The Head Extreme Pro just got an excellent review and nobody cares about...

[n8dawg6]

Oh and no love for just graphene extreme pro??

You all say about only IG ext PRO 2.0 and XT graphene ext PRO, skipping the graphene.. Wonder why

I'm giving the Graphene Pro a whirl too. couldnt resist at the current price point. It does have the more rounded grip pallet than the IG.

I personally think the Pure Drive is a great racquet. But the Extreme has a different feel. less disconnected from the ball. I think it's a simpler frame without all the vibration dampening tech of the PD.

 

[Power Player]

Oh and no love for just graphene extreme pro??

You all say about only IG ext PRO 2.0 and XT graphene ext PRO, skipping the graphene.. Wonder why

Because the IG is available at a lower price, and is one of the highest rated frames of all time from this site. From my experience it is worthy of the praise.

If I told you you could find the frame for under $100, you'd probably pick that over the graphene one.

The new one is new so of course it will get interest.

 

[blackpearl2007]

after the first couple of whacks, the thought i was having was "man this is a baseliner's dream." but it's just as solid on volleys. not quite the touch around the net of other frames I've played with, and definitely not as quick as the speed. but I think that power and spin might be more of an asset for my game right now than more touch.

Yeah but for me I really think this racquet shines at net. The plow through you get on volleys is excellent and it doesn't get pushed around by big shots. Even if you hit it outside of the sweet spot the ball still goes to the spot you were intending. In my opinion, this is what makes this racquet shine over the Pure Drive Tour. If I wanted a racquet to kill the ball at the baseline I would probably go with the Pure Drive Tour (assuming no arm issues). I feel I get a bit more plow with top on the Babolat vs the Extreme Pro (ground strokes). However, given my stage of tennis game and playing a bit more doubles I prefer the Extreme Pro. The control at net with the Pro is much better than the Pure Drive Tour.

 

[blackpearl2007]

jesus should I try this xt graphene pro demo??
I really hate the tin-like hollow feeling of this kind modern frames like PD, APD - and you guys mean it isnt?
I dont get that exact meaning of the word "solid", but definitely not a fan of hollow feeling frames.

FWIW the graphic is.... Hideous lol

Doesn't feel hollow to me at all. I also like the graphic of the XT Extreme Pro version and to me looks better in person. Kinda reminds me of Agassi back in the day.

 

[n8dawg6]

Yeah but for me I really think this racquet shines at net. The plow through you get on volleys is excellent and it doesn't get pushed around by big shots. Even if you hit it outside of the sweet spot the ball still goes to the spot you were intending. In my opinion, this is what makes this racquet shine over the Pure Drive Tour. If I wanted a racquet to kill the ball at the baseline I would probably go with the Pure Drive Tour (assuming no arm issues). I feel I get a bit more plow with top on the Babolat vs the Extreme Pro (ground strokes). However, given my stage of tennis game and playing a bit more doubles I prefer the Extreme Pro. The control at net with the Pro is much better than the Pure Drive Tour.

I was having to choose ... larger ... targets from the baseline during my first hit with it. The directional control was not what I'm used to. I'm sure that's just a matter of timing though, since it is a larger and heavier frame. It has so much stringbed square footage you feel really confident on serve returns and balls coming your way with pace. Agree that it's a rock at the net. Not particularly quick, but very solid.

 

[Power Player]

I was having to choose ... larger ... targets from the baseline during my first hit with it. The directional control was not what I'm used to. I'm sure that's just a matter of timing though, since it is a larger and heavier frame. It has so much stringbed square footage you feel really confident on serve returns and balls coming your way with pace. Agree that it's a rock at the net. Not particularly quick, but very solid.

This is a tough frame to test drive if you are holicing and trying out other stuff.I tried it out a couple years back and was too into the Tec 315 to give it a proper trial.

Once I finally did that this year, I was sold on the frame. But I spent time with it and was not trying a bunch of stuff.

