Cheap Vs. Expensive Tennis Rackets ( Which One Are The Best )
As an experienced tennis player and coach, I’ve used budget and premium rackets over the years. And I know a beginner will be confused about the starting racket in terms of price and technicalities. Many players have already asked me, “What’s the difference between a cheap tennis racket and a more expensive one”?
In short, premium rackets are made with better materials and technology to provide you with increased control, power, and comfort on the court. So obviously, they are better than cheap tennis rackets.
In this article, I will compare cheap vs. expensive tennis rackets across factors like materials, weighting, strings, power, and feel. I will also offer recommendations on when it’s worth investing in a premium racket based on your skill level. After reading, you’ll know whether an expensive racket is right for your game.
What Is The Difference Between Cheap And Expensive Tennis Rackets?
Below is a comprehensive comparison of cheap and expensive tennis rackets. As long as you read this post carefully, you should be able to find a sweet spot regarding price.
Materials and Construction Quality
One of the biggest differences between cheap and expensive tennis rackets lies in the materials used and overall construction quality. Premium rackets use advanced materials like carbon fiber composites to deliver a stiff, lightweight, and durable frame. Cheaper rackets use materials like aluminum that can dent easily and lack consistent performance.
Frame Materials
Cheap rackets (under $50) are typically made using aluminum or steel alloys. These metals allow manufacturers to produce affordable rackets. However, metal rackets dent easily, lack proper vibration dampening, and can twist during hits.
Premium rackets ($150+) use advanced composite materials like carbon fiber, Kevlar, and graphene. These materials create stiff, lightweight, and durable frames. The best rackets combine composite materials to optimize weight, strength, vibration dampening, and power distribution.
Construction Quality
Cheap rackets often feature inconsistent quality and graphics applied via cheap methods like stickers. Premium rackets use advanced molding and printing techniques for flawless graphics and solid construction.
There are also many cheap rackets that are boxed rackets, which are made of several pieces glued together. If you hit them off-center, they will twist. Premium rackets feature a solid one-piece construction for consistent response across the entire frame.
Weight and Balance
A racket’s weight and balance point directly impact how it performs and feels in your hand during play. Cheap rackets tend to be lighter and head-heavy compared to premium rackets.
Weight
| Racket Type | Weight Range |
| Cheap | 250-280g |
| Premium | 290-320g |
Lighter rackets are easier to swing but sacrifice stability on impact. Cheap rackets are often extra light (under 270g) to appeal to beginners.
Heavier rackets provide more power and plow-through on strokes. Premium rackets use weight strategically to offer better stability, momentum, and leverage.
Balance
| Racket Type | Balance Point |
| Cheap | Head-heavy |
| Premium | Evenly balanced |
Head-heavy rackets provide effortless power but less control. Cheap rackets tend to be extremely head-heavy to compensate for lightweight.
Evenly balanced rackets allow superior feel and control throughout the swing. Premium rackets use precise weighting systems to create an ideal blend of maneuverability, power, and control.
String Quality and Tension Maintenance
The strings are the engine that actually launches the ball. Cheap rackets usually come strung with low-quality strings at factory tensions too loose for proper control. Premium rackets use quality strings and ideal tensions to amplify power and control.
String Type
Cheap rackets use thick, inexpensive string materials like basic nylon. These strings lose tension quickly and don’t provide much bite or control.
Premium rackets often come strung with softer multifilament strings or advanced polys like copolymer that maintain tension and bite better. Even basic synthetic guts on premium rackets outperform cheap strings.
Tension
Cheap rackets come strung very loosely at 45-50 lbs to increase power. But this leads to poor control and erratic power.
Premium rackets install strings at mid-range tensions like 55-60 lbs optimized for balanced pace and control. Pros frequently restring to maintain this precision tension.
Power and Control
The combination of premium materials, weighting, strings, and construction leads to measurably better performance in terms of power, control, and consistency.
Power
The lightweight, head-heavy balance of cheap rackets does produce easy power. But the cheap strings and materials lead to inconsistent “pocketing” of the ball on off-center hits.
Premium rackets deliver more reliable power by combining advanced materials with ideal weight and balance to plow through the ball. The result is power you can count on shot after shot.
Control
Cheap rackets often deliver erratic power with more vibration and twisting on off-center hits. It makes it hard to control direction and depth consistently.
Premium rackets offer superior control through precise weighting, string patterns, and string quality. Less vibration and a solid response across the entire face allow better directional control.
Consistency
Overall, premium rackets deliver more predictable power and control. No matter where you make contact on the face, the pocketed ball will feel and launch the same. Cheap rackets are far more inconsistent in terms of power and launch angle.
Comfort and Feedback
Comfort and racket feedback are vital to your long-term enjoyment of the game. Cheap rackets often deliver unpleasant vibrations, while premium rackets filter these out and provide a great, connected feel.
Vibration Dampening
The metal materials and basic construction of cheap rackets transmit unpleasant vibrations into your arm. These vibrations contribute to tennis elbow and discomfort.
Premium rackets use advanced composites and rubberized grommets to filter vibrations before they reach your arm. It reduces shock and arm fatigue.
Connected Feel
Cheap rackets can feel rigid and lifeless and disconnect you from the ball impact. This makes it hard to judge control.
Premium rackets use special handle systems and technologies to transmit the right tactile feedback into your hand. You get a truer sense of ball contact for better finesse and control.
Recommendations By Player Level
Based on the performance differences highlighted above, here are my recommendations on ideal racket investments based on your current skill level.
Beginners
As a beginner in building your strokes, you can start with a very cheap racket in the $20 to $50 range. Focus on making consistent contact, and don’t worry about perfect control. But – be ready to upgrade once you reach the intermediate level.
Intermediate Players
Intermediate players will find serious limitations with ultra-cheap rackets in terms of inconsistent power, lack of control, and vibrations.
Look to invest in your first premium racket in the $150 to $200 range. For the right balance of power, spin, and control, you should seek the help of a professional. It will immediately elevate your performance.
Advanced Players
Once you reach an advanced level, it’s vital to have a properly fitted and strung racket customized to your swing style, stroke technique, and level of control.
Work with a pro and be ready to invest $200+ in a suitable control-oriented player’s racket. Precision and consistency are vital at higher levels, so don’t compromise with a cheap racket.
Investing in the right premium racket will reward you with better stability, consistency, and, most importantly – confidence in your equipment.
Conclusion
Cheap rackets can be a good starting point, but to unlock the full potential of a player, they need to invest in a premium racket. Investing in an expensive racket tailored to your game provides better materials, weight balance, strings, power, control, and arm-friendly comfort. Though pricier upfront, a fitted premium racket rewards you with shot consistency, feel, and confidence over the long run. Analyze your skill level and needs, then consult an expert to find the high-performance racket that takes your play to the next level.
