- Joan Hahn
- March 11, 2021
- Last Updated on
There are 348,750 high school players in the U.S. It’s not a stretch to say competition is tough. Using the best tennis racquet for players in high school gives you a winning edge over other competitors.
Here’s our complete list of the best tennis racquets for high school players!
- Delivers solid serves and groundstrokes
- Easy on joint pressure
- Well-rounded racquet
- Cuts out vibrations from impact
- Effortless swings
- Stable for hitting volleys
- Delivers compact swings
- Achieves easy depths
- Great for blocking fast serves
- Power and control balance
- Absorbs and reduces shock
- High flexibility rating
- For offensive and defensive players
- Comfortable for longer plays
- Good string pattern feel
Top 10 Tennis Racquets for High Schoolers
1. Wilson Ultra 100 Countervail Tennis Racquet
Regardless of your skill level, the Ultra 100 is a versatile tennis racquet that fits players of all levels.
Weighing at 300 grams offers a right balance and power for intermediate high school players, delivering a stable hit throughout the swing.
Integrating countervail technology, the Wilson Ultra 100 reduces stress, which lightens impact on achy joints, a useful feature during long training sessions. It’s easy on your body, enabling you to perform difficult pickups at ease.
Another great feature is its Crush Zone grommets that bends on impact, allowing you to hold onto the ball a moment longer, increasing return power.
PROS
- Delivers solid serves and groundstrokes
- Easy on joint pressure
- Well-rounded racquet
- Cuts out vibrations from impact
- Effortless swings
CONS
- Paint chips off easily
2. Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 V13 Federer Autograph Tennis Racquet
Delivering sleek black aesthetics, the Pro Staff RF 97 V13 showcases some subtle cues on its throat.
It weighs 357 grams, which gives the player an adequate amount of power and control, making it a fitting tennis racquet for baseliners.
The racquet is heavier than the Ultra 100 Countervail, giving it a firmer layup and a more stable feel during shots. Pro Staff RF 97 is a good choice if you’re against high school players with heavy hits.
It consistently delivers good plow throughs for easy depths and the racquet feels stable up to the net. No unwanted vibrations as well
PROS
- Stable for hitting volleys
- Delivers compact swings
- Achieves easy depths
- Great for blocking fast serves
- Power and control balance
CONS
- Lacks pressure on strings
- Feels off on shorter strokes
3. HEAD Microgel Radical Tennis Racquet
A widely known racquet among intermediate-level high school players that can take on longer and faster strokes as this does not produce much power.
One of its sought-after features is its HEAD MicroGel Radical Technology, giving the racquet above-average durability and stability thanks to its silicone-based material.
Incorporating stiff carbon fibres into the mix, the HEAD Microgel Radical absorbs vibrations as it distributes the shocks evenly for more control and comfort.
However, in exchange for control, the HEAD Microgel Radical, features a smaller sweet spot. Length is quite average at 27 inches, but this delivers greater reach and maneuverability for intermediate players.
PROS
- Absorbs and reduces shock
- High flexibility rating
- For offensive and defensive players
- Comfortable for longer plays
- Good string pattern feel
CONS
- Lacks power for beginners
- Big grip for smaller hands
4. HEAD Graphene Touch Speed Pro Tennis Racquet
HEAD Graphene is geared towards advanced tennis high school players, and this is one of the best tennis racquets for groundstrokes. For high school players who have a large swing, this is a good match.
Generating topspin comes easy, even if you have a semi-western forehand grip. The racquet accelerates instantly for groundstrokes, allowing you to hit the ball at maximum speeds.
Its head size is 100 square inches, which means it gives you plenty of room for receiving balls and exert enough pressure to smack against them.
PROS
- Lightweight
- Faster swing speeds
- Dampened feel for user comfort
- Easily generates spin
- Fast acceleration
CONS
- Grip may be too thick
- Sacrifices power for control
5. Babolat 2019 Pure Drive Team Tennis Racquet
The Babolat Pure Drive is the go-to option for intermediate high school players who are after power and spin. Weighing at 285 grams unstrung, it’s a maneuverable racquet for more experienced players.
Pure Drive accelerates swiftly in your swings but somehow remains solid on contact, which means it maximizes power in your shots.
Babolat 2019 Pure Drive Team features FSI Power Technology, giving the racquet diamond grommets that expand string distance, enabling the string to move freely.
To ensure it offers the right balance between stiffness and comfort, Babolat Pure Drive uses a dampening system, so it remains stable and comfortable.
