When buying a tennis racket, the budget is one of the most important factors to consider. Whether or not you can afford a tennis racket is ultimate all that matters. Different tennis rackets brands sell their products differently depending on their reputation and quality. Your game level also goes a long way in determining the budget of your new tennis racket. Fortunately, there are tennis rackets within almost everyone’s budget and this is no exaggeration.
There are rackets that sell at $20 all the way up to $200. While it may be true that the more you spend the more you get, we’re here to tell you about the hidden gems that will satisfy your needs as well as your budget. If you’re looking for a tennis racket under $100 it will be easy to find one that suits most of your needs as majority of great tennis racket sell at this price. In this article, we are going to look at the top tennis rackets under the one hundred dollar mark.
Here are the best tennis racquets 100 or less can buy
HEAD Microgel Radical
If you’re a tennis player then you know that HEAD Company makes some of the best tennis rackets in the game, endorsed by big names such as Rafael Nadal. The HEAD Radical is one of their best releases yet sells for less than $100. It’s such a great bargain considering all you get with it. First, the HEAD Microgel is known for its use of high quality material and finishing which is also maintained in the Radical version. The handle has a thick and soft rubber covering that absorbs all the shock and vibrations and distributes it through the frame to take the sting away. This keeps your arms safe from injury and sprain associated with impact when you smash the ball too hard or at a bad angle.
The Radical comes with a dense string pattern and a standard size head. The dense pattern works well to provide immense power when striking the ball and enables fast strokes. It was built and designed for aggressive baseline play and it fulfills this purposefully. The string pattern also helps to improve control of the ball in terms of spin and ball placement which is key when playing on an advanced level. So if you’re playing in a game that requires lots of side to side movement, this is the right tennis racket for you. The Head Radical weighs just 11 ounces which is quite light. It is also very well-balanced and provides the right amount of power and control. You get the best of both worlds with the Head Radical. The following are its pros and cons
Pros
- It has a striking look in terms of beauty and aesthetic
- It is cheap and cost less than a hundred dollars
- The handle has a thick soft coating that absorbs shock and vibrations and distributes it through the frame to take the sting away
- It uses high quality material and finishing
- Is a well-balanced racket that provides the right amount of power and control
Cons
- It is hard to adapt to use if you’re a beginner
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Wilson Hyper Hammer 5.3 Tennis Racket
The Wilson Hyper Tennis Racket is one of the most common and popular tennis rackets in the world. In fact, it ranks fourth best under Wilson tennis racket releases. When you first lay eyes on this racket, there is a high chance you will fall in love with it immediately. It is a beautiful and striking racket that plays as good as it looks. It is designed with power in mind and is therefore recommended for players with short and compact swings. This is also the reason it is highly recommended for high level intermediate and advanced players who have already mastered control.
The Wilson Hyper tennis racket features an oversized head which is great in generating lots of power. It also reduces the chance of mishitting the ball. It comes with a head heavy balance for increased stability and it extremely light for momentum and power behind all your hits. Lastly, it adopts an open string design that works to add spin to all your hits as well as provide ample power. The following are the pros and cons of the Wilson Hyper Hammer tennis racket
Pros
- It has an open string design which is perfect for adding spin to your hits
- The Wilson Hyper Hammer has an oversized head that is forgiving with mishits
- It is great for players at any level
Cons
- It is only great for beginners
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Wilson K Zero Tennis Racket
The Wilson K Zero is the most expensive on this list and costs $100. However, it is still within our budget. It is considered a lightweight tennis racket and weighs just 9 ounces, and this is when it is strung. When you swing it through the air, it does not feel like you’re carrying anything in your hand. It comes in different grip sizes and is the perfect choice for you if you are a beginner. In fact, it is considered by users one of the best tennis rackets for beginners.
Its light nature should not fool you into thinking that it lacks power because this could not be further from the truth. This is because the Wilson K Zero was designed for players who want power as well as comfort. If you don’t play tennis often and do it casually and don’t want to feel sore the following day, then this is the right racket for you. It features an oversized head of 118 square inches for increasing the size of the sweet spot and has 6 point balance. The string design features a 16×19 cross string pattern for strength and control. The following are its pros and cons
Pros
- It is considered a lightweight tennis racket and weighs just 9 ounces, and this is when it is strung. When you swing it through the air, it does not feel like you’re carrying anything in your hand
- It features an oversized head of 118 square inches for increasing the size of the sweet spot
- The string design features a 16×19 cross string pattern for strength and control
- It is cheap and cost just a hundred dollars
- It is the perfect choice for you if you are a beginner
- Comes in different grip sizes to accommodate everyone
Cons
- It has issues with durability
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Head Intelligence IS 12
If you’re a tennis player then you know that HEAD Company makes some of the best tennis rackets in the game, endorsed by big names such as Rafael Nadal. The HEAD Radical is one of their best releases yet sells for less than $100. It’s such a great bargain considering all you get with it. The HEAD Intelligence carries a lot of praise from customers and it is not hard to see why. It is an upgrade from the older IS 10 which was also received well by customers. The IS 12 is however longer than the IS 10 and has a thicker beam handle. The throat of this racket (the area just under the head) is fitted with piezoelectric fibers that feel comfortable with every hit of the ball. This makes it a suitable match for people who like hitting the ball on a backstop.
