Wimbledon worthy: White racquets that would look right at home at SW19

Babolat Pure Strike 98 (16x19) ($249)

Where the Pure Drive is the ultimate power racquet, and the Pure Aero boasts wicked spin, the Pure Strike is Babolat’s more control-oriented family of racquets. It’s constructed with a hybrid beam that combines the stability and precision of a square shape with the punch of an elliptical design. For this fourth generation of the Pure Strike, Babolat enhanced the frame’s command and feel at contact. The racquet’s beam has been softened by 2-to-3 RA rating points to dial back some of the stiffness and power so there’s greater comfort and control.

But it also has a high swingweight, which translates into heavy hitting. NF2 Tech—natural flax fibers placed at strategic points in the racquet—filters out unwanted vibration to improve the hitting experience and produce a more muted sound at contact which Babolat believes gives the user a better perception of control.

The Pure Strike’s combination of power, spin and precision makes it a versatile, all-court option.

Solinco Whiteout 305 V2 ($230)

While their strings have gained a following in the pro and college ranks, Solinco’s racquets are just starting to gain a foothold in the game. In only its second iteration, the Whiteout brings a Swiss Army knife-quality to the court.

Its thin, constant beam strikes a predictable ball with a pleasing feel at impact. In action, this translates into an all-around performer capable of succeeding in a variety of assignments. From the back of the court there’s sufficient power and spin potential to crack big serves and ground strokes to play hero ball. Control and consistency are also both dependable enough to engage in a more protracted style to grind opponents down. When the player wants to be clever, the touch is there to produce more delicate specialty shots. Interchangeable, weighted butt caps are available to allow players to customize the frame’s balance, and a tiger-camo cosmetic inspired by gaming aesthetics gives the racquet a bold look.

Tecnifibre T-Fight 305S ($279)

Shrewd changes to the layup of the latest T-Fight 305S made it a more accessible and effective frame.

The mass has been shifted from both the handle and top of the hoop and pushed toward the throat of the racquet. This creates a more head-light balance and lowers the frame’s swingweight for smoother handling and increased swing speed. It still produces good power, only now it relies on more racquet head acceleration in the equation to produce it. It rewards shots in the sweet spot with ample pop, predictable targeting and a superb response. A unique 18x19 string pattern offers a worthwhile compromise between the spin-potential of a 16x19 and the directional control of an 18x20. Its constant beam has a medium flex and is packed with foam filling, producing the type of clean, connected response a player might expect to find in a pro stock frame.

Yonex VCORE 98 Sand Beige ($305)

This special-edition colorway—the standard VCORE is predominantly red—isn’t technically white. It’s more of an elegant cream color, but it’s close enough in the looks department, and certainly worthy when it comes to playability.

The VCORE 98 is a versatile frame that produces a lively ball. It’s the spin franchise in the Yonex lineup, and this latest version has a few new wrinkles to enhance production. The tip of the frame has been thinned slightly to encourage faster swings. A widening of the head at the 2 and 10 o’clock positions of the face expands the sweet spot in the upper hoop and the spacing of the main strings. Along with the new silicone-infused grommets for faster string snapback, this results in greater string movement.

Add it all up, and the frame accelerates easily and can also find an extra gear when the player wants ramp up both spin and power.