On your way to the top! Here are the 10 Best Tennis Racquet for Intermediate Players

The post On your way to the top! Here are the 10 Best Tennis Racquet for Intermediate Players appeared first on Reviews For Tennis.

On your way to the top! Here are the 10 Best Tennis Racquet for Intermediate Players

Tennis is a sport where you need to find the right racquet to play with for it affects your gameplay as well as development at the same time. It’s not really like basketball that you just pick up a random ball and start shooting. If you’re well into the sport but not yet an advanced tennis player, then you’d need the right racquet to further your development. That’s why we’ve researched and gathered some of the best tennis racquets for intermediate players on this review.

Presenting are 10 of the best on the market today, and trust us, you won’t regret choosing any of them. Get to know them more on our review, read on!

best tennis racquet for intermediate

Everything you need to know about tennis and tennis racquets

Before we dive into our product reviews, we know that it is important to get to know the sport of tennis just a little bit more first. After all, a good overall knowledge of it would lead to a better understanding of what it takes to be a great tennis player.

Here are some interesting facts about it!

Tennis as well know is one of the most popular racket sport in the world. You have table tennis, squash, and badminton to name a few but there’s nothing like lawn tennis.

It’s usually played by an individual against another for the singles event or the doubles event which is its 2v2 equivalent. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is further popularized by top players like Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, the retired Maria Sharapova, and now a rising star and champion of several major tournaments Naomi Osaka.

As we all know, tennis is played using tennis racquets that are strung and utilized to hit a hollow rubber ball back and forth on a court divided by a net.

What’s up with the weird scoring system, you ask?

Well, there are a lot of theories why tennis employs a weird scoring system but that’s for another whole article. All you have to know is that you need to score at least 4 points to win a game thus winning a set and eventually winning a match.

But the scoring itself for tennis is not the same as any other sports. Score 1 point and that equals 15, 2 equals 30, 3 equals 40, and score another one and you win. A tie except for 40 points is called ALL and while if both of you and your opponent scores 40 it will then be called a DEUCE.

If that happens then either of you needs to score at least twice in a row to win the game. How many games do you need to win, to win a set? That will be 6 with no tiebreaker game instead you need to win two games in a row to win it.

And lastly, usually, a match of tennis is played in a best of 3 sets. Most championships though are played on a best-of-5 format.

The anatomy of a tennis racquet

Get to know more about your tennis racquet and you’ll know how to use it to your advantage.

In its simplest anatomy, a tennis racquet can be divided into 3 major parts, the head, shaft, and handle. But for us to better understand the products that we’re going to describe later on then we’re going to have to classify the parts of a tennis racquet just a bit further.

Let’s start with the handle. In the handle, you’ll see the butt or butt cap, grip, bevels, and the grip tape & collar. The butt cap ensures that the racquet does not fall off of the hands of the player it gives it a better grip plus a wider base.

The handle and its circumference plus feel help the player’s grip on the racquet better in hopes of making him comfortable throughout a set plus giving him or her the leverage for the strikes. The grip provides a much-needed cushion for the player’s hands. Some wrap another layer of grip on the handle but that depends on the feel that you’re used to and racquets may utilize an added grip tape to keep the handle intact.

A collar is also utilized to secure the grip tape in place. And lastly, for the parts of a handle, the bevels help a lot in preventing the racquet from rotating or twisting from the player’s hands in-game.

Now, let’s discuss the shaft which is probably the simplest of the 3 sections of a tennis racquet. Now, this part consists only of the throat of your racquet. A racquet would then either have an open or closed throat.

Most modern racquets would employ open throats while traditional or older designs (wooden ones) have closed throat systems. So, what’s the importance of the throat or shaft? Well, this area contributes to the flex of your racquet.

Just remember that a racquet that offers lesser flex will generate more power on your hits.

And lastly, let’s talk about the head which is just a tad more intricate than your handle. Obviously, it’s the oval portion of your racket. The rim is what you call the edge of it and the beam is what you can the sides.

