2026 has been one of the best years ever in terms of racket releases.

We got some major updates to popular lines, new lines from the biggest manufacturers, and a couple of fascinating models from brands not known for their rackets. Today, I’m going to run you through the top 15 rackets I’ve played with this year so far.

Of course, ranking rackets always comes down to personal preference because certain characteristics work better for me than they will for you. Still, I’ll try to be as objective as possible by detailing what makes these rackets special and who I think they’ll work best for.

I also want to say that just because a racket comes in lower on the list certainly doesn’t mean it’s a bad racket. I’ll be placing a major emphasis on outstanding qualities (i.e. power, spin, or control), as well as elements of novelty or technology that are unique to those frames. I’ll explain my reasoning for each racket, so with that out of the way, let’s get into it.

15. Mizuno Acrospeed

The Acrospeed is a great example of a racket that I’ve placed lower, but still consider excellent and truly valuable in the right player’s hands.

It has a thick beam, stiff flex and fairly open string bed, so it’s a forgiving power-oriented racket that helps you produce a heavy ball. What makes the Acrospeed unique, though, is the technology Mizuno uses within the layup of the frame. Instead of one solid piece of carbon, Mizuno uses two separate pieces that slide along each other to create a higher sensation of dwell time and more comfort.

This technology is so effective that, after my first hit, I thought the RA was closer to 60 than its actual 70 flex rating. It feels soft, forgiving and remarkably comfortable, while still maintaining that punch and top-end power of a true power racket. This technology does create a muted sensation that certainly won’t be for everyone, but if you want something powerful and aren’t willing to sacrifice comfort, it’s one of the best options out there right now.

14. Tecnifibre Fire 300

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the launch of the Tecnifibre Fire back in February, and while I didn’t have high hopes for the racket, I was very pleasantly surprised. The previous TFX1 lacked control, consistency and easy racket-head speed, but Tecnifibre went back to the drawing board when developing the Fire.

By widening the beam, they were able to significantly lower the swing weight, making it much more manoeuvrable. They also tightened up the string bed, making it more controlled, and lowered the flex rating ever so slightly. While it was already comfortable thanks to Tecnifibre’s X-Damp material, this softer flex makes it even plusher and better at dampening vibrations.

13. Wilson Blade 98 V10

You may be surprised to see the Wilson Blade come in so low, but this has less to do with the Blade being “bad” and more to do with it stagnating while other lines get better.

But this makes sense. Wilson knows that Blade users love the Blade and will likely not switch away from it as long as they keep it consistent from one generation to the next. Because of that, the Blade rarely sees massive changes or improvements. It’s a control racket with good power and spin for the modern game and Wilson sees no point in turning it into something it’s not.

Wilson did thicken the beam on the V10, making it more powerful than the previous several generations, but its core playability remains the same. While I don’t find it to be a particularly exciting racket to hit with anymore, it works, and that’s what’s most important with the Blade.

 

12. Head Boom Pro

It’s probably time for Head to take some risks with the Boom Pro. While this is a racket that I’ve always been a fan of (I switched to it in 2023), they haven’t made any major changes since it was first introduced back in 2022. Hy-Bor was a nice introduction this year, but without more innovation, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it eventually go extinct.

And that would be very sad, because the Boom is a racket that deserves a lot of love. At its core, this is a control racket, but because of its unique shape, it’s much more stable and powerful than its specs suggest.

It’s a very forgiving racket that still gives you a high sensation of control, making it rewarding and easy to play with. That’s a rare combination and something that I appreciate immensely every time I pick up this stick.

11. Mizuno Acrostrike

The Acrostrike is the second Mizuno racket I tested this year, and while it’s not as unique as the Acrospeed, it’s also less quirky, so it will work better for a wider variety of players.

This is Mizuno’s control racket, but unlike most control rackets, it’s remarkably spin-friendly. It has a very open string bed and a slightly less head-light balance, which helps you plough through the ball and generate more spin. It is a little bit more launchy than what I want out of a control racket, but if you value exceptional feel without sacrificing spin potential, this is one of the first rackets I would recommend.

10. Head Speed MP

Ranking the Speed MP at tenth on any list feels sacrilegious, but most of the rackets from here on out are exceptional, and the Speed didn’t change enough for me to rank it any higher.

Similar to the Blade, it doesn’t need to change, but I would be interested to see Head experiment with different beam profiles and thicknesses going forward. The only update to note with this generation’s Speed MP is the introduction of Hy-Bor into the layup. Like with the Boom, it has helped to improve feel, but there’s not much else to note.

Otherwise, the Speed is the Speed. It is the perfect jack-of-all-trades racket and will continue to dominate as the standout best in this category.

9. Babolat Pure Aero 98

I have to admit that this new Aero 98 has been a slight disappointment for me, considering the racket it replaces. It’s not a bad racket (in fact, it’s very good in its own right), but it’s not as special as the previous 98.

Babolat opted for a drastic redesign with this frame, making the beam thinner in the throat in order to increase aerodynamics and swing speed. To a certain extent, it works; however, the racket has lost most of that magical pop that was such an important part of the previous 98’s playability. It feels softer, more muted and less crisp, which negatively impacts my hitting experience with it. It may technically be better on paper, but it’s missing those intangible characteristics that made the previous one so special.

8. Speed Tour

For years, players have begged Head to release a Speed with a smaller head size and they finally obliged. Concentrating the Speed Tour into a 97-square-inch head makes the racket quicker, more precise, more controlled and gives it a much more satisfying feel in the sweet spot.

This feels like a classic racket, but has the power and spin we’ve come to expect from the line, making it extremely well-rounded. It’s a truly special frame that does require customization (especially weight at 3 & 9), but it is a perfect option for those of you who’ve played with heavier, smaller head-sized frames and want something a little bit more modern.

