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Yonex vs. Babolat vs. Wilson vs. Head: Which One Wins the Tennis Racket Brand Showdown?

Yonex vs. Babolat vs. Wilson vs. Head: Which One Wins the Tennis Racket Brand Showdown?

    Choosing a racket can be a daunting task these days.Many of the rackets look similar and have names that are just as similar which just makes things more confusing.Choosing a tennis racquet, especially for beginner players, is often an intimidating task. The top brands in the market are a great place to start, as there would be fewer unpleasant surprises with the purchase.Yonex,Babolat,Wilson and Head are the top tennis racquet brand in the market. All four racquet brands offer a diverse spectrum of models, weights, sizes, and string patterns to suit different play types.Is Wilson or Babolat better?Are Wilson rackets better than Head? Is Babolat better than Yonex? Is Yonex better than Head?Which brand is the best for tennis, Yonex,Wilson, Babolat or Head?Four of the top racquet manufacturers in tennis right now are Yonex,Babolat,Wilson and Head.Within this guide, you'll be able to compare Yonex,Babolat,Wilson and Head prices,racket lines,design side-by-side, so you can decide for yourself which one you should choose to play tennis.

Cover Photo:Julian Schiemann on unsplash.com

About Yonex 

【Foundation year】: 1946

【Headquarters】: Tokyo, Japan

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Source:yonex.com

Yonex is one of the most well known badminton brands in the world which manufacturer its products in Taiwan, China and Japan. They are based in Japan and was founded in 1946. The company first began manufacturing badminton rackets in 1957.The company actually began as a manufacturer of badminton racquets and in 1969 it began producing tennis racquets as well. Yonex also produce a range of clothing, footwear, bags, shuttlecocks, strings, grips and other accessories. 

Yonex racquets are known to give a lot of control and power at the same time, but players do need to have a “fast hand” and strong arms.Yonex first became popular when it signed contracts with tennis legends Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King. Currently, several of the top 100 players use Yonex racquets, including Stan Wawrinka, Denis Shapovalov, Nick Kyrgios, Frances Tiafoe, Naomi Osaka, Belinda Bencic, & Angelique Kerber.Generally, products made in Japan are of higher quality, especially when comparing Yonex, a private company, to Wilson, which provides equipment made by a third party.

Where to buy:

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TWO Best Yonex Tennis Rackets 2024

1.Yonex Ezone 98 Tennis Racquet(@Amazon)

Price: $229

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Source:amazon.com

Endorsed by ATP player Nick Kyrgios, this EZONE 98 is one of the more user-friendly player's racquets on the market thanks to its ease of maneuverability, generous access to power, large sweetspot and great feel.The Yonex EZONE 98 tennis racquet is for intermediate to advanced players looking to dominate with controllable power and comfort.

Endorsed by Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios,2 the Yonex EZONE 98 racquet is the best intermediate racquet on the market. If you’re an intermediate player looking for a racquet offering power and comfort, look no further than the EZONE 98. 

ProsCons

Large sweet spot.

Feels very stable at the net.

A great blend of power and precision.

Perfect racket for the modern tennis player.

Not enough control.

Potentially more suited to a two-handed backhand due to weight distribution.

Some players find the EZONE line, not the arm friendliest.

2.YONEX EZONE ACE Tennis Racquet(@Amazon)

Price: $74 - $113.20

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Source:amazon.com

With the EZONE Ace Yonex delivers high comfort and easy shot making at a great price.This racket comes with the best sweet spot making it one of the best Yonex tennis rackets.At under 10 ounces this racquet is great for recreational players, beginners or early intermediates. 

This racquet's signature technology is an Isometric head shape, which gives it a larger and more generous sweetspot than majority of racquet's in its category. On groundstrokes the Ace is extremely easy to use, making it a great tool for perfecting your mechanics. The head heavy balance not only provides some extra comfort and stability, it will also give you easier access to power and depth. 

ProsCons
  • The price is moderate.

  • Made with the long-lasting graphite material.

  • Increase the power in the shot.

  • Sleek and eye-catching racket.

  • Best for intermediate players.

  • Not meet the pro players standard.

  • String bed feels stiffer when higher up.

About Babolat

【Foundation year】: 1875

【Headquarters】: Lyon, France

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Source:babolat.com

The Babolat story begins with a family business and its first venture into the world of sport in 1875, when tennis and badminton were still in their infancy. The Lyon-based brand owed its early success and expertise to a raw material - natural gut - from which the first racquet strings were made. It subsequently became the leader in racquet-sports equipment - frames, strings, shoes, clothes, balls, grips, accessories, and bags - and technical equipment for racquet preparation professionals.  Building on its tradition of innovation in support of players and the game, Babolat rose up the rankings as the choice of champions playing at the world’s most prestigious badminton, tennis and padel competitions.

