Are Expensive Tennis Rackets Worth It? Tour-Level vs Budget Rackets
By Joe, PH Tennis
Quick Summary
Tennis rackets can be very expensive, but do you really need to spend the big bucks? Do you need the same racket as Alexander Zverev? Maybe you do, maybe you don't.
Just because a racket is more expensive, with fancier materials, doesn't necessarily mean it's better for your game. Expensive might technically mean better, but it doesn't mean it's the right one for you.
- What you get for the money: better materials and tech, better manufacturing consistency, more comfort, more stability, a more predictable response and better durability. A more refined experience, not a drastically different one.
- Spend more if: you're playing a few times a week, looking to improve, or competing, even in club tournaments.
- Save your money if: you're a beginner, or you play once a week for fun.
Watch the video above to see the tour-level and cheaper versions side by side.
Tour-Level vs Cheaper at a Glance
| Racket | Technology |
|---|---|
| Yonex EZONE (full range) | Minolon, 2G-Namd Speed, VDM |
| Yonex EZONE Alpha | Minolon, Nanocell Neo (in place of 2G-Namd Speed), VDM |
| Yonex VCORE 100 | Servo Filter, 2G-Namd Flex Force, VDM |
| Yonex VCORE Ace | None of the above. Full graphite |
What This Is
I'm going to take you through the difference between tour-level, expensive tennis rackets and the ones slightly below. We'll go through the type of players who might need tour-level rackets, and those who might be better off paying a little less.
We're tennis coaches as well as retailers, so we fully understand that buying a more expensive racket isn't going to make you better at tennis. Coaching is. Finding the right tool to go alongside that coaching is really important, and that's what we're here for.
My Verdict
If you're playing once a week, just for fun, with friends or a partner, I'd probably say no, don't pay the big money. If you're looking to improve, playing a few times a week, or looking to compete, even just in club tournaments, then yes, spend a bit more and get a better-quality racket. It will last longer, and it's got more of the tech that will make your game more precise.
The best racket for you doesn't have to be the most expensive one. It has to fit how much you're playing, how much you want to spend, and keep you on court playing tennis.
What Do You Actually Get for Your Money?
Better materials and tech. Usually higher-quality graphite and the fancier tech that gives rackets their characteristics: stability, comfort, power, whatever it might be.
Better manufacturing consistency. Higher-end rackets are usually made within smaller tolerances, giving a better overall product and better quality control.
More refined performance. At the top of the range, it's not that one racket is better than another. They're more specific to certain player needs and styles. When you get to the big money, it's more about what fits your game than it simply being better because it's more expensive.
Example: Yonex EZONE vs EZONE Alpha
The full EZONE range, from the 100 SL, 100 L and 100 up to the 98 and 98 Tour, has three main technologies: Minolon, with the bagworms doing their fantastic work creating that dampening property, 2G-Namd Speed, and VDM, a vibration dampening mesh.
Drop down to the still fabulous Alpha range and you lose one of these. To keep the price down, the Alpha doesn't have 2G-Namd Speed. It has Nanocell Neo instead, a slightly cheaper material that doesn't give the same feel. The Alpha range is also much cheaper, so you're deciding whether 2G-Namd Speed is worth the extra money.
Example: Yonex VCORE 100 vs VCORE Ace
Perhaps more starkly, the VCORE 100 has Servo Filter, 2G-Namd Flex Force and VDM. Drop down to the VCORE Ace, a much cheaper option, and you've got none of that technology. It's a full graphite racket, and a beautifully made one because it's Yonex, but it's got none of the tech that actually makes the VCORE what it is.
Where Expensive Rackets Are Better
Comfort and vibration dampening. With the extra technologies and higher-quality graphite, you usually get a more comfortable, more dampened experience.
Stability. They tend to be on the heavier side, with better-quality graphite in heavier weights. More mass usually means more stability, so you get a more stable contact.
A more predictable response. With more stability and more comfort, the response is more predictable, so the precision and detail of playing tennis is possible.
Durability. Rackets deteriorate. The graphite deteriorates as you play, as the ball strikes the racket, as it gets strung and as it hits the ground. Better-quality graphite means greater durability, so the racket lasts longer.
