HEAD Boom Official Thread

smalahove

Hall of Fame
I got hold of the the (MP) proto, and tried it out yesterday.

First impression: very easy to use and feels like a blend between the Rad MP and Extreme MP. This seems like a perfect racket for beginners and intermediate that gravitate towards a sub 300g tweener frame.
My initial conclusion is that this frame is not for me; just like the Extreme MP, the frame is just too fast and light, making it difficult for me to time the swing properly when I want to go for my shots. Ime, adding lead on these types of frames is difficult as you not only have to address counterbalancing, you also have to add lead in the throat area, which often alters the feel completely.

At the same time, I'm really interested in the Pro version, as the reduced head size and the added weight (and SW) is exactly what I felt was missing with the Proto for my game.
 

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
@TW Staff
1) not a 100 but a 98 sq in frame
2) not sure where you got the RA value, I’d be surprised if correct or even close
3) it is a constant beam 22mm stick
 

emaz8724

Rookie
@TW Staff
1) not a 100 but a 98 sq in frame
2) not sure where you got the RA value, I’d be surprised if correct or even close
3) it is a constant beam 22mm stick

Hey, DR, isn’t this the same thing that happened to @Raizu when he measured the Boom Pro’s RA at 70? I wonder what’s up with the tech in the frame that is creating a higher RA value than the frame feels like?
 

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
Hey, DR, isn’t this the same thing that happened to @Raizu when he measured the Boom Pro’s RA at 70? I wonder what’s up with the tech in the frame that is creating a higher RA value than the frame feels like?
RA is irrelevant in my opinion as it only measures a single point flex. With new technologies focused on specific areas of the frame (Auxetic on the yoke or bridge), it can be very misleading.
The frame felt very comfortable and communicative and I’d say more like 62-63 RA strung
 

emaz8724

Rookie
RA is irrelevant in my opinion as it only measures a single point flex. With new technologies focused on specific areas of the frame (Auxetic on the yoke or bridge), it can be very misleading.
The frame felt very comfortable and communicative and I’d say more like 62-63 RA strung

Sounds like some cool engineering went into the tech of these frames. Thanks, man!
 

TW Staff

Administrator
Good catch -- apologies on our end!

Yes, the Boom Pro is 98 square inches. As for the RA, we will double check but that is our initial assessment based on the average of our samples.

Even we have blonde moments from time to time ;)

TW Staff
 

TW Staff

Administrator
Hey, DR, isn’t this the same thing that happened to @Raizu when he measured the Boom Pro’s RA at 70? I wonder what’s up with the tech in the frame that is creating a higher RA value than the frame feels like?
@TW Staff
1) not a 100 but a 98 sq in frame
2) not sure where you got the RA value, I’d be surprised if correct or even close
3) it is a constant beam 22mm stick

Hey Guys,
The stiffness was taken from 8 samples spread across two RDCs - the lowest was 66/67, highest 68/68. We did not measure the torsional rigidity (butt-tip axis) or radial stiffness in head (3/9) or any other bending points that affect vibration. We do think the Pro plays on the soft side.

The factory target beam is 22mm/straight (and 24mm/straight for MP). The beam measurements in our spec table come from actual samples. We typically use the factory targets unless the actual samples are off by over .5mm. To avoid confusion, we are considering using only the factory targets going forward.

Jon
 

emaz8724

Rookie
Hey Guys,
The stiffness was taken from 8 samples spread across two RDCs - the lowest was 66/67, highest 68/68. We did not measure the torsional rigidity (butt-tip axis) or radial stiffness in head (3/9) or any other bending points that affect vibration. We do think the Pro plays softer than sticks with similar RA's.

The factory target beam is 22mm/straight (and 24mm straight for MP). The beam measurements in our spec table come from actual samples. We typically use the factory targets unless the actual samples are off by over .5mm. To avoid confusion, we are considering using only the factory targets going forward.

Jon

Hey, Jon, thanks man. I actually like that you are using the 0.5 mm threshold for the listed specs, rather than just listing the factory target spec. QC issues can stick out like a sore thumb, and hopefully be remedied by manufacturers.
 

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
Hey Guys,
The stiffness was taken from 8 samples spread across two RDCs - the lowest was 66/67, highest 68/68. We did not measure the torsional rigidity (butt-tip axis) or radial stiffness in head (3/9) or any other bending points that affect vibration. We do think the Pro plays on the soft side.