PROS
- Easy to maneuver
- Accelerates quickly
- Comfortable to use
- Great for big serves
- Smooth response
CONS
- Weak serves
- Stiff on the arms
6. Babolat Pure Strike
Tennis players are no stranger to Babolat’s Pure Strike series, and with the release of the Pure Strike 16×19, the manufacturer is bringing an upgraded unit into the court.
If you’re an aggressive high school baseline player, this makes it easy to drive through the ball and speed up pace. Similar to HEAD Graphene, this produces great spins as well.
Pure Strike offers a large sweet spot, so it comes with a more powerful and plusher swing. The 16×19 open string pattern delivers response and precision, while the hybrid’s build with a thicker beam provides stability.
PROS
- High swing weight
- Stability and power
- Excellent precision
- Great for spin and pace
- Smooth ball feedback
CONS
- Heavy on the joints
- Twists on off-center shots
7. Prince Textreme Warrior
A spin-friendly weapon for a beginner and a mid-range high school tennis player weighing at 292 grams.
Similar to most of the Prince series with Textreme, this racquet provides excellent stability despite its weight. If you start from the baseline, the racquet cuts through the air swiftly.
The 16×18 string pattern delivers a whippy feel in your swings, making a topspin high school player comfortably swing big, forcing the ball down on command.
Prince Textreme Warrior gives a high school level player speedy service returns. Its lightweight construction offers one of the best blends of spin and precision on the list.
PROS
- Stable racquet
- Cuts air at ease
- Lightweight
- Good control
- Great for forehands
CONS
- Not good for backhands
- Loose on volleys
8. Wilson Sporting Goods Burn Tennis Racquet
A tennis racquet for a beginner and an intermediate player alike, just like the Prince Textreme Warrior. One of the best racquets for high school athletes who likes playing with a lightweight, arm-friendly unit.
It accelerates aggressively, weighing 331 grams. It’s easy to add speed for a faster pace, something we can expect from a top tennis equipment manufacturer. Wilson Burn makes it easy to perform snapshots from a cross course due to its whippy action; this enables you to play at difficult angles.
This has a 100 square inch head that gives you a large sweet spot during your play. The 18×16 string pattern produces quite a lot of spin, even when hitting backhands.
PROS
- Quick groundstroke acceleration
- Large sweet spot
- Great for aggressive angles
- Good directional accuracy
- Commendable pacing
CONS
- Lacks stability and depth
- Prone to floats in volleys
9. Tecnifibre TFlash CES 300
A tennis racquet for a beginner and an intermediate player alike, just like the Prince Textreme Warrior. One of the best racquets for high school athletes who likes playing with a lightweight, arm-friendly unit.
It accelerates aggressively, weighing 331 grams. It’s easy to add speed for a faster pace, something we can expect from a top tennis equipment manufacturer. Wilson Burn makes it easy to perform snapshots from a cross course due to its whippy action; this enables you to play at difficult angles.
This has a 100 square inch head that gives you a large sweet spot during your play. The 18×16 string pattern produces quite a lot of spin, even when hitting backhands.
PROS
- Clean aesthetic
- Absorbs shocks well
- Increases block shot precision
- Good plow through
- Comfortable to use
CONS
- Lacks depth
- Slightly difficult to maneuver
10. Wilson Blade v7 98 18x20 Tennis Racquet
The blade line is a popular tennis line by Wilson, and with the manufacturer bringing Blade V7, you’ll see substantial improvements from its previous versions.
Blade v7 features FeelFlex, which enhances stability, power, and frame responsiveness. It gives you quite a lot of power from the baseline without compromising on its control.
The unit comes with a long grip taper, so it’s easy to position for your top hand. By far, this gives you the highest swing weight of the 98 square inch head line.
Its frame makes it a walk in the park to finish volleys as it gives off a good feel and precision, allowing you to volley at ease.
PROS
- High-accuracy
- Great for high volleys
- Delivers stability
- Easy to maneuver
- Good for full swings
CONS
- Not for beginners
- Tense on the arms
Buying Guide
Budget
A decent racquet for high school students is between $100 to $200. As a general rule, purchasing a cheaper unit translates to having a standard synthetic gut for strings.
Meanwhile, a more expensive racquet gives you a polyester string, which offers better performance for a tennis player. It delivers improved durability and spin on the racquet with its better string job.
There are plenty of tennis racquets for high school players that do not cost an arm or a leg to purchase. In fact, you’ll find several tennis racquets under $100.
