New HEAD racket coming?

taydbear7

Professional
What do you string it with? :)

At the moment Mayami Hit Pro in the mains and Velocity in the crosses. I've done a full bed of synthetic gut and full bed of Hyper-G16L. Loved the SG but hated 16L Hyper G at 55 didn't feel good and SG at mid 40's felt great. Next up is full bed of X-1 Biphase.
 

megamind

Legend
Yep I was specifically told not to post any pictures of the new racquet until July 29. I just strung the black one up. I’ll probably hit with it Thursday before customizing it that night.
Is it a new racquet line, or an update to an existing line?
 

onkystomper

Hall of Fame
It can only be an improvement on what they have released the last 10 years.

Shame Head will still be selling the consumer different frames than they can make for pros. I just won't buy a Head frame when I know they basically drive the pro stock market
 

Crocodile

G.O.A.T.
They are re-releasing an older version of the speeds so they can sell a lower price point product, because the current stuff is too expensive.
However they are working on some new technology so look out for more information.
 

bertrevert

Legend
It can only be an improvement on what they have released the last 10 years.

Shame Head will still be selling the consumer different frames than they can make for pros. I just won't buy a Head frame when I know they basically drive the pro stock market
Head won me back wtih the Gravity - tech, flex, feel, looks, QC,... give them another chance?
 

Zoolander

Hall of Fame
They are re-releasing an older version of the speeds so they can sell a lower price point product, because the current stuff is too expensive.
However they are working on some new technology so look out for more information.

What do you mean, re-releasing an older speed?
 

fox

Professional
looks like the new Extreme Tour from the 2021 catalog - 98 sq in head, beam 22/23/21 - only one with the throat piece that looks exactly like the opening thread pic.
Oh so another copy of Pure Strikes and Prince Tours. How creative!
 

fox

Professional
by the way, do you have anything to say about all the copies of Head frames sold by various manufacturers?
or that is just normal.
I’m not saying others don’t do it. But I would rather have broad range of racquets instead of having 22/23/21 mm 305-310g, 23/26/23 300g and 21/22 mm 305-315g racquets from each company. Of course it is good to have a choice but sometimes you can bring sth new instead of copies. That’s why I loved pre VCore/Ezone Yonex. Especially RDS/RDiS/RQiS models. Now you cannot find any racquet like RQiS 1 tour/xl, RDS 002 and tour, RQiS 2 tour... also other companies like LM instinct/radical...
 

onkystomper

Hall of Fame
Head won me back wtih the Gravity - tech, flex, feel, looks, QC,... give them another chance?

I tried the gravity and although it was better than the other head frames in the feel department.. I just do not feel as though it is worth my time. Especially that I know there are pro versions of the same frame out there which are just made to feel better. If they sold those then maybe I would try them again but frankly it is disrespectful to the consumer to have pro versions and retail.
 

bertrevert

Legend
But when did the Exterme lose its characteristic roundedness?

Ivan Ljubicic round bald dome round as the frame.

When that roundedness was on court sweating it out against Fedr rather than coaching him.

I have been sleeping under a round rock but I recall their roundedness across the centre, no?

Head creates lines of racquets based on stringbeds so I din't think they changed that much?
 
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etd

Rookie
But when did the Exterme lose its characteristic roundedness?

Ivan Ljubicic round bald dome round as the frame.

When that roundedness was on court sweating it out against Fedr rather than coaching it out.

I have been sleeping under a round rock but I recall their roundedness across the centre, no?

Head creates lines of racquets based on stringbeds so I din't think they changed that much?
The Graphene XT version was the last round Extreme. Graphene Touch, Graphene 360, and the upcoming Graphene 360+ have the more traditional head shape.
 

Raizu

Semi-Pro
think Burn

oh nooooooooooooooooooo

curious to hear reviews tho
I’ll let you know tomorrow. It has a promising feel. I liked the Burn FST but the 6.1 95 is my line lol. I’ll be teaching with it and then hitting a few minutes with it during a 2 hour practice session. My sparring partners will hit with it too.
 

megamind

Legend

extremetour-e1592776379840.png


Head is, I believe, going to expose and promote the Extreme Series to a greater extent than before.