The significance of the beam is how it affects power to your racquet. Ones with wider beams are stiffer thus generating more power while more flexible or thinner beams offer more flex thus offering better control.

And, this is a trend in tennis, as you gain power, you’ll lose control and vice versa. But advanced players especially pro-athletes finds a way to balance or everything out with their innate talent and skill and tennis racquet of choice.

Going back, next is the grommet strips that are installed on the sides of the racquet to protect the strings. The grommets are the tunnels at the edge where the strings go through. And then you have the bumper guard right on top of the head of your racquet to protect it when hitting the floor.

Then you have the face of your racquet consisting of two sets of strings. You must string your racquet based on your preference. You’re going to have the main string (vertical) and the crosscut string (horizontal).

Best Choice
Wilson Adult Recreational Tennis Racket
  • Stiff Flex
  • Head Light Balance
  • Weighs 10.3 oz.
Best Choice
Senston Professional Tennis Racket
  • Length: 27 inches
  • Mid plus head size
  • Size 2 grip size
Best Choice
OPPUM Adult Carbon Fiber Tennis Racket
  • Weighs only 1.2 pounds
  • Grip size: 4 3/8 inches
  • Length: 685mm

Knowing your tennis racquet inside and out gives you a better chance at improving your game.

Benefits of choosing the right racquet for your game

Why is it important to have a racquet of your choice in your hands?

  • The best tennis racquet overall does not exist. But rather the best tennis racquet for you. Finding a suitable tennis racquet for your gameplay is like having a good partner in life! It just elevates your game to the next level.
  • A good tennis racquet will guide you through your improvement whether you’re a newbie, intermediate, or advanced player.
  • It will save you some cash. A good quality tennis racquet will stay with you for a while so there’s no need to purchase anything else.
  • It will make playing the game and the experience of it even better.

10 Best tennis racquet for intermediate players product reviews

1.

Wilson Adult Recreational Tennis Racket

Wilson Adult Recreational Tennis Racket

Key Features:

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Meant for Beginners and Intermediate players alike

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Stiff Flex

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Head Light Balance

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Weighs 10.3 oz.

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Head size (Large) 112 square inches

The first entry on our best tennis racquet for intermediate players review is none other than the bestseller Wilson Adult Recreational Tennis Racket. This is a racquet from one of the top brands in sports and a product from one of their best series so you know that it’s got more to offer than meets the eye.

This particular racket is perfect for intermediate players for it’s got great ratings across the board. It does not veer much to the direction of control nor power but balances it out nicely. So if you’re someone who’s just trying to find the right balance or figuring out your gameplay then this is for you.

It’s a perfect practice racket and even though it only says recreational, you’d be surprised how it can take on the wear and tear of constant usage. Needless to say, this racket is sturdy plus it’s got a large enough sweet spot for powerful strikes. Any Wilson tour slam reviews you’ll read won’t tell you otherwise.

Pros

  • Tough and solid construction
  • Great value for money
  • Offers a good amount of power but also quite easy to control
  • Decent sweet spot area
  • Great all-around racket

Cons

  • Not meant for those with smaller hands

Overall Ratings

2.

Senston Professional Tennis Racket

Senston Professional Tennis Racket

Key Features:

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Length: 27 inches

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Midplus head size

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Size 2 grip size

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315mm balance

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Unstrung weight of 260 to 280 grams

The Senston Professional Tennis Racket is actually a pretty good racket for beginners and intermediate players. It’s like a glimpse of what the pros are using but doesn’t really put a lot of weight in its product name it’s still pretty much a tennis racket for amateur players.

It’s affordable and it offers well-rounded features all across the board. It’s sturdy, it’s got the head size, length, and weight suitable for adults and it’s easier to control. While we won’t deny that it takes a bit of time to get used to it but it’s a decent versatile racket overall.