 

[n8dawg6]

This is a tough frame to test drive if you are holicing and trying out other stuff.I tried it out a couple years back and was too into the Tec 315 to give it a proper trial.

Once I finally did that this year, I was sold on the frame. But I spent time with it and was not trying a bunch of stuff.

I've definitely got the 'holic issue right now, but I'm trying REAL hard to narrow it down. Standby is the Speed MP, but it's just a little light. So the search continues. I should probably just put on a blindfold, spin around, and then when I stop take the racquet that I land on and stick with it for 12 months.

p.s. I already sold my Tec 315 .... neat frame, but I ain't that good.

 

[veloduffer]

Oh and no love for just graphene extreme pro??

You all say about only IG ext PRO 2.0 and XT graphene ext PRO, skipping the graphene.. Wonder why

As a long time IG Pro user, last Graphene version wasn't close to the way the IG played. The XT version is very similar to the IG, but I think the IG has a bit more power on serve.

 

[Power Player]

The XT is a little more HL balance - not sure if I like that or not. I just played it safe and went with the IG since that is a proven top tier stick, I love the specs and the price is fantastic.

Heck, the new Babs are close to $60 more than a new Extreme. Definitely makes it worth a demo just on price alone.

 

[n8dawg6]

I really like the extremes a little better than the PD's. PD is a great frame dont get me wrong. the extreme is just a simpler less dampened frame with a little more feel/touch

 

[quest01]

I just switched to the extreme pro, new model from the 2013 babolat aeropro drive and they're similar. The extremes have more feel and more control. Also what someone else said, the extremes are a good deal, 2 racquets for under 300 total

 

[Freedom M.D.]

Then is it reasonable for me to think XT Extreme pro is for someone looks for great power and spin but NOT hollow, tinny feel at all ?

 

[Power Player]

Feel is subjective, but most people say the Extreme feels solid. Keeping in mind the style of frame that it is (stiff & modern), I would consider it a solid frame, and the best feeling power baseline racquet I've used.

 

[blackpearl2007]

Then is it reasonable for me to think XT Extreme pro is for someone looks for great power and spin but NOT hollow, tinny feel at all ?

I do not think the Extreme Pros (XT, IG) feels hollow at all as I have had an extensive play test with the XT and play with the IG (use the XT a lot though) As Power Player says above though, feel is subjective. I never thought the Pure Drive Roddicks felt hollow either. The Pure Drives did though for me.

 

[Freedom M.D.]

thankyou all PP and blackpearl!

I am sorry but what is the 'solid' feeling exactly mean? Unfortunately it is easy to be seen in here TT but I'm afraid I don't get it exactly..... Dur!!

 

[corneliuscobb]

The Head Extreme Pro just got an excellent review and nobody cares

Nobody likes that frying pan shaped head.

 

[Bartelby]

It's not aesthetically pleasing at first glance, but it is really only slightly different from the norm.

Head racquets usually have the most beautiful shape to them.

Wilson have PWS, Volkl has the kidney, Babolats are ike a squarish egg and Yonex is isometric.

It's not the only line with a lot of pecularities, however minor.

Nobody likes that frying pan shaped head.

 

[TR3NT]

I really think the pj of the ig extreme pro doesn't help its shape. I placed it ontop of my graphene speed pro and suprisingly there is really little difference in head shape/size.

 

[Power Player]

I love the head shape of the Extreme. It feels impossible to mishit with it. Reminds me of a Yonex in that regard. Also agree that the PJ makes it look more egg like then it is.

 

[Bartelby]

The Extreme needs more black as it's a colour that closes space, but it has a predominant colour that tends to open space.

 

[n8dawg6]

I really think the pj of the ig extreme pro doesn't help its shape. I placed it ontop of my graphene speed pro and suprisingly there is really little difference in head shape/size.

If you take the frame outta the equation, it has almost exactly the same intersecting string spacing of the Graphene Prestige S/Pro. mains are about the same in number, length, and spacing. crosses are just longer. I guess the "empty space" thats only crosses on the edges gives a little more margin against framing the ball on topspin strokes.

