Best Budget Tennis Rackets Under £125: 5 Proper Rackets That Won't Break the Bank
By Joe, PH Tennis
Quick Summary
You don't need to break the bank to get a great tennis racket. Top-end rackets can cost around £270, but you don't need to buy them. These are five rackets around £125 or under that are actually good tennis rackets. They'll save you money and help you love the game.
- Yonex EZONE Alpha: my number one. I can't believe this is under £125. It still has Yonex's Minolon.
- Babolat Boost Aero: far more tech than you'd expect at this price.
- Tecnifibre Tempo: light, manoeuvrable and a real good all-rounder.
- Prince Warrior 100: lightweight with a surprisingly soft feel, and a higher ceiling.
- Wilson Blade Feel RXT: the only one that isn't full graphite, but surprisingly good.
And my money-saving tip: look at older models of top-level rackets.
Watch the video above to see all five rackets up close.
Specs
| Racket | Head size | Weight | String pattern | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yonex EZONE Alpha | 100 sq in | 275 g | 16x18 | Full graphite |
| Babolat Boost Aero | 102 sq in | 260 g | Not listed | Full graphite |
| Tecnifibre Tempo 255 | 100 sq in | 255 g | 16x19 | Full graphite |
| Prince Warrior 100 | 100 sq in | 285 g | Not listed | Full graphite |
| Wilson Blade Feel RXT 105 | 105 sq in | 278 g | 16x19 | High percentage graphite |
What This Is
These are great rackets if you're just getting started but want to do a little better than the cheap aluminium rackets you find at the big sports retailers.
There are a number of reasons to avoid those really cheap aluminium frames. First, the quality of materials. We want full graphite, or a very high graphite composite. Aluminium is unforgiving. It's going to hurt your arm. It won't give you any flex, any feel, or any of the good stuff you want from a racket.
Second, restringing. With a graphite racket you can restring as often as you like, changing the way the racket feels and plays, and even some of the outcomes on your ball, just by changing the string. With cheap aluminium rackets, you can't do that at all, because restringing will bend the frame. We simply won't do it in our shop, and neither will most reputable retailers.
My Verdict
My number one racket under £125 is the Yonex EZONE Alpha. I cannot believe this is under £125. It's an almost-performance racket with the technology that makes the full performance racket stand out, at a much lower price.
The Babolat Boost Aero is my number two, and every racket on this list is a proper tennis racket that's better than a cheap aluminium frame.
My Top Five Budget Tennis Rackets
5. Wilson Blade Feel RXT 105
Not quite the Blade Feel range, which goes into a higher price bracket, but the RXT is a fantastic frame. It's the only frame in this top five that isn't full graphite, but it's a high percentage graphite and it's a well-constructed frame.
It has a 105 sq in head, so it's really forgiving. The bigger head means a bigger sweet spot, so it's easy to generate power and easy to control the ball. It's 278 g unstrung, which is quite lightweight but a reasonable weight for anybody starting out, with a standard 16x19 pattern.
It's also slightly longer than the standard 27 in, at 27 and a quarter inches. That seems like a marginal thing, but it makes a big difference. The extra length helps with the serve and gives you a bit of extra oomph, which you might need when you're starting out.
It's for players starting out and players playing socially. A bit of social doubles at the club, maybe. A starter racket, but a very good one. It surprisingly made my list because it's not full graphite, but I've played with it and it's surprisingly good.
4. Prince Warrior 100
The Prince Warrior 100 is a 285 g full graphite racket. The interesting thing about the Warrior is that its stiffness is quite low, which is rare in a light racket. So you've got the light weight, but you've also got a softness that gives you much better feel than you'd expect.
It's actually £126, so just over the line, but I reckon if you call us up, we'd get it below £125 just for you.
The thicker beam on the Warrior gives great stability, and it's a really good all-round racket. It's good if you're starting out, but it'll also last a little longer as you move into intermediate tennis. The ceiling is a little higher. If you want a racket with nice power but quite a soft feel, the Prince Warrior 100 is a great option at a fantastic price point.
3. Tecnifibre Tempo
The Tempo is quite a light racket at 255 g, so it's probably very good for young juniors, female players, and people who aren't quite strong enough to wield the heavier weights.
It's fantastic. Full graphite, a 16x19 pattern and a 100 sq in head. So it's forgiving, it gives plenty of power, it gives great feel, and it's a real good all-rounder.
Unlike the Blade Feel RXT, the Tempo is a slightly shorter racket. For younger, smaller players, the light weight and slightly shorter frame make it more manoeuvrable. The shorter length might reduce serve speed a little, but it benefits you in lots of other ways. Not everyone will love it, but I think it's fabulous for both the play style and the price point.
