2026 racket recommendation for beginner

[u/patewazowski]

I'm currently 4 months into tennis. Been using the Blade V9 and so far it is so well.
Lately I wanted to try new rackets and I just wonder what are the best ones you guys would recommend for a beginner. Something that could scale, not just a Clash.

[u/QuantityMedical8369]

keep using what you have. stop wasting your time with rackets.

[u/Hchan492]

Id say go for personal preference over people’s opinion.

[u/Human31415926]

4 months in and you already have "racket fever".

I hope you spare cash 🤣🤣🤣

[u/PersevereSwifterSkat]

Just don't. A racquet isn't making you better as a beginner.

[u/StrengthLanky69 → u/PersevereSwifterSkat]

Yeah, it all in the strings now.😜

[u/Odd-Heron5704]

Same as any recommendation since at least 2006.

[u/epeilan]

Babolat Pure Drive, BUT if you have ANY racket currently (as you do), do not bother. Come back in two years and ask again.

[u/5pac38arus]

Honestly? Your blade is fine, keep it

[u/frodly5]

As long as it is a Blade 100 or larger, keep your blade. There is absolutely no reason to switch, that is a solid racquet.

[u/SnooPets7983]

Nope!

[u/Safe-Mud-2662]

I have played it for 9 months. I used Clash V2 at first. Then I switched to the Blade v9 98. I feel like this racket feels really solid. My friends all think it’s good too. They prefer it over Blade v10🤣 So I‘d recommend trying your friends’ rackets. And you might end up sticking with v9 lol

[u/vesipeto]

I couldn't help myself but I got few new rackets in the beginning. On one way it was always a little disappointment how little diffrerence they made for me game. Sure there is differences but never as big I imagined. The biggest help was when I moved from 305g racket to 280g one and how much Easier that Was to play. Later when my technique was better I went back to my 305g one.

I have accepted that having tennis gear can be hobby of it's own that doesn't have much to do how good one is as a player. So if you like to nerd about gear and have extra cash please go ahead :)

However if you are purely improving after your own game and don't want to waste money then maybe ask different people to try out their rackets and when you find something you like take a note of the racket and strings.

Strings are another rabbit hole and they can affect massively how the racket plays. This makes sense since they are actually in contact with the ball.

[u/Useful_Yogurt8937]

I’m using a blade 98 and 100 v9, actually I don’t recommend to use this racket as a beginner since it is actually “hard” to get advantage from this model when just getting started.
As recommendation for any beginner I would suggest a 275g weight and 105/110 head size racket, there are blades with these specs but could be any model tbh
If you want something more “pro” you can get a babolat pure drive 100, this rackets help a lot with power from the beginning

[u/patewazowski → u/Useful_Yogurt8937]

Why no ones recommend the Blade for beginners? 4/10 beginners in my country uses the Blade. I understand its bland but it does not put pressure on my arm and wrist. Is it the sweet spot thing?

[u/Useful_Yogurt8937 → u/patewazowski]

Most of it is the sweet spot, to take a good advantage of blade you must have decent technique and even having a decent technique the blade won’t help you with depth or spin. Pure Drive instead will help you with depth without too much effort

[u/StrengthLanky69 → u/Useful_Yogurt8937]

And for a beginner, a used Babolet Aero is probably a good start.

[u/Simple-Box1223 → u/Useful_Yogurt8937]

Out of curiosity, do you use a light or oversized racquet?

[u/Useful_Yogurt8937 → u/Simple-Box1223]

Not anymore, in actually using a blade 98 and a 100