 

[Ziev]

I put some x one biphasic in the mains at 54 and some 4s in the crosses at 50 in one of my xt ext pro racquets. I'll see how it plays tonight. Full bed of multi in the others.

At the moment I play with à combi... Mains blackcode, crosses ts60 both at 24 kg. Love it!!!

Tried Full bed of rpm blast and full bed of ts60. Rpm blast made it way too stiff, especially with my short strokestyle, made the racket à real spin monster. Ts60 is nice, more power less control.

 

[Power Player]

Just wanted to bump that after play testing the Babolat Pure Aero Tour, which is REALLY good. I find still find this to be the best power baseline frame available for my tastes.

 

[blackpearl2007]

Just wanted to bump that after play testing the Babolat Pure Aero Tour, which is REALLY good. I find still find this to be the best power baseline frame available for my tastes.

So if you had to choose between the two would you pick the Extreme? How would you rate the control between the two frames?

 

[Power Player]

Yes I am staying with the Extreme. Better control with the EP as well.

 

[bigdaddy]

Yes I am staying with the Extreme. Better control with the EP as well.

Loving my xt extreme pro. Playing better than ever. Easy access to power and control. Still experimenting with strings. This racquet is helping me build confidence. My win record is improving with increased confidence. No arm pain.

 

[Joonas]

Went out and back again to Extreme Pro Xt. I had to read my old posts to get to try it again. And what a great idea was that.

It just allows me so much. Perhaps I have to take it bit easy on those Prestige type flat big shots. But as long as I spin it - all good. I played a super match today. I could return ball deep enough when pushed out that I could never ever be able to do with Prestige.

Loving my xt extreme pro. Playing better than ever. Easy access to power and control. Still experimenting with strings. This racquet is helping me build confidence. My win record is improving with increased confidence. No arm pain.

I have a very similar experience.

I never found groove with Pure Drive. Extreme has that depth control and the impact is deep and solid to keep control of ball. Serve and serve returns allow me to start the point with good depth. And this is very very important for my game. Now I just have to make sure not to stray again.

Strings, I am using Big Hitter Silver 1.25 strung at 24kgs. It is dead enough but very consistent to tame the immense power a bit. I tried Alu Power strung at 24 as well but it was too lively. Perhaps I will try 25 or 26kg. What are you guys using?

 

[torpantennis]

@Joonas The key for me to get Extreme Pro (IG 2.0) under control was Max Power. The extreme predictability and control of it just builds confidence to swing big, creating more spin to control this beast. I'm using syngut in mains, Max Power in crosses at 24kg because I'm so used to the feel of soft mains, poly cross combo.

I tried full bed Focus Hex and Tour Bite before, but got too erroneous response off them. I might try full Max Power, mains 23kg crosses 24kg some time in future.

 

[bigdaddy]

Went out and back again to Extreme Pro Xt. I had to read my old posts to get to try it again. And what a great idea was that.

It just allows me so much. Perhaps I have to take it bit easy on those Prestige type flat big shots. But as long as I spin it - all good. I played a super match today. I could return ball deep enough when pushed out that I could never ever be able to do with Prestige.


I have a very similar experience.

I never found groove with Pure Drive. Extreme has that depth control and the impact is deep and solid to keep control of ball. Serve and serve returns allow me to start the point with good depth. And this is very very important for my game. Now I just have to make sure not to stray again.

Strings, I am using Big Hitter Silver 1.25 strung at 24kgs. It is dead enough but very consistent to tame the immense power a bit. I tried Alu Power strung at 24 as well but it was too lively. Perhaps I will try 25 or 26kg. What are you guys using?

I have two strung with natural gut at 53 lbs. They play great and helps with touch. Another strung with x one bi phase mains and tech 4s in crosses at 53/51.. The other is full bed of x one bi phase at 55 lbs. feel is a little different but they all play great.

