HEAD Custom Made: HEAD offering custom rackets to everyone

mpournaras

mpournaras

Hall of Fame
Head now offers a service to "make a racket from scratch"

It really only offers a SPeed mold and all you can customize is the length, weight, drill pattern, Grip shape, and balance

But I hope this platform expands into offering prostock frames and custom layups. One can only hope I guess.

It looks like they are trying to springboard off of Djokovics popularity



http://custommade.head.com/
 
I would rather check Angell Tennis fr a custom frame. The options are nice, but it's really expensive for what it is.
 
If they had a swing weight parameter and a weight distribution parameter they might have taken customization to a new level.

They may extend it to Radicals and Prestiges, so that might be intersting as you could have a Prestige MP with 16 mains and that's something you can't do at home.
 
Yeah, I saw that, its kind of cool. A little pricey. It would be good if you could just get a custom paint job on your favorite model for $50-$75 more.
 
I might consider if they had 3 more options:
Beam Width
Stiffness
Head Size

Or have it based also on Prestige MP not just Speed
 
I could imagine they're just going to see how this will be received - and then eventually start offering other models as well. Who wouldn't want a personally designed Prestige?
So people out there, start buying customized Speeds! :)
 
palmerop said:
I've just read this:

http://www.tennis.com/gear/2013/12/shaping-speed-head-launches-custom-made/49934/#.UqswGfRDt8E

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Head suggests that if you buy enough custom-made frames you get to kick Federer's a**. It's kind of implied that Hass got to beat Federer only after he got a customised frame. He was playing with off the shelves sticks from Sports Authority before.
Click to expand...

This is primarily a PR stunt. It is garnishing HEAD a lot of press in the tennis industry. But how many are to jump I'm at $400 a pop. People who do want customized racquets want more than just one racquet. They would want at least 5-6 frames. Make the calculation of $400 x 6. You can get a stock Speed Pro or Speed MP and have P1 do the job for a lot less. It does not make economic sense for the tournament player who would Wang these services. It's a kin to the puff peice that 60 minutes did on amazon with new drones that will be flying in to delivering your packages!
 
vsbabolat said:
This is primarily a PR stunt. It is garnishing HEAD a lot of press in the tennis industry. But how many are to jump I'm at $400 a pop. People who do want customized racquets want more than just one racquet. They would want at least 5-6 frames. Make the calculation of $400 x 6. You can get a stock Speed Pro or Speed MP and have P1 do the job for a lot less. It does not make economic sense for the tournament player who would Wang these services. It's a kin to the puff peice that 60 minutes did on amazon with new drones that will be flying in to delivering your packages!
Click to expand...

Agree very much. P1 could do the same for a lot cheaper.
If they had options for stiffness & beam width it would be a differentiator.
$400 is too much. $250 maybe.
 
No swingweight options, no stiffness options. That's not custom, that's customized and incompletely customized at that. Any MRT can do the same and do swingweight, the most crucial spec. If you bought two of these you'd still have to have the swing weights matched. Waste of money. Aside from the publicity stunt aspect, Head is targeting "players" with money to burn - essentially going after the luxury market, which can be a very lucrative market - getting people to overpay for "prestige".

The all black option is nice, though.
 
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It is a great site and a good idea. It's understandable but a shame that they dont offer swingweight and other options a customization service can achieve with lead tape. I think the price is pretty high, but they dont want to make big numbers on these custom frames.
 
Say Chi Sin Lo said:
I wouldn't change that anyway, the standard 27inch is fine. And paint job doesn't factor into any racquet decision whatsoever.
Click to expand...

I see your point, and I'd argue the same for myself.
But that doesn't mean that everyone can do all the customization they'd need/want for 10$.
 
Alex78 said:
I see your point, and I'd argue the same for myself.
But that doesn't mean that everyone can do all the customization they'd need/want for 10$.
Click to expand...

Then that means one needs to look at a different racquet.

And why can't I customize the beam width, shape of a beam, and etc.? So much for customization...
 
Say Chi Sin Lo said:
Then that means one needs to look at a different racquet. Why can't customize the beam width? So much for customization...
Click to expand...

Yeah, that plus swing weight and stiffness would be nice.
But the Head video suggests they simply take a pro stock Speed and modify it according to the customer's wishes (actually, I wonder how Head increases the length of the racket...).
So my best bet is they don't expect this service to be used by serious players. Instead, it's more of a nice thing for people with deep enough pockets :) Which is fine by me - and just maybe they'll eventually offer additional options in the future.
 
Alex78 said:
Yeah, that plus swing weight and stiffness would be nice.
But the Head video suggests they simply take a pro stock Speed and modify it according to the customer's wishes (actually, I wonder how Head increases the length of the racket...).
So my best bet is they don't expect this service to be used by serious players. Instead, it's more of a nice thing for people with deep enough pockets :) Which is fine by me - and just maybe they'll eventually offer additional options in the future.
Click to expand...

They dont extend racquets. They cut the hairpin to the length you want.
 
What. I went to their site to look at it and they only offer the speed mold. Bologna. No option head size or other molds. I can get prostock for that much on a the secret auction site!
 
mpournaras said:
Head now offers a service to "make a racket from scratch"

It really only offers a SPeed mold and all you can customize is the length, weight, drill pattern, Grip shape, and balance

But I hope this platform expands into offering prostock frames and custom layups. One can only hope I guess.