It’s got a specially designed one-piece molded body and that’s why it’s durable and meant for high-intensity games so you can really practice thoroughly with it. It offers good acceleration with your strikes and as mentioned, better control. It also offers great power and spin potential to your shot to give an edge in-game.

Pros

  • Pretty versatile racket
  • Very affordable
  • Durable build
  • Offers decent power and control, very well-balanced
  • Simple yet attractive aesthetics

Cons

  • The problem with it is its handgrip, it’s not long-lasting

Overall Ratings

3.

OPPUM Adult Carbon Fiber Tennis Racket

OPPUM Adult Carbon Fiber Tennis Racket

Key Features:

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Material: aluminum carbon fiber

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Weighs only 1.2 pounds

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Grip size: 4 3/8 inches

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Length: 685mm

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Head size: 110 square inches

The next entry on our best tennis rackets review is the well-rounded OPPUM Adult Carbon Fiber Tennis Racket. This racket is perfect for teens and adults alike who want to start practicing their game or just want to stay active.

It’s got great features, has the right sizes, length, and weight to be versatile enough. It’s also quite innovative too with a sturdy construction overall. Its triangular structure plus the comfortable handle gives it the shock absorption feature you’d need. That means, no more unnecessary strain even if you want to play a few more sets.

It’s really quite comfortable to grip and lessens vibration. The racket also uses double hole tech threading that does not only makes it look good but at the same time more durable and stable.

And the carbon and aluminum material combination? Well, let’s just say that this racket will be with you for quite a while. It’s super-lightweight too with the unstrung racket only going for 0.61 pounds. It’s pretty affordable to boot.

Pros

  • We are very impressed on how sturdy this racket is
  • Very comfortable grip and feel to it
  • Low strain racket
  • Versatile design for both men, women, teens, and adults
  • Very lightweight

Cons

  • It’s not ideal for generating powerful shots

Overall Ratings

4.

LUNNADE Adults Tennis Racket

LUNNADE Adults Tennis Racket

Key Features:

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Head size: 102 square inch

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Weighs only 280 grams

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Made of aluminum and carbon fiber

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Grip size: 4 3/8

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4 color options: purple, yellow, pink, blue

Another tennis racket meant for beginners and intermediate players alike are the LUNNADE Adults Tennis Racket. It actually looks really good and attractive with the nice colorways or at least that’s what we first observed about it.

It’s a pretty stable racket and shockproof, which means you won’t get as much vibration as you strike the tennis ball. It’s got a nice sweet spot and weight so you can control it easily but still as you’re learning, you’ll get a forgiving racket with enough power by your hands.

Its strings are woven nicely and have a nice grip on its handle that’s pretty friendly for beginners as they find their groove within the game. This is a head-heavy racket and has a one-piece structure.

Pros

  • Cool looking racket
  • Versatile feel and design to it
  • Nice weight and pretty easy to control
  • Generates needed power for recreational games
  • Decent value for money

Cons

  • Not a very sturdy tennis racket

Overall Ratings

5-Star

5.

HEAD Ti S6 Tennis Racket

HEAD Ti S6 Tennis Racket

Key Features:

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Grip size: 4 3/8

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Graphite material

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Weighs 300 grams

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115 square inches head size

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Length: 27.75 inches

Moving on with our best intermediate tennis racket review with the tough and innovative HEAD Ti S6 Tennis Racket. And yes, this ain’t just for intermediate players for those who are participating in tournaments too.

This racket borders on the professional-quality build but to no surprised, it is slightly more expensive. But, that’s not in any way a bad thing for you’re paying for something premium here.

It’s made out of graphite so it’s guaranteed to be sturdy but still keep that desirable weight. It’s got a large sweetspot still though so it’s still pretty much ideal for recreational use for those who are still practicing. It’s slightly longer as well, meaning that you can get more leverage and power to your shots.

It’s quite stable and easier to control as well so it’s pretty well-rounded or balanced. And most of all, it looks really cool with a nice feel to its grip we almost couldn’t find anything wrong with it.

