thinking of weighting up an Extreme Lite to get more comfortable tweener racquet

[naturallight]

I’ve learned (the hard way) that I simply can’t play with racquets with a >66 stiffness (unless a full multi string which is a non-starter).

The stock Head Graphene XT Extreme Lite comes with a 100 head, 10oz, 311 SW and only 62 flex.

With foam/silicone injected in the handle and lead tape up to 12oz and 330 SW, wouldn’t this be a much more comfortable version of the Extreme Pro (which has a 68 flex)?

Any drawbacks to this plan? Maybe the sweetspot on the modified Lite wouldn’t be quite as big due to lower stiffness? Also the Lite is a “beginner” racquet, but not sure that means much (or does it?)

Anyone tried something similar?

thanks!

 

[Daniel_K]

It would work fine but kind of goes against the "easy to use" nature of tweener racquets.

I would look at Yonex or prince frames. Both are pretty flexible

 

[Crocodile]

I’ve learned (the hard way) that I simply can’t play with racquets with a >66 stiffness (unless a full multi string which is a non-starter).

The stock Head Graphene XT Extreme Lite comes with a 100 head, 10oz, 311 SW and only 62 flex.

With foam/silicone injected in the handle and lead tape up to 12oz and 330 SW, wouldn’t this be a much more comfortable version of the Extreme Pro (which has a 68 flex)?

Any drawbacks to this plan? Maybe the sweetspot on the modified Lite wouldn’t be quite as big due to lower stiffness? Also the Lite is a “beginner” racquet, but not sure that means much (or does it?)

Anyone tried something similar?

thanks!

I'm not a fan of weighting up very light racquets, particularly Head extreme lights or even the instinct light for that matter up so much, they are not strong frames and you may end up cracking the frame due to the stress out on it.
Instead I would sell your racquet and see if you can either get a pro stock version of this racquet which will be more flexible or get something else which is already 330g unstrung with an RA of 62.

 

[Frans Bleker]

Take a look at the Graphene XT Speed Rev Pro, this also has a very low flex.

 

[tennisBIEST]

I did the exact same thing with my Graphene Extreme Lite. I never found the sweet spot with my lead placements in the hoop so I just played it with a ton of Blutak in the handle. A very arm friendly tweener.

 

[naturallight]

It would work fine but kind of goes against the "easy to use" nature of tweener racquets.

I would look at Yonex or prince frames. Both are pretty flexible

I like yonex, I have a 98 xi ezone now. But it looks like the current 100 ezone and vcore are both 69 flex. Too stiff for me.

 

[Daniel_K]

Dr 98? 62 flex

 

[naturallight]

I'm not a fan of weighting up very light racquets, particularly Head extreme lights or even the instinct light for that matter up so much, they are not strong frames and you may end up cracking the frame due to the stress out on it.
Instead I would sell your racquet and see if you can either get a pro stock version of this racquet which will be more flexible or get something else which is already 330g unstrung with an RA of 62.

Why do you say the "Lite" versions are not strong frames...is this common knowledge? But the Rev Pro versions are stronger?

I actually own a pro stock microgel extreme, and to my arm it is not any less stiff than the retail model.

 

[fuzz nation]

Although the stiffness of the Extreme Lite is listed at 62, I'm a little skeptical of its potential for comfort, just because its most narrow beam width is only 23mm (and 26mm at its widest point). I'd say try it before you buy it to see if the flex rating translates into the feel and comfort you want with it.

If you're planning to get a lighter racquet and tune it up to around 12 oz., maybe also consider the Volkl Super G 10 295g. That frame is on sale at TW and even though its stiffness rating is 65, its beam width is a steady 20mm. I haven't sampled the Super G line of "10 series" Volkls, but I have a pair of the Organix 10 325g's and these got to feeling much more comfortable for me when I added a little lead tape to their hoops. A few of our pals here also had similar success with tuning their O10 295g's. Just one more option...

 

[zalive]

I’ve learned (the hard way) that I simply can’t play with racquets with a >66 stiffness (unless a full multi string which is a non-starter).

The stock Head Graphene XT Extreme Lite comes with a 100 head, 10oz, 311 SW and only 62 flex.

