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Tennis players who prefer to play with spin and control rather than straight up POWER are usually those smaller guys/girls, who like to hustle around the court and grind out their opponents.
This is just a fact of this game style, unless of course you are a bit of an inhumane specimen like Rafael Nadal!
Your Guide
Gavin Davison
With that being said, you need a racquet that is going to help you to produce more spin, and help you to get more control if this is the way that you play.
You’ll find racquets that will allow you to do this right here.
#1: Babolat Pure Aero
When tennis players get onto the subject of topspin, there is very rarely a completed conversation without the name Rafael Nadal being involved.
Nadal has used the Babolat Pure Aero for as long as I can remember, and this frame has FACILITATED his journey towards being one of the greatest of all time.
I can’t think of any other racquet that has been more PURPOSE-BUILT for topspin than this one.
It works very well whether you are engaged in long rallies on clay, or whether you were just trying to get a little added work on the ball on a hard court.
It truly is, is, in my opinion, the top frame for combined spin and control.
Key Features
- The Racquet of choice for 19 time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal
- Super appealing color blend of yellow and black
- Unique beam style to make the racquet even more aerodynamic
- Contains cortex dampening material for added comfort on the ball
Specification
- Weight strung: 318g
- String pattern: 16 x 19
- Head size: 100 square inches
- Balance: 330mm (4 points head light)
- Beam width: 23mm
Pros
- Supports significant topspin on both the forehand and backhand wings
- Also gives great feel on touch volleys
- Wider space between the strings for added responsiveness on contact
Cons
- Not well suited for players who like to hit flatter from the baseline
- Doesn’t give great feel if you have a slower swing speed
#2: Head GrapheneTouch Radical MP
The Head Radical range used to be amazingly POPULAR when I was growing up, but it seemed to decline in popularity for no apparent reason.
With that being the case, I’m quite pleased to see that Head has revisited the radical range and made this racquet available.
This racquet is also much cheaper than what you would pay for other spin and control frames, so it won’t damage your bank balance too much.
The finishing touches for this frame are the patented graphene technology that Head has created, which almost always GURANTEES quality.
It may not be one of the top racquets for advanced players, but it gives club level and intermediate players a much easier time when trying to generate spin.
Key Features
- Manufactured using state-of-the-art graphene technology
- Much more cost-effective given that the racquet is less than £100
- Further discounts are currently available when buying more than one of this frame
- Relatively middle of the range specifications across the board, making it suitable to a wide variety of players
Specification
- Weight unstrung: 295g
- String pattern: 16 x 19
- Head size: 98 square inches
- Balance: 315mm
- Beam width: 20mm
Pros
- The thinner beam gives a nice bit of feel on the ball
- A very good racquet given the cost
- Quite a good looking frame for those who like eye-catching racquets
Cons
- There are much more advanced racquets out there for more money
- Doesn’t provide much power unless you string with a solid polyester
#3: Prince TexTreme Beast 100
I’ve always felt throughout my tennis career that Prince was a brand that showed so much PROMISE, yet never quite lived up to the expectations.
However, their racquets are typically built in such a way that does cater to players that prefer to hit with more topspin.
Out of all their racquets, I believe that the Prince TexTreme Beast 100 is the most suited for players looking for control and spin.
The racquet faces are usually much wider with Prince racquets, and this is just one of the other UNIQUE features.
I love the sound that this racquet makes when connecting with the ball, and the technology used to provide this is also responsible for significantly less vibration.
As a matter of fact, the Spanish beast David Ferrer used to be one of my favorite players, and he always used Prince frames up until his last few seasons.
Key Features
- No ping sound whatsoever when striking the ball
- Allows for increased racquet head speed due to the weight and balance
- Super easy to string this racquet, saving you time and effort
- Twaron technology gives a much more enhanced feel on the ball
Specification
- Weight strung: 317g
- String pattern: 16 x 19
- Head size: 100 square inches
- Balance: 325mm (6 points head light)
- Beam width: 24mm
Pros
- Huge sweet spot because of the wider string pattern
- Available for an insanely cheap price right now
- It isn’t too heavy, making quick volleys and flicked groundstrokes relatively easy
Cons
- Not a lot of feel on the ball when you get to the net
- This racquet can produce too much power if you’re already physically strong
#4: Babolat Pure Aero Plus
Don’t worry, your eyes are not deceiving you. Babolat brought out this racquet with a few altered specifications compared to the original Pure Aero frame.
The main additional feature for this frame is the added length, and while it may only be 0.5 inches or more, it can make an AWFUL lot of difference for the way that you strike the ball.
It gives you that additional reach when hitting groundstrokes on the run, and gives you a little extra height when hitting your serve.
It generally provides more torque on your swings as you approach the ball too. The downside is that not everybody enjoys the added length, but that will be for you to decide.
Key Features
- 27.5 inches in length rather than the traditional 27
- Built using the same FSI spin technology as the original Pure Aero
- Can generate more revolutions on the ball due to the added length
- Same desirable specifications that Nadal currently uses
Specification
- Weight strung: 320g
- String pattern: 16 x 19
- Head size: 100 square inches
- Balance: 330mm (6 points head light)
- Beam width: 23mm
Pros
- Manufactured with the Babolat FSI spin technology
- Graphite composition for the entire frame, giving it added strength and stability
- Half an inch extra reach across the entire court
Cons
- The added length can take a lot of getting used to initially
- You may need to adjust your position for every shot since your contact point will change
#5: Wilson Pro Staff 97L
The reason that I have listed this racquet is very SIMILAR to the reasons that I gave for the Pure Aero Plus.
You’ve probably already guessed it, but the Wilson Pro Staff 97L doesn’t match up exactly to the main Pro Staff that I listed earlier.
This frame is in fact lighter, which means that you can generate large amounts of racquet head speed, leading to added spin on the ball.
This is especially the case if you are a beginner or an intermediate player, as the original Pro Staff would likely be a bit too heavy for you to use.
Whereas this frame has combined that Federer FEEL and compacted it into a racquet that is much friendlier on the wrists and the elbow.
Key Features
- The same exact color scheme used for the other Pro Staff
- Perfect swing weight for beginner and intermediate players
- Much lighter frame than the original Pro Staff
- Much cheaper than the original Pro Staff
Specification
- Weight strung: 306g
- String pattern: 16 x 19
- Head size: 97 square inches
- Balance: 330mm (3 points head light)
- Beam width: 23mm
Pros
- Being 3 points head light it is easy to swing the racquet
- The smaller head size allows for a highly concentrated sweet spot
- Great all-around feel on the ball
Cons
- Beginners may sometimes struggle with the smaller head size
- Must have quite flowing swings in order to get the most out of the racquet
Conclusion
While I don’t promise that you’ll suddenly be RIPPING balls around the court like Nadal and Fognini by choosing these racquets, I do guarantee that they will at least help you to improve these areas of your game.
I do believe that they will help you to get those groundstrokes kicking up at your opponent, and I do believe that you’ll be able to hit areas of the court with greater accuracy than ever before.
If this is something that you are looking to achieve, I’d highly recommend giving some of these racquets a shot!