In the past, Babolat racquets have been used mostly by players who have clay as their favorite surface, since clay courts generally require players to use more topspin and Babolat racquets are perfect for that. However, since the game has become increasingly slower, with hard courts that allow the shots to bounce higher, Babolat is now seen as a good racquet for all surfaces. Currently, some of the main players who use Babolat racquets are Rafael Nadal, Felix-Auger Aliassime, Benoit Paire, Fabio Fognini, Dominic Thiem, Jack Sock, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Caroline Wozniacki, Kristina Pliskova, Johana Konta, and Garbine Muguruza. 

Where to buy:

TWO Best Babolat Tennis Rackets 2024

1.Babolat 2021 Pure Drive Tennis Racquet(@Amazon)

Price: from $239

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Source:amazon.com

Babolat’s Pure Drive Tour is the top racquet on the market for professional players. It's perfect for experienced players looking for a combination of explosive speed, power, and spin. It's backed by some of the game’s top players, including Andy Roddick before retiring and, more recently, Garbine Muguruza.The Babolat Pure Drive comes loaded with various features to help you perform your best on the court.

Babolat Pure Drive received a revamp for 2021. Babolat has kept those features while adding an HTR system, a different layup to give more power. Secondly, to aid comfort, Babolat's SWX Pure Feel, a viscoelastic rubber between the carbon layers of the racquet.A high power level and easy access to topspin define the Pure Drive, making it a fantastic choice for baseline tennis players and big servers. It’s also a very approachable racquet for beginners.

ProsCons

Explosive power.

Great all-rounder – suits all levels.

Power and spin galore.

Great for serving.

Less control.

Stiff frame so not arm friendly.

Launch angle can be tricky to master.

2.Babolat Pure Strike 16x19 3rd Gen Racquet(@Tennis Warehouse)

Price: $229

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Source:amazon.com

ProsCons

Extremely playable racquet.

Very stable racquet against fast serves & volleys.

Offers plenty of power from the back of the court.

Generates spin easily (depending on the model).

Good maneuverability at net.

Very balanced racquet for advanced players.

Not a good beginner racquet.

Variable quality control.

Not great power on groundstrokes or serves.


About Wilson

【Foundation year】: 1913

【Headquarters】: Chicago, Illinois


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Source:wilson.com

Wilson Sporting Goods Company is a sports equipment manufacturer, and its head operation is in Chicago, Illinois. Wilson was founded in 1913, but from 1989 it has been a daughter company of a Finnish company, Amer Sports. Amer Sports, on the other hand, is a daughter company of a Chinese sports company, Anta Sports, which is the world’s third-largest sports company based on 2019 revenue data.

Wilson Tennis, the industry leader in premium tennis equipment for over a century. From tennis rackets to tennis string, tennis bags to tennis balls, Wilson Tennis has everything you need to perfect, hone and elevate your tennis game.Wilson performance tennis rackets are the most popular brand of tennis racket on the professional tour, trusted by past and present tennis greats like Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Billie Jean King, Pete Sampras, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Simona Halep and many more. 

Wilson offers not only the greatest, most innovative tennis equipment out there, but also partners with iconic tennis tournaments like the US Open and Roland Garros. Wilson Tennis is much more than a tennis shop, it is a destination for tennis players and tennis fans all over the world.

Where to buy:

TWO Best Wilson Tennis Rackets 2024

1.Wilson Pro Staff 97 v13 Racquet(@Tennis Warehouse)

Price: $279

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Source:wilson.com

The Wilson PRO STAFF 97 v13 is for competitive intermediate and advanced tennis players with good technical level and power. You will have more control over your shots with this racquet and it will help you to be more stable when hitting.This racquet is a great racquet for attackers who like to finish off points at the net. Players who are looking for a racquet with great control and stability.

Offering the feel and precision players expect from the Pro Staff family, but with user-friendly maneuverability.All in all, fans of the Pro Staff 97 line preferred this updated model to versions past, and newcomers were able to find notable standout features. Intermediate to advanced players who want to experience the magic of a Pro Staff should find this update a good entry point into the line.

ProsCons

Good mix of control and power.

Very cool design & cosmetics.

More consistent response from the stringbed than previous models.

Stiff frame, so something to be aware of if you have arm issues.

