Best Alternative to Head Speed Pro.

K

Komtriku

New User
Hi, i have been using the speed pro with yonex strike 125 strings for over one month and it still lacks too much power in my opinion. I have the speed mp too and it s easier to generate power. It s good racket but sometimes in a match i used to change to the speed pro and viceverse whatever i look for more control kr more power.
I would like to find an alternative to the speed pro, something between the speed mp and speed pro. I just need a little more power that the speed pro.
it has to be 645 racquet and not heavier as the speed pro. Control is my priority for this racquet. For Power i have the speed mp already.
I am an aggressive baseliner, flat powerful hit style.
 
L

Lorenn

Hall of Fame
Komtriku said:
Hi, i have been using the speed pro with yonex strike 125 strings for over one month and it still lacks too much power in my opinion. I have the speed mp too and it s easier to generate power. It s good racket but sometimes in a match i used to change to the speed pro and viceverse whatever i look for more control kr more power.
I would like to find an alternative to the speed pro, something between the speed mp and speed pro. I just need a little more power that the speed pro.
it has to be 645 racquet and not heavier as the speed pro. Control is my priority for this racquet. For Power i have the speed mp already.
I am an aggressive baseliner, flat powerful hit style.
Click to expand...

Which Speed Pro are you using? 2022? 360+?
 
S

Saitamaxpunch1

Rookie
The 100 sq inch requirement makes it harder to find a control oriented frame. Maybe worth customising the Speed MP or other 100 to get there. The Speed Pro’s 18x20 string pattern is taking some of the oomph out, but is what’s giving it the control.

A video like this may be useful


More recently, the Pro Staff X is a bit heavier but seems like a good fit.


If you are willing to venture into 98 frame then there are a lot more ‘controlled power’ frames there with Pure Strike , Ezone 98, Aero 98 (see Alcaraz/Rune), etc. I think many folks here would say Pure Strike Tour is worth a try if you really want to put the ‘aggressive’, or ‘borderline oppressive’ in aggressive baseliner
 
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Aestheticsaboveallelse

Aestheticsaboveallelse

Legend
Komtriku said:
Hi, i have been using the speed pro with yonex strike 125 strings for over one month and it still lacks too much power in my opinion. I have the speed mp too and it s easier to generate power. It s good racket but sometimes in a match i used to change to the speed pro and viceverse whatever i look for more control kr more power.
I would like to find an alternative to the speed pro, something between the speed mp and speed pro. I just need a little more power that the speed pro.
it has to be 645 racquet and not heavier as the speed pro. Control is my priority for this racquet. For Power i have the speed mp already.
I am an aggressive baseliner, flat powerful hit style.
Click to expand...
Get yourself a 315 18x20 Shift or a prince TT 100p
 
amarg

amarg

New User
Dunlop cx400 tour. Same specs as speed MP, but with a dense 16x19 pattern. Suits flat strokes fine and doesn't lack power
 
tele

tele

Professional
Komtriku said:
Hi, i have been using the speed pro with yonex strike 125 strings for over one month and it still lacks too much power in my opinion. I have the speed mp too and it s easier to generate power. It s good racket but sometimes in a match i used to change to the speed pro and viceverse whatever i look for more control kr more power.
I would like to find an alternative to the speed pro, something between the speed mp and speed pro. I just need a little more power that the speed pro.
it has to be 645 racquet and not heavier as the speed pro. Control is my priority for this racquet. For Power i have the speed mp already.
I am an aggressive baseliner, flat powerful hit style.
Click to expand...
do you know the swingweight of your racquet? if it is under spec, boosting it 5-10 points would give noticeably more power.
 
Dragy

Dragy

Legend
TripleFault88 said:
Lowering tension and/or a thinner gauge would be an easy fix if all you are looking for is more power.
Click to expand...
Thinner gauge - not always, as it will also drop the SW. Softer string, lower tension and/or 1-2 g of lead tape right at 12 o'clock will solve the problem.
 
B

born_hard

Rookie
Softer string and lower tension can speed up the ball but you alter also spin, launch angle and trajectory. If the ball sails high and long you need to compensate with your swing path and, arm and wrist motion. So its not that easy after all as it sounds in theory
 
tele

tele

Professional
born_hard said:
Softer string and lower tension can speed up the ball but you alter also spin, launch angle and trajectory. If the ball sails high and long you need to compensate with your swing path and, arm and wrist motion. So its not that easy after all as it sounds in theory
Click to expand...
as long as you arent talking about extreme changes, ime it actually is pretty easy in practice, especially if the alternative is an entirely different racquet
 
L

Lorenn

Hall of Fame
born_hard said:
Softer string and lower tension can speed up the ball but you alter also spin, launch angle and trajectory. If the ball sails high and long you need to compensate with your swing path and, arm and wrist motion. So its not that easy after all as it sounds in theory
Click to expand...