 

[TR3NT]

Yeah I think you need full poly with this frame. It made a difference for me. The demos I had tried in the past had multi and I think that may be why I never got on with the frame. Even a hybrid will probably not cut it.

The Cyclone 17 at 48#s works great. Ill see how it progresses, but Cyclone plays pretty well for me in past experience.

Power Player are you still stringing yours with Cyclone 17 at 48# mains and 52# crosses? About to restring mine and wanted to give it this a go. Also are you using original volkl cyclone or cyclone tour?

 

[n8dawg6]

well I have now messed around with the IG Extreme Pro, the Graphene Extreme Pro, and the Graphene XT Extreme Pro. the latest XT is definitely my favorite. it is more polarized like the graphene, but it has a more solid/connected feel. the IG Pro would be a close second, it just has the old head grip shape (which I don't dislike, it's just different). it also doesn't have the same polarized feel.

 

[n8dawg6]

PS full beds of thin gauge hawk and hawk touch work great in these racquets.

 

[Joonas]

@Joonas The key for me to get Extreme Pro (IG 2.0) under control was Max Power. The extreme predictability and control of it just builds confidence to swing big, creating more spin to control this beast. I'm using syngut in mains, Max Power in crosses at 24kg because I'm so used to the feel of soft mains, poly cross combo.

I tried full bed Focus Hex and Tour Bite before, but got too erroneous response off them. I might try full Max Power, mains 23kg crosses 24kg some time in future.

Thanks Torpantennis, I actually tried MaxPower in it - strung 24kg. Yes it is controllable but I didn't like the feel too much. The string is so wire-like even to string and playing characteristics reflected this as well. It has somewhat metallic feel to it and missed the ball pocketing. And the sound was really high pitched clear ping - although this is not so important, but rather funny. It was not bot bad but i much prefer Big Hitter Silver. I probably go and try Alu Power with bit higher tension like 25-26kg.

I have experimented these strings also in the both my daughters Pure Drives. They prefer Big Hitter Silver way above others. Alu Power for them felt too lively and they just didn't like MaxPower either. I believe that Extreme Pro and Pure Drive are somewhat similar in power delivery that a bit deader consistent poly helps to get nice compromise of control and inherent power.

 

[torpantennis]

Yep, Max Power is stiff and the impact sound is metallic. Soft mains help tame those. Soft poly mains with Max Power crosses would be worth trying, I guess I might just do that some time. It's just a big problem that soft polys tend to have poor tension maintenance and short playability duration.

Predictability, control and playability duration of Max Power though are out of this world. And for me, predictability has always been the king in giving me the confidence to swing away. Shaped polys suck in predictability IMO. To get the full potential out of Extreme Pro you gotta swing away, and man have I been doing just that. It's such joy when you can swing freely and not think about the racquet or the strings.

 

[Power Player]

Power Player are you still stringing yours with Cyclone 17 at 48# mains and 52# crosses? About to restring mine and wanted to give it this a go. Also are you using original volkl cyclone or cyclone tour?

Regular Cyclone and 48/52. I think you will like it!

 

[n8dawg6]

VTorque is pretty sexy in that IG Pro frame, too.

 

[LeKeyboardTennisMafia]

I'm interested in this frame. I wanted to ask about the handle shape, I use a Youtek Prestige MP and the handle shape is one thing I really like about it compared to say Babolat or Wilson rackets I've tried.

Is this something characteristic to all head frames, or only older ones? (Or do I just imagine stuff.) There was some discussion in this thread about handle shapes and the XT extreme, but I wasn't sure where we landed on that.

 

[n8dawg6]

I'm interested in this frame. I wanted to ask about the handle shape, I use a Youtek Prestige MP and the handle shape is one thing I really like about it compared to say Babolat or Wilson rackets I've tried.

Is this something characteristic to all head frames, or only older ones? (Or do I just imagine stuff.) There was some discussion in this thread about handle shapes and the XT extreme, but I wasn't sure where we landed on that.