2.Wilson Clash 100 Pro(@Wilson)

Price: $269

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Source:wilson.com

Wilson's Clash range is essentially their new flagship product, and Wilson is said to have spent five years developing the Clash to produce a racket designed to kill the notion that stiffer rackets are always more powerful.

Clash 100 Pro matches all the hype through a combination of best-in-class control and flexibility. This is achieved through an extreme head-light balance in conjunction with 3D Bending, an all-new frame technology that features proprietary carbon mapping - a construction that allows the frame to bend in new dimensions for ultimate ball pocketing and added dwell time. Unique frame geometry preserves the stability through the swing, creating a racket that achieves extraordinary flexibility with best-in-class stability. Hit the court with Clash 100 Pro and reach levels of confidence in your game that you've never felt before.

ProsCons

Easy to swing.

Good blend of spin, power and comfort.

Arm friendly yet still stable.

Lightweight but still full of power.

Not the most powerful of rackets.

It can be a little erratic / less precise than some players frames.

About Head

【Foundation year】: 1950

【Headquarters】: Kennelbach, Austria

Source:amazon.com

Head was established as a ski equipment producer back in 1950 by Howard Head. In 1969 Head widened its production to tennis by manufacturing the first metal tennis racket.Head sell alpine skis and equipment, snowboard products, tennis, racquetball, paddle, squash, and pickleball rackets. It also produces tennis balls (Penn brand) and footwear. 

HEAD is on a mission to bring high-performance gear to every athlete, professional and amateur, to allow them to be the best they can be in racquet sports, winter sports, or swimming.Currently, a lot of the main players represent Head: Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Mateo Berrettini, Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner, Diego Schwartzman, Gilles Simon, Bianca Andreescu, Coco Gauff, Ashleigh Barty, Maria Sharapova, & Sloane Stephens. 

Where to buy:

TWO Best Head Tennis Rackets 2024

1.Head Graphene 360 Radical MP(@Amazon)

Price: $249

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Source:amazon.com

The Radical MP is not only used at the professional level, it’s also one of the most popular racquets at the recreational level,endorsed by players like Sloane Stephens and Taylor Fritz. This racquet is more control-oriented than other Head models, but it still offers a good amount of depth because of the launch angle which is a bit higher off the strung.

The reason behind its incredible stability is Graphene 360 Technology. Through this technology, Graphene, an allotrope of carbon, is installed at 3, 9, and 12 o’clock around the hitting area. As a result, it improves maneuverability, power, and stability.

ProsCons
  • Best Control.

  • Spin Friendly.

  • Easy to Maneuver.

  • Lacks stability.

2.HEAD Ti.S6 Tennis Racquet(@Amazon)

Price: $99

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Source:amazon.com

The TiS6 is definitely better for anyone older than a pre-teen and who is just starting or is still in the intermediate stage of playing tennis.It is made of Titanium and graphite fiber material technology to keep it durable while still being light.

ProsCons
  • Effortless Power.

  • Easy to maneuver

  • Arm Friendly

  • Durable.

  • Larger Sweet Spot.

  • No headcover included.

Yonex vs. Babolat vs. Wilson vs. Head: Comparison Side by Side

1.Racket Lines

  • Yonex

Yonex offers 5 different lines of racquets: Ezone, VCore Pro, VCore, Astrel, and Junior. Out of the Yonex racket models, the VCORE Racket model is the most popular one. 

RacquetSkill LevelBest For
Yonex EzoneAll skill levelsPlayability, and controlled power
Yonex VCore ProIntermediate to advancedControl,feel, and precision
Yonex VCoreAll skill levelsSpin
Yonex AstrelAll skill levelsComfort
Yonex JuniorAll skill levelsJuniors
  • Babolat

Babolat currently offers 3 main lines of racquets: Pure Aero, Pure Drive, and Pure Strike. These lines are geared towards high-performance or even intermediate players. 

The brand also offers 5 different lines for beginners: Strike, Aero, Evoke, Drive, and Pulsion

RacquetSkill LevelBest For
Babolat Pure AeroAll skill levelsSpeed, spin, and power
Babolat Pure DriveAll skill levelsPower and feel,extremely maneuverable, allowing players to generate good racket head speed and maximize their shots.
Babolat Pure StrikeAll skill levels

A balanced racquet for more control

  • Wilson

Speaking of Wilson, they have been a little bit more innovative with their line of racquets.Wilson offers 5 different main lines at the moment: Clash, Blade, Ultra, Burn and Pro Staff. Anyways, out of the 5 Wilson models, the Pro Staff model is arguably the most used and famous. However, Blade, Burn, and Clash are also very popular amongst tennis players.

