Today we’re looking into the crystal ball to figure out where tennis, and tennis racquets, are heading. I’ll also give you a broad outline of the releases you can look forward to in the first quarter (and maybe the second quarter) of 2027. Some of the exact timelines aren’t confirmed yet, but there’s plenty here for racquet nerds to get excited about.
Where Is Pro Tennis Heading?
I just returned from Babolat’s headquarters in Lyon, where we had an intense four-day event focused on new products – mainly the PP01 racquet. It’s a future-looking racquet: Babolat used surveys and other data to research where the game is going, and what a racquet for the future of pro tennis should look like.
The answer is clear. The game is getting increasingly aggressive. There’s a lot more power, and players can finish points from anywhere on the court. The level is also more competitive than ever. A player ranked 800 can now beat someone ranked 100 – that didn’t used to be the case, when the gaps between levels were much wider. Players today are physical, explosive, and hit the ball hard.
Strategically, the modern game doesn’t reward playing defensively. You need to attack the ball and take the initiative. If you’re defending, you need to turn things around as soon as you can. Being a counterpuncher still works, but only if you can absorb your opponent’s power and give them something back.
The Babolat PP01
That’s the thinking behind the PP01. Its shape and construction make it very stable, so you can take heavy shots on the rise and send them back, defending, deflecting, and redirecting power from the baseline. That’s where Babolat believes tennis is going.
I think it’s an interesting frame from Babolat, and a bit of a different way of thinking. I actually like it more and more the more I hit with it. I’m not sure it’s in my switching zone yet, but I really enjoy it. It has a bit more flex, and it feels more like a Speed than a Pure Drive or another power or spin racquet.
Is Modern Tennis More Entertaining?
We can all see the shift: more power, hitting the ball first, and relying on the serve plus one. But is it a more entertaining product than what we used to have? I’d argue maybe not. I preferred watching tennis 10–15 years ago – but maybe that’s just because I’m old and nostalgic.
Let me know in the comments where you think tennis is heading. And do you watch as much tennis as you used to?
Before the New Year: The Dunlop CX
It’s not all about the pros – what about us recreational and advanced club players? Next year brings new strings, new shoes and new racquets. But before 2027 even starts, we have a new Dunlop CX to look forward to (read more about my first impressions for the Dunlop CX 2027).
Dunlop has revealed the colour, and it is very red. I got some interesting comments on Instagram about it looking like a Yonex or yet another red racquet, but plenty of players love the design. It’s pretty similar to the previous version, so it’s a safe step rather than a big move in any direction.
Most importantly, I like how it plays. It follows a clear trend: taking control racquets and making them slightly more powerful, as Wilson did with the Blade. People want more power and more help from their racquets, and brands are using the mould and layup to deliver more power and ease of use.
The new CX keeps the same mould, but the layup has been re-engineered for a bit more power and stability – and you feel it on court. I actually like it more than its predecessor. Quality control also seems much better in terms of swingweight. The racquets I’ve tried are where they should be. When I played the CX 200 from 2024, the swingweight was around 300–310 strung, which just isn’t workable for a control racquet without adding weight.
Other Possible Launches
Beyond Dunlop, nothing else is firmly on my radar – let me know if I’ve missed something. (I’m not counting strings, as brands release those left, right and centre.) There might be something from Nordicdots, whose prototypes I’ve tried, but I haven’t checked in with them. I test prototypes from several brands and don’t always know the exact launch plans, so I’ll keep you posted.
I’ve also heard about a Jannik Sinner signature mould from Head – a 22mm Speed, the TGT 301.4. I’ve seen some pictures, but I don’t know anything more and won’t speculate. That could be a very interesting launch, though.
2027: The Year of Control Racquets
So what are we looking at for Q1 2027? I think it’s going to be a year of control racquets. I like control racquets, and I think you do too.
Head Radical
The first one I know about is the new Head Radical. I don’t know the exact launch date, but I’m sure it will feature Hy-Bor, and I’m pretty sure it’ll come in some shade of orange, which is kind of the standard now. I really enjoyed the 2023 and 2025 Radicals; they’re excellent racquets, but I’d love a bit more plushness: a more pro-stock feel with longer dwell time. We might not get it, since Hi-Bor is a bit stiffer and adds power, following the trend we’ve seen with other control racquets. Either way, I’m very excited about the Radical.
Yonex Percept
The next Percept is set to be a 98 – no more 97. This is smart thinking from Yonex. A 97 and a 98 are very close, and head sizes overlap and aren’t always exact, especially with the isometric head shape. I’m not sure the head will be noticeably larger, but customers may see a 97 as more demanding and prefer a 98. So: new Percepts and new Radicals, both control racquets.
Wilson RF
I’ve also heard that Wilson will update the RF line. The first RF was a solid release, but I think it was a bit disappointing to most players – it had something, but it wasn’t quite what people wanted. Compared to the huge success of the Pro Staff 97 and the RF97 Autograph, it wasn’t close in terms of excitement, and I’m pretty sure not in sales either.
So I’m curious to see what the next generation brings. Will it be very control-oriented, or will Wilson add power? Will there be a 100? And is the line still exciting now that Roger isn’t playing anymore? Most players seem to be thinking about spin or power racquets these days. Will the RF have a place, and will people buy it? Let me know what you think in the comments.
Head Prestige
I assume the Prestige will be back too. We got a taste with the Prestige Limited and the return of the iPrestige. Bringing back a 95 sq. in., 18×20 racquet in today’s game was pretty gutsy – not the biggest target group, but if you’re nostalgic about racquets and tennis in general, you’ll probably like it. I know people who bought several. I liked it too, though it’s not something I’d take into a tournament match.