Changing racquets likely changes things quiet a bit as well. I think in this case I would change string/tension, before changing racquets. Speed Pro 2022 is a great frame. If I had to change a little I would likely go Speed Mp 360+. New Gravity line might have something they like better. They might need a new racquet plus a little lead to be happy. Prince Textreme Tours 290/310/100P would be a good choice. Then I would go with 98 inch frames.
 
FootFault18

FootFault18

Rookie
Komtriku said:
Hi, i have been using the speed pro with yonex strike 125 strings for over one month and it still lacks too much power in my opinion. I have the speed mp too and it s easier to generate power. It s good racket but sometimes in a match i used to change to the speed pro and viceverse whatever i look for more control kr more power.
I would like to find an alternative to the speed pro, something between the speed mp and speed pro. I just need a little more power that the speed pro.
it has to be 645 racquet and not heavier as the speed pro. Control is my priority for this racquet. For Power i have the speed mp already.
I am an aggressive baseliner, flat powerful hit style.
Click to expand...
Head Gravity MP could be your racquet.
 
T

Trip

Hall of Fame
@Komtriku - As others have said, before looking at a frame switch, I would have to recommend looking at strings first. You mentioned Yonex Poly Tour Strike 1.25. That's a fairly stiff, somewhat lower-powered poly. If you haven't already, I would try dropping tension, then reducing gauge, both of which will increase the amount of power by providing a bit more trampoline and slingshot effect. If that doesn't work well enough, then I would try a more powerful poly, such as Poly Tour Pro, or even a hybrid, whether it be poly/synthetic or poly/gut, for more natural pop (even if you still string it higher).

As a secondary option, you could also try adding just a bit of lead to the hoop, to increasing hitting weight and plow-through, which would also add power.

Let us know how much of the above you've tried, and we can give you further guidance, including suggestions for new frames if necessary.
 
K

Komtriku

New User
Trip said:
@Komtriku - As others have said, before looking at a frame switch, I would have to recommend looking at strings first. You mentioned Yonex Poly Tour Strike 1.25. That's a fairly stiff, somewhat lower-powered poly. If you haven't already, I would try dropping tension, then reducing gauge, both of which will increase the amount of power by providing a bit more trampoline and slingshot effect. If that doesn't work well enough, then I would try a more powerful poly, such as Poly Tour Pro, or even a hybrid, whether it be poly/synthetic or poly/gut, for more natural pop (even if you still string it higher).

As a secondary option, you could also try adding just a bit of lead to the hoop, to increasing hitting weight and plow-through, which would also add power.

Let us know how much of the above you've tried, and we can give you further guidance, including suggestions for new frames if necessary.
Click to expand...

Many thanks for the feedbacks i will try to add lead tape on both rackets.and change the strings on the speed pro.
For a little bit more depth and power on the speed pro where exactly should i add lead tape?at 12?dont want the racquet to be even more heavier as it is. Just a little bit of depth and power should be fine if i also change the strings
for a little bit more Stability and Control should i add lead tape at 3&9 on the speed MP?
 
L

Lorenn

Hall of Fame
Komtriku said:
Many thanks for the feedbacks i will try to add lead tape on both rackets.and change the strings on the speed pro.
For a little bit more depth and power on the speed pro where exactly should i add lead tape?at 12?dont want the racquet to be even more heavier as it is. Just a little bit of depth and power should be fine if i also change the strings
for a little bit more Stability and Control should i add lead tape at 3&9 on the speed MP?
Click to expand...

Speed MP a little at 3 and 9 and enough to balance it out in the handle. Often changing to leather grip might be enough. Speed Pro I would like add at 12 and enough to keep balance to handle. Likely I would try strings first lead second, but it depends on how close you are to your preferred weight.
 
tele

tele

Professional
Komtriku said:
Many thanks for the feedbacks i will try to add lead tape on both rackets.and change the strings on the speed pro.
For a little bit more depth and power on the speed pro where exactly should i add lead tape?at 12?dont want the racquet to be even more heavier as it is. Just a little bit of depth and power should be fine if i also change the strings
for a little bit more Stability and Control should i add lead tape at 3&9 on the speed MP?
Click to expand...
I agree with @Komtriku that changing the strings is probably the best thing to do first. Before making any permanent weight additions, I have found that slapping a few grams of blue tack at various locations is a quick way to figure out what weight in a specific location will feel like. Weight at 12 will give you the most power (2-3g will make an immediately noticeable difference, and as little as 1g might be enough for you) with the least amount of weight. Achieving a set SW value via adding at 3&9 will make the racquet more sluggish (and stable) than doing so by adding at 12.
 