Why do I think that? Because I am holding in my very own hands a Head Extreme Tour! This 98 square inch racquet continues the Graphene 360+ technology which has become popular in the last several releases of Head Racquets!

The new Extreme series will be shipping in July so we can’t show many pictures except the all-black version I am holding.

The other Extreme models will be:
Extreme MP – 100 square inch head size, 300 gram
Extreme S – 105 square inch head size, 275 gram
Extreme Lite – 105 square inch head, 265 gram
Extreme PWR – 115 square inch head, 230 gram
Extreme Jr – 100 square inch head, 240 gram
All of this series continues the “extreme” optic yellow colorway but it is now complemented by a really nice grey upper shaft and hoop! The optic yellow grip may be over the top but that is easily changed.
The Extreme Tour is fitted with a TK82S grip pallet for a comfortable rounder feeling.
Take a look at the specs here


Racquet Flex - 62
Strung Weight - 320g (11.29 oz)
Swing Weight - 306g (10.79 oz)

^ looks interesting!
 

megamind

Legend
A Head Extreme with a flex of just 62

I am intrigued :unsure: , that flex is rather unexpected

Even the Speeds have a higher Flex
 

fox

Professional
How’s that?
Do you know anything about rackets and layups??
Of course I know. For me, 62 flex does not make any difference as I like stiffer racquets. Anyway I didn’t mean anything bad about the racquet, just that it has similar specs to already released successf products.
 

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
Of course I know. For me, 62 flex does not make any difference as I like stiffer racquets. Anyway I didn’t mean anything bad about the racquet, just that it has similar specs to already released successf products.
"similar" does not mean it is a "copy" as you claimed above.
It is very different from Pure Strike or Prince Tour...
 

fox

Professional
"similar" does not mean it is a "copy" as you claimed above.
It is very different from Pure Strike or Prince Tour...
I just mean that it is another racquet with similar weight, profile etc nothing more :) just like it was with APD that each company has its version of it. Ofc i know feel, flex etc may be different though.

I would like Head to release sth like LM Instinct or Yt Radical Pro.
 

Raizu

Semi-Pro
I’ll post a review in a bit. We used it for 2 hours today. A bit stiffer than the Gravity but it felt fantastic. Response was it feels better than a Blade 98 16x19. The player that stated that used to be Mancini’s practice partner in juniors and was a future’s level player back in his day.
 

Raizu

Semi-Pro
Ok so 4 different players tried it out the Extreme Tour.

I had a complete beginner try it out for half of a lesson while the other half he used a Gravity Tour. Aside from not being able to tell the difference he did say when he hit it clean the Extreme Tour felt much better.

On to the real practice. Mancini’s former sparring partner just switched out of a Radical which he had used from his 20’s. He’s 49 now. He got 3 blades 16x19 so the comparison was fair. Same weight and string pattern. Within 5 minutes he said he hated me and stopped using the racquet because he just purchased 2 new blades last week. He ended up hitting with it for another hour and commented it was easier to swing and get heavy spin.

Following him my student who could have played D2 or small school D1 college but decided not to practiced with it for an hour. He’s been using a customized Prestige Tour that weighs 360g (my former racquet before the Prestige MP custom and now back to my 6.1 Stretch.) he said it was the easiest racquet he had ever played with. More control than the prestige tour yet more power. He couldn’t explain why. His ball was coming off much heavier and he was missing a lot less (I converted him into a clay Courter)

My turn. I hit with it 20 min out of 2 hours. It’s a bit stiffer than the Gravity yet has great feel. I use a 6.1 95 Stretch that weighs 355g with a SW of 353g so hitting with this was easy! From the baseline it felt crisp and easy to get topsin at will or flatten it out and still have control and accuracy. At the net it’s rock solid not far off the feel of my Wilson or my Prestige MP. The slice shot was the only time I felt the frame was too stiff. Otherwise I like it a bit better than the Gravity Pro and I think that racquet is perfect. I’m tempted to add some lead tape to it before doing any silicone since I have 2 frames but it will stay stock for a few more days.

because I know I will get asked. I strung it with Hawk Touch at 51lbs. Tomorrow if not over the weekend I will get together with @Geoff and post Strung specs and Unstrung Specs.

