Top 10 Racquets of All Time
10. Prince Pro: This is the racquet that started the oversize revolution. It’s aluminum construction was not a great frame, but it holds a substantial place in racquet history, and that is why it makes the list.
9. Wilson T-2000: The T-200’s was lighter and stronger than the wooden racquets of it’s generation. It’s steel frame brought it the age of metal racquets. Jimmy Connors famously used this racquet for many years.
8. Wilson Profile: Like number 10 and 9 this frame was the beginning of a revolution. The Profile was the first Widebody racquet. It was very lightweight and powerful. It also had a lot of vibration, and also made famous one of the greatest tennis accessories of all time… The Tennis Elbow Brace.
7. Head Radical: The Radical is one of the most successful racquets of all time. Originally designed for Andre Agassi, this racquet has been on the market in various technologies for the better part of a decade.
6. Dunlop Black Max/200 G: These racquets were used by all-time greats John McEnroe and Steffi Graf. It was heavy, and extremely flexible. Steffi used the control to take huge swings with her forehand, Johnny Mac used the deft touch it had at the net. They were different frames but I lumped them together because I couldn’t choose between them!
5. Wilson Jack Kramer: When you think of the classic wooden racquet this should be what enters your mind. The number of pros that used this frame back in the day is too long to mention.
4. Head Prestige: This is and has been one of the most widely used frames on the men’s tour. Very control oriented, and very flexible, this frame is best suited for a player that takes a big swing, and can produce their own power. Like the Radical, it has been around with every new Head technology, their ultimate players racquet.
3. Babolat Pure Drive: This was the racquet that put Babolat on the map. Introduced in the US in 2000 this racquet is high on the list not much for how it plays, but because it started a revolution. Babolat was always known as a string manufacturer-but with the introduction of the Pure Drive and the visability it got from Andy Roddick and other pros-they soon became the #3 racquet company in the country, and growing.
2. Wilson Pro Staff 6.0: The closest thing to a modern classic. Pete Sampras used this frame to win 14 Grand Slam titles, and it was the first of the Wilson Pro Staff series. The available 85 square inch headsize version is the ultimate player racquet. Pro Staffs that were produced at Wilson’s St. Vincent in the late 80’s still go for huge amounts in online auctions.
And the #1 racquet of all time….
Prince Graphite II: OK I’ll be honest this one got the nod because of the sentimental value that it holds for me. This was the racquet that I used through High School and College. It got me through my biggest wins, and closest defeats. While the racquet was considered a player’s frame, it was pretty stiff and pretty light. The racquet had a lot of power, if you could control it. The Graphite II lived in the substantial shadow of the original Prince Graphite, and thus never got the recognition it deserved… until now!
Want to add your two cents to this list? Is there a racquet that I forgot? Come by the Essential Tennis Forum and post your thoughts in the gear review section. I’ll see you there!