Pros

  • Superb reviews for this one online
  • Pretty lightweight yet sturdy
  • Looks really sleek
  • Pretty powerful strikes
  • Nice feel to it and nice grip on the handle

Cons

  • A bit of learning curve to get used to it

Overall Ratings

6.

Fostoy Adult Recreational Tennis Racket

Fostoy Adult Recreational Tennis Racket

Key Features:

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Grip size: 4 Πinch

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Made of aluminum

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Weighs only 0.64 pounds

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High tension strings

The Fostoy Adult Recreational Tennis Racket is perfect for intermediate tennis players. It’s got the right grip, head size, length, and weight. It’s also quite affordable but it does not compromise on quality either.

It comes in a sleek blue-dominated aesthetic and as you get a hold of it, it’s got a nice feel to it probably because of its nice lightweight aluminum frame. It won’t be too hard to control but to be honest it lacks a bit of power.

Regardless, it’s pretty comfortable to use and meant for beginners too across all age categories. The handle’s wrapping is particularly tight and won’t falter on you anytime soon.

Pros

  • Relatively durable build
  • Easy to control
  • Ideal for smaller individuals
  • Great for practicing
  • Comfortable to use, less strain on the hands and arms

Cons

  • It’s too lightweight that it won’t generate much power

Overall Ratings

5-Star

7.

HEAD Geo Speed Adult Tennis Racket

HEAD Geo Speed Adult Tennis Racket

Key Features:

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Grip size: 4 œ

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Made of composite material

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Head size: 105 square inches

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Weighs 10.4 ounces

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Length: 27.5 inches

When you hear the Head brand then you already know that aside from Wilson, you’re getting something top-notch. The HEAD Geo Speed Adult Tennis Racket is not only an innovative product but also offers great value for your investment.
The same as with the previous Head tennis racket on our list this one has great ratings across the board. It’s powerful, it’s easier to control, so it’s quite versatile and offers a great balance to your game.

The decent head size gives you a good sweetspot so you may use it for practice and even for tournament play as well. It’s got what the brand calls an optimized geometry so that’s responsible for the balanced attack of power and control.

That’s something most rackets, even premium varieties don’t have and it’s up for the player to adjust. It’s quite stable too and reduces impact or vibration as you strike the ball and that would surely give you an advantage during games.

Pros

  • Pretty durable build almost like their graphite variety
  • Well-balanced attack
  • Very versatile tennis racket
  • Easy to use and stable
  • Comfortable grip and feel to it

Cons

  • Apparently, people think that it does not offer much difference from $30 to $40 rackets in the market today

Overall Ratings

4.5 star rating

8.

Wilson K Zero Tennis Racket

Wilson K Zero Tennis Racket

Key Features:

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Head size: 118 inches

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Weight: 9.1 ounces

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Length: 27.5 inches

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String pattern of 16x9

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Cross-section of 29mm dual taper

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Stiffness level of 70

While we’re on the subject of premium quality and priced tennis rackets let’s discuss the most expensive one from our review, none other than the Wilson K Zero Tennis Racket.

This racket is not just for intermediate players but it’s designed for recreational players that are looking to take the next level when it comes to playing this sport. This racket will get you ready to take on even better competition for it’s got all the specifications of a pro-level racket.

It’s got a compact yoke design, enhanced stiffness, and way better torsional stability. Now, what does that mean for you? That means that it’s better to maneuver, it’s way more powerful, but at the same time, it’s also quite stable and your shots will be easier to control.

So you don’t really lose much in the balance or versatility section with this racquet. The extended length plus the generous sweetspot are also some of its best assets. If you have a few bucks more to spare and want to take your game to the next level, then this is the racquet for you.

Pros

  • Very versatile racquet
  • Well-balance design meant for power but also for control
  • Guaranteed durable
  • Looks really nice
  • Comfortable weight and feel to it

Cons

  • Surprisingly, the string quality ain’t that good

Overall Ratings

4.5 star rating

9.

