Head Racquets Quality Control

E

eb_tennis_247

Rookie
I have a 2021 Radical MP and the specs of it are close to the advertised spec (1-2 g off on weight).

I am thinking about getting me a second one.

What should I expect from Head racquets when it comes to getting a second one?
 
esgee48

esgee48

G.O.A.T.
Head, Wilson and Babolat all produce their frames in very large runs. They use the same type of QC, which means you can be lucky or unlucky. There is really no way to tell unless you use a matching service. Even with same mass, balance and/or SW could be different.
 
beltsman

beltsman

G.O.A.T.
eb_tennis_247 said:
I have a 2021 Radical MP and the specs of it are close to the advertised spec (1-2 g off on weight).

I am thinking about getting me a second one.

What should I expect from Head racquets when it comes to getting a second one?
Click to expand...

I have measured all my Head racquets and they've all been on spec or within a few grams (in terms of weight at least). I think around 7 racquets.
 
Shankmeister-Chubs

Shankmeister-Chubs

Rookie
I recently got two racquets (radical 2019) simultaneously and the weight difference between them was 4.5g with a noticeable difference in swing weight. However, these were the 4th and 5th copies I purchased, and the first three varied by a total of 1.8g between them, and I couldn't feel the difference in the court.
 
E

esm

Legend
yep - the unstrung specs (weight/balance/SW) were pretty much "all over the place" on the recent purchases of the 2019 GPros and +Extreme MPs
 
Crocodile

Crocodile

G.O.A.T.
One of the issues Head have in addition to spec inconsistency is that they tend to use the wrong staples for their butt caps which leads to movement and unnecessary squeaking. While it’s not the end of the world ( I can fix it myself) it’s annoying when you have the problem from new from a brand that you are paying high prices.
 
Ryebread

Ryebread

Hall of Fame
wilson is very bad
head is bad
babolat is bad

buying tennis racquets (for us nerds) is like a box of chocolates...........
unless you go to a store, or use racquet experts
 
G

gutfeeling

Hall of Fame
beltsman said:
I have measured all my Head racquets and they've all been on spec or within a few grams (in terms of weight at least). I think around 7 racquets.
Click to expand...
Same, I’ve measured about 6-8 Extreme Tours and they’re all within +/- 2 grams, 0.1 cm, and 3 sw points which is pretty good. Yonex tolerance has been in the same range in terms of the 5-10 Ezones and Vcores I have measured lately.
 
Ryebread

Ryebread

Hall of Fame
I have seen issues of up to 5 grams for all three brands. I'm talking about SEVERAL tests, several demos and purchases. Not just a couple of purchases. 25-30 purchases in the past year. way more demos. I have a group of players that I string for and setup frames for.

on my yonex frames, I have seen mainly 1-2 grams UNDER spec, not too many over - if anything 1 gram over.
 
E

eb_tennis_247

Rookie
I am specifically interested in Head.
I am very familiar with Wilson and Dunlop issues. They seem to be notorious for their all over the place spec ranges.
Babolat does not seem far behind in that sense.

I noticed that Head does not seem to carry the same bad reputation.

Online reviewers don’t seem to complain much.
Andy from Tennis Euphoria has Head’s QC listed as average / above average in his quest for the new frame.
 
BillKid

BillKid

Hall of Fame
A couple years ago I bought 2 Graphene radical mp.
I don’t remember the weight difference but one was much head heavier than the other and one had a pingy sound with a lot of vibrations. I think it was not just about spec variation, the racquet was really unplayable.
Worst experience with a racquet, was very disappointed. I returned them to the store and luckily I got a full refund for the 2 racquets although I had played with them.
Later I ordered 2 other Radical mp through TW matching racquet service and everything was fine.
 
CosmosMpower

CosmosMpower

Hall of Fame
Not as good as Yonex but not as bad as Wilson. My 3 prestige MP two were close just a bit off on static weight and balance, one was heavier and more head heavy.

My 2 radical pros I had were a perfect match in weight and balance. These are all G360+ current gen sticks. I’d say you have a 50/50 shot of getting a second frame that’s close in specs.

I would grab the specs from the one you have and give them to TW to use their matching service to find a similar spec frame.
 
edelp

edelp

Semi-Pro
Hi, I have been also "lucky?" with Head racquets last months. the good news no Head frame I received had important overspecs, that I consider to be from 3 gr above, 2-3 mm higher unstrung balance or much higher SW.

I had one extreme tour that was 3 gr below and 3mm lower BP and 279 SW, so by adding 3 gr in the head I ended at 290SW (guess this is kind of "target" SW for this frame) and official weight and balance.
same with a Prestige S 360+. 4gr below, 4mm lower BP, 278 SW, by adding at the head all fine.
gravity pro is -1,5gr and -1mm BP, SW still to be measured
then my go-to speed mp 360+ (both white and the black) +/-2gr and never higher SW, actually expect 1 (have four) 288 to 292SW and 297 to 301gr unstrung weight.

