10 best tennis rackets of all-time
Tennishead take history in their hands and puts together our ten most iconic tennis rackets to ever grace a tennis court. The big question is … do you agree with us on our pick of the best all time rackets?
The first ever official tennis racket, made of wood with a leather grip, was pioneered by British Army Officer Major Walter Clapton Wingfield in 1874 who also invented lawn tennis. Since then, the game has grown massively in popularity.
View this post on Instagram
From the late 1940’s wooden rackets began to be manufactured with lamination allowing for a colourful cosmetic shift towards a painted and graphical decal finish. This enabled brands like Wilson, Dunlop and Slazenger to set their rackets apart from others. The legendary Jack Kramer Autograph from Wilson is one early and ever popular example – handled skilfully by trailblazers Billie Jean King and Arthur Ashe.
Over the years, different rackets in a wide variety of shapes and sizes have evolved using a combination of different materials such as Ash wood in the main frame, for strength and flexibility, to the more modern high performance Carbon Fibre Graphite era.
So without further ado, here is our ultimate tennis rackets of all-time.
Dunlop Maxply Fort
Perhaps the best of the best! Originally introduced in 1932 and enjoyed for decades by top tennis professionals and amateurs alike. Everything down from the gold ‘Maxply’ banner shouldered by those unique red, black and white coloured stripes kept this racket centre stage.
Rod ‘The Rocket’ Laver fired up the Wimbledon crowds in 1962 with the Maxply Fort winning the Men’s Singles title. The Australian great cemented the frame’s success with a calendar Grand Slam in the same year.
View this post on Instagram
John McEnroe famously wielded this beauty (with updated wood and graphite layers) in his 1981 Wimbledon Men’s Singles final vs Borg winning his maiden Wimbledon title, as well as his 3rd career Grand Slam.
Wilson Jack Kramer Pro Staff
One of the most renowned woodies of them all, with it’s distinctive two diamonds showcased on the throat, the Jack Kramer Pro Staff is one solid frame to be reckoned with.
Billie Jean King competed with this racket at the turn of the 70’s. John McEnroe, aged 18 years old made his Wimbledon debut playing with it in 1977 and was the youngest man to reach the semi-finals in a century.
In 1980, McEnroe and his trusty ‘JK Pro Staff’ broke headlines, as part of that memorable fourth set tie-breaker vs Bjorn Borg. Need we say more?
Wilson T2000
The first ever chrome plated tubular steel beast. Invented by Rene Lacoste in the 1960’s and unveiled in 1967 after Wilson acquired the licence.
Jimmy Connors used the prototype version (after spotting it being tested at the Orange Bowl in 1964). In his own words, “I took months to master playing with the T2000, losing to virtually everyone. But I knew it was something special and loved the racket so much, I slept with it, seriously.” The Outsider, My Autobiography” by Jimmy Connors
The modern aerodynamic racket together with it’s wrap around wire stringbed system and incredible shot power, popularised this game changer like no other. Billie Jean King & Arthur Ashe were early adopters, but Connors hit the limelight with it at Wimbledon in 1974.
Donnay Allwood
‘The Iceman’ Bjorn Borg cometh, not only his cool looks and gameplay in 1976, (gaining massive media attention after winning his first Wimbledon trophy) but also his eye-catching racket.
View this post on Instagram
Tennis fans around the world, went duly nuts emulating his stylish game, rocking up to local courts holding the totally beloved black and multi-coloured Donnay Allwood.
Incidentally, Borg competed with the very same model, racking up a further two consecutive titles on the hollowed grass courts in 1977 and 1978.
Prince Original Graphite
Think Michael Chang, Monica Seles, Gabriela Sabatini and Andre Agassi and you are on the right lines. Whilst the extended Chang version was phenomenal – it might have been eclipsed by Monica Seles and her first major campaign at Roland Garros beating Steffi Graf in 1990.
View this post on Instagram
The POG Oversize with it’s glossy ‘green-lined’ beam is where we are at. After playing Agassi in the 1988 US Open Semi-Finals, referring to the racket, Ivan Lendl quipped “I wanted that forehand … I couldn’t pull off the feathered blonde ‘do”.