The factory target beam is 22mm/straight (and 24mm straight for MP). The beam measurements in our spec table come from actual samples. We typically use the factory targets unless the actual samples are off by over .5mm. To avoid confusion, we are considering using only the factory targets going forward.

Jon
No worries Jon, just helping.
I tested the Boom Pro in Kennelbach two months ago and found it to be very nice feel and great feedback however, I don’t doubt that unstrung RA is as you mentioned at that specific point.
 

Automatix

Legend
Hey Guys,
The stiffness was taken from 8 samples spread across two RDCs - the lowest was 66/67, highest 68/68. We did not measure the torsional rigidity (butt-tip axis) or radial stiffness in head (3/9) or any other bending points that affect vibration. We do think the Pro plays on the soft side.

The factory target beam is 22mm/straight (and 24mm/straight for MP). The beam measurements in our spec table come from actual samples. We typically use the factory targets unless the actual samples are off by over .5mm. To avoid confusion, we are considering using only the factory targets going forward.

Jon
IMHO that would suck. One of the reasons I like TW is that they provide real specs - or rather an average of most of them. Manufacturers provide something different than declared? Let us know!
 

DJ-

Hall of Fame
I have seen 2 boom pro's on a RDC and both measured 68ra. Many racquets with that ra can play and feel like 63-64ra
 

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
I have seen 2 boom pro's on a RDC and both measured 68ra. Many racquets with that ra can play and feel like 63-64ra
Strung or unstrung?
Again, the RA is measured at one point if the frame therefore irrelevant spec, especially with todays technologies focused on specific areas to make frames behave differently.
Since I popped my strings on my PT57A (gut/poly) when in KB in September, I switched to Boom Pro (full poly) and had no stiffness issues at all. And my arm is a mess generally. So, that is the good thing about the Boom Pro.

The average factory measurements at Head are lower.
 

Leen

Rookie
The boom pro and extreme tour look quite similar and same target audience? Any substantial differences I am missing? I would prefer the one that offers most spin and control.
 

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
The boom pro and extreme tour look quite similar and same target audience? Any substantial differences I am missing? I would prefer the one that offers most spin and control.
Quite different.
The Boom is teardrop shape making the sweet spot larger and higher in the hoop. The boom also offers more spin and slightly more power than the ET.
I definitely did not experience any control issues however I’d say the ET has slightly more control over Boom Pro.
 

TW Staff

Administrator
IMHO that would suck. One of the reasons I like TW is that they provide real specs - or rather an average of most of them. Manufacturers provide something different than declared? Let us know!

Regarding the beam specs, we're also discussing listing both the factory targets and the actual TW measurements, but no decision has been made. We appreciate your feedback on this issue. We also love seeing all this interest in the Booms. As you can tell from our reviews and descriptions, we are more than a little impressed by the feel and playability. Head did a great job on these.

Jon
 

fox

Professional
IMHO that would suck. One of the reasons I like TW is that they provide real specs - or rather an average of most of them. Manufacturers provide something different than declared? Let us know!
Exactly what I thought. Real specs are interesting and TW is the best for having them.
 

stephenclown

Professional
For anyone still wondering about why RA is a pretty poor metric for certain frames, the Prince tennis guys had a post on how they measure their frames when designing.

 

TW Staff

Administrator
How easy is the Boom Pro to swing compared to Extreme Tour?

If you compare the actual samples tested/reviewed by us, the Boom Pro swings heavier but [I'm speculating] not by an amount that would dissuade an E.Tour user. Also, our sample of the Boom Pro felt more stable / comfortable than the E.Tour through impact, and the higher dynamic mass translated into easier power. Given the range of swingweights we typically see across nearly every model, I'm betting we could find one that swings like the E.Tour. Both are 310g unstrung w/ balances separated by .5cm, i.e., easily matched, provided we have enough stock to check.