HEAD Graphene XT Instinct MP Tennis Racket

HEAD Graphene XT Instinct MP Tennis Racket

Key Features:

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Grip size: 4 œ

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Made of graphite

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Weighs 11.2 ounces

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Head size: 100 inches

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Length: 27 inches

The penultimate entry on our best tennis rackets under 100 reviews is none other than the HEAD Graphene XT Instinct MP Tennis Racket. Now, this one is also a bit expensive but is also one step in the right direction improvement-wise.

This racket has got the specifications that most pro-athletes would use and so it will be like a guide on how to upgrade your game. Just the right length, weight, head size, and grip size plus it really looks good to boot.

It’s pretty ideal for a lot of intermediate players so it’s got that versatility. Also, the racquet is meant for agile play but does not compromise on precision, power, and handling. It’s like it’s meant for players that are aggressive ones the game starts until it finishes.

Adult or teens, if again, you have a few bucks to spare then this is for you.

Pros

  • We must say that this offers great value for money
  • Very durable and long-lasting graphite material
  • Powerful!
  • Size and weight for the pros
  • Nice feel to it

Cons

  • Requires a bit of a learning curve to get used to it

Overall Ratings

4.5 star rating

10.

HEAD Tour Pro Tennis Racket

HEAD Tour Pro Tennis Racket

Key Features:

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Grips size: 4 Œ

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Oversized 110 inches head size

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Weighs 275 grams

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Length: 27 inches

And the last entry on our best tennis racquet for intermediate players review is the HEAD Tour Pro Tennis Racket. And after discussing pretty expensive intermediate-level racquets, let’s go back to something a bit affordable.

If you want something from the Head brand then this is the racquet to scrutinize. It’s got all the specifications even a pro would pick but its overall quality is just about mid-tier.

It’s got a large sweetspot though so it’s perfect for those still trying to master precise shots. It’s got a nice balance to it and it is shock absorbent but what we like about it the most is its durable Nano titanium material.

Pros

  • Relatively durable tennis racket
  • Good value for money
  • Great for beginners
  • Less strain on the arms and hands
  • Packs a bit of power

Cons

  • The strings don’t last as long as advertised

Overall Ratings

4.5 star rating

Buying Guide Of The Best Tennis Racquet for Intermediate Players

Here are some of the important aspects that you should watch out for when buying your next tennis racquet.

Weight and size

The first two and obvious considerations that you should make when purchasing your next tennis racquet are weight and size. Try to gauge which comfortable weight category can you handle for a racket and also which size or length of a racket would be most effective for you.

Naturally, kids that do tend to be smaller need shorter rackets while teens and adults would then have lengthier ones. So, what’s considered long or short when it comes to tennis rackets?

Well, a standard tennis racquet, or what an adult would most likely utilize is 27 inches in length. But the maximum length allowed for a tournament is 29 inches.  Some pro-athletes prefer this extra length so they’d have more leverage and can generate more power for their strikes.

Kids as early as 8 years old or younger may play tennis with a 19 to a 23-inch racket. While anyone older up to probably their teens can practice with a 23 to a 25-inch racket. And then you’ll on your way to using 27 inches but you may utilize a 26-inch racket as you transition to the standard 78-foot court should you want to.

In terms of weight, a tennis racquet may go for 240 to 310 grams. Racquets that exceed 300 grams are considered heavy. The weight and size of your tennis racquet will hugely affect your gameplay and overall feel for it.

Head size

The next important thing that you need to consider for your tennis racquet is its head size. Now a racquet’s head size is generally categorized over 4 groups: midsize, midplus, oversize, and super-oversize.

Midsize racquets will go for 85 to 96 square inches, midplus ones go for 96 to 106 square inches, oversize racquets are those that go for 107 to 115 square inches, and super oversize racquets are within the 116 square inches and up category.

Now, which one is fit for you? Well, the head size creates the sweet spot of your racquet’s face. Meaning the larger the head size the larger the sweet spot will be thus the racquet would then be more forgiving.

