Good day TT
I was very fortunate to be selected for the Graphene TOUCH Prestige MID play test. I have been looking around for a racquet more flexible than my DR 100s. I have demoed quite a lot. Unlike some others that have posted here, I loved the GXT Prestige Pro and Rev Pro. Of those two, I preferred the Pro. I have loved, and hated, my experience with the TOUCH MID.
String and tension used for test: I used the HEAD Lynx included in the box for the first two weeks, strung at 48#. I am not a poly user (due to a since-healed bad elbow), but was under the impression that I had to use the strings provided.
Tennis experience/background: I have been playing tennis in one form or another since 1974, with one major break between 1989 and 2002. I was a ranked junior through high school and played junior college tennis before becoming a full-time student, part-time tennis bum in Tucson. I have returned to USTA League play and social tennis in the last three years and enjoy all facets of the game. I play mostly doubles, as that was easier after I hit the reset button. I have played with custom weighted DR100s since they were available and loved them, until my elbow didn't.
Describe your playing style (i.e. serve & volley): I am a "throw-back" tennis player. I do not like to camp at the baseline and exchange huge, spinny ground strokes. I prefer to work angles, (over)rely on a pretty powerful and effective service game and use a big forehand and competent net play to end points quickly.
Current racquet/string setups: YY DR100s customized by TW. I string fb VS Touch at 55# or 57#. I have also used various multis in the DRs usually strung between 48# and 53#.
How many hours did you play with the racquet? 21
Comments on racquet performance:
-Groundstrokes: I found the GTOUCH MID to swing quickly. It felt HL and the SW was a touch (no pun intended) heftier than my DRs. I hammered forehands with such precision that I have run out superlatives. The accuracy was stunning. As far as backhands go, I use a two-handed backhand, and recently started toying with a modified one-handed slice. It was powerful...enough, and I felt like I could hit all the areas I aimed for. The only drawback to the MID with groundstrokes was when I WAS UNPREPARED. If my feet were out of place or I was late, the TOUCH MID was unforgiving. I found it tinny on mishits or off-center hits, even with a dampener. When I switched strings to VS Touch at 57#, the off-center vibrations were not an issue. I loved this stick with fb natural gut. 8.8/10
-Serves: Serving (and overheads) was a blast. I could hit flat, kicker, slice with unparalleled accuracy and deftness. I was a little hesitant, but the smaller head size is designed to, provided technique is good, allow for the most amazing service games. The racquet helped my serve go from really good, to amazing. The difference being I could locate service box position so much better. 10/10
-Volleys: Next to serving, volleying was a lot of fun with the MID. Drop volleys, punch volleys, poached put-aways were all easy to hit as the MID is VERY maneuverable. The SW is not a problem, in fact it was helpful in this category. 10/10
-Serve returns: A full swing return was usually put into play with precision and depth. Chip returns...no way BOSS. The TOUCH MID left chip returns short. Until I changed to a fb of natural gut, I left far too many chip returns around the service box. But maybe that is more of a function of a stroke that my weighted DR100s let me get away with. The MID felt very stable on hard, flat serves and the spinny serves that require an adjustment to return properly. 8/10
General reaction/comments on overall performance:
The HEAD Graphene TOUCH MID was an amazing racquet. So much so that I have a demo box containing the TOUCH Pro at my front door right now. I loved the scalpel-like precision the MID provided on all aspects of my game. Whether it was serving, returning, hitting groundstrokes and approach shots, or trying to end points at the net, the MID was a tool designed for a craftsman (woman). If you are slow footed, or not balanced, or your strokes are short and choppy, look elsewhere. If you grew up with wood racquets, love the feel of a heavy, HL stick that can whip through the range of motion, demo this MID. The head size will require some adjustment, but when you are consistently hitting the sweetspot...WOW! I feel like this would be perfect for a stronger, more advanced player looking to sharpen their use of precision. If you like to bludgeon your opponent, the MID is not for you. 9.5/10
Thank you HEAD and TW for making this possible,
Chris