Personally, it’s been one of my favourite rackets to play with this year — I always keep one in my bag — but I don’t want to rank it any higher because it’s still a little too demanding for the average player.

7. Head Extreme Pro

The Extreme Pro is, and always has been, an underrated racket. It’s not as flashy as the Vcore 98, Ezone 98 and Aero 98, but it’s one of the most solid and controlled options in the modern player’s racket category. That makes it the perfect racket to transition into if you’re coming from something like a Blade or a Radical but want more power and spin.

Again, like with the Speed MP and Boom Pro, Head only made some minor changes with this generation (Hy-Bor), but I’ve been guilty of neglecting this racket in the past, and testing the new one reminded me how solid it actually is.

6. Yonex Vcore 100D

This is the first of multiple Vcores to crack the top six. Think of the Vcore 100D as a Vcore 100 with a tiny bit less juice and significantly fewer issues. The Vcore 100 is powerful and spin-friendly but inconsistent to the point where I really struggle to control it. By adding a 20th cross and raising the weight by 5 grams, it’s more stable, more precise, and generally a much more solid racket overall.

While it’s technically less spin-friendly because the launch angle is lower, I haven’t actually experienced that on court. In fact, because it’s so much more solid and confidence-inducing, I can swing it more freely and generate a heavier ball.

5. Wilson Defyer 100

You probably had a feeling this was coming; the question was more when is it coming? Well, the first Defyer on this list is the Defyer 100, and it’s the fifth best racket I’ve tested this year.

Now the Defyer 100 was totally eclipsed by its 98-square-inch sibling at launch, which is understandable, but it’s also a little bit unfair. This is a phenomenal racket in its own right and gives you exactly what you would expect from a bigger head-sized version of the Defyer. More power and more spin at the expense of manoeuvrability, control and ball feel. It’s a trade-off that makes it easier to use for more players, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time testing it.

I do think it’s slightly less “special” than the 98, but certainly still has that Defyer x-factor that everyone has been raving about.

4. Babolat Pure Aero 100

I don’t think a single racket surprised me as much as the Aero 100 did this year. After the disappointment I felt with the 98, I thought it would be the same story with the 100, but that wasn’t the case.

This is the first time Babolat has made a drastic change to the Aero 100 since it first launched as the Aero Pro Drive back in 2006. I never thought they would need to redesign it, but I can confidently say that this is a better overall racket than it has ever been. It’s softer, more comfortable and more stable than the previous versions, while still giving you huge spin potential, more spin modulation, and massive power.

I understand some of the pushback this racket has received from long-time Aero 100 users, but if you give it time, I think you will appreciate all of the subtle benefits this new design gives you. Perhaps Wilson can take some inspiration from Babolat with their next version of the Blade and take a leap of faith with a new design as well.

3. Yonex Vcore 95

If the Aero 100 surprised me the most, the Vcore 95 was a close second. This has always been a good racket, but it’s also always been tough to recommend because of how punishing a 95 can be. That’s not the case with this new Vcore 95. Somehow, Yonex have made a 95-square-inch racket equally, if not more forgiving than 97 and 98-square-inch control rackets.

I don’t know how they’ve done it — this racket is a genuine anomaly to me — but they have, and I can confidently recommend it to advanced players looking for a well-rounded modern player’s stick.

It’s a true Vcore in that it gives you huge spin potential and very good power, but it is so much more precise and whippy than its bigger siblings, which sets it apart from most other rackets in this category. Give it a shot if you can; you won’t be disappointed.

2. Wilson Defyer 98

It’s not number one but it is number two; the Defyer 98 is a phenomenal racket and I’m so glad it’s finally here.

The one thing I want to make abundantly clear about the Defyer is that this isn’t some futuristic, techy racket that has changed tennis forever. It’s actually quite the opposite. This is a fairly raw, rudimentary racket that prioritizes ball feel and consistency, while also giving you the power potential and huge spin that is required in modern tennis. Nothing blows you away with this racket, but it’s a very symbiotic design, so every part of its playability works well as a package.

You can hit flat, penetrative balls, grind with spin, and it performs phenomenally all around the court because of its great manoeuvrability.

It’s also a very pro-coded racket which comes with certain benefits and drawbacks. It provides the most connected feel of any modern player’s racket but also requires customization to be stable enough to use at a high level. Personally, I love that trade-off and I enjoy hitting with this racket, but keep in mind, it’s not for everyone, and the Defyer 100 may actually work better for more players.

So yes, the Defyer is one of the best rackets I tested this year, but, it’s not the very best.

1. Yonex Vcore 98

That crown belongs to the Vcore 98.

At first, I actually really disliked this frame. Yonex made it more powerful and higher launching than the previous version, which I initially associated with a loss of control, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

This is a remarkably consistent racket that certainly does launch the ball high, but once you dial in that launch, you will always feel in control. It has a massive sweet spot, it’s extremely stable, and gives you so much extra power and spin that it has helped to elevate my average shot quality. It also provides an extremely satisfying sensation on contact; you can feel the racket punching into the ball and amplifying power more than it does on other rackets. It’s crisp, it’s connected, and it’s a heck of a lot of fun to play with.

So this Vcore 98 is an absolute weapon that takes some time to get used to, but isn’t difficult to use once you are. Try it if you can, give yourself time to figure it out, and you’ll reap the benefits in the end.

That wraps up this list of the top 15 rackets I’ve played with in 2026. It’s been one of my favourite years as a play tester and I can only hope that 2027 will be just as fun. If you do want to demo any of the rackets I mentioned in this article, feel free to come and demo them in-store; otherwise, you can check them out online.