If you know me, you already know that control rackets are my favourite category, so these lists are some of the most exciting that I get to put together every year.
But this 2025 Top 5 Control Rackets edition feels a little different. I re-watched last year’s before starting on this one, and it struck me how much the definition of a “control racket” has shifted in the last several years. The way players (and brands) think about control isn’t the same anymore, and you’ll see that reflected in this new ranking.
How Control Has Changed
Control rackets are not dying, but they can’t just be “all control and nothing else” anymore. Players—both at the recreational and professional level—need more from their frames than pure consistency and feel.
That shift is largely due to the rise of modern hybrid rackets like the Yonex Ezone 98 and Babolat Pure Aero 98. These frames combine good precision with significantly more power and spin, and players have realized how much easier that can make life on the court. Even pros who have historically leaned on traditional control rackets have been switching to more modern, versatile sticks.
Control's relationship to power is the core reason for this shift. In the past, control and power were almost perfectly negatively correlated—more power meant less control—but brands have innovated. Now, you can add power and spin to a racket without lowering your sensation of control, although you do lose some classic control.
Defining “Classic Control”
To understand where we’re headed, we have to look at where we came from. Classic control rackets are built around three pillars:
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Ball feel: That connected sensation where the racket becomes an extension of your arm.
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Consistency: You always know what you’re getting out of the frame.
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Precision: The ball goes exactly where you tell it to.
Classic control frames have soft, thin beams, small head sizes, dense string patterns, and heavier static weights. All of these features maximize stability, predictability, and feel—but they also come with trade-offs. Thin beams and smaller heads soak up the ball's energy, dense string beds kill trampoline effect, and heavy frames are slower to swing. The result? Low power.
A great example of this philosophy is the iconic Head Pro Tour 280. It’s the prototypical “10/10” control racket, but as good as it was for control, it was always difficult to generate easy power and spin with.
The Modern Shift
Here’s the big takeaway: you don’t necessarily need a classic control racket to feel in control anymore. You can use spin, you can adjust your strings and because nearly everyone today is playing with more powerful rackets, using a super low-powered frame can actually be a disadvantage.
That’s why, in this year’s top five, you’ll notice more emphasis on frames that offer strong control plus other elements like power, spin, or maneuverability.
I’m not going to fill this list with pure power rackets, but it’s no longer enough to be a scalpel-like control stick and nothing else.
With that in mind, let’s get into the rankings.
5: Yonex Percept 97
This could be the first big surprise on the list. The Yonex Percept 97 was #1 last year, and it’s still an excellent racket, but it slips a few spots in 2025.
Why? A few reasons. New frames have come out, other brands updated their lines, but also, the Percept 97 represents the exact “classic control” profile that’s becoming less dominant.
This frame is traditional through and through:
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97 sq. in. head size
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21 mm box beam
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Soft flex (60 RA)
The result is incredible precision and a clean, connected ball feel, and if you like that unmistakable feedback in and out of the sweet spot, this is the racket for you. The isometric head shape also makes the demanding head size slightly more forgiving without compromising maneuverability. Stability is also good at 310 grams stock, but I recommend adding a bit of weight to the sides of the hoop for better plow-through.
As for modern elements? There are some, but they're subtle. Yonex’s stabilization tech slightly increases the sweet spot, but it’s understated compared to the next rackets on this list—and that’s actually part of the charm.
The Percept 97 remains one of the best options for players chasing true classic control and it would still be my number one recommendation if that's all you want out of a frame.
4: Head Gravity Tour
Control racket enthusiasts have been begging Head for this release, and the 2025 Gravity Tour does not disappoint.
On paper, it checks the classic control boxes:
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98 sq. in. head size
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Soft layup with a 22 mm constant beam
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Plush ball feel and superb stability
But the Gravity Tour also leans into modern design trends. The teardrop head shape concentrates mass higher up in the hoop, which makes it extremely stable without requiring a high swing weight, and that design also increases leverage for more power and spin.
The feel here is also highly addictive. The sweet spot rewards you with a plush-yet-booming response that makes you want to find it every time. It's a very unique sensation that creates a sound I've never heard off of a racket before, and you won't know how much you like auditory feedback like this until you try it.
The trade-off? The Gravity Tour is not as “scalpel-like” or whippy as something like the Percept 97 and it's also not as consistent on flatter shots. That's why it's not coming in any higher than fourth, but if you play a modern, spin-heavy game and want a control racket that complements it, the Gravity Tour is a phenomenal choice.
3: Tecnifibre T-Fight 305S
The Tecnifibre T-Fight 305 has been a quietly excellent frame for years, and this latest version has finally brought the line into the spotlight. It's received rave reviews since it came out back in February and it might just be the most well-rounded frame on the market (for advanced players).