With foam/silicone injected in the handle and lead tape up to 12oz and 330 SW, wouldn’t this be a much more comfortable version of the Extreme Pro (which has a 68 flex)?

Any drawbacks to this plan? Maybe the sweetspot on the modified Lite wouldn’t be quite as big due to lower stiffness? Also the Lite is a “beginner” racquet, but not sure that means much (or does it?)

Anyone tried something similar?

thanks!

Lower flex od Lite version suggests they didn't use a stiffer layup. Head probably just put less layers in layup, and the result was more flex.
TWU vibration frequency ranking confirms it's not just static flex - dynamic flex is also better on Lite version (140 Hz vs 152 Hz).
What's best, added mass should further lower dynamic frequency, while you can make recoil weight even better than on stock version.
Lead on the hoop will diminish part of vibrations too, just as silicone in the handle. Though my recommendation is blue tac rather than silicone, as it is easily to add more and especially to remove some if you added too much. And as for vibrations killing, it will be as good as silicone.

I'd say, go for it. I see no real drawbacks that cannot be solved with mindful customization.

As for the sweet spot, I suggest you put part of lead strips from 9 all the way to 3 o'clock, and then add some more on spots where you need it (12 o clock plus 9+3 o'clock if you need to further improve twist weight). This will make sweet spot wider in all relevant directions). This is what I do with each of my light platform customizations.

To compensate swing speed don't forget to put part of lead at 7'' from the butt cap under the grip, or at the throat, to compensate MgR/I which you will lower with the lead in the upper hoop.

 

[Crocodile]

Why do you say the "Lite" versions are not strong frames...is this common knowledge? But the Rev Pro versions are stronger?

I actually own a pro stock microgel extreme, and to my arm it is not any less stiff than the retail model.

Particularly the Head frames, they can't handle so much customisation. I've seen many of them returned to retailors with cracked throats. If you compare an instinct lite or extreme light to something like an RF or Volkl C10 it's like comparing plasticine to steel.

 

[naturallight]

I did the exact same thing with my Graphene Extreme Lite. I never found the sweet spot with my lead placements in the hoop so I just played it with a ton of Blutak in the handle. A very arm friendly tweener.

tell me more! What weight/SW did you get up to? Did you ever compare your modified version to a stock Pro? Where were you putting the lead tape--despite the low static weight, the SW is already ~310 if I remember.

 

[naturallight]

Although the stiffness of the Extreme Lite is listed at 62, I'm a little skeptical of its potential for comfort, just because its most narrow beam width is only 23mm (and 26mm at its widest point). I'd say try it before you buy it to see if the flex rating translates into the feel and comfort you want with it.

I was wondering about this too, seems a little odd the beam specs are the same but the stiffness ratings are materially different. I guess it's just in how it's made?

 

[zalive]

I was wondering about this too, seems a little odd the beam specs are the same but the stiffness ratings are materially different. I guess it's just in how it's made?

When there is less mass in the hoop, it has some logic its layup is made thinner, right? And if layers (sheets) are made out of equally stiff graphite yet layup is thinner, it is again to be expected it will have more flex.

Vibration frequency ranking is even better sign than flex. And it's also lower on Lite than on regular. All shows comfort will further improve relative to stock when you restore specs.

 

[2nd Serve Ace]

Particularly the Head frames, they can't handle so much customisation. I've seen many of them returned to retailors with cracked throats. If you compare an instinct lite or extreme light to something like an RF or Volkl C10 it's like comparing plasticine to steel.

I'll agree the Extremes don't take customization well. (Probably due to the unique hoop shape). But the prestige and radical MPs are generally a blank canvas type of stick.

 

[tennisBIEST]

tell me more! What weight/SW did you get up to? Did you ever compare your modified version to a stock Pro? Where were you putting the lead tape--despite the low static weight, the SW is already ~310 if I remember.

I can't remember exactly what the static weight was but I tried lead at 12 once and lead around the entire hoop to get it matched with the IG Extreme Pro that I was using. I'm guessing it was around 340grams. The throats are flexible in stock form that the lead on the hoop exacerbated the flexiness. I'm now using the head microgel extreme mp that I picked up from an online tennis store here in "middle America" They are dirt cheap and light weight so I could customize. Plays like a comfortable APD '13.

