The 9 Best Racquetball Racquets

Club players who want a steady frame should try the Head Graphene Radical 170, a graphite teardrop with graphene built in to keep it stable on contact. It comes strung, and two string patterns, one for power and one for control, let a stringer change its feel later. Racquetball Rules names it its top choice short of a deluxe frame. Balance figures conflict, so try one first, and the price is high.

Players moving past their first frame can step up to the Head Intelligence i.165, a light graphite racquet with a little extra weight toward the tip for free power. It's strung with synthetic gut, the grip is soft and tacky, and the build quality is solid, a clear step up from a beginner frame. The modest head means a smaller sweet spot than an oversize frame, and it can feel short on punch.

The racquet that launched Gearbox's line, the Gearbox GB250 Original is still sold today. It's all graphite, built on a patented solid frame rather than the usual hollow tube, with a head-heavy balance for power and a shape that blends square and teardrop styles. It arrives strung, and the solid design is meant to hold up to hard play. Its track record with players is still short, so long-term toughness is less proven.

Once sold as its line's top tournament frame, the E-Force Bedlam 170 Lite is a graphite teardrop that E-Force calls its all-time best seller. Its center strings run the full length, through the hollow handle, which is meant to let the string bed flex for more power. Tubes inside the handle damp vibration, and the stringing pattern is meant to cut breakage. Durability is mixed: frames can break within a year, and many players replace the factory strings early.

More than 50 graphite pieces go into the E-Force Xcelerator 170, a recent frame built for pop. It has a neutral balance and a teardrop shape, and its very flexible throat and shaft bend on contact for extra power. The strings run as long as the frame allows, with the main strings passing through the hollow handle. It also comes in lighter, heavier and square-headed versions. It's new, so its record on the court is thin.

Experienced players with a fast swing are the audience for the Head 360 Extreme, part of Head's light, quick line of frames. Graphene placed around the frame is meant to keep it steady on contact, and this version sits in the middle of the line's weight range, light enough to whip through the ball. The linked page sells several versions and weights, so check the model before you buy. Stock runs low, and feedback from players is limited.

New players and school programs often start with the Python Intro 5000, a pre-strung frame from a racquetball-only brand and one of the most common in the sport. It has a teardrop head, a head-light balance for quick handling and a comfortable grip, and the value is good. Sellers disagree on whether the frame is graphite or aluminum. The frame or strings can break within weeks, and the sweet spot can feel small.

Recreational and club players get a forgiving value frame in the Gearbox GB-75. It's on the heavy side, so a slower swing still puts mass behind the ball, and its handle runs a little longer than usual. The composite frame adds graphite for stiffness, along with a power string pattern and vibration control, and it comes strung. The extra weight tires the arm sooner in long matches, and Gearbox publishes no head size or balance.

At a price low enough to try the sport without much risk, the Head CPS Heat makes a sensible first racquet. Its large head gives a big hitting area, the weight sits near the middle of the frame, and a damping system soaks up some vibration. Beginners get solid heft and good value. The factory strings can break within about six weeks, though, so plan on a restring or a spare if you play often.