Nice. either improved or i was lucky here.
 
KluddKalle

KluddKalle

Semi-Pro
I too have been either very lucky or the Head QC is really good. Bought two Head Gravity Tour. Bought them from TWE and a smaller shop here in Sweden, with a few weeks time between them. The static weight differs 1gr and the balance is the same. When I play them I can’t tell any difference. :)
 
G

guilhermefdc

Semi-Pro
Head's QC has gotten much better starting with the 360+ series. I have bought quite a few frames - including 2 Prestige MPs on different countries with 1g difference and the same SW, 1 on-spec Radical Pro and 3 on-spec Gravity Pros. I think recent releases are somewhat on par with Yonex.
 
joah310

joah310

Professional
My experience is that head does a decent job. Not always though, as I've had a graphene speed pro and a youtek ig speed mp come in at 310 g rather than 315, but honestly that isn't bad at all. Compared to crooked decals on a Wilson clash, out a 10 g light pure strike, it's miles better
 
E

eb_tennis_247

Rookie
I now have two Head Radical 2021 MPs, from two completely different sources and no store matching.

Both racquets are right on spec - one exact match and one 1g heavier.

So, anecdotally, and from a small sample - the Head Radical MP 2021 quality control is excellent.
 
C

cortado

Professional
eb_tennis_247 said:
I now have two Head Radical 2021 MPs, from two completely different sources and no store matching.

Both racquets are right on spec - one exact match and one 1g heavier.

So, anecdotally, and from a small sample - the Head Radical MP 2021 quality control is excellent.
Click to expand...
Have you measured swing-weight though?
 
Winners or Errors

Winners or Errors

Legend
If you pay them, TW will pick the racquet from their inventory that is closest to your spec. I have used that service every time I've ordered racquets from TW, each time with success, albeit usually when ordering multiple racquets I want matched. I don't see why they couldn't sift through looking for one, though.
 
Tronco20

Tronco20

Rookie
flex said:
How many grams do they tend to be off by?
Click to expand...
I have two Blades 104 2015, (bought from 2 different places) the weight difference between them is....wait for it..10 grams!! I could feel one was like a feather compared to the other one, the scale later told me why. The difference is huge, on the other hand one could be "only" 5 grams off the specs to the lighter side and the other 5grams heavier than the advertised specs, but the difference is so noticeable (in my case one seems to be on spec while the other ca. 8 grams heavier than it should be..)
 
Tronco20

Tronco20

Rookie
But I believe this is just a one off, usually I think and hope the difference isn't so big.
I had two Prince racquets with a little less than a 2 gram difference and Prince QC is said to be bad too
 
ollinger

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
flex said:
Isn't SW based off of mass and balance? So if 2 racquets have identical mass and balance...then wouldn't the SW be the same?
Click to expand...
Well, of course not. Imagine two racquets with the same weight but one has nearly all the weight concentrated in the center, 13.5 inches from either end, and the other has two large equal concentrations of weight one inch from either end. They will have the same even balance but very different SW.
 
FuzzyYellowBalls

FuzzyYellowBalls

Legend
Got burned with a Speed Pro once, it was 2 points off in head balance. Most qc issues I can handle, but that made it completely different in feel.
 
PrinceYonex

PrinceYonex

Semi-Pro
Winners or Errors said:
If you pay them, TW will pick the racquet from their inventory that is closest to your spec. I have used that service every time I've ordered racquets from TW, each time with success, albeit usually when ordering multiple racquets I want matched. I don't see why they couldn't sift through looking for one, though.
Click to expand...
Yes, they can pick one at a selected spec from their inventory. I’ve done this when I had one frame, liked the spec, and asked them to find another one that matched.
 
C

cha cha

Professional
My three Graphene Prestige Mids were all down to 1g weight with the same balance.
Not going to inquire about the swingweight as I want to stay impressed.
 
SinneGOAT

SinneGOAT

Hall of Fame
My two gravity pros were 1 gram within each other after leather grips. Don’t know balance or swingweight but felt the same. Hoping it’s a sign that most of their racquets are good like that, I put an OG on an extreme and it was 305, so 300 without it.
 
Hit 'em clean

Hit 'em clean

Semi-Pro
Even Yonex can have some QC issues... for the most part Yonex is certainly they best that I've seen. When the Head Gravity's first came out, the local place had a batch that were all pretty much on spec to slightly over. About a year later they all seemed slightly below spec. Most of them seem to concentrate more on matching the swing weight and less about the static weight. My Head Speed Pros have unfortunately varied in both SW and static weight so I've had to had a little lead here and there to get them to match up with balance and static weight... trouble is the SW are a little different.

With any mfg you're going to get variance... there are no guarantees.
 
BillKid

BillKid

Hall of Fame
Dragy said:
Any you are aware of! Once you got it from RDC, you can never go back.
Click to expand...
I’m pretty sure only rare players could detect a 4pts SW difference under controlled (blind) conditions
Even among the pickiest guys around here
 
Last edited:
Raizu

Raizu

Semi-Pro
eb_tennis_247 said:
I have a 2021 Radical MP and the specs of it are close to the advertised spec (1-2 g off on weight).

