Best Control Racquets

Wilson Blade 16x19 v9

Skill level: Intermediate to advanced
Why we love it: Although its heritage does not stretch as far back as the Pro Staff, the Wilson Blade is a favorite in today's power game. Updated for 2024, the Blade 98 16x19 continues to impress. The changes from the v8 to the latest Blade 98 16x19 v9 are slight. The latest version is slightly more stable and powerful. Although we find this open pattern version to offer plenty of control, those looking even more precise targeting, the Blade 98 18x20 v9 is an excellent option.

Head Prestige Pro 16x19 2023

Skill level: Advanced
Why we love it: The Prestige has a long, storied history with legions of fans. That story continues with the Head Prestige Pro 16x19. This latest version originally was released in 2023, but it made its way to the US and Tennis Warehouse in 2024. Compared to its 18x20 counterpart, which is also very precise, this 16x19 version offers a little bit easier access to spin, depth and pace. It swings more quickly than the Prestiges of the past, but has a plush response reminiscent of those storied classics. Our playtesters weigh in on all the details in our full review.

Prince ATS Textreme Tour 98

Skill level: Advanced
Why we love it: The Tour 98 is the newest addition to Prince's Tour line, and it was quick to win our playtesters over with its versatility. It has precision, it has easy depth, it is easy to swing, it's fast and feels solid — and of course, it makes it easy to generate all kinds of spin. Those qualities make this Tour 98 a perfect fit for the modern tennis game. Find out more about why we loved this racquet in our full review.

Babolat Pure Strike 97

Skill level: Advanced
Why we love it: For 2024, Babolat changes up the naming for its heaviest Pure Strike. Once called the Pure Strike VS, the updated Pure Strike 97 deftly mixes control with an improved feel. Compared to previous versions, this Pure Strike 97 has a plusher feel and better ball pocketing.

Yonex Percept 97D

Skill level: Advanced
Why we love it: As the evolution of the Yonex VCORE PRO line, the Percept series puts a focus on control and feel. The most controlled in the line is the Yonex Percept 97D. It pairs a 97-square-inch head size with a tight 18x20 string pattern to deliver pinpoint accuracy. Compared to the VCORE PRO 97D, our playtesters found similar accuracy but a heavier, more dampened feel. Find all of the details in our full review.

Wilson Pro Staff 97 v14

Skill level: Advanced
Why we love it: The Pro Staff line has been around for 40 years now, and although much has changed over the years, this Pro Staff 97 v14 has the same aramid fibers as the Original Pro Staff 85 to keep it rooted to its heritage. This latest version comes in a more solid feel and with a heftier swingweight, making it feel closer to the RF racquet. Our team loved the precision, plow through and feel coming from this new version, earning it a spot on our list of best control racquets. Get the full details in our full review.

Prince ATS Textreme Tour 100 290

Skill level: Intermediate
Why we love it: As the lightest member of the Prince Tour family, the Tour 100 290 delivers the blend of power, control and feel of the line in an easy-to-use package. When our playtesters took this racquet to the courts, they were impressed by its all-around playability. The racquet feels stable for its weight at contact and played well from all areas of the court. Although it's great for intermediate players, we found this racquet would also be a great option for customization as players get stronger and improve. Read our full review for all the details.

Tecnifibre TF40 305 (16x19)

Skill level: Intermediate to advanced
Why we love it: Updated with a new cosmetic in late 2024, the TF40 305 (16x19) impresses with its feel, stability and blend of power and control. This more open string pattern of the two TF40 305s offers plenty of control but a bit more forgiveness and easier access to topspin than its 18x20 counterpart. Its impressive combination of spin, precision and speed make it a great option for intermediate and advanced players. Be sure to check out our full review for all the details.

Dunlop CX 200 Tour 18x20

Skill level: Advanced
Why we love it: The CX 200 Tour 18x20 has classic written all over it thanks to its 95-square-inch head size, thin straight beam and leather grip. Pair those traits with the tight string pattern and you have a racquet that earns high marks in the control category. For this 2024 update, Dunlop retools the beam, adding more of a box shape below the 10/2 axis to enhance stability, control and feel.

Head Speed Pro

Ability level: Strong intermediate to advanced
Bottom line: The latest version of the Speed Pro keeps much the same formula that has made it a player favorite. There's a traditional 18x20 string pattern for accuracy, and a hefty swingweight for stability and plow through. With this 2024 update, the racquet has a slightly softer feel and a low flex for plenty of comfort. Our playtesters highlighted a softer feel in their review of this 2024 Speed Pro.

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How We Pick

Wonder how we choose best gear recommendations? We gather from our playtesters' firsthand experiences reviewing and playing with all the tennis gear. We form our lists based on their reviews and feedback. You can find all of our product reviews here.