The Head intelligence v12 comes with a sturdy frame that provides support and power without compromising on control. It uses a 14×17 string pattern that does not include a dampening material compound meaning, less vibration and shock stings. The lack of a dampening compound however means that there will be more strain on your wrist. It is advised that you buy a dampener along with this tennis racket. The head size is large and measures 110 square inches with a minimum weight of only 8.1 ounces while unstrung. The following are the pros and cons of this tennis racket
Pros
- The throat of this racket (the area just under the head) is fitted with piezoelectric fibers that feel comfortable with every hit of the ball
- It has a long head for the comfort of your arm
- It has a sturdy and robust frame
- The grip handle is good and comfortable
- It is cheap and sells for just $79
- Features a thick beam for durability and comfort
Cons
- Vibrations are felt due to the lack of a dampening compound
- It is heavy when strung
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Wilson Federer Adult Tennis Racket
The next racket in our list is the Wilson Federer Adult tennis racket. It is a lightweight tennis racket that is perfect for players that love powerful hits. Most of the weight on this racket is carried at the top racket hoop and this was done purposely to provide as much power as possible. It features an oversized head of 106 sq. inches. The string pattern is a 16×20 cross string pattern for control as well as power. It also reduces the chance of mishitting the ball. It comes with a head heavy balance for increased stability and it extremely light for momentum and power behind all your hits. Lastly, it adopts an open string design that works to add spin to all your hits as well as provide ample power. The following are the pros and cons of the Wilson Federer Adult tennis racket.
Pros
- It has an open string design which is perfect for adding spin to your hits
- The Wilson Hyper Hammer has an oversized head that is forgiving with mishits
- It uses high quality material and finishing
- Is a well-balanced racket that provides the right amount of power and control
- Has a strong frame known as Volcanic Frame technology for stability and power
Cons
- It is only great for beginners
- It has a narrow grip
- The strings move during a topspin
- The vibration are slightly felt
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Wilson Tour Slam
It’s no surprise that there are a lot of Wilson’s tennis rackets on this list. The Wilson Tour Slam is one of the most affordable yet versatile tennis racket ever released by Wilson. With this large racket, you need not worry about mishitting or missing the ball because it has a large head of about 110 sq. inches. The body is built from aluminum to maintain a lightweight as well as provide durability. Like the previous tennis racket, this one also features a Volcanic Frame Technology that provides power and stability. It also comes with stop shock pads to absorb shock and vibrations that may occur during mishits and when smashing the ball at a bad angle. It also works to increase control.
While the Wilson tour is light, the upper body containing the hoop is heavy as it carries the majority of the weight. This was done to allow for powerful hits. The heavy head and light build work together for balance and enables you to play for long periods without any strains on your arm. The strings of this racket are very durable and tightly installed to reduce vibrations while providing better control. The string pattern is a 16×19 cross pattern. When you first lay eyes on this racket, you will notice that it has a very striking and premium look. This is a great bonus considering it is very reasonably priced.
Pros
- It has an aluminum build that caters to two functions. One is that the aluminum is great for durability and longevity of the racket and aluminum helps keep the racket light
- It has a good wrist support
- Has Stop Shock Sleeves Technology that reduces vibrations and impacts
- Is well-balanced and provides both power and control for the player
- Is very light
- It comes with a nice soft thick grip that keeps your hand comfortable throughout the game
- Comes in different grip sizes to accommodate every player
Cons
- It is only good for beginners
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Head TIS5 Comfort Zone Performance Tennis Racket
If you are a beginner and are looking for a low budget tennis racket under $100, then this might be the right tennis racket for you. It is a tennis racket built with a beginner in mind and intermediate level players with a slow swing. This is why it has an oversized head that measures 110 spq. Inches. This ensures the sweet spot is large and therefore cannot be missed easily. Its name ‘Comfort Zone’ is derived from the ComfortZone technology it uses that makes it feel soft and gentle on the hand. It ensures that there is minimal vibration when you strike the ball with impact or at a bad angle.
The HEAD TIS5 Comfort Zone carries a lot of praise from customers and it is not hard to see why. The throat of this racket (the area just under the head) is fitted with piezoelectric fibers that feel comfortable with every hit of the ball. This makes it a suitable match for people who like hitting the ball on a backstop.
The Head TIS5 Comfort Zone comes with a sturdy frame that provides support and power without compromising on control. It uses a 14×17 string pattern that includes a dampening material compound meaning, less vibration and shock stings. It has a minimum weight of only 8.1 ounces while unstrung. The following are the pros and cons of this tennis racket
Pros
- It is one of the best tennis rackets for beginners
- Soft on the hand and has minimal vibrations
- It is light in weight
- Has an oversized head to assist beginner players in accuracy with the sweet spot
- It provides a lot of power to the player
- Affordable
Cons
- It is not a strong or sturdy racket and can easily break
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Final Verdict
Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced level player, there is a tennis racket for you within your budget. This is made possible by the many competing brands there are that all produce high quality rackets. When choosing a tennis racket, always consider the key factors above everything else. Among the tennis rackets mentioned in this list, we can highly recommend the Wilson Tour Slam as it has the perfect combination of features, well-balanced and has the best value for money.