K

Komtriku

New User
So i will forst change the strings of the speed pro?do you have any suggestion for the strings?maybe the head lynx or hawk?

for the stability of the speed mp i will test it by adding some leadtape at 3 and 9 just 2grams(1gr per side)
I am playing with solinco tour bite soft on the speed mp. I like everything but it would be nice to have a little more stability and control when i hit the ball in a very powerful way.
 
SF_45er

SF_45er

New User
Funnily enough Im in a similar boat -- main racket is Speed Pro auxetic and backup is Speed MP 360+. With 2g at 12 oclock on the MP, it's a great backup when I need extra...speed. But I still prefer the pro. Im a 4.0ish player (UTR 6.2).

Rackets:
I'd look at the new VCore Pro 100D (actually meets all your requirements and it's new in market) or the 97D (Ive tried the latter and it swings lighter than you'd think). 18x20 Blade might be an option (light but can weight up to your liking). Gravity Pro 18x20 would be another option if not too heavy (or even Gravity MP - doesn't have the stability though I found playing up against 4.5 players). Personally I was thinking of trying out some lighter swinging rackets to help my serve, but I think I just like the Speed Pro too much on ground strokes to switch.

Strings:
Ive been experimenting with different strings, and just strung up Ghostwire 1.22 on the Pro and it is fantastic. Tons of spin and feel at 46/44 (even better than gut/poly at 55/50 which is also great). On the 18x20 gut hybrid lasts me ~30 hours - so well worth a try (all polys seem to crap out at 15 hrs for me). On Gut Ive tried lux, wilson VS and by far VS is better in every aspect (and ended up cheaper because it lasted longer).
 
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T

Trip

Hall of Fame
The 2019 TT100P (the stiffer 66RA) has arguably more free power per unit hitting weight, higher lateral stability (from the 15.1 twist weight), easier lift and more maneuverability in stock form, owing to the 1pt more head-light mass distribution and blended 21/23/22mm beam and slightly more oval head shape, which comes through the air more like a 98 and less like a 100. Just a supremely god-tier modern 18x20.
 
E

eb_tennis_247

Rookie
Is it possible that your Speed Pro 2022 might be on a heavier side, swingweight-wise?
I have tried some Speed Pros that are 333+ in SW and that is when I felt that the "magic" of this frame went away some.

The Speed Pro 2002s that are within +/- 3pts of its factory spec (326 SW) are magical. The combination of control, feel, power and spin are unlike any other frame I know.

However, with the higher SWs, they start feeling sluggish and underpowered, and the balls start flying short, and the serves become weaker unless you are an advanced, college-level or above player, who can generate pro-level power and racket-head speed regardless of the SW.
 
R

Rentege

New User
I’ve played with Speed MP and Pro and the Gravity Tour sits very nicely between them. That’s the direction I’d go.
 
Fluffy_Skye

Fluffy_Skye

Semi-Pro
Well it’s too late now but I would recommend Pro Staff 6.1 100. I’ve tried almost all the rackets on the market and I’ve found Pro Staff 6.1 100 sits nicely in between Speed MP and Speed Pro in terms of power and control. Other than the power difference, Pro Staff 6.1 100 is really similar to the Speed Pro. I can play them interchangeably with Speed Pro being heavier and slightly less powerful, slightly more control.
 
R

Royp91

New User
I had the same issue with the 2022 Speed Pro. Mine started with low SWs of about 320. I tried different strings and low tensions and I somehow couldn’t get it right. I went to the Pure Aero 2023 and it solved my issues of power and stability on volleys, but had developed mild golfers elbow because it was a bit stiffer. I have tried a bunch of other racquets (Blade V8 & V9 16x19, Blade Pro, Shift 315, Gravity Pro, Clash 98 v2, Boom Pro, to get me a Speed Pro with more easy power, Pure Strike 98 18x20, Vcore 100 ‘23) and the one that I don’t want to like but has the best results is the Pure Strike 97. The head size is really not an issue and for the way I hit the ball, I get more power and can generate more variety of spin than the Speed Pro. I try a racquet for quite a long time to get through the honeymoon phase, so this has been a long process. In the end, I am probably not much better off, and had nearly 2 years of wasting time and money.
 
R

Royp91

New User
Yes, the 2024 Pure Strike 97 is significantly less stiff than the PA23. They do share a similar feel though. I like the PA23 a lot and was effective using it.
 
D

devoker

Rookie
Saitamaxpunch1 said:
The 100 sq inch requirement makes it harder to find a control oriented frame. Maybe worth customising the Speed MP or other 100 to get there. The Speed Pro’s 18x20 string pattern is taking some of the oomph out, but is what’s giving it the control.
oppressive’ in aggressive baseliner
Click to expand...
percept 100 or 100D?
 
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