Monthly Archives: November 2021
Head Boom MP 2022
Head has introduced a brand new racquet! So, you say, what’s new about that they do it every year! Yes, but this is a different racquet!
This is the Boom!
In all the years we have been dealing with Head it has become clear that they are not averse to making new things…instead of drastically changing old things.
The Boom is available in a Pro version and a MP version, with the Pro version being a little heavier.
So the Boom, which will be available in January of 2022, (pre order now!) is a new racquet and it is not shy about it!
The head shape is a little different, the shaft is a little different, and the Auxetic material and construction is a little different and all these “littles” add up to a totally different hitting experience!
The shaft transitions from a common box to a trapezoid as it junctions with the yoke (which is the Auxetic area, don’t forget)
The 24mm beam (actually 22, 24.4, 23.3) is a solid choice for advancing players offering just the right amount of stiffness for a little extra “punch”.
We believe the recoil weight could be higher and that is easily accomplished when wanted.
| Manufacturer | Head |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Head Boom MP 2022 |
| Reference Tension | 55 lbs - 24.9 kg |
| String | Tecnifibre BiPhase 124 |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| ASPS, RDC | 55.0 |
| ASPS, FlexFour | 64.0 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 62 - After stringing |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 42.0 |
| Racquet - In Plane Stiffness | 344.8 lbs/Inch |
| Weight, Grams | 320 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.29 |
| Balance, mm | 327 |
| Balance, Inch | 12.87 |
| Length, Cm | 68.6 |
| Length, Inch | 27.008 |
| Head Width | 9.83 |
| Head Length | 12.84 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 639.4 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 99.1 |
| Number of Main Strings | 16 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 19 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .645 |
| Main String Grid | 7.61 |
| Cross String Grid | 10.68 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .774 |
| Average Cross String Space | .475 |
| Average Main String Space | .562 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 35 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 195.7 |
| First Moment, Nm | .807 |
| Polar Moment | 325 |
| Torsional Stability | 13 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 312 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 11.01 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 342.2 |
| Power, RDC | 45 |
| Control, RDC | 56 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 79 |
| Power, Calculated | 1936.2 |
| Head Points | 5.04 |
| Head Weight, % | 47.7% |
| Center of Percussion | 20.80 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 8.58 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 29.1 |
| K, Lb/In | 176.26 |
| Recoil Weight | 149.42 |
| Twist Weight | 231.14 |
| End Weight | 127.9 |
| Tip Weight | 191.8 |
| 9 O'Clock | 96.5 |
| 3 O'Clock | 96.1 |
| Butt Cap | 126.8 |
Head Prestige MP 2021 Series
OK, here comes another racquet review!
You know our reviews are “numbers” based, not hitter based because we just like numbers! Hitters are Important but to get the most meaningful data from a racquet requires numbers. These numbers can then be applied to the feedback of the hitter.
The new Head Prestige MP 2021 is a 99 square inch head with the 18×19 string pattern so common in player style racquets. This combination may “scare off” some users but that would be a mistake in our opinion.
As you would expect this racquet is a thin box beam box design which creates an in plane stiffness of 384.6 pounds, which can be used to create a very friendly string bed stiffness. Take a look at the “effective stiffness” and you will see what we mean!
In addition to the nice in plane stiffness this racquet uses Head’s new Auxetic construction in the throat which is designed for comfort and control from each hit by allowing the throat to “expand 
and contract” a little.
The bright red color of last years Prestige series has been replaced with a “matt” graphite transitioning into the classic Prestige maroon aroun
d the head of the racquet making this a classic in its own right!
| Manufacturer | Head |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Head Prestige MP 2021 |
| Reference Tension | 55 lbs - 24.9 kg |
| String | Victrex 7718 (PEEK) |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| ASPS, RDC | 54 |
| ASPS, FlexFour | 66.0 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 63 - After stringing |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 41.0 |
| Racquet - In Plane Stiffness | 384.6 lbs/Inch |
| Weight, Grams | 332 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.71 |
| Balance, mm | 327 |
| Balance, Inch | 12.87 |
| Length, Cm | 68.6 |
| Length, Inch | 27.008 |
| Head Width | 9.551 |
| Head Length | 13.13 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 635.4 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 98.5 |
| Number of Main Strings | 18 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 19 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .689 |
| Main String Grid | 8.00 |
| Cross String Grid | 10.10 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .727 |
| Average Cross String Space | .529 |
| Average Main String Space | .396 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 35 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 195.7 |
| First Moment, Nm | .837 |
| Polar Moment | 343 |
| Torsional Stability | 17 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 326 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 11.50 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 355.0 |
| Power, RDC | 49 |
| Control, RDC | 52 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 69 |
| Power, Calculated | 2042.9 |
| Head Points | 5.04 |
| Head Weight, % | 47.7% |
| Center of Percussion | 21.016 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 8.66 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 29.1 |
| K, Lb/In | 173.08 |
| Recoil Weight | 157.3 |
| Twist Weight | 227.24 |
| End Weight | 133.1 |
| Tip Weight | 200.8 |
| 9 O'Clock | 101.3 |
| 3 O'Clock | 98.9 |
| Butt Cap | 131.3 |
What Can Pictures Tell Us About String?
It is said that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” which may be true as long as the picture tells a story.
This story is about natural gut string, and the pictures will show what we can achieve, informationally, with our testing equipment. The two (2) strings are Babolat VS Touch 17 and Luxilon Natural Gut 125.
Our Questron software scales the images to suit the data so the graphs will not be the same size.
Babolat VS Touch 17
Our testing loads the string from 0 pounds force to 50 pounds and back to zero then up to 50 pounds three (3) times. This is the “stress/strain” curve. Fifty (50) pounds is arbitrary and because we are using the same methodology for all string materials it is a good number. The closer these lines are together the better.
The farther it takes to reach 50 pounds the “higher elongation” the string is. In this case it is about 44mm.
The important property of this string is the linearity! That is the “straightness” of the line from beginning to end. This indicates predictability, stability, and consistency.
This picture tells us the tensile strength and the knot strength. In this case the knot strength is 52.3 pounds and takes a stretch to very close to 60mm before failure.
Luxilon Natural Gut 125
What is, probably, the first thing you notice about this “picture”? Could it be the squiggly lines? What could be causing this?
We believe it is the “break-in period” players associate with Luxilon gut! We have heard it from the players but have not been able to “see” it! It could be the bonding agents realigning as the load is applied.
You will notice a couple of things: the similarity of the “stress/strain” curve and the displacement to “knot strength” of the two strings. This string will feel a little less “soft” than the Babolat VS Touch 17. The linearity is quite good up to failure.
So, based on these pictures, could you make a recommendation? If so, let us hear them!
And The Winner Is…
The winner is Tecnifibre MultiFeel 17!
This string, MultiFeel, is a very “soft” polyurethane bonded construction that offers playability and a good value!
Tecnifibre MultiFeel !7 Gauge
This graph