The IG Pro has the old school handle like your prestige. the graphene and xt have a more rounded handle.

 

[n8dawg6]

grip

 

[LeKeyboardTennisMafia]

The IG Pro has the old school handle like your prestige. the graphene and xt have a more rounded handle.

Good to know, thanks!

 

[tribesmen]

I'm interested in this frame. I wanted to ask about the handle shape, I use a Youtek Prestige MP and the handle shape is one thing I really like about it compared to say Babolat or Wilson rackets I've tried.

Is this something characteristic to all head frames, or only older ones? (Or do I just imagine stuff.) There was some discussion in this thread about handle shapes and the XT extreme, but I wasn't sure where we landed on that.

As I am inform right, the Graphene and XT Graphene:
Speed, Extreme line: modern more rounded grips
Prestige, Radical, Instinct line: classic square Head grips

Please. someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[n8dawg6]

As I am inform right, the Graphene and XT Graphene:
Speed, Extreme line: modern more rounded grips
Prestige, Radical, Instinct line: classic square Head grips

Please. someone correct me if I'm wrong.

right ... except i dont know about the instinct, never hit with one.

 

[808]

Strings, I am using Big Hitter Silver 1.25 strung at 24kgs. It is dead enough but very consistent to tame the immense power a bit. I tried Alu Power strung at 24 as well but it was too lively. Perhaps I will try 25 or 26kg. What are you guys using?

I'm using Gravity at 21.5kg/21.5kg. Pretty nice.

Good to know, thanks!

Fortunately with Head frames it's rather easy to change the handle shape / size. You just swap out the pallets (TK82 is the classic rectangular shape, TK82S the Wilson-like shape of the Speed).

I've had my XT Extremes converted to the classic pallets and couldn't be happier. Can't stand the roundish stock shape.

 

[danbrenner]

right ... except i dont know about the instinct, never hit with one.

Instinct is more rounded.
The extreme 2.0 line was the last line that implemented the traditional rectangular pallet. They switche to the rounded pallet with the graphene and onwards Which is unfortunate cause I don't like the rounded shape. So i am still using my 2.0's.

 

[danbrenner]

right ... except i dont know about the instinct, never hit with one.

And the radical is not quite the classic rectangle either. It is slightly different.
Not quite as rounded as the instinct or speed but somewhere in between

 

[danbrenner]

The 2.0 extremes are still to date my favorite line of sticks. They simply pass the Goldilocks test more than any other. If I had to pick one stick to okay with for te test of my life, it would be the extreme 2.0 line. Either the MP or Pro. Whichever one suits your game. I own both frames and switch off depending on my mood. If I'm in the mood for an APD type feel ill use te MP. If I want more of a player feel like a prestige type feel, I'll use the Pro.

 

[Power Player]

I love the Pro a lot but it doesn't feel like a prestige at all to me.

 

[torpantennis]

Yep, feel is far from Prestige. But what amazes me with Pro 2.0 is its abilities on BH slice. You'd think that kind of a racquet would be all about power and topspin but not EP 2.0. I slice with it equally as well as with Prestige. And I volley better with EP 2.0, so not much reasons to stick to classic Prestige feel with my game.

 

[danbrenner]

Yep, feel is far from Prestige. But what amazes me with Pro 2.0 is its abilities on BH slice. You'd think that kind of a racquet would be all about power and topspin but not EP 2.0. I slice with it equally as well as with Prestige. And I volley better with EP 2.0, so not much reasons to stick to classic Prestige feel with my game.

Hells yeah. J think the EP 2.0 is the greatest line of sticks out there. And at the end of the day I use the MP as my main. Hands down my fav frame of all times.

 

[danbrenner]

I love the Pro a lot but it doesn't feel like a prestige at all to me.

I hear ya. I just meant that it reminds me of the prestige in terms of heft. Of course the 2.0 is way more muted and powerful than the prestige.