jimdontcare
Semi-Pro
The racquet goes well with your username
Head Extreme 2024 Thread
- Thread starter SinneGOAT
- Start date
jmacdaununder2
Legend
Dragy
Legend
It's just the most thin-beamed/low-powered/heavy frame in every silo gets "Pro" designation now, while MP being most versatile headliner. Tour - kind of alternate high-level option, where it exists.
Ryebread
Hall of Fame
I've hit with the previous Pro (which I got from a friend overseas), Tour, MP.
Pro and MP were rocket launchers.
Tour was more controlled, but too stiff. Stiffer than ez98 by a decent margin.
Hoping the new "pro", which replaces the old tour, is gentler on the arm.
If it is, I may give it a go. Decent spec!
Cheers all
Pro and MP were rocket launchers.
Tour was more controlled, but too stiff. Stiffer than ez98 by a decent margin.
Hoping the new "pro", which replaces the old tour, is gentler on the arm.
If it is, I may give it a go. Decent spec!
Cheers all
KC!
Hall of Fame
The new 2.0 Pro is softer than 1.0 Tour.
Ryebread
Hall of Fame
I didn't think it was all that arm friendly.
Yes, it needed weight. to improve stability/plow, and make the sweet spot bigger (way too small)
is the new model more of the same?
Alcawrath
Professional
I played a league match last night and saw them hanging in the pro shop for sale. It's weird how you can't find anything official online at Head or TW but brick and mortars are already selling them.
KC!
Hall of Fame
Yes, my pro is already playing with it. But he’s not putting demos’s out till next week. My two clubs are Head affiliated & have them in hand.
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
Hopefully the new pro (former tour) has more weight in the hoop. That way you can play it stock at 305 grams and don't have to add more weight for power or stability. I was a fan of the original and Auxetic 1.0 versions but they were a little anemic stock.
KC!
Hall of Fame
I hit with if & in my opion needs weight in hoop. It was my Pro’s racquet, so wasn’t able to hit other than stock
I play the Auxetic 1.0 and with some weight under the buttcap, on the hoop at 3 and 9 and 11 and 1 clock it plays fantastic. Very good control and feel. Of course power and spin is also there but control (precision where you aim your ball) and feel at impact, crisp and smooth is outstanding. You can put the balls whereever you want, topspin, slice especially dropshots, you name it. In stock form its to whippy and its hard to shoot balls with pace.
So I have hit and customized the new Pro and here are my thoughts after customizing it to these specs (unstrung):
320 g
31 cm
308 SW
Groundstrokes:
Groundstrokes were a mixed bag to be honest. For background, my forehand is typically on the flatter side with me only really using spin when I'm trying to play with margin (which isn't that often) or on the run. My backhand typically has more spin than more normal forehand but can also hit it really flat when trying to go down the line. On the forehand, the racket felt like launching my flatter forehands so I was forced to play with a little more spin than I usually do in order to keep the ball inside the court. On the backhand, things were a lot smoother, I could place the shots anywhere I wanted as long as I played with at least some amount of spin. When trying to go down the line, it was also great with the extra power actually helping me hit winners, which was a surprise. Slices were decent, they weren't amazing by any means but they also weren't horrible.
Volleys:
This is where the racket really surprised me, volleys on the stretch were great when trying to send it back past the service line and landed where I wanted them to. Touch shots like drop volleys and more angled volleys, were also great. There was enough touch in the racket to where it wasn't that hard to figure out how the place the racket to the ball.
Serves:
This has got to be one of the best serving rackets for me, other than the GT Speed MP and Gravity Pro. When playing with some of my usual playing partners, they said that my flat serves were noticeably quicker than usual and my slice serves had more curve and let me hit out wide (regular slice deuce side and pandcake ad side) with speed comparable to some of my flat serves with some other rackets.
PS: I have not hit with any extreme before this
320 g
31 cm
308 SW
Groundstrokes:
Groundstrokes were a mixed bag to be honest. For background, my forehand is typically on the flatter side with me only really using spin when I'm trying to play with margin (which isn't that often) or on the run. My backhand typically has more spin than more normal forehand but can also hit it really flat when trying to go down the line. On the forehand, the racket felt like launching my flatter forehands so I was forced to play with a little more spin than I usually do in order to keep the ball inside the court. On the backhand, things were a lot smoother, I could place the shots anywhere I wanted as long as I played with at least some amount of spin. When trying to go down the line, it was also great with the extra power actually helping me hit winners, which was a surprise. Slices were decent, they weren't amazing by any means but they also weren't horrible.
Volleys:
This is where the racket really surprised me, volleys on the stretch were great when trying to send it back past the service line and landed where I wanted them to. Touch shots like drop volleys and more angled volleys, were also great. There was enough touch in the racket to where it wasn't that hard to figure out how the place the racket to the ball.
Serves:
This has got to be one of the best serving rackets for me, other than the GT Speed MP and Gravity Pro. When playing with some of my usual playing partners, they said that my flat serves were noticeably quicker than usual and my slice serves had more curve and let me hit out wide (regular slice deuce side and pandcake ad side) with speed comparable to some of my flat serves with some other rackets.
PS: I have not hit with any extreme before this
I'll be honest, yeah it is weird but my history of rackets are typically heavier rackets (320+) with a very headlight balance (30.5-31 cm). So I just customized it to something I know works for me and didn't have to think about something being caused by different specs than what I'm used to
Fighting phoenix
Professional
where did you add weight in the hoop? seems like you'd need to add a decent amount to get to that sw, but maybe the swing weights will be higher on this version than the last (usually around 290sw unstrung)
dr. godmode
Hall of Fame
Yeah setup isn't really that weird at all if its unstrung. Very 6.1ish.
