An overview of the best rackets for control ! We have listed our favorite control sticks for you. From the Head Graphene 360+ Prestige MP to the Yonex VCORE Pro 97 HD, they are all featured here. Click on the links for more information.
Yonex VCORE Pro 97 HD
'Finally' another nice control racket from Yonex with a compact 18×20 stringing pattern. A control stick like this has not been in the Yonex line-up for a while. The Yonex VCORE Pro 97 HD particularly excels in stability, direct playing feel and good feedback. 20 mm frame with a nice low RA of 59 for a wonderful ball feeling!
Prince Textreme Phantom Pro 93P 18×20
A modern classic from Prince! This ultimate 'players racket' with a 93 sq/inch head, 18×20 stringing pattern, 16.5 mm (!) shaft, 330 grams and 30.5 balance is definitely for the powerhouses among us! If you get your strength from a large, full swing, you don't have to worry about overheating quickly with this racket. The Phantom Pro 93P 18×20 is actually an old school racket in a modern guise with new technology. The leather basic grip makes it complete! The new Textreme 2.5 Phantom 100X is a nice option for control combined with spin.
Head Graphene 360+ Prestige MP
The new Head Graphene 360+ Prestige MP offers a more generous sweet spot and has been given a slightly slimmer profile. This results in a slightly more user-friendly Prestige MP that does have the characteristic control and feel. Wonderful precision tools! For fans of the classic control rackets, there is also a 93 sq/inch MID version of this racket.
Wilson Blade 98 18×20 V7.0
This latest version of the Blade 98 18×20 offers more connection with the ball due to the FeelFlex technology. In addition, the balance has dropped by half a point to 32.0. The RA (stiffness) has also been reduced somewhat to 62, while the racket has a higher swing weight. In short: more feel in a racket that certainly retains its punch!
Dunlop CX 200 Tour 18×20
The Dunlop CX 200 Tour 18×20 is the successor to the CX 2.0 Tour 18×20 and offers more plow-through and cuts through the air just a little easier. 'Fortunately' the sweet spot feels a bit more generous than the 95 sq/inch head size with 18×20 stringing pattern would suggest. Wonderfully fast and solid control racket. Also in one 16×19 version available at 310 grams unstrung.
Diadem Elevate 98
One of the most comfortable control rackets on the market is the Diadem Elevate 98. This racket is completely filled with foam and has a solid, full playing feel with excellent spin potential. The comfort is above average, so to speak, without the racket feeling too 'muted'. With a 98 sq/inch head, 32.0 balance and 16×20 stringing pattern, a very nice frame that falls between a Blade 98 18×20 and a Pure Strike 16×19 in terms of specs. Also available in heavier Tour version for a little more plough-through and stability.
Babolat Pure Strike 16×19
The latest version of the Pure Strike 16×19 offers a nice combination of control and spin. The frame has been updated in terms of stability and damping and that is noticeable. The Pure Strike 16×19 offers a very direct playing feeling without compromises. The 18x20 version offers a little more control, but has less spin potential. The Pure Strike 100 is one of the few truly control-oriented 100 sq/inch rackets and therefore one of the most versatile rackets on the market in this head size.
Wilson Pro Staff 97
For many, the Pro Staff RF97 Autograph is the ultimate control stick from Wilson. We certainly agree with that, but it is definitely not playable for everyone. In that respect, this lighter Wilson Pro Staff 97 is a nice option for many players. The Pro Staff 97 in black is back and comes without Countervail for the characteristic, direct Pro Staff playing feeling. Wonderfully solid frame, with decent spin potential, although you might not think so at first.
Head Graphene 360+ Gravity Pro
The Gravity Pro from Head is the most control-oriented racket from the new Gravity series. Characteristic of this series is the somewhat rounder leaf shape, especially at the top of the leaf. For many modern players, the effective hitting zone is a bit higher on the blade. Head responds to this with this Gravity series. Although this Pro version has a 100 sq/inch head, the rest is purely control that counts: a 20 mm constant frame construction, 18×20 stringing pattern and a sturdy swing weight of around 340 (our demo even 350!). Gravity Tour With a weight of 305 grams, the same head size and string pattern, it is its slightly more versatile lighter brother.
Prince Textreme2 Tour 95
This update of Prince's Tour 95 has a slightly more lively playing feel compared to its predecessor due to the fractionally higher RA combined with the new material mix of Textreme with the added Twaron. What remains is delicate precision and control. The very low 30.5 balance makes the quite heavy weight of this frame easy to maneuver. Very solid frame that also holds its own at the net! The TXT2 Tour 100P is its little brother at 305 grams with a 100 sq/inch head size, but with an 18x20 stringing pattern.