Best Racquets for Aggressive Baseliners in 2023

So you are an aggressive baseliner and you are looking for the best possible racquet for your play style. But what makes a racquet good for aggressive baseliners anyway? Aggressive baseliners need three things from their racquets to get the most out of their games on court.

The first is great stability. This helps the racquet win the collision with the ball when you are trying to take command of the point by hitting the ball early and on the rise. You’ll need as much torsional stability as possible without sacrificing too much maneuverability. This means a medium high twistweight and swingweight. Look for racquets with a swingweight of about 325 or higher.

The second critical factor is a forgiving beam design. Stiffer and thicker beams will further increase stability, reducing the twisting on impact and increasing your power, control and spin during off-centre contact. I recommend looking for beam widths of 22mm or higher and strung stiffnesses of at least 64.

The third and final critical factor is a predictable stringbed. Slightly tighter string spacing helps with consistent directional control off the stringbed. This consistent, predictable response provides the directional control required to take the ball on the rise with accuracy, power and confidence.

So these are the BEST racquets for aggressive baseliners by level. Since I don’t really think players are adequately equipped to develop a certain play style until about NTRP 3.5 or UTR 3-5ish, that’s where we will start. If the racquet is mentioned in a lower level, its relevance remains even for more advanced players. Think of this more as a progression scale in a video game, as you progress as a player, you unlock more potential racquets, but that doesn’t mean you can’t upgrade your starter racquet into an end-game weapon.

Intermediate NTRP 3.5+ or UTR 3-5+

Honourable mention: Yonex EZONE 100

Winner: Head Radical MP

The Auxetic Radical MP features a surprisingly dense 16x19 stringbed which offers supreme directional control. Even though it is a 16x19, I’ve found the weight distribution to work best for flatter hitters with linear strokes. I think this racquet is more than maneuverable enough for one handed backhands, yet it remains more than stable enough, even in stock form, to use as a returning weapon. The Radical MP loves taking balls on the rise and redirecting pace. The feel is connected and responsive. The dwell time (how long the ball is held on the stringbed) is relatively short and the sound off the stringbed is pretty high pitched. Overall, the Radical MP is a phenomenal platform racquet that takes weight very well in all areas.

The downsides are that spin potential is on the weaker side. The dwell time is so short it feels like the ball has left the stringbed before you’ve really had time to brush up the back of the ball. This can be alleviated by stringing looser and choosing a shaped poly to get more ball bite.

Experienced NTRP 4.0+ or UTR 5+

Honourable Mention: Babolat Pure Aero 98 (VS)

Winner: Wilson Prostaff X

The Prostaff X is surprisingly easy to use for a 315g racquet. It carries its weight extremely well, not being bogged down by poor maneuverability. Instead, the Prostaff X makes great use of every gram, boasting a supremely solid feel and offering tremendous torsional stability. Compared to the Radical MP, the X provides a much plusher and more solid feel. Spin potential from the 16x19 string pattern is also very strong.

The Prostaff X is a very good option for aggressive players who sometimes struggle maintaining a consistent weight transfer on ground strokes, as you can trust the weight of the frame to pull you into the court after your shots. Those with one handed backhands are likely to prefer the superior maneuverability and plow through of the 97, however, for players closer to NTRP 4.0+ I think the added forgiveness of the X is a worthy trade off.

The X is a more well-rounded racquet than the Radical MP, in my opinion, but it does lack some control when compared to the Radical MP. This could be alleviated by a slightly higher string tension or going to thicker, rounder string from whatever you normally use.

Advanced NTRP 4.5+ or UTR 7+

Honourable Mention: Babolat Pure Strike 18x20
Winner: Tecnifibre TFIGHT ISO 305

Even though this is a lighter option than the Prostaff X, what limits its appeal to lower levels is the beefy 338 swingweight. This helps you plow through balls against even the hardest hitters. The 18x19 stringbed is extremely consistent with a very low launch angle. This makes changing direction during the point very predictable and controllable. There is plenty of put away power available from the stiffer, elliptical beam shape.  Paired with the high swingweight, off centre shots barely loose any power or control so it's easy to stay on the gas from all areas of the court.

The feel on contact is the main weak point of this racquet. It feels stiffer than the RA would suggest and the foam filling makes things a bit too muted for my taste. The other thing to note is that the grip shape is quite rectangular. This seems to work very well for Eastern or full Western forehands, but my semi-Western grip finds it off-putting. If you are worried about it, I recommend going down a grip size.

Expert NTRP 5.0+ or UTR 9+

Honourable Mention: Wilson ProStaff RF97 Autograph

Winner: Head Gravity Pro

The Gravity Pro is seen on tour, in the hands of professional tennis players, for a reason: it's a damn good racquet. Ash Barty has won more than her fair share of slams with it while Rublev and Zverev are consistent threats in the world’s biggest tournaments. The wide, 100 square inch head delivers a colossal hitting area. This added forgiveness really makes it feel like you can bash any ball at any time as hard as you want. The 18x20 pattern keeps everything in check. This is THE MOST control-oriented 100 square inch racquet you can buy, and honestly, its precision rivals many 95 square inch options. The feel is also among the most solid feeling frames available today. The racquet feels very plush, offering a long dwell time with great comfort.

Maneuverability is not this racquet’s strength. You need to be one hell of a player to wield this beast as expert footwork is required to get into hitting position in time. That said, the Gravity Pro is a pretty versatile frame. It can generate plenty of spin if you ask for it and slices knife through the court like butter. Even if you kind of suck like me, this is a pretty fun weapon to keep in your bag if you just wanna smack some balls around.