_FrankTheTank_
Rookie
Wow that's low... From the first numbers published I was hoping the were targeting a Boom Pro like SW.
Sadly the transparent grommets won't hide lead tape well...
Dragy
Legend
FrankyRelax
Professional
Unstrung specs from mine (Pro):
302.5g
31.7cm balance
291.1 swingweight
302.5g
31.7cm balance
291.1 swingweight
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_FrankTheTank_
Rookie
That's a good one!
is that the mp or the pro?
FrankyRelax
Professional
Apologies. Pro
guilhermefdc
Semi-Pro
PH Tennis mentions an "Elite" version as well -- supposedly a 98 inch, 260g. Is that essentially a pro stock of the Pro? No further specs mentioned
Dragy
Legend
It’s absolutely playable if you swing fast enough and don’t face bomb serves or get blasted really hard at net.
But some might prefer at least 320+. And twistweight is a factor.
oldmanyellingatcloud
Semi-Pro
even balance, too, if my math is right
_FrankTheTank_
Rookie
Different racket, more similar to Berrettini mold. It says 100 inch on the throat of the racket somehow...
https://www.tennis-point.de/head-extreme-elite-2024-turnierschlaeger-00606704422000.html
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Ryebread
Hall of Fame
after playing one match....
the new pro feels comfortable, and I'm fairly sensitive.
the two previous generations, of the tour, felt a little harsh to me.
something about the grip being super spongy perhaps?
or the new clear grommets?
you can really feel a plushness to the frame, comfort wise.
but the string bed is very responsive. does that make sense, prolly not.
forehand felt very good.
it likes spin, but you can hit somewhat flat too.
coming from the blade v9 100......
this 98 is a point and shoot stick. it makes me feel as if the blade 100 is a sloppy pig now.
but this pro is more responsive than a blade 98 v9, however still comfy enough.
really good on serve and at net.
it had more punch, on my 2hbh, than my current main (possibly retired?) blade 100 v9 - this is a good thing. but it still had the control I expect too!
and all of this is based on: 17L poly, OG, sitting at 326 / 32 cm / and only 316 SW!
I need to play with different folks though. Can't decide after one match!
the new pro feels comfortable, and I'm fairly sensitive.
the two previous generations, of the tour, felt a little harsh to me.
something about the grip being super spongy perhaps?
or the new clear grommets?
you can really feel a plushness to the frame, comfort wise.
but the string bed is very responsive. does that make sense, prolly not.
forehand felt very good.
it likes spin, but you can hit somewhat flat too.
coming from the blade v9 100......
this 98 is a point and shoot stick. it makes me feel as if the blade 100 is a sloppy pig now.
but this pro is more responsive than a blade 98 v9, however still comfy enough.
really good on serve and at net.
it had more punch, on my 2hbh, than my current main (possibly retired?) blade 100 v9 - this is a good thing. but it still had the control I expect too!
and all of this is based on: 17L poly, OG, sitting at 326 / 32 cm / and only 316 SW!
I need to play with different folks though. Can't decide after one match!
Ryebread
Hall of Fame
I string my 100 blade v9 at my typical reference setup for any new frame I test.
51 mains, 49 crosses (48 if it's yonex)
as a stringer, I sat and thought about this.
maybe I should go 50lbs with the pro. as you would think the pro would have LESS power and it's a smaller head!
but I went with the same tension as my normal reference.
and to my surprise, they feel close.
the blade 100 feels more vague now. the pro being more precise.
the sweet spot feels about the same size, actually, maybe even larger on the pro???!!!
the pro feels more responsive, slightly more crisp, but still very similar comfort. so I think it can come across as having a smidge more power, to some.
but I think they are quite close.
while I suggest that the comfort is similar, they get there in very different ways.
and the feel is 100% better with the pro. little touch approach shots, soooo much more confidence now.
and as I mentioned before, the pro is really solid at net, stock.
the blade v9 100 was a champ at net for me. my SW was 296 unstrung, with my blade, a beast!
and the pro feels just as good, but more precise.
cheers
longtimelurker
Professional
Mp and pro reviews up.
_FrankTheTank_
Rookie
Hopefully Gamma or tourna come up with some transparent lead.
Dragy
Legend
Beware of transparent people playing transparent tennis.
How can 316 SW be stable?If i remember correctly you played Speed Pro in the past?I played Speed Pro 2022 and with 326 SW it was stable enough. Now playing with Speed MP 2022 at 327 SW strung would love a bit more stability.
gutfeeling
Hall of Fame
Dragy
Legend
It’s also relevant whether a player has tendency to meet the ball closer to the tip o deep into the stringbed.
Ryebread
Hall of Fame
I have only played with the stick once.
I'm a 4.0
I played a 3.5 who hits with a radical mp auxetic. he hits a super hard first serve. and moderate 3.5 groundies.
I honestly didn't detect any issue with stability/plow/sw.
I was shocked when I measured the sw later in the day, after hearing reports of the low sw in the initial launch!
shocked!
my opponent commented on my defense, spin, and serve. I hit with him weekly.
I will see other friends soon, and report back. my other crew are 4.0 doubles folks.
that will be the real test.
I am a little bothered by the 316, but I am keeping an open mind.
hey, sometimes the tech works.