 

[skraggle]

Consider starting with the Xi 100 lite instead...if not for my Radical/Extreme obsession, would be playing these with just some handle weight...low flex but great power and surprisingly good feel...

Sent from my MI MAX using Tapatalk

 

[Zoolander]

I’ve learned (the hard way) that I simply can’t play with racquets with a >66 stiffness (unless a full multi string which is a non-starter).

The stock Head Graphene XT Extreme Lite comes with a 100 head, 10oz, 311 SW and only 62 flex.

With foam/silicone injected in the handle and lead tape up to 12oz and 330 SW, wouldn’t this be a much more comfortable version of the Extreme Pro (which has a 68 flex)?

Any drawbacks to this plan? Maybe the sweetspot on the modified Lite wouldn’t be quite as big due to lower stiffness? Also the Lite is a “beginner” racquet, but not sure that means much (or does it?)
The handle
Anyone tried something similar?

thanks!

Did the same thing too with the graphene extreme lite. With a thicker grip, 2 o/g, some foam beanbag balls stuffed in the handle with a bit of bluetac it played well. Didn't add weight to the hoop as I was just trying to get the balance more HL. I have done this with a few lighter racquets but because they tend to feel more polarised weightwise I never quite like the feel of them. But you should try it!

 

[naturallight]

Did the same thing too with the graphene extreme lite. With a thicker grip, 2 o/g, some foam beanbag balls stuffed in the handle with a bit of bluetac it played well. Didn't add weight to the hoop as I was just trying to get the balance more HL. I have done this with a few lighter racquets but because they tend to feel more polarised weightwise I never quite like the feel of them. But you should try it!

did you ever compare it vs a regular Pro? Could you tell the difference in stiffness?

 

[naturallight]

Lower flex od Lite version suggests they didn't use a stiffer layup. Head probably just put less layers in layup, and the result was more flex.
TWU vibration frequency ranking confirms it's not just static flex - dynamic flex is also better on Lite version (140 Hz vs 152 Hz).
What's best, added mass should further lower dynamic frequency, while you can make recoil weight even better than on stock version.
Lead on the hoop will diminish part of vibrations too, just as silicone in the handle. Though my recommendation is blue tac rather than silicone, as it is easily to add more and especially to remove some if you added too much. And as for vibrations killing, it will be as good as silicone.

I'd say, go for it. I see no real drawbacks that cannot be solved with mindful customization.

As for the sweet spot, I suggest you put part of lead strips from 9 all the way to 3 o'clock, and then add some more on spots where you need it (12 o clock plus 9+3 o'clock if you need to further improve twist weight). This will make sweet spot wider in all relevant directions). This is what I do with each of my light platform customizations.

To compensate swing speed don't forget to put part of lead at 7'' from the butt cap under the grip, or at the throat, to compensate MgR/I which you will lower with the lead in the upper hoop.

good to know, thanks!

 

[naturallight]

Consider starting with the Xi 100 lite instead...if not for my Radical/Extreme obsession, would be playing these with just some handle weight...low flex but great power and surprisingly good feel...

Sent from my MI MAX using Tapatalk

But the yonex lites aren't any softer than the regular yonexes...

 

[graycrait]

If I had a Head Graphene XT Extreme Lite would cram as much poly pillow fill into the handle as far up the throat as I could, even tapping it in with a long thin screwdriver with a hammer until it was packed to the butt cap. Put a leather grip on it. Then find the balance and try to get this thing close to 12oz at 8pts HL using lead tape, if necessary, under the grip and from 2-10.

 

[CopolyX]

just stuff the frame with a much grass fed beef as you can, it will fat'in up and put on some weight that frame.
personally anything marketed as "Lite" is red flag for me...

also nothing like beef dampening (pentacore beef filled).

 

[Zoolander]

did you ever compare it vs a regular Pro? Could you tell the difference in stiffness?

Don't play the pro, usually play the mp and yes could feel the difference. If your an extreme fan like me it's certainly worth trying, and much easier than trying to find one of the flexier extreme 219 pro stocks which are very difficult to come by...