If you want help picking the best Wilson tennis racquet for you, you’ve come to the right place. Here we’re going to walk you through:
- The most popular Wilson racquets (and why they’re so popular)
- How to choose the right racquet for your playing style & body mechanics
- Frequently asked questions (e.g. which is the best racquet for tennis elbow?)
So if you're ready, let's dive right in...
Popular Wilson tennis racquets (And why they’re so popular)
Wilson Hyper Hammer – light & powerful racquet for beginners
Wilson designed the Hyper Hammer for massive power shots that require little effort.
Wilson gave the Hyper Hammer a light frame, making it easy to swing. And it’s got a high stiffness rating, which is largely what gives the Hyper Hammer its power. Because this racquet is so stiff, it’s not the most arm-friendly model. But if your goal is blasting the ball across the court, that’s exactly what this racquet is for.
What you’ll notice:
- Automatic power
One of the first things you’ll notice when you hit the ball with this racquet is how you can’t help but blast it back over the net. There’s hardly any give in the string tension, so all of the impact energy gets returned into the ball. So even if you don’t have a ton of arm strength, you’ll still have tons of power using this racquet.
- Quite stiff
One of the reasons this racquet delivers so much power is because of its stiff frame design. This is why so many people love the Hyper Hammer.
But if you do find it taking a toll on your muscles during longer matches, you may want to get a vibration dampener. They’re only $4 and can make a huge difference on your arm.
Wilson Clash 100 – Best overall tweener racquet
The Clash 100 has the perfect blend of power and control, making it a very popular intermediate racquet.
Compared to the Hyper Hammer the Clash 100 has a more flexible frame, though it still generates a decent amount of power.
Wilson added some weight to the frame and shifted the balance into the grip to increase the swing weight. So the Clash 100 might be a bit heavy for beginners without a ton of arm strength. But it’s perfect for intermediate players, who’ve been playing for a while.
What you’ll notice:
- Very arm-friendly
When you hit your first solid shot with the Clash 100, you’ll appreciate the more flexible frame (compared to the Hammer). This racquet has a significantly lower stiffness rating of 54, compared to the Hammer’s 71.
- Robust feel
You’ll also notice the weight of this racquet in your hand. It’s quite a jump from the hammer, from 9oz to 11oz. So if you’re new to tennis the heavier weight might take a toll on you during longer matches. But if you’ve been building up your arm strength, you’ll be right at home.
Wilson Blade 98 18x20– Wilson’s control & comfort racquet
The Blade 98 was designed to be a high-precision racquet.
It’s just a little heavier than the Clash 100, and with a slightly smaller head size. And its dense string pattern of 18x20 allows you to be more precise with your shots.
The other 16x19 racquets are going to be better for power and putting spin on the ball. But if you prefer a little more control over where you place the ball, the Blade 98 18x20 is probably what you’re looking for.
Less natural power
- Very arm-friendly
When you hit the ball you’ll notice that you have to put a little more oomph into your power shots. For intermediate and advanced players this is a good thing. This means you can hit zingers when you want, or you can pull back and lightly touch the ball to land where your opponents can’t get to it in time.
- Tighter string feel
If you like putting spin on your shots, you’ll notice that it’s not as easy to do with this racquet. It’s not impossible, but the denser 18x20 string pattern simply doesn’t leave as much space to catch the ball and put a spin on it. But what it does allow you to do is aim your shots more precisely.
How to choose the best Wilson tennis racquet for you
There are a number of different features for you to think about when choosing a new tennis racquet.
The length, the head size, and the weight are the baselines. Then you’ll have your preferences like your playing style, what kind of string pattern you want, and whether you prefer control or power.
Tennis racquets filter all these elements through three types of racquets:
- Power racquets (beginners)
- Intermediate racquets (“tweeners”)
- Control racquets (advanced)
Now let’s look at the features you’ll want in a racquet, and why, based on your experience level.
Beginners
If you’re a newbie, or you’re just playing tennis casually, your racquet will need a couple of important features.
If your arm strength isn’t consistently being developed, you’ll want a lightweight racquet so you can swing without getting injured.
And if you want to be able to hit the ball over the net, you’ll need a racquet with a stiff frame and larger head size.
- Best beginner racquet for power: Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3
If you want an easy-to-swing racquet with good power, the Hyper Hammer is a fan favorite. For such a light racquet it’s got a massive 110 sq. in. head size, and it’s a very affordable entry-level racquet for new tennis players.
- Best beginner racquet for power & comfort Wilson Clash 108
The Clash 108 generates even more power than the Hyper Hammer. And what makes it unique is that it does so with a more flexible frame, which makes it easier on your arms.
Intermediate Players
If you’re an intermediate-level player and you’re looking to continue improving your skills, you’ll want to bump up to a tweener racquet.
Tweener racquets are a little heavier, have more flexible frames, and a smaller head size. All of these factors allow you to dictate how much power goes into each shot.
- Best overall intermediate racquet: Wilson Clash 100
The Clash 100 is a popular tweener racquet because it’s got a little bit of everything – power, speed, and plenty of spin. No matter your experience level or style of play, you can’t go wrong with the Clash 100.
- Best intermediate racquet for power: Wilson Ultra 100
If you’re slightly more interested in power, then a slight step up from the Clash 100 would be the Ultra 100. The Ultra has a higher string tension than the Clash which translates to more energy return into the ball.
- Best intermediate racquet for speed & spin: Wilson Burn 100
If your main interest is putting spin on your shots, then you’d probably appreciate the Burn 100. While the Ultra and Clash are still great for spin, the Burn 100 is even better. It has a Parallel Drilling technology that opens up the strings on impact, allowing it to catch the ball and put a better spin on it.
- Best intermediate racquet for control: Wilson Blade 98 18x20
The Blade 98 is for players looking to become more precise with their shots. The Blade 98 18x20 is a little heavier, and it has a more dense string pattern than the Clash 100. This means less spin, but better precision.
Advanced Players
Players with advanced skills need an advanced racquet. These are called “control racquets” because they’re designed to generate less power, to give you more control over your shots.
These racquets are heavier, but the weight is shifted out of the head and into the grip. And the frames are less stiff compared to beginner and intermediate racquets.
- Best overall advanced racquet: Wilson Clash 100 Tour Pro
This model is basically a heavier, more control-driven version of the Clash 100. It’s got more flexibility. It’s got a heavier swing weight. And it’s the advanced level version of this wildly popular tennis racquet line.
- Best advanced racquet for control: Wilson Pro Staff RF97
If you’re looking for the best of the best, you should know that this is Roger Federer’s tennis racquet (hence the “RF” in the name). He helped design it and it’s what he personally plays with. This is a hefty racquet design for maximum control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best Wilson tennis racquet for tennis elbow?
If you suspect you’re dealing with tennis elbow, or if you’ve already got it, you’ll probably want to start using a more flexible racquet.
The Wilson Clash 100 has a very low stiffness rating, which is ideal for combating tennis elbow. Also, you can always add a vibration dampener to your racquet. They’re cheap and can make all the difference in the world.
I need help deciding: Which would be the best Wilson tennis racquet to start with?
- Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3: Easiest starter racquet
The Hyper Hammer is very light making it easy to swing and deliver tons of effortless power. It’s inexpensive so you can start to build your skills, and learn your preferences, before investing in a more serious racquet.
Back To Top