Head Size
While personal preference plays a significant factor in choosing the head size, tennis racquets with more oversized heads are more suitable if you’re playing as a beginner.
A 100 square inch head size is fitting. The larger head size gives the high schooler a more significant margin of error while providing more power.
On the other hand, intermediate and advanced players who have developed technique are better off with a 97 square inch racquet. Smaller racquets are more comfortable to maneuver and control.
Power
High schoolers need a lighter racquet that enables them to have more powerful swings.
These are lighter racquets that weigh 283 – 300 grams. The racquets have large heads as well that range from 100 square inches up to 130 square inches.
These racquets are longer and heavy on the head for that extra muscle in your swing. Meanwhile, more experienced players prefer control racquets, which are heavier at 425 grams but provide more control.
Weight
Lighter racquets are more comfortable to swing as it takes less energy, therefore, increases gameplay endurance. It allows you to swing the racquet lighter, but it provides a more negative response upon hitting the ball.
Heavier racquets give more impact to the ball while absorbing vibrations from the impact. It also lessens the torque needed to swing the racquet, so the head moves faster with greater control.
The best tennis racquets for high school players have a suitable weight for you to play at your best.
Durability
It usually lasts up to two years of regular usage. However, it may be shorter for competitive players.
While you may not see indications of damage physically, but the racquet gradually weakens after always using and re-stringing. It dampens the overall performance of tennis racquets, posing injury to the player. We suggest you learn how to string your racquet and re-stringing it, as well.
Special Features
Tennis racquets with special features are lighter, more durable, and more comfortable to use, especially for senior tennis players. These may also help you play better in your game.
Purchasing a racquet that infuses carbon composite fibers and fused grip silicone helps absorb shocks, giving you an advantage against other high schoolers.
Understanding Your Racquet Needs
Style of Play
The four play styles are the baseliner, serve-and-volleyer, counterpuncher, and the all-court player.
Baseliners need a heavier racquet with excellent stability and plow through. As for the serve and volley play, you need to have better control for maneuverability.
A counter-puncher needs a racquet with tighter strings to maximize your opponent’s pace. And lastly, the all-rounder playing style requires a spin-friendly racquet that provides balance from all angles.
Swing Type
A power racquet is for a high schooler who likes generating topspin. Its large head area delivers more swing leverage—a good option for shorter players.
Control swingers need a racquet that highlights ball control than power. Its stout build suits players with fast and full swings.
Tweener racquets offer a right combination of power and control, ideally for an all-rounder swinger. The racquet features a mid head size and mid-weight range.
Power or Control Preference
A beginner often uses lightweight racquets for more power. These are longer than control racquets and are head-heavy. This type of racquet will help you a lot while you’re doing tennis drills.
Meanwhile, the control racquet is for advanced players who can generate their momentum in their swings. It’s heavier and provides more ball control, which means the weight is a significant factor.
Ultimately, it depends on which you value more – power or control to find the best tennis racquets for high school players.
Singles or Doubles?
A racquet for singles is smaller and heavier, while a racquet for doubles is larger and lighter. In doubles, a racquet with high maneuverability is ideal, which allows fast exchanges up the net. A singles game requires a heavier racquet as it deals with a lot of full strokes.
FAQS
The best tennis racquet for 15-year olds is 27 inches in length [1], which means they’re old enough to use an adult-sized racquet. Moreover, you can choose racquets between 26.5 to 29 inches.
The best tennis racquet for high school players should have appropriate racquet length, square inch head size, and weight to help you be at the top of your game. It’s essential to look at the specs first before you can choose the right one.
The best tennis racquets for high school students feature a grip size between 4 inches to 4 ⅝ inches. To know the ideal measurement for a tennis racquet for high school players, it should have a half an inch gap between the fingertips and palm.
And the #1 Tennis Racquet for High School Players is...
Hands down, the Wilson Ultra 100 Countervail Tennis Racquet is the best tennis racquet for high school players.
During our playtest, we’ve discovered that it’s a well-rounded and versatile unit, making it one of the best tennis racquets for budding players. What’s more, it’s light on the pocket.
It’s easy to play with, regardless of whether you’re a professional or a novice. It gives the right amount of control, power, and maneuverability for groundstrokes, serves, and volleys.
OUR # 1 Recommendation
Wilson Ultra 100 Countervail
- Versatile tweener frame
- Lightweight build
- All-around racquet
- Easy on the joints