Tecnifibre T-Fight
On the edge between control, power and versatility sits the Tecnifibre T-Fight. It was a huge success in 2025, and an update is already coming in 2027. I’ve tried it and liked it. I don’t expect a big difference in playability, but I think we’ll see a different grip shape – and that could be divisive. Some people will love it, some won’t. Maybe Tecnifibre will offer both the standard and the new shape during a transition period. I’m just throwing that out there.
Control Racquets Aren’t Going Away
The Babolat PP01 also fits here – more of a control racquet than a power racquet, though I’d place it in the middle of everything. It gives good stability and control, with a bit more power from its 100 sq. in. head.
So control racquets aren’t going anywhere. Brands are making them more user-friendly (a larger sweet spot and a bit more power) while keeping the comfort and feel that control players want. You want to feel connected to the ball, so you don’t want to overdampen the racquet or make it too powerful. It’ll be interesting to follow the control segment in 2027.
New Strings and Shoes for 2027
Luxilon
Luxilon has a new string on the way, and I’m curious about it. I tried the prototype and liked it. It wasn’t an instant home run – few strings are – but it was interesting, and I understand what they’re going for. Apparently they’ve made some changes since, and my buddy Henrik is sending me samples. When Luxilon releases a new string, it’s a big deal, because they don’t release many.
Babolat
The same goes for Babolat. I tried their new string in Lyon and really liked it. It’s softer and should be more arm-friendly. Babolat already has RPM Blast and RPM Team as firmer control strings, so this one adds more elasticity to save your arm a bit. As always, you’ll need to pair it with the right racquet and tension, so expect some experimenting. I’ve only hit with it in one racquet so far, but it was a positive first experience.
It will be interesting to see what everyone thinks of the new Babolat frame, a truly unique one. @babolat https://t.co/icKhTJR1b2
— Tennisnerd (@Tennisnerdnet) October 26, 2026
Aryna Sabalenka’s Blade
Back to racquets for a moment: I think we’ll also see Aryna Sabalenka’s Blade with the tiger print, although I’m not 100% sure. I actually have her personal racquet here and I’ll try it and share a review. Let me know how I should string it. Maybe with her own hybrid setup, if I can find the strings.
Shoes: Asics Gel-Resolution and Adidas Barricade
Asics has a new Gel-Resolution coming. The Gel-Resolution X was a bit of a polariser – I found it a lot clunkier and less likeable than the 9. The Gel-Resolution 9 gets two thumbs up from me; excellent shoes. The 10, not so much. Now we’ll see with the 11: have they gone back, or stayed the course? I’m very open to it.
We also have a new Adidas Barricade, so that’s two huge shoe releases early next year. Very exciting stuff.
The Best-Selling Racquets of 2026
I also got some interesting data on which racquets are selling well in 2026. No big shocks here: the big brands sell the most, and in most cases, the racquets used at the highest level sell best.
- Babolat Pure Aero 98 (2026) – there’s some debate over whether people prefer the old or new version. I’ve talked to people who like the new one, but I’m more of a fan of the previous model.
- Yonex VCORE 98 – selling well.
- Head Speed – doing really well, and we’re seeing more pros switch to Speeds (I covered Moutet and others in my recent pro player video).
- Yonex VCORE 100 – popular on the WTA and with some ATP players.
- Babolat Pure Aero 100
- Wilson Pro Staff 97 Classic – control and a crisp feel. It’s been around for a reason.
- Ultra Tour 98 – a bit of a surprise. It’s a good racquet and I liked it, but it’s not the most user-friendly, and you wouldn’t expect a niche frame like this to be a bestseller.
- Fire 98 Pro – an excellent seller.
- Wilson Blade 98 16×19 – also very popular.
Some lighter racquets are selling well too, like the VCORE 100L, the Pure Aero Team and the Clash. The Clash will always sell, I guess.
So tennis is still tennis. Club players haven’t all switched to Fires, Aeros, Pure Drives or Ultras – plenty are still playing with control racquets.
Find all the mentioned tennis racquets at our partners here:
- Wilson official website
- Tennis Warehouse (US, Canada)
- Tennis Warehouse Europe (10% off with code TNERD10)
- Tennis Only (AU)
- HEAD official website (USA)
The Big Trends: Comfort, Softer Polys and Staying Injury-Free
Looking at what the manufacturers are doing, I see two main trends:
- More forgiving racquets. Brands are taking their existing lines and making them more user-friendly – a larger sweet spot, more forgiveness and relatively easy on the arm.
- Softer polyester strings. Brands want players on soft polys that still give good control without feeling mushy or losing tension too quickly.
The overall direction is towards comfort and playability, and I think that’s great. That’s how it should be. We want to play as much tennis as we can; I certainly do. Otherwise, I feel weird, and injuries happen at every level. That is why I recommend going for the middle ground for most intermediate players: racquets that are relatively forgiving and comfortable. I made a post about the best racquets for intermediate players.
Just look at the pro tour this year. I’ve never seen a season with this many injuries. Maybe it’s a fluke, or maybe it’s the balls, the gear, the number of tournaments the players have to play – or something in the water. That’s just my perspective, but I think the data would back it up. The pros hit a huge number of heavy balls, and their joints, bones, and muscles are paying for it. It’ll be interesting to see whether equipment follows suit.
For the rest of us, the lesson is simple: stay injury-free if you can, and treat injuries properly if you get them. The right equipment really helps. Avoid a racquet that’s too stiff, a string that’s too stiff or a tension that’s too high, so fewer vibrations reach your wrist, forearm and elbow.
That’s my look at what’s coming in 2027. Let me know in the comments which release you’re most excited about!
