The tennis rackets we see professional players using often look very similar to the ones sold in stores. However, behind their familiar appearance, there is often something very different. So-called Pro Stock rackets are rackets that are specially designed and customized to meet the exact needs of each athlete. They are used almost exclusively by professional players, are very difficult to find on the open market, and can be significantly more expensive, often costing several times more than a standard retail racket. This is due both to their limited availability and to the specific player for whom the racket is made.
Differences between Pro Stock and retail rackets
Pro Stock rackets, unlike retail models available to the general public, are produced in limited quantities and customized with great precision to suit each professional player. Differences may include head size and geometry, balance, swingweight, and custom weight placement. While these differences are often invisible to the naked eye, they are clearly noticeable in performance. Pro Stock versions are also considerably more expensive than their retail counterparts.
Where can you find Pro Stock rackets?
Many online tennis retailers offer Pro Stock rackets for sale. For example, prostocktennis sells rackets used by top players such as Grigor Dimitrov and Adrian Mannarino, as well as Stefanos Tsitsipas’ personal Wilson Pro Stock Blade 98.
It is important to understand that Pro Stock rackets are built to match the exact needs of each professional athlete, which makes them highly specialized tools of extreme precision. They are not simply better versions of retail models, but rackets that are designed and fine-tuned with surgical accuracy to perfectly suit a player’s style and demands. While most amateur players do not need this level of customization, understanding the difference between a retail racket and a Pro Stock racket helps us better appreciate the technical depth of modern tennis.