I am thinking about getting me a second one.

What should I expect from Head racquets when it comes to getting a second one?
Click to expand...
They should be within 1-2g tops. I have 8 Prestige MP Graphene and they are all exact. I have the current 2022 models and have weighed them with the reps and weight was within the above range.
 
Dartagnan64

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
Probably the least important thing someone should worry about IMO. If you aren't playing with fresh strings every match, your rackets will be playing significantly different every time that 2 points of SW won't matter.
 
E

emaz8724

Rookie
Raizu said:
They should be within 1-2g tops. I have 8 Prestige MP Graphene and they are all exact. I have the current 2022 models and have weighed them with the reps and weight was within the above range.
Click to expand...

That sounds very promising. Did any of the frames have issues with the buttcap being noisy or rattling? I read a lot of people complaining about that issue.
 
G

guilhermefdc

Semi-Pro
Raizu said:
I’ve never had a problem with Head grips or buttcaps. I did with Wilson since they were wood and would break.
Click to expand...
I’ve had to replace/restaple Heads buttcaps 3-4 times - I’m guessing that’s because I hold the grip lower than most people and this ends up damaging/loosening the buttcap.
 
joah310

joah310

Professional
guilhermefdc said:
I’ve had to replace/restaple Heads buttcaps 3-4 times - I’m guessing that’s because I hold the grip lower than most people and this ends up damaging/loosening the buttcap.
Click to expand...
I like to put a strip of cloth tape between the butt cap and the pallet, then just slide the staples back in. It should be a slightly tight fit, and the result is no wobbly butt cap. At least in my experience
 
L

lightblue

New User
On the off chance this is useful to anyone at some point in the future, I recently bought the Head Graphene 360 Extreme MP 2018 from TW and requested lower swing weight and lower static weight. The person handling my request looked at 10 rackets and gave me the specs for the 5 with the lowest swing weights and lowest static weights. I'm not sure what the specs are for the other 5 were.

Unstrung specs w/plastic:
1) 10.50oz, 4.5 HL, 298 SW
2) 10.52oz, 4.5 HL, 298 SW
3) 10.54oz, 6.0 HL, 296 SW
4) 10.55oz, 5.5 HL, 296 SW
5) 10.55oz, 6.0 HL, 294 SW

Wish Head would lower the swing weights of their Extreme and Speed MPs to at least around 320 so there's more room for customization. Most beginner to intermediate players do not need a swing weight higher than 330.
 
N

nov

Hall of Fame
TW matching service is great. When you buy 200+ price racquet, why risk?For only 20 eur you can select whatever sepcs you want (maybe slighter under spec or over spec). If they would make racquets with quality control, you would pay for it 300-400.
 
G

GN-001

Semi-Pro
Got 2 Radical MPs, I always thought one played alot heavier. Then I got a Briffidi SW1 and it turns out, 1 is 324 SW, the other is 333 SW.

So yeah...not a good experience with Head QC.

I got 4 Yonex Vcore Pro 97 (2018), balance, static weight, SW all the same. It helped that they were all from the same batch.

My conclusion: Yonex QC +1, Head QC -1
 
F

fieryoOo

Rookie
Recently bought two speed mps and here are the unstrung specs:

Weight: 291g, Balance: 32cm, SW: 283
Weight: 294g, Balance: 32.6cm, SW: 300

SW may not be accurate because I measured them strung myself and subtracted 30 for strings (both strung with 1.25g strings). That shouldn't affect the difference between them though.

They are basically two totally different racquets and I have no idea what to do with them. Customizing and adding this much SW would change how the racquet feels and plays and I won't get to racquets that play the same. I also don't want a >330 strung SW..
 
PrinceYonex

PrinceYonex

Semi-Pro
fieryoOo said:
Recently bought two speed mps and here are the unstrung specs:

Weight: 291g, Balance: 32cm, SW: 283
Weight: 294g, Balance: 32.6cm, SW: 300

SW may not be accurate because I measured them strung myself and subtracted 30 for strings (both strung with 1.25g strings). That shouldn't affect the difference between them though.

They are basically two totally different racquets and I have no idea what to do with them. Customizing and adding this much SW would change how the racquet feels and plays and I won't get to racquets that play the same. I also don't want a >330 strung SW..
Click to expand...
Oof, that’s pretty bad in terms of swingweight. I just bought a couple gravity mp, and they were all pretty close to each other and pretty close to the target spec. Luck of the draw.
 
F

fieryoOo

Rookie
PrinceYonex said:
Oof, that’s pretty bad in terms of swingweight. I just bought a couple gravity mp, and they were all pretty close to each other and pretty close to the target spec. Luck of the draw
Click to expand...
Balance is 2pts off too lol. I sent an email to Head. Not expecting much but want to see if they have anything to say about it.
 
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