Best Tennis Rackets for Flat Hitters

I have written articles on the best tennis rackets for one handed backhands, two handed backhands, doubles, and tennis elbow.

Now it’s time to have a look at the best tennis rackets for flat hitters!

Check out my guide below for what you should look out for when buying a racket for a flat hitter as well as my top five racket recommendations for players who like to hit the ball flat.

What should you look for when buying a tennis racket for a flat hitter?

If you consider yourself to be a flat hitter, then below are some things you should look out for when buying a frame that suits your flat hitting playing style.

Head Size

Most options that are suitable for flat hitters will be in the 95 to 98 inches head size range as most flat hitters have no problems generating power on their shots so a smaller head size gives them the control they need.

Weight

Most flat hitters prefer some weight behind their shots so I would recommend a weight of at least 310g strung.

Balance

I pretty much recommend a head light balance for all playing styles including flat hitters as a head light balance will be more maneuverable than a head heavy or evenly balanced frame while at the same time being much easier on your wrist and arm.

String Pattern

You should look for frames that have an open string pattern e.g. 16×19 as this will help add some topspin to your shots without changing your technique.

It will also mean that you will be able to hit the ball harder but still have the ball land in.

Stiffness Rating

Although there is no hard and fast rule in terms of what the stiffness rating should be.

But from my experience, you will find that frames that are suited to flat hitters will tend to have a relatively high stiffness rating.

So if you have had arm issues or tennis elbow in the past, you may want to go for a frame with a lower stiffness rating such as the Wilson Blade 98.

5 Best Tennis Rackets for Flat Hitters in 2023

Below are the five tennis rackets that I would recommend to flat hitters, with four out of the five rackets being made by Wilson with the fifth being made by Babolat.

The below list is in no particular order and I would be happy to recommend any one of the five to players who like to hit flat shots.

If I had to pick one as my favorite, then I would choose the Six One 95 as I love the control you get with this frame.

1. Wilson Pro Staff 97

The first racket I would recommend is the Wilson Pro Staff 97 which is a lighter version of the more popular Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph (also one of our recommended rackets) and in my opinion, is a more suitable racket for the average recreational player.

The Pro Staff 97 works great for flat hitters as it has a 97-inch head size, a manageable weight, is head light, and has an open string pattern.

The Pro Staff 97 is available to buy from Amazon and if you purchase using the link below you will be helping to support our blog as we will earn a small commission from the sale at no additional cost to you.

2. Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph

The Wilson Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph is endorsed by Roger Federer and for this reason alone is one of Wilson’s best selling rackets.

The RF97 is a great racket for flat hitters with the only downside being its weight as you really do feel it in your arms after playing for an hour with this racket.

However, if you advanced player who is a flat hitter then this racket will be the perfect match for you as it offers you the ultimate racket in terms of control.

The Pro Staff RF 97 Autograph is available to buy from Amazon and if you purchase using the link below you will be helping to support our blog as we will earn a small commission from the sale at no additional cost to you.

3. Wilson Six One 95 18×20

The Wilson Six One 95 was my tennis racket of choice for many years as it suited my flat hitting playing style perfectly.

The Six One 95 was great from the baseline and was a dream to use at the net.

The only downside to the racket was its weight as similar to the RF 97, you need a strong arm to play with the racket.

This is the main reason why I gravitated towards more arm friendly rackets like the Blade 98 and Clash 98.

The Wilson Six One 95 is only available through Wilson’s Pro Lab.

The Six One 95 tennis racket is only available with an 18×20 string pattern as Wilson no longer provides a 16×19 string pattern version.

4. Wilson Blade 98 16×19

The Wilson Blade 98 16×19 would be the racket I would recommend if you are a flat hitter who has had arm issues or tennis elbow in the past as it is by far the most arm friendly tennis racket on our list.

Although the Blade 98 doesn’t offer the same level of control as the RF 97 or the Six One 95, it is still a very solid racket that works well with a flat hitting style.

I also found it to be a bit more forgiving than other options on our list.

Also at a strung weight of 320g, the Blade 98 is much more manageable for intermediate to advanced recreational players to play with.

The Blade 98 is available to buy from Amazon and if you purchase using the link below you will be helping to support our blog as we will earn a small commission from the sale at no additional cost to you.

5. Babolat Pure Strike 16×19

The last racket on our list is the Babolat Pure Strike 16×19 which is a good option for flat hitters who want an alternative to the Wilson tennis rackets mentioned above.

The Babolat Pure Strike 98 ticks most of the boxes in terms of what you look for in a racket suited to flat hitters as it has a 98in head size, a manageable weight, a head light balance, and an open 16×19 string pattern.

The Babolat Pure Strike 98 is available to buy from Amazon and if you purchase using the link below you will be helping to support our blog as we will earn a small commission from the sale at no additional cost to you.