From that, you can already tell that the more forgiving a racquet is the better that’d be for beginners. So, if you’re just starting out then an oversize (or super oversize for younger kids) is fit for you. For intermediate players, you can go for a midplus head size and advanced ones can go for midsize racquets.

As your racquet gets smaller the more powerful and precise it will get. Of course, you’d need a lot of practice to harness this type of racquet’s full potential.

Grip

Grip size for your tennis racquet ultimately determines how comfortable you’ll be when wielding it on the court. As the game gets intense, you’d want something that wouldn’t add extra strain on your hands.

Grip size for rackets go from 1 to 5 (that’s 1 = 4 1/8 inches to 5 = 4 5/8 inches). Most kids should go with a grip size of 1 while women should go for 2 to 3, and lastly, men can go for 4 to 5 depending on what they are comfortable with.

Strings

And of course, we need to talk about the strings. It’s important to know that tennis racquet strings are made from different materials and since you have two sets of strings on a racquet, the main and crosscut strings, you can actually mix and match and find the right combination of materials for you.

Tennis racquet strings are made mostly of nylon (solid core), multifilament, polyester, and natural gut (cow membrane). Each would have certain advantages so please do take note that you can use one material for the main string and another for the crosscut string. It’s your choice and exploring different options should pay off.

The strings will also come in different gauges plus you may string them according to the tension that you wish to play with. Take note that low tension gives your racquet more power while higher tension would give you better control.

Also, tennis racquets may come unstrung or strung.

Find the right balance

Having discussed all of the important aspects that you need to take note of when choosing your next tennis racquet, you need to find the right balance to accommodate your gameplay and skill-level.

So, what are your choices? As mentioned, it’s all about balancing power and control or rather prioritizing either of these two important aspects. Usually, a powerful racquet will have all the qualities that you’d need as a starter to an intermediate-level player.

This is because advanced and pro-athletes prioritizes control for they have the skill to make up for the weaknesses of a control-oriented racquet. But take note that that’s not always the case. Some athletes will choose powerful racquets that are heavier and has a larger head size.

So it’s all about finding the right balance for you.

 

Tips, tricks, and best practices to improve your game

Here are some valuable advice from experts and pro-tennis players alike for you to elevate your game to the next level.

 

  • Most of the time, tennis is a game where you need to go against your instincts. Especially when it comes to holding your racquet. Instinctively, newbies would tend to hold the racquet tightly even if they aren’t nervous but that should not be the case. Hold or grip the racquet rather lightly.
  • Practicing how to serve? Make sure to remember the C-shape and play with one familiar pattern first. Don’t rush, you’re not in the French Open just yet. Learn to learn the game little by little. Serve on a C-shape execution and you’ll reduce your risk of committing an error.
  • Tennis also requires footwork. It’s not just hand-eye coordination. Angle your feet, watch how the pros move across the court.
  • Always keep your eyes on the ball. Don’t look at the spot where it will land.
  • Never forget the fundamentals if you’re already an intermediate tennis player. Just like in any other sport, once you get the hang of it, it’s easy to be undisciplined. But you won’t go far that way. Make sure to still practice the fundamentals honestly. It’s the little things that will mean big when the game is on the line.
  • And lastly, to be a better tennis player or athlete in general, do some helpful things off the court. Eat well and do plenty of other types of exercises, especially cardio.

Final Thoughts

Having your preferred tennis racquet by your hands at all times will go a long way. That familiarity, feel, and control that you’ll have over it can make a difference in your game especially when it gets intense.

You may not be or not yet a professional player but enjoying and playing the sport the right way is always best for the experience. And for those who are aiming to get to the top, don’t worry, pick one of the best tennis racquets for intermediate players that we’ve listed and it’ll surely help elevate your game.

Of course, you’re going to have to practice and practice a lot. Enjoy and stay active!

The post On your way to the top! Here are the 10 Best Tennis Racquet for Intermediate Players appeared first on Reviews For Tennis.