It looks like they are trying to springboard off of Djokovics popularity



http://custommade.head.com/
Click to expand...

I got so excited at that. Then I went to the site. :(

Sad is right. What if I want a racket that is actually customized? You could get only up to 347g. And 16/19 or 18/20 patterns.

What if I want 400g with a 14/16 pattern. Or what if I want a 85" head size, etc.

Lame for 400$. Just buy stock and customize or send it to a mrt and let them make it right....They can do all the stuff head is trying to do for alot less.

Its a good thought but the execution is lame IMHO.

They would be better off offering a customization kit. Have lead and grips, etc and instructions on how to make it just like Murray's stick, like lead placement and amounts, etc.
 
Shroud said:
They would be better off offering a customization kit. Have lead and grips, etc and instructions on how to make it just like Murray's stick, like lead placement and amounts, etc.
Click to expand...

It would be different for every racquet due to the tolerances
 
For $400 and the lack of options it is a joke.

Just get a Bosworth if you're going to spend that kind of money per racquet. You can have all specs customized there, and more than 2 choices in color.
 
HEAD's custom made rackets are customized at their facility in Austria,
but there is no info about whether the frames are actually manufactured and assembled in Austria too,
or if the raw frames are stamped out in China and then shipped to Austria to be customized.
I sent them an e-mail to ask them this. Hopefully they will reply.
 
Michael Lesbowicz said:
HEAD's custom made rackets are customized at their facility in Austria,
but there is no info about whether the frames are actually manufactured and assembled in Austria too,
or if the raw frames are stamped out in China and then shipped to Austria to be customized.
I sent them an e-mail to ask them this. Hopefully they will reply.
Click to expand...

They are not manufactured in Austria! They are manufactured in China! They are only customized in Austria.
 
vsbabolat said:
They are not manufactured in Austria! They are manufactured in China! They are only customized in Austria.
Click to expand...

That is what I suspected. :(
So even the Custom Made HEAD frames are stamped out and assembled in China?
What a blow. Good thing I did not order one.

I think I will stick to my Made in Japan Yonex Regna.
 
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Michael Lesbowicz said:
That is what I suspected. :(
So even the Custom Made HEAD frames are stamped out and assembled in China?
What a blow. Good thing I did not order one.

I think I will stick to my Made in Japan Yonex Regna.
Click to expand...

Yep, poor Murray, Djokovic, Berdych and others have to deal with Chinese made rackets and some tennis board "pro" 3.0 is upset because he can't get it from Austria... A true blow to an enthusiast...
 
dr325i said:
Yep, poor Murray, Djokovic, Berdych and others have to deal with Chinese made rackets and some tennis board "pro" 3.0 is upset because he can't get it from Austria... A true blow to an enthusiast...
Click to expand...

3.0? I do not know anything about ratings. They are meaningless to me.
But I doubt anyone would rate me as a "3.0", whatever that means.
You are giving me too much credit. I am probably more like -1.0 or -1.5.

Of course I am upset. I would not pay 400 Euros for something that was manufactured and assembled in China
by factory slaves, and then customized in Europe. The level 32 post-human ultra pros get their junk for free,
so they do not care where it is made. I am a poor working class peasant on the other hand,
so if I am going to spend 400 Euros on a racket, I like to make sure it is Not Made in China.
That is the difference.
 
Quite honestly, the prejudice regarding the made in china tag is ridiculous. What truly is important is the specific factory in china; if the standards are really high, it does not matter where you produce. Similarly, if the standards are low, it does not matter where you produce, as the product will be equally bad anywhere. Chinese are humans with the same potential for skilled work as any other ethnicity, so what makes you think that the product would be better if it was produced elsewhere?
 
Michael Lesbowicz said:

3.0? I do not know anything about ratings. They are meaningless to me.
But I doubt anyone would rate me as a "3.0", whatever that means.
You are giving me too much credit. I am probably more like -1.0 or -1.5.

Of course I am upset. I would not pay 400 Euros for something that was manufactured and assembled in China
by factory slaves, and then customized in Europe. The level 32 post-human ultra pros get their junk for free,
so they do not care where it is made. I am a poor working class peasant on the other hand,
so if I am going to spend 400 Euros on a racket, I like to make sure it is Not Made in China.
That is the difference.
Click to expand...

Ah, I forgot that spending that much on Regna makes sense. Especially because Regna is made by high paid Japanese "experts". You are ridiculous with your thinking that makes no sense.
 
Except for the price, this is awesome.

A Speed with a 16x19 pattern, 340gr unstrung, 9-12 pts headlight, a leather grip, the kind of grip shape I prefer and a completely black colour... WOW :shock:

I'd pay 250 for such a racket, definitely. Maybe even 300. But not 400. That is way too much. It's just a tennis racket.

But a great idea anyway.
 
Pete.Sampras. said:
Except for the price, this is awesome.

A Speed with a 16x19 pattern, 340gr unstrung, 9-12 pts headlight, a leather grip, the kind of grip shape I prefer and a completely black colour... WOW :shock:

I'd pay 250 for such a racket, definitely. Maybe even 300. But not 400. That is way too much. It's just a tennis racket.

But a great idea anyway.
Click to expand...

I spec'd mine very similarly except went under 300 grams. Not worth almost $500 Can. Not even if made in Austria as ML is bleating about
 
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