Jon
 

Sup TT. Currently I'm using the Head Extreme Tour and I got the opportunity to try the Boom Pro. Both racquets play different from each other. The Extreme Tour has more pop and spin. The Boom pro has a bit more control and I found I have to swing a little harder to get the same pace. The Boom also has a muted feel vs the Extreme Tour. It's my first time using an Auxetic racquet so that may be it. The Booms will sell well imo. The Boom Pro feels like a beefier Gravity MP with better feel. If this racquet stays around $230 it will do well. Am I going to switch? For now the Extreme Tour stays my racquet of choice.
 

emaz8724

Rookie

Sup TT. Currently I'm using the Head Extreme Tour and I got the opportunity to try the Boom Pro. Both racquets play different from each other. The Extreme Tour has more pop and spin. The Boom pro has a bit more control and I found I have to swing a little harder to get the same pace. The Boom also has a muted feel vs the Extreme Tour. It's my first time using an Auxetic racquet so that may be it. The Booms will sell well imo. The Boom Pro feels like a beefier Gravity MP with better feel. If this racquet stays around $230 it will do well. Am I going to switch? For now the Extreme Tour stays my racquet of choice.

How did the flex feel on the Boom Pro? Was it softer than the Extreme Tour? I know the RA is higher, but the Boom Pro has been described by other users as plush.
 

DJTaurus

Hall of Fame

Sup TT. Currently I'm using the Head Extreme Tour and I got the opportunity to try the Boom Pro. Both racquets play different from each other. The Extreme Tour has more pop and spin. The Boom pro has a bit more control and I found I have to swing a little harder to get the same pace. The Boom also has a muted feel vs the Extreme Tour. It's my first time using an Auxetic racquet so that may be it. The Booms will sell well imo. The Boom Pro feels like a beefier Gravity MP with better feel. If this racquet stays around $230 it will do well. Am I going to switch? For now the Extreme Tour stays my racquet of choice.

To me extreme tour is too under powered….. so thanks for the clarification. I won’t even both to demo Boom pro.
 
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How did the flex feel on the Boom Pro? Was it softer than the Extreme Tour? I know the RA is higher, but the Boom Pro has been described by other users as plush.
Plush is a great word to describe the boom pro. Yeah a little more flexible than the Extreme Tour. Boom pro doesn't give as much spin as the strings don't move as much as the Tour. Boom pro is geared towards 4.0-4.5 imo.
 

TW Staff

Administrator
How did the flex feel on the Boom Pro? Was it softer than the Extreme Tour? I know the RA is higher, but the Boom Pro has been described by other users as plush.

The Boom Pro feels softer & more flexible than many racquets with lower stiffness values. This is possibly due to greater flex in other areas of the frame. The Boom Pro also has a higher sweetspot with a plusher feeling toward the upper hoop, i.e., less vibration where most players make contact. That said, the challenge of comparing these sticks stems from different swingweights - the Boom Pro we tested had a higher SW than the E.Tour by over 10pts. Given the higher recoil shock of the Extreme Tour, it felt a little firmer and harsher than the Boom Pro, but that is likely more of a weight thing. If we hit similarly weighted versions of each, I'm betting the Boom Pro would still feel more comfortable, but I'm not sure by what margin.

Jon

Edit.
Just lowered the Pro's stiffness by 1 based on additional samples measured.
 

avocadoz

Professional
I cringe at the corny “You Got This!” slogan. Also, this looks more like an Ezone competitor instead of Clash.
 

NickJ

Professional
Specs as given by Jonas on his TennisNerd YT channel -

Boom Pro (unstrung) - 98 sq inch, 22mm beam, 16x19, 310g, 290 SW, 31cm balance
Boom MP (unstrung) - 100 sq inch, 24mm beam, 19x19, 295g, 275 SW, 31.5cm balance

I can't confirm if these are accurate, I'm just putting on what was on the video. These were the only two models he had been sent by Head.
 

1HBHfanatic

Legend
-what i find interesting is the string/s chosen for this play-test/review
-head.lynx.TOUR/h.lynx.TOUCH 53lbs !?!?!
-i dont think @TW Staff ever used a hybrid setup the string on a review and/or a global review

-TW, was this a suggested setup by HEAD?
tnx
 

TW Staff

Administrator
@1HBHfanatic - Sorry for the confusion, but those were 2 different setups, not a hybrid. We tried it with a full bed of Lynx Tour and a full bed of Lynx Touch. For both, both of those were around 53 pounds.

Thanks,
Tiffani, TW
 

TennisHound

Legend
Got to try the Boom MP today. It’s amazing the amount of instability Head has engineered into this frame. It also has the familiar crisp Graphene crackle upon impact. Also the familiar weak throat that was common with the Graphene XT Touch and 360 Speed MP. I added weight from 10 to 2, but the frame still bucked and kicked if I tried to direct hard pace back with control. I like the string pattern, however. Of course it was strung with Head Hawk .16 around 56 lbs. it feels very familiar to the Graphene 360 Speed MP, but slightly more gutless.

