game, be ready to splurge a little. Investing a lot of time and money in the right racket is not a bad thing.  

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