Men’s vs Women’s Tennis Rackets: What’s the Difference?

What to Look For When Choosing a Tennis Racket

There are a wide range of factors that go into choosing the perfect tennis racket, that need to be given a good amount of thought before you take the plunge. 

The majority of these factors are not really specific to whether you are male or female but instead are general rules of thumb to bear in mind.

Weight

The weight of a tennis racket is an important factor that impacts how quickly you can swing. It also determines whether you’re likely to sustain an injury from using a specific stick. 

The ideal weight of a tennis racket will vary from person to person, but you should feel like the racket is an extension of your arm. The racket shouldn’t feel so heavy that it is a big effort to swing it, but it also shouldn’t feel so light that you have to generate all the power yourself. 

Naturally, since on the whole men tend to be physically bigger and stronger than women, they tend to prefer slightly heavier rackets.

However, this can vary massively depending on personal preference, game style, and history of previous injuries. 

As a rough guide, lightweight rackets tend to sit between 260g and 290g, medium weight for intermediate players tend to sit between 290g and 310g, and anything much over 315g would be classed as an advanced racket. 

Heavier rackets tend to suit more advanced players as they require better timing, technique, and physicality to get the best out of them. Also, heavier rackets with thinner beams and a smaller head size will offer more control and less power, which is what most intermediate to advanced-level players desire.

Head Size

Speaking of head size, this is another factor that needs to be considered. 

Generally speaking, a larger head size will offer more power, comfort, and margin for error, whereas a smaller head size will offer more control, feel, and precision. 

Again, this comes down to personal preference and game style, but in general, men tend to hit the ball with more spin, whereas women tend to hit the ball flatter through the middle of the court. 

This tends to lean men towards more control-orientated rackets, with slightly smaller head sizes and thinner beams, whereas hard-hitting women tend to prefer slightly thicker beams with larger head sizes. These tend to have a larger sweet spot which makes for a more consistent response from the racket.

Balance

Balance might seem like a bit of a nerdy thing to think about when considering which new tennis racket to buy. But, it actually makes a huge difference to the way a tennis racket feels. 

A head-light balance will make the racket feel light and whippy, perfect for net rushers or doubles specialists. On the other hand, a head-heavy racket will feel more like a sledgehammer, perfect for a baseline basher. 

Women who like to strike the ball hard and flat from the baseline would probably prefer an even or slightly head-heavy balance, whereas men who like to hit more spin and angles would probably prefer a head-light balance. 

It is important to pick a racket with a balance you feel comfortable with, to ensure you get the most out of your new stick.

Technology

Technology in tennis has come a long way in recent years, and this is increasingly clear in new tennis rackets. Major manufacturers will constantly come out with new innovations that promise to reduce vibrations and offer you more power and spin. 

Whilst some of this could be pure marketing, there are definitely some benefits to picking a racket that uses technology to your benefit.

For example, if you are a player who loves to hit the ball hard from the baseline, a stiffer frame that gives you plenty of power, but has great damping and shock absorption will help you play your best tennis without getting injured. 

On the other hand, if you like to play a more touch and feel-focused style of play, relying on angles, drop shots, and volleys to win your points, then a more traditional supple racket with plenty of vibrations and feel may be more up your street.

Game Style

When we discuss the differences between men’s and women’s tennis rackets, the key factor in determining which racket a certain player should choose is their game style. 

This will play a huge role in a player’s demands, requirements, and preferences in a racket, as they will be looking for a stick that will complement their style of tennis. 

Most players tend to go for tennis rackets that emphasize their strengths and help them feel more comfortable playing their own game, rather than compensating for their weaknesses. 

With this in mind, think about your own game and whether you are a big ball striker, a counter puncher, a serve and volley player, or a combination of these, and what characteristics you may like in a tennis racket. 

Tennis Idols

Whilst we don’t necessarily recommend that you pick a tennis racket that your favorite professional tennis player uses, this is often a key factor in buying decisions. 

Don’t be fooled though, as the pros will almost always use heavily customized versions of the racket they are endorsing, so you shouldn’t use a racket based on what you think your tennis idol plays with. 

That being said, choosing a tennis racket is a very personal process to go through, so picking a racket that you like the look of and ultimately makes you feel more confident with on the court can only be a good thing.

Best Men’s Tennis Rackets

Here are a number of great men’s tennis rackets that suit the modern game. Men’s tennis has become increasingly more physical, spin heavy and powerful over the past couple of decades. 

Therefore, the rackets listed below offer plenty of spin potential, and weight to give the racket a solid feel and enough comfort and damping to reduce the risk of injury. 

• Head Speed Pro
• Wilson Blade 98 V8
• Yonex VCORE Pro 97 (310)
• Head Radical Pro
• Babolat Pure Aero
• Prince Phantom Pro 100
• Head Prestige Pro
• Wilson Pro Staff 97
• Babolat Pure Strike VS

Best Women’s Tennis Rackets

Here are a few top picks of great women’s tennis rackets that suit the flatter, harder-hitting game style that many top WTA professionals employ. This is not an exhaustive list and should simply serve as a starting point for your search. 

• Babolat Pure Drive
• Dunlop FX500 Tour
• Wilson Clash 100
• Yonex Ezone 100
• Wilson Ultra 100
• Head Boom Pro
• Head Gravity MP

These are a great bunch of powerful, comfortable, arm-friendly rackets that suit the modern women’s game. It is well worth trying a few of these out to get your search for a new racket going, as these are already popular rackets on the WTA tour!

The Last Volley: Dissecting the Variances

Overall, there have been many strides towards gender equality within the tennis world, and this has been a great thing for the sport. There are unique aspects of both the men’s and women’s games, both in terms of their appeal to fans and the equipment that each tour tends to prefer. 

Whilst there aren’t necessarily rackets designed specifically for men or women from the outset, there are certain racket types that high-level men and high-level women tennis players prefer. 

These come down mainly to game style, physicality, and swing speed, all of which play a major role in determining which racket will best complement a player’s game. Therefore, we hope this article has helped you understand the similarities and differences between men’s and women’s preferred rackets, and good luck in your search. 

For more great free tennis content, check out these articles: 

• 8+ Best Tennis Shoes for Women (2023)
• 5 Best Hard Court Tennis Shoes (Men’s & Women’s Top Picks)
• How to Improve Your Tennis Movement (Step by Step).