The direction Head is going with the Gravity and the Extreme Is fantastic. Great frames and the narrow beam just looks better lol.
 

beltsman

G.O.A.T.
Ok so 4 different players tried it out the Extreme Tour.

I had a complete beginner try it out for half of a lesson while the other half he used a Gravity Tour. Aside from not being able to tell the difference he did say when he hit it clean the Extreme Tour felt much better.

On to the real practice. Mancini’s former sparring partner just switched out of a Radical which he had used from his 20’s. He’s 49 now. He got 3 blades 16x19 so the comparison was fair. Same weight and string pattern. Within 5 minutes he said he hated me and stopped using the racquet because he just purchased 2 new blades last week. He ended up hitting with it for another hour and commented it was easier to swing and get heavy spin.

Following him my student who could have played D2 or small school D1 college but decided not to practiced with it for an hour. He’s been using a customized Prestige Tour that weighs 360g (my former racquet before the Prestige MP custom and now back to my 6.1 Stretch.) he said it was the easiest racquet he had ever played with. More control than the prestige tour yet more power. He couldn’t explain why. His ball was coming off much heavier and he was missing a lot less (I converted him into a clay Courter)

My turn. I hit with it 20 min out of 2 hours. It’s a bit stiffer than the Gravity yet has great feel. I use a 6.1 95 Stretch that weighs 355g with a SW of 353g so hitting with this was easy! From the baseline it felt crisp and easy to get topsin at will or flatten it out and still have control and accuracy. At the net it’s rock solid not far off the feel of my Wilson or my Prestige MP. The slice shot was the only time I felt the frame was too stiff. Otherwise I like it a bit better than the Gravity Pro and I think that racquet is perfect. I’m tempted to add some lead tape to it before doing any silicone since I have 2 frames but it will stay stock for a few more days.

because I know I will get asked. I strung it with Hawk Touch at 51lbs. Tomorrow if not over the weekend I will get together with @Geoff and post Strung specs and Unstrung Specs.

The direction Head is going with the Gravity and the Extreme Is fantastic. Great frames and the narrow beam just looks better lol.

:love:
 

lefty100

Rookie
You’re welcome. I figured I get as much detail as possible from different sources to answer as many questions as possible in the least amount of posts! Lol
Can you say a little more on how the Extreme Tour performed on (i) the slice backhand - as I have found the Gravity Tour and Pro to be capable of capable of generating ridiculous knifing slice - (ii) on serve in terms of power - as I have found my accuracy has gone way up with the GTour and Pro on serve but have felt it has been harder to produce booming first serves.
 

Raizu

Semi-Pro
Can you say a little more on how the Extreme Tour performed on (i) the slice backhand - as I have found the Gravity Tour and Pro to be capable of capable of generating ridiculous knifing slice - (ii) on serve in terms of power - as I have found my accuracy has gone way up with the GTour and Pro on serve but have felt it has been harder to produce booming first serves.
The Gravity Pro may have the best touch/feel of any racquet I’ve ever played with. My slice and dropshots were out of this world better with it. With the Extreme Tour I had to stick it a bit more than the GP or my 6.1’s. Not a big deal for me but I did notice I had to hit it a touch harder. I didn’t serve with it but the others did and loved the feel and the sound. If you are looking for a booming sound the Prestige MP or 6.1 95 Stretch (more so this one) just sounds like a cannon. I didn’t quite hear that from either the GP or the Extreme Tour but then again I don’t feel they are power racquets. They do exactly what I expect after a few minutes of hitting.
 

Raizu

Semi-Pro
Can I ask what is your string set up on your Prestige MP ?
To give you an idea I break strings once a match or every 90 minutes in practice no matter the string pattern. I switched from the RF97 where I was breaking 1-2 racquets a match to 18x20 where I get a bit more life.
 
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