Maria Sharapova's Racket: From Prince to a Head Instinct That Wasn't Quite an Instinct

If you ever bought a Head Instinct because Maria Sharapova's name was on the marketing, here is a small secret from the pro stock world: the racket she actually played with was, by most expert accounts, a different Head frame painted to look like the Instinct. That is completely normal on tour, and it makes her racket story more interesting than a simple model name.

Sharapova retired in February 2020, so what follows is her equipment history, what is known, and what fans can realistically buy.

The Prince Years (to 2010)

Sharapova used Prince for the first part of her career, including her 2004 Wimbledon title at 17, her 2006 US Open and her 2008 Australian Open. By the end of that period she was using a Prince EXO3 Black, the frame with Prince's distinctive ports in the hoop.

Her relationship with Prince lasted about a decade. It ended in 2010, around her return from an elbow injury, after a difficult stretch that had also included shoulder surgery in late 2008.

The Switch to Head (2010 onward)

In 2010 fans noticed that Sharapova was playing with an all-black racket that no longer had the Prince holes or stencil. Tennis.com reported at the end of 2010 that the frame appeared to be a blacked-out Head Radical, which one racket expert described as thinner in the beam, a little more flexible and less head-heavy than the Prince she had been using. Her representatives at the time said no formal deal had been finalised, but she was soon officially a Head player.

From then on she became the face of the Head Instinct line, appearing with the Youtek IG Instinct, Graphene Instinct and Graphene Touch Instinct paint jobs. She won both her Roland Garros titles, in 2012 and 2014, as a Head player, which completed her career Grand Slam.

What Was Under the Paint?

Equipment specialists such as Tennisnerd report that Sharapova's actual frame was a customised Head Youtek Radical Pro, not a retail Instinct. The two rackets feel quite different: the Radical Pro type frame is thinner-beamed, more flexible and heavier in swingweight, while the retail Instinct is lighter, stiffer and more powerful.

Head never published her exact specifications, and players customise their frames with weight and balance adjustments over time, so any exact number you see should be treated as reported rather than official. What the reports agree on is the overall picture: a heavier, more control-oriented frame than the one sold in shops under her name.

String Setup

Her strings are reported as a hybrid of Babolat VS natural gut in the mains and Babolat RPM Blast (a spin-friendly polyester) in the crosses, at around 62 lb. Natural gut in the mains gives power and feel; the poly cross adds a little control and durability. Babolat strings with a Head frame is not unusual, since string sponsorships are often separate from racket deals.

Playing Style and Equipment

Sharapova played first-strike tennis. She stood 1.88 m tall, served big, took the ball early and hit flat, heavy groundstrokes from both wings, famously flattening out her two-handed backhand down the line. A heavier, stable frame suits that game: it holds steady against hard-hitting opponents and lets a player redirect pace without over-swinging.

Her serve changed after shoulder surgery in 2008, and she worked hard to rebuild it. The equipment choices in the second half of her career, with a flexible frame and natural gut, are consistent with a player looking for comfort as well as power.

What Is Known and What Is Not

Known: Prince through 2010, including the EXO3 Black; a blacked-out Head Radical from 2010; official Head Instinct endorsement afterwards; a gut and polyester hybrid.

Not known publicly: her exact weight, balance and swingweight, and how often those changed across seasons.

Similar Rackets for Fans

• Head Instinct MP (current version): the retail line she promoted. Friendly, powerful and comfortable, a good choice for many club players, even if it is not the same frame she played with.
• Head Radical MP or Radical Pro: closer in feel to what reports say was under her paint, with more control and a little more weight.
• Hybrid strings: natural gut or a good multifilament in the mains with a softer polyester in the crosses gives a similar blend of feel and control. Most recreational players should string several pounds lower than 62 lb.

As always, pick the racket that suits your swing, not just your favourite player. Sharapova's real lesson is in her competitive fire, not her specs.

Last updated: September 2026