RacquetSkill LevelBest For
Wilson ClashBeginner to low-level advancedComfort and feel, these rackets are designed to be firm when you need them to, allowing you to get control and power.
Wilson BladeIntermediate to advancedPrecision, feel, control, and spin
Wilson UltraBeginner to high-level intermediateSpeed, power, and spin
Wilson BurnBeginner to intermediateSpeed, spin, and power
Wilson Pro StaffAdvanced players onlyFeel, precision, and control
  • Head

They are big on putting their different racquets in categories right now, as they have the Gravity, Speed, Radical, Prestige, Extreme, and Instinct for advanced players. They also have racquets for beginners, juniors, and those wanting a more classic feel.

Head offers six main racket lines, Radical, Speed, Prestige, Gravity, Extreme, and Instinct, all of which offer something slightly different to their users.

RacquetSkill LevelBest For
Head GravityIntermediate to advancedPlayers who look for control, spin, and comfort.
Head SpeedIntermediate to advancedPlayers who love to attack the ball with full, aggressive swings and really take control of the point.
Head RadicalAll skill levelsBring great speed and a combination of power, spin, control, and feel, that make them a great middle ground for players.
Head PrestigeAdvanced players onlyThese tennis rackets ooze control, precision, stability, and feel and are ideal for players who naturally generate a ton of power.
Head ExtremeAll skill levelsBig swinging, modern players who are looking to add some power and spin to their game. 
Head InstinctAll skill levelsGreat for power

However, within one racquet family, the brand also offers options for different skill sets. For example, the majority of Radicals are on the heavy side to suit intermediate and advanced players. Yet, there are also S versions for strong beginner players.

2.Design

  • Yonex

Yonex tennis rackets look very sophisticated and full of quality which is great.Yonex is using mainly black-colored frames mixed with white, red, orange, or blue elements. However, the main eye-catcher is definitely the frame shape. The isometric head was introduced in 1981 and is still the symbol of Yonex. The oval-shaped frame is not just a design symbol but also increases the sweet spot of the racket head.

  • Babolat

The signature design of a Babolat racquet is a combination of white and blue and the distinctive double stripe. But you can fairly often see also yellow and black color combination, or red and white. Blue and white, or white and black, or blue and black combination is less common.

  • Wilson

    Wilson sticks to the basics with simple yet elegant black frames. There are full black frames or green, red, and orange stripes on the Head.The different colors mean different products. Green is reserved for Blade rackets, Orange for Burn, Black for Pro Staff, Blue for Ultra, and Gray-Orange for new Clash.

    Wilson has more designs tailored specifically for men, women, children, special occasions and with more colors.Those looking to add a little personality to their performance tennis racket will love the Wilson Custom Racket builder. Design a unique tennis racket with customized colors and personalization.

    • Head

    Head is definitely the boldest tennis brand in terms of design. Head racquet’s frames are known for bold, striking colors, making them appealing among young players. Vibrant orange Radical, yellow Extreme and blue Instinct can stand out thanks to their bright color frame.Head rackets can be hardly overlooked. They are not very popular among conservative players used to grey and black racket frames and white only shirts and shorts, but the younger generation is all in for Head striking racket design.

    3.Price

    Last but not least, the price is always a big variable whether you will purchase a certain racket or not.

    • Yonex: Yonex generally offers more expensive rackets. However, they are packed with amazing quality.Most Yonex racquets range from $169 to $239.

    • Babolat: Racquet prices range from $139 to $249.

    • Wilson: Wilson offers far more beginner and recreational rackets than Yonex, making Wilson the more affordable choice.Most racquets range from $139 to $249 depending on the specifics. Therefore, if you are after an entry-level racket, Wilson could be the better choice for you.

    • Head: Most Head offerings are highly accessible, ranging from $129 to $229. 

    Conclusion

    Yonex ,Head, Babolat, and Wilson are the top 3 in the tennis racquet industry, with their reputations standing the test of time.It’s hard to tell which brand is the best since they all offer different models of virtually similar specifications to compete against each other. 

    Overall, Head and Wilson offer a more comprehensive range of options to choose from, while the color choices are distinctive in the three brands. Babolat gets a lot right, but sometimes it’s hard to buy certain products, especially in the United States.

    If you want the best quality and don’t mind a larger price, Yonex is a good choice as they have better build construction, and most rackets have a large sweet spot.

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    2022-05-31 20:456127