2013 Head Speeds

[mrmo1115]

Originally Posted by parasailing

You might be coming to terms that you might need a lighter racquet. I have been swapping between TGK 260.2, PSTGT, and the Blade, and I think my arm is confused. I know I should stop messing around wtih all these racquets and just concentrate on one but it's so much fun trying out all these racquets.

I don't think I will try out the 18x20 given that I am starting to figure out the 16x19 and I never liked a 18x20 but I will definitely test out the difference between the PSTGT and Blade 98. My hitting partner say I hit a heavier ball using the PSTGT but I starting to love how the Blade 98 feels.

I hope TW professor puts up the stats on the Head Speed 2013 Graphene so at least I can compare how it performs against the other racquets.

So you won't be demoing the 18x20 Blade? The 2013 Speed is on Racquet Finder and all of the specs are up. A tad heavier, a tad higher SW and a tad higher stiffness.

And I believe you're right.. I think a lighter frame would help... but still a stable/solid racquet at the same time. So I think the Blade and the Speed are my two finalist racquets just based on specs alone....unless you have any more racquet rec's since you're the junkie

Ever try the Prince Exo3 Tour? Wouldn't expect you to since its 18/20 and 16/18.. unless you've tried the 16/18.

[Bartelby]

How precisely do you bring it up on racquet finder?

[mrmo1115]

Just go to the RF and just search up "Speed" it'll show up.

Specs
Head Size: 100 sq. in. / 645 sq. cm.
Length: 27.00 inches / 68.58 cm
Strung Weight: 11.70 oz / 332 g
Balance: 6pts HL
Swing Weight: 328
Beam Width: 22.5mm
Tip/Shaft: 22.5mm / 21.5mm
Composition: d30 / Graphene
Power Level: Low
Stiffness: 68
String Pattern: 18 Mains/20 Crosses
Main Skip: None
String Tension: 48-57

Link to the racquet
http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/descpage-HGSPRO.html

[dje31]

Racquet Finder --> search on Graphene. No full size pics or pricing yet, but initial specs listed. Compare function even works.

[Bartelby]

Is racquet finder under TWU - then - racquet comparisons?

[mrmo1115]

Originally Posted by Bartelby

Is racquet finder under TWU - then - racquet comparisons?

No its on the left hand side under all the brands of racquets.

[Bartelby]

Thanks for that.

Originally Posted by mrmo1115

No its on the left hand side under all the brands of racquets.

[Bartelby]

This could do with rephrasing:

Ease of placement on serves leads to ambiguous targeting.

I think they mean varied.

[jchl97]

Detailed pics are also up, just copy the typical URL and replace with the specific code. For example:

http://img.tennis-warehouse.com/new_big/HGSPRO-1.jpg


Speed Pro: HGSPRO-(1-6)
Speed MP: HGSMP-(1-6) and so on...
refer to racquet finder for more

Clearly a more oval head shape indeed, some pleasing retouched graphics too

[jchl97]

As for the full collection, the catalog had been up on Head's server for quite a while, it's gone now. We'll just have to wait for 2 more days until the official release.

[MatikaS]

http://www.head.com/tennis/products/...eed/?region=eu

[mrmo1115]

Local store of mine has the racquet! Will be picking it up either today or tomorrow.

[parasailing]

Originally Posted by mrmo1115

Local store of mine has the racquet! Will be picking it up either today or tomorrow.

Let us know how it compares to the PSTGT.

[parasailing]

Originally Posted by mrmo1115

So you won't be demoing the 18x20 Blade? The 2013 Speed is on Racquet Finder and all of the specs are up. A tad heavier, a tad higher SW and a tad higher stiffness.

And I believe you're right.. I think a lighter frame would help... but still a stable/solid racquet at the same time. So I think the Blade and the Speed are my two finalist racquets just based on specs alone....unless you have any more racquet rec's since you're the junkie

Ever try the Prince Exo3 Tour? Wouldn't expect you to since its 18/20 and 16/18.. unless you've tried the 16/18.

Actually I have tried the Exo3 Tour 16/18 and found it to have too springy. It was really soft, probably the softest racquet I have ever hit with. I can even put a full set of poly on it which I think is a must on this racquet and have no arm problems. I generally stay away from 18x20 but willing to trying anything with a 16x something string pattern plus fewer crosses saves me extra time stringing the racquet.

[mrmo1115]

Originally Posted by parasailing

Let us know how it compares to the PSTGT.

Will do.

Originally Posted by parasailing

Actually I have tried the Exo3 Tour 16/18 and found it to have too springy. It was really soft, probably the softest racquet I have ever hit with. I can even put a full set of poly on it which I think is a must on this racquet and have no arm problems. I generally stay away from 18x20 but willing to trying anything with a 16x something string pattern plus fewer crosses saves me extra time stringing the racquet.

Yeah the stiffness rating is so low on these so I would expect such a soft feel. And just like the TW Reviews stated, I am sure these sticks have their own unique feel that would take a while to adjust to.

[TimothyO]

Originally Posted by corners

Head's marketing for this line says that the ultralight/ultrastiff graphene material allows them to redistribute weight in a beneficial manner. However, the weight distribution is easily discerned from looking at the above specs, and there is nothing new here. There are many racquets on the market with specs very similar, or even identical, to the ones above. I call BS on Head here.

I agree.

Graphene is obscenely expensive, probably far too expensive for this sort of application, at least at this time. Costs are coming down but this stuff ain't cheap!

And looking at the specs, yup, the frames are stiffer and the shafts are thicker, so no surprise there. Why would anyone use an expensive material like graphene to stiffen the shaft when you can just make it thicker...oh wait, that's probably what Head did: add a tiny bit of graphene to one part of the frame for marketing purposes but simply thicken the shaft.

Sadly, it seems that with the latest releases from Head, Dunlop, and Wilson all three are simply becoming Babolat clones: stiffer, thicker, lighter (excepting the Pure Storms which are the odd man out for Babolat). I prefer thinner, softer frames with a little bit of oomph (see signature) but they seem to be on the endangered species list!

[mrmo1115]

Won't be testing the frame out tonight I was really excited to as well. Will have a few hours with this frame tomorrow. Putting my playtesting of the Blades on hold since I get to keep those until the 17th whereas this frame has to go back to the shop either tomorrow night or the day after.

[Bartelby]

It looks like the new speed is actually the old radical pro model, which is now based on the radical mp, somewhat fattened.

It's a pity however that Head doesn't have a line with 97/98 frames.

[Tennisguy3000]

Please post on the stiffness of theses... I don't want to waste my time & arm demoing if its really stiff.

Thanks

[Tennisguy3000]

Just read this... " It has a breaking strength 200 times greater than steel." Hmmmm

http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/nov...092700085.html