So if you were picking up a VCORE 100 versus a VCORE Alpha, you might expect a more refined experience. That's the key: it's not drastically different, it's more refined. More feedback, more stability. So it lends itself to better-quality players looking for tiny margins and little gains.
Why Expensive Isn't Always Better for You
They won't improve your technique. The racket on its own isn't going to elevate your game. Sorry.
They can be less forgiving for beginners. If you're a beginner, you want the game to come easy: easy power, nice and comfortable, so you enjoy it, play more, get better and move on. Something stiff, with a small sweet spot, that's difficult to manoeuvre makes the game harder and less enjoyable.
Many intermediates won't see the difference. Many intermediate players and improvers will find their performance is just as good with a racket half the price of the top end. The extra tech is a refinement. Sometimes it makes the game more difficult, and sometimes it has very little impact at all.
You might want the best racket because Zverev just won the US Open with it, but it might not be the right option for you. That's why we always suggest you test them fully.
Who Should Pay More, Who Shouldn't
Spend more if: you play a few times a week, you're looking to improve, you compete (even in club tournaments), or you're a better-quality player chasing tiny margins.
Save your money if: you're a beginner, you play once a week for fun, or you're an intermediate player who'd perform just as well with a racket half the price. The more budget offerings might be better for your long-term enjoyment of the game, because they offer the best value.
Test Before You Spend
If you're still not sure which racket, or which type of racket, to buy, book an online consultation and have a full consultation with one of our specialists at PH Tennis.
Or use our demo service anywhere in the UK. Add £25 to any adult racket order and we string it, fit an overgrip, add protection tape and send it out. Get on court and test it properly. If it's wrong, return it for a full refund on the racket, minus strings and the demo fee. If it's right, we refund the £25.
Book a racket demo with PH Tennis
FAQ
Are expensive tennis rackets worth it?
If you play a few times a week, want to improve or compete, yes. If you're a beginner or play once a week for fun, probably not. Expensive rackets are more refined, not drastically different.
What is the difference between an expensive and a cheap tennis racket?
Expensive rackets usually have higher-quality graphite, more technology and better manufacturing consistency. That gives more comfort, stability, a more predictable response and better durability.
Will an expensive racket make me a better player?
No. A racket won't improve your technique. Coaching will. The right racket is the tool that goes alongside it.
Are tour-level rackets bad for beginners?
They can be less forgiving. A stiff racket with a small sweet spot that's hard to manoeuvre makes the game harder and less enjoyable for a beginner.
What is the difference between the Yonex EZONE and EZONE Alpha?
The full EZONE has Minolon, 2G-Namd Speed and VDM. The Alpha keeps Minolon and VDM but uses Nanocell Neo instead of 2G-Namd Speed, at a much lower price.
What is the difference between the Yonex VCORE 100 and VCORE Ace?
The VCORE 100 has Servo Filter, 2G-Namd Flex Force and VDM. The VCORE Ace is a much cheaper full graphite racket with none of that technology.
Do expensive tennis rackets last longer?
Usually, yes. Graphite deteriorates with play, stringing and knocks, and better-quality graphite means greater durability.
Where can I demo a tennis racket in the UK?
PH Tennis offers a UK-wide demo service. Add £25 to any adult racket order, and the racket is strung, gripped, taped and sent out. If it's not right, return it for a full refund minus strings and the demo fee. If it is, the £25 is refunded.
Find out about our demo service
Final Thoughts
Expensive rackets do come with more tech. They're more purpose-specific for each type of player. But that might not be right for you. The best racket for you doesn't have to be the most expensive one. It has to fit how much you're playing, how much you want to spend, and keep you on court playing tennis. Expensive might technically mean better, but it doesn't mean it's the right one for you.
Thank you very much for reading. If you want more and more videos to build up your knowledge, subscribe to the channel so you never miss a thing from PH Tennis.
About PH Tennis
PH Tennis is North London's premier tennis store, serving Enfield, Middlesex and beyond. We're the place to come for tennis rackets, honest advice, restrings and demos.
If you can't get to us, we ship nationally with next day delivery as standard, free on orders over £75.
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