Head Graphene XT Speed Pro

TennisTechie

New User
Hi everyone,

I need some advice regarding racquet choice/modication(lead, string, tension...)

Background:
- 3.5 baseliner
- Prefer to hit flatter shots
- Head Graphene XT Speed Pro
- Head RIP Control at 53lbs

I'm looking for a bit more forgiveness(larger sweet spot)/power. I tried a Pure Drive and that gave me what I wanted (could rip some really powerful shots, and off center hits still generated decent shots) but the stiffness meant too much shock to the arm/wrist on off-center hits. I'm hoping to get similar power/forgiveness without the arm damage.

I've tried adding 3.5grams of lead to 3 o'clock and another 3.5 grams at 9 o'clock. I only trialed this for a few hours and found some improvement but the extra weight to an already decently weighted racquet meant it was a bit tiring and I found I needed to utilize full swings at all times and any deviation from this resulted in a useless shot...maybe I needed to keep at it for longer and adapt?

So, my question is:

1) Do I change racquet? If this is the best option I was thinking:

- Head Graphene XT Speed MP: The 16x19 pattern should give a larger sweet spot and more power? But the lighter racquet might offset some of this? Plus I believe the 18x20 pattern I currently have is better suited to flatter hitters like myself?

- Prince Textreme Warrior 100: Will this open pattern suit a flat hitter?

- Prince Textreme Tour 100P: Similar to the speed pro but more power?

2) Keep the Speed Pro and modify:

2a) Lead - suggestions? My short trial above seems to have failed...maybe need to trial for longer? Or add lead at different positions?

2b) String - Any suggestions for a different string to add power/forgiveness?

2c) Tenison - Drop the tension? To 48lbs? Suggestions?



What would you do?

Thanks heaps!!!
 

CopolyX

Hall of Fame
not to familiar with the head rip control but know it is a very soft Nylon/Polyolefin string. That should soften up the stringbed and open up the sweet spot a bit. But If you keep try strings and the XT Speed Pro just is not working for you. Modifying is a slippy slope, you can try be you need to know what you are trying to achieve.
Start demoing and be mindful of the stringbed also. Takes time and effort to find the right frame for your game. No easy button here. Just have fun, be open, logical ... and track you results.
 

galapagos

Hall of Fame
I am Graphene speed pro fan but was missing something, maybe not enough control-however it offers a lot of it. I play very often so my demands are high..
When I was playing with speed i used signum pro tornado at 46.5 lbs-21 kg ! I am from Europe and its cheap here. It is not the most comfortable string but not so harsh either. tornado at 21kg should give you spin and power with good control and the low tension should add comfort/forgiveness/power. Anyway... don't be afraid of going lower with 18x20 string patterns. Many ppl admit that after lowering the tension in 18x20 patterns, racquet kept the control and gained everything else-spin,power,comfort

Also you can add another overgrip it should add more comfort and who knows what else ;p sometimes i can notice better stability. Easy things to test..should help you out. DROP THE TENSION :) 53 lbs is super super high !!
 

n8dawg6

Legend
on the bright side, the speed pro is one of the more unforgiving frames in terms of stiffness/discomfort on off-center hits. just about any other frame will be more comfortable! (save that pure drive you tested)

i'm also a 3.5 hack, i've found that the 300 g/320 sw rax work best for my game. speed MP and radical MP are both good ones ... both are more arm-friendly than the speed pro to me (more open pattern helps). neither is particularly arm-friendly in comparison to others, though. i find them to be much more forgiving than the speed pro, but my hack game employs topspin groundstrokes and spinny serves. speed mp has a significantly higher launch angle than the pro.

you should also consider the prince textremes: tour 100T and 100P, warrior 100. also the head extreme MP and Pro if you like frying pans.

i use low-strung soft polys and midrange strung synthetic gut.
 

n8dawg6

Legend
p.s. RIP control is a really springy, soft string in my experience. cant see it having much control at low tension.
 

Henery

New User
Thinking the old Head Graphene Speed MP or the new touch would be good for you. They don't feel anywhere near as stiff to me. Are lighter for easy maneuverability whilst still have good power and sweet-spot.
 

n8dawg6

Legend
LTD has the best paint! :D

any of the iterations of the speed MP will slay some 3.5 tennis, given the proper hacking skills to back it up.
 

Anton H

New User
I've been playing the XT speed pro for about 8 months now and i will have to admit that finding the right setup was a pain. The racket is pretty string sensitive and not everything works. It has been my experience that a lot of head rackets have this issue. With the wrong strings they start feeling flimsy and hollow.

I also have experience with rip control and hated it. It's a control oriented multifilament which instead of control does two things.
1. When its fresh you have no idea wat the ball does cause the feel is so muted that you don't even feel when you've hit the ball.
2. When it becomes older its anything but control oriented and starts launching the ball into the back fence.

I had arm and wrist issues with full poly setups. Even with soft poly's.
If you feel like trying out another string setup for switching i could advise a multi or syngut and poly hybrid. I string my syngut (volkl classic syngut 16) in the mains at 22 kg (48,5 pounds) and my poly cross (signum pro megaforce 16) in the crosses at 20,5 kg (45 pounds).
The gut mains give you enought power to where you don't have to krank your arm and can focus on proper ball contact. Propper ball contact is off course the best way of minimizing arm issue.
De poly cross prevents the string from sliding and gives you good directional control because of it. Volkl syngut is also nice and soft and will absorb most of the vibration. Prince syngut should do too and otherwise a nice multi like wilson NXT would be good too.

Depending on what surface you play durability is an issue. When playing on clay this setup lasts me about 10 hours of play cause the clay powder gets between the strings causing more friction. On hardcourt, carpet or any other non clay surface it'll last me a good while (dozens of hours). The Volkl syngut is slick and stays really slick with use so keeps sliding over the crosses and snapping back without being cut through.

I hope this helps you.
 
Playing with HEAD Graphene XT SP for a year now on a full bed Solinco Revolution 18G 48(M) / 46(C)) able to get good spin and too much of power hence struggling with the control. I am planning to try Babolat RPM Blast 17G full bed 48(M) / 46(C), any suggestions ? Thanks.
 
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