When you decide to buy a new tennis racquet, the weight, string pattern, head size, balance, and stiffness are all essential factors to consider. This week, we’ve rounded up a few of the best tennis racquets hitting the market this spring.

Wilson Clash 100 Pro 

With the Clash 100 Pro (formerly the Tour), Wilson has created a uniquely flexible modern player’s racquet with easy spin, controllable power, and a great feel. The great feel comes in part from its low stiffness level (55-RA), which gives it a nice boost in pocketing, dwell time, and control. Unlike traditional flexible racquets, which vibrate excessively on off-center contact, the Clash 100 Pro feels solid, crisp, and lively. According to Wilson, this is achieved using FreeFlex and StableSmart technology, which helps the racquet bend optimally at impact. On groundstrokes, the Clash 100 Tour feels fast and comfortable. Full swings produce penetrating power, and the whippy headlight balance translates seamlessly into a big spin. Like our favorite modern player’s racquets, the Clash 100 Tour is well suited to scrambling on defense or cranking winners on the run.

Babolat Pure Drive 2021

This racquet’s explosive acceleration and spin-friendly targeting make it a dangerous weapon from the baseline on the court. It also packs impressive all-court mobility, making it great for cranking winners on the run or charging into the frontcourt and finishing points at the net. With incremental tweaks to the feel, this update won’t disappoint, especially if you place a premium on quick handling. The Pure Drive continues to be one of the best options for those who want a light and explosive player’s racquet.

Head Graphene 360+ Speed Pro

Endorsed by Novak Djokovic, the Speed Pro combines a traditional 18×20 string pattern with a buttery 62-RA stiffness, giving it the control and feel experienced players crave. In addition to the thicker and livelier 23mm beam introduced with the last generation, this update features a slightly higher swing weight for added stability and plow-through. The signature technology is Graphene 360+, which combines the effortless power and extra strength of Graphene 360 with SpiralFibers in the lower head to help the racquet bend optimally at impact. From the baseline, the Speed Pro rewards full swings with a laser-like trajectory and pinpoint accuracy. It swings a tad heavier than the previous generation, making it slightly better at redirecting pace or driving the ball through the court. Although not as grippy as the Speed MP, our playtesters found enough spin potential to bring the ball down effectively. At the net, the Speed Pro comes around fast for the weight to deliver great touch and decent pop on punch volleys. It also shines on service returns, where it feels solid on counterpunches and blocks and provides the kind of control that breeds confidence in aggressive replies. With subtle updates to the feel and a little more stability and plow-through, the Graphene 360+ Speed Pro is an excellent option for those who want a more traditional feeling player’s racquet with enough power to finish points.

Yonex EZONE 98 2022

Yonex adds another chapter to the EZONE 98! As with previous generations, this control-oriented stick combines spin-friendly targeting with raw speed. Like the 2015 DR version (a staff favorite), this 2022 update packs an above-average feel, comfort, and stability for a light player’s racquet. It also plays deceptively soft and forgiving considering that it has an RA stiffness north of 64. It lacks the mass-based power and plow-through of its heavier counterparts, but you’ll appreciate the quick handling when scrambling on defense, hitting shots on the run, or charging the net. For this update, Yonex adds 2G NAMD SPEED to the shaft, resulting in a more robust response with better ball feedback. Yonex has also retooled the beam construction, adding a thicker, more convex cross-section in the shaft (for stability) and a thinner frame face (for a softer response). Other technologies include Yonex’s time-tested ISOMETRIC head shape, a unique design feature that makes Yonex racquets feel more generous and forgiving than conventionally shaped equivalents. Ultimately, this racquet’s raw speed and scalpel-like targeting make it one of the most accessible player’s racquets on the market. The fact that it feels excellent at contact makes it hard to beat.