From a control perspective, it has the fundamentals:
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18x19 string pattern for a low launch angle and predictable response
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Crisp, defined ball feel
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Exceptional stability even against heavy pace
But the T-Fight is not a soft, counterpuncher’s frame. It’s a modern control racket through and through, starting with its hybrid beam design. The beam is oval in the throat which makes it more powerful, and then it has a half-moon shape in the hoop for a blend of rigidity and feel.
That design gives it a more “point-and-shoot” profile, with faster power transfer and excellent spin potential. Tecnifibre also lowered the swing weight and made the balance more head-light compared to previous generations, making it far easier to swing.
The T-Fight 305 is the very definition of a well-rounded modern control racket. It might not be as purely control-focused as #2 or #1, but for many players, that balance will be exactly what they need.
2: Babolat Pure Strike 98
I’ll admit it: leaving the Pure Strike 98 off the 2023 and 2024 lists was a mistake. This is a phenomenal racket that deserved recognition, and in 2025 it climbs all the way up to #2.
The Pure Strike 98 breaks from the “constant beam” formula which is why I looked over it for many years, but that's also what makes this racket so special. The variable beam makes the frame more rigid overall, which translates into easy power and spin.
There are very few rackets that are this powerful; the Strike can launch the ball when you get a hold of it and that makes it extremely competitive at this fast paced level that tennis has become.
The feel isn’t as buttery as the Gravity Pro or the Percept 97, but it’s still connected enough to keep advanced players happy and it has it's own charm. It's a little more muted and hollow than some purists may want, but I've gotten to a point with the Pure Strike where I do find an addictive sensation on contact, which I crave from my control racket.
These are its key strengths:
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Consistent launch angle across both the 18x20 and 16x19 patterns
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Extremely stable thanks to a hefty swing weight
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Excellent spin potential for controlling bigger, heavier shots
One caveat: the heavy swing weight means the Strike 98 is a lot to handle, especially if you struggle to generate racket head speed. This is a racket I recommend almost exclusively to advanced players, but if you’re a big-hitting baseliner who can handle the heft, this racket is a dream.
A Quick Word on the Wilson Blade and Other Honourable Mentions
You might have noticed that the Wilson Blade doesn’t appear on this year’s list. That’s not because it’s a bad racket—it’s still very popular and offers a familiar feel for Blade loyalists—but it’s caught in a strange middle ground at the moment.
It’s not powerful or spin-friendly enough to compete with modern frames like the Gravity Tour, and its muted feel keeps it from excelling as a true classic control racket. Time will tell where Wilson decides to take the Blade line, but at the moment it doesn't crack the top five control frames for me.
The Solinco Whiteout 305 v2 also deserves a mention. It has strong power and spin potential, but in stock form it lacks the stability and feel to crack the top five. I’ll continue testing it with some customization and I'll revisit it in a future comparison.
1: Head Gravity Pro
This year’s winner shouldn’t shock anyone. After dropping to #2 in 2024, the Head Gravity Pro reclaims the crown as the best control racket of 2025.
What sets the Gravity Pro apart is that it truly blends classic and modern control elements into a nearly perfect package.
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Buttery 20 mm beam for legendary, classic feel
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18x20 string pattern with a consistent, low launch angle
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Tear-drop head shape for incredible stability
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Enough string movement and head size (100 sq. in.) to provide modern spin and power
That 100 square inch head may scare control purists, but it's one of the only 100s where I never think, “I wish the sweet spot was smaller for more accuracy.” It’s stable enough for pros, precise enough for counterpunchers, and versatile enough to complement a modern, spin-friendly game.
The only drawback? Like the Pure Strike, it’s demanding. At 315 grams and with a clunkier, head-heavy feel, this is not a racket for players who struggle with racket head speed. Head has worked to lower the swing weight and make it more head-light over the last few generations, but it’s still best suited for advanced players.
Otherwise, it's a near-perfect control frame that is still very much that: a classic control racket.
Wrapping It Up
This year’s top five list looks very different from the classic control-heavy rankings of the past. The Yonex Percept 97 and Head Gravity Pro are still here for traditionalists, but frames like the Gravity Tour, T-Fight 305, and Pure Strike 98 are definitely shaking things up a little bit.
In 2025, a great control racket has to complement the way modern tennis is played—with heavier topspin, faster rallies, and more emphasis on offense.
Please don't hesitate to come and try out one of these frames to see which one suits your game. If you’re in the Vancouver area, come visit us at Rackets & Runners to demo them, or, you can check them out online at racketsandrunners.ca.