2. Babolat Boost Aero
I've gone for the Boost Aero, but you could just as easily choose the Boost Drive or Boost Strike, so each of Babolat's three families is represented in these budget-friendly options. Babolat do this fantastically well. These are really excellent rackets, and they come with far more tech than you'd expect at this price point. That's what makes them exceptional.
The Boost Aero has a 260 g unstrung weight and a 102 sq in head, so it's nice and forgiving. Big head, big sweet spot, easy to use. The Woofer grommet system is one of its standout features. The grommets let the strings move more freely, and if the strings move more freely, you get easy power and easy spin.
It's terrific if you're an intermediate player looking to play a bit more tennis without breaking the bank. If you're not sure about spending big money on a top-end racket, consider this your first proper adult racket. If you're a junior coming through, maybe this is the racket you move to. And if you're just starting out, this is a proper tennis racket with proper tech that will make you feel the way you should when playing with good-quality equipment.
1. Yonex EZONE Alpha
The Alpha series sits just below the tour-level rackets in Yonex's ranges. I've gone for the EZONE, because I think it will suit the most players at this price point.
What's amazing, and I was blown away by it, is that the Alpha still comes with the EZONE's key tech: Minolon. It's a technology specific to the EZONE, and it isn't found in any of Yonex's other rackets. Minolon is a bagworm fibre, from the minomushi, woven into the frame to create a really unique feel. It's soft and plush, and feels luxurious and easy to get on with. So you've got the technology that makes the performance racket stand out, in a much cheaper racket. Beautifully crafted, as you'd expect from Yonex, and fabulous all round.
There's the Alpha, the Alpha L and the Alpha SL, and the only difference between them is the weight. The Alpha is a 100 sq in frame with a 16x18 string pattern, so one cross string fewer than you'd expect in the normal EZONE range. That makes a wider string bed: easier power, easier spin, easier all round. That's what we want from this type of racket.
My Money-Saving Tip: Look at Older Models
Here's a gem to save you some money and get you the best racket possible: look at the older models. On our website, you'll find last year's models, or models from two years ago, from the top level of rackets at a hugely discounted rate. Every couple of years, brands release new versions, so the older ones get cheaper.
So if you do want a tour-level racket with more precision and more tech, look at the older models and you'll get yourself a great bargain. You're welcome.
Who Each Racket Is For
Yonex EZONE Alpha: the widest range of players at this price, who want easy power, easy spin and a soft, plush feel. Choose the Alpha L or Alpha SL for a lighter racket.
Babolat Boost Aero: intermediate players who want to play more without breaking the bank, juniors moving up, and beginners who want a proper racket with proper tech.
Tecnifibre Tempo: young juniors, female players, and anyone who isn't quite strong enough for heavier weights and wants manoeuvrability.
Prince Warrior 100: beginners who want a racket that will last into intermediate tennis, with power and a soft feel.
Wilson Blade Feel RXT 105: players starting out or playing socially, who want a forgiving racket with a bit of extra length on serve.
Try Before You Buy
If you're still unsure which racket to get, you can demo rackets with us 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
Or book an online consultation, where you can speak to us face to face, talk about your game and find the right racket for you.
FAQ
What is the best budget tennis racket?
Our number one is the Yonex EZONE Alpha, followed by the Babolat Boost Aero, Tecnifibre Tempo, Prince Warrior 100 and Wilson Blade Feel RXT 105.
Are cheap aluminium tennis rackets worth buying?
We'd avoid them. Aluminium is unforgiving, can hurt your arm and gives no flex or feel. Aluminium rackets also can't be restrung, because restringing will bend the frame.
Can you restring a cheap tennis racket?
Not an aluminium one. It will bend the frame, so we won't restring them in our shop, and neither will most reputable retailers. Graphite rackets can be restrung as often as you like.
Does the Yonex EZONE Alpha have Minolon?
Yes. The Alpha keeps the EZONE's key technology, Minolon, a bagworm fibre woven into the frame for a soft, plush feel.
What is the difference between the EZONE Alpha, Alpha L and Alpha SL?
Only the weight. The Alpha L and Alpha SL are lighter versions of the same racket.
What is the best budget racket for juniors?
The Tecnifibre Tempo is light at 255 g and slightly shorter, which makes it manoeuvrable for younger, smaller players. The Babolat Boost Aero is a great first proper adult racket for juniors moving up.
How can I get a top-level racket for less?
Look at older models. When brands release new versions every couple of years, last year's top-level rackets are discounted heavily.
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
So if I was choosing a racket under £125, this is the racket to go for: the Yonex EZONE Alpha is my number one budget-friendly tennis racket.
If you're still unsure, you can demo rackets with us in the UK, or book an online consultation and we'll talk about your game and find the right racket for you. As always, 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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