The Prince Original Graphite from the 80’s heralded a new era, unleashing massive plow-through and spin is a true godfather of tennis.
Wilson Pro Staff v1 6.0
Probably the modern holy grail of tennis racket history here. Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert sparked things off for the Wilson Pro Staff assisting in the design and testing process.
Released in 1983, combining the advanced materials, Kevlar and Graphite ‘The Staff’ offered better feel, control and power than it’s contemporaries.
The clean red and yellow lines looping around the 85 sq in head of this particular model, with it’s simple black finish sets it apart from the maddening crowd.
Since Wilson’s Pro Staff’s first inception, the range has developed no less than 14 versions (to this day). Pete Sampras, Steffi Graf and Roger Federer have all had a massive play in the true success of this line and rightly holds a place in our tennis racket hall of fame.
Yonex R-22
Joining the force of booming tennis in the 80’s, the Yonex R-22 with its carbon inspired silver and black isometric head shape and sporting it’s signature red pinstripe, became a colossal hit.
With a weight of 340g and 90 sq in head size, 16 x 19 string pattern and RA stiffness rating of 54 and thanks to Martina Navratilova using the Yonex R-22 back in 83 – the Czech-America became the first player in history to win singles and doubles in every Grand Slam tournament.
View this post on Instagram
Could this be the complete outsider of the bunch? We think otherwise and trust you will back our thoughts on this one. It’s a classic for sure!
Dunlop Max 200G
Used by Steffi Graf (who secured the Golden Slam in 1988) and John McEnroe together with some of the greatest players of all-time – not too mention us mere mortals! The 1983 Max 200G changed the tennis landscape and was the first graphite racket made using injection moulding.
The racket was designed by Frank William Popplewell who won the Prince of Wales Design Award for Technology. It also featured on Tomorrow’s World, a leading UK science and tech TV series displaying it’s pure strength.
View this post on Instagram
How can you not love the black, green and gold cosmetic (especially those distinctive chevron graphics)? This model might have been discontinued in 1989, but is a racket held in extremely high regard.
HEAD Radical
During the rebellious phase of a colourful Andre Agassi, the HEAD Radical Tour was created for him and blazed onto the scene in 1993.
View this post on Instagram
Dubbed ‘The Bumblebee’ emanating from it’s yellow and black colourway, the mid and oversize versions targeted players looking for more aggression in their game.
Agassi won the US Open with the HEAD Radical in 1994 and quoted “Having something that was so different, it felt as though it was in harmony with my personality and my rebellion at the time. I liked it because it was an expression. It was the greatest expression. The only thing, besides your mouth, that you can talk with is your racket.”
The HEAD Radical has since stolen many hearts and courts – which hasn’t faded at all and continues to burn bright.
Babolat Pure Drive
Launched in 1994 and signalling a new breed of power and control. Rafa Nadal competed with 4 generations of Pure Dive during his junior career.
The elliptical 100 sq in cross section frame was revolutionary and the hallmark of producing potent winners from the back of the court.
Carlos Moya stormed Roland Garros in 1998 with Babolat’s 2nd update of this line. Then in 2003, Andy Roddick wins his first major on home turf using the 2002 model – and our favourite of the series.
View this post on Instagram
In 2004 ‘A-Rod’ records a fastest serve of 155 mph – which is still is in the Top 10 of all-time. Kim Clijsters won the US Open with the Pure Drive the following year.
11 gens and over 30 years later, this family is still as strong as ever. That certainly stands the testament of time – much like the racket’s iconic blue tones.
Conclusion
You are most likely, thinking where is Rafa Nadal’s Pure Aero, Goran Ivanisevic’s HEAD iPrestige, Serena Williams Wilson Blade or Novak’s Djokovic’s HEAD Speed in the mix? Well, whilst we appreciate all these rackets greatly – they have been edged out by a whisker.
It’s been a tough line call on all these outstanding contenders, but we stand by our choices. The referee’s decision is final- as they say. However, we are equally happy to hear your best rackets of all-time.
Join >> Receive $700/£600 of tennis gear from the Tennishead CLUB
Social >> Facebook, Twitter & YouTube
Read >> World’s best tennis magazine
Shop >> Lowest price tennis gear from our trusted partner