Also tried the Pro, but was pleasantly surprised by it. Still felt a little vague and stiff on contact, but felt whippy and somewhat solid in hard shots. I preferred it 100% over the MP. It has to be strung loose.
 
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SinneGOAT

Hall of Fame
Got to try the Boom MP today. It’s amazing the amount of instability Head has engineered into this frame. It also has the familiar crisp Graphene crackle upon impact. Also the familiar weak throat that was common with the Graphene XT Touch and 360 Speed MP. I added weight from 10 to 2, but the frame still bucked and kicked if I tried to direct hard pace back with control. I like the string pattern, however. Of course it was strung with Head Hawk .16 around 56 lbs. it feels very familiar to the Graphene 360 Speed MP, but slightly more gutless.

Also tried the Pro, but was pleasantly surprised by it. Still felt a little vague and stiff on contact, but felt whippy and somewhat solid in hard shots. I preferred it 100% over the MP. It has to be strung loose.
Wow that doesn’t sound good :( I agree, something about graphene just isn’t as good as the old stuff. My microgel extremes are so much better and comfortable than the 360+ extreme.
 

n8dawg6

Legend
I made a simple comment on TW Facebook page that prices this year are unreal and my post was deleted with a Facebook notification to accept if i agree or ask for a revise. Lmao.
my take is that the price gap has widened. so youve got new models at $260 or $280, but you can still get a clearance racquet for $119. or a prince graphite for $139.

that said, i cant believe i didnt buy a thousand 2015 blade 98S’s when they were $79 a pop …
 

DJTaurus

Hall of Fame
my take is that the price gap has widened. so youve got new models at $260 or $280, but you can still get a clearance racquet for $119. or a prince graphite for $139.

that said, i cant believe i didnt buy a thousand 2015 blade 98S’s when they were $79 a pop …

Now where we could found them ? Nothing moderns compares to them.
 

time_fly

Hall of Fame
The Boom line nominally replaces the Instinct, which was definitely oriented towards women. The color scheme of the new Boom line suggests a similar target, but there aren’t that many ladies that would play a 310g, 98” frame aside from the top tiers of competitive players. It will be interesting to see who gravitates towards this line,especially the Pro model.
 

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
The Boom line nominally replaces the Instinct, which was definitely oriented towards women. The color scheme of the new Boom line suggests a similar target, but there aren’t that many ladies that would play a 310g, 98” frame aside from the top tiers of competitive players. It will be interesting to see who gravitates towards this line,especially the Pro model.
Actually, the Boom line does NOT replace the Instinct line.
 

time_fly

Hall of Fame
Actually, the Boom line does NOT replace the Instinct line.
That's marketing spin. They use similar blue color schemes, they are both power-oriented designs, and the Instinct disappeared around the same time as the Boom appeared. Head knows the Instinct wasn't popular by the end of its run so of course they are saying the Boom is totally different, no relation, everything I just mentioned is coincidence.
 

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
That's marketing spin. They use similar blue color schemes, they are both power-oriented designs, and the Instinct disappeared around the same time as the Boom appeared. Head knows the Instinct wasn't popular by the end of its run so of course they are saying the Boom is totally different, no relation, everything I just mentioned is coincidence.
Instinct is still alive and kicking and actually will get a new PJ in a few weeks
 

Mischko

Professional
well not everyone is 40+ with 35+ years of tennis experience. why wouldn't Head, and others, make racquets (with an appropriate string in this case too) for youngsters and adults who are kind of beginners. racquets that won't give them an injury, is also a good idea. not all cars are race cars either..

JP has another channel, in english, but I don't know if this review in french will appear there. written form, also in french: https://www.team-tennis.fr/materiel/raquette-de-tennis-head-boom-mp

 
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fed1

Professional
That's marketing spin. They use similar blue color schemes, they are both power-oriented designs, and the Instinct disappeared around the same time as the Boom appeared. Head knows the Instinct wasn't popular by the end of its run so of course they are saying the Boom is totally different, no relation, everything I just mentioned is coincidence.
Have you hit with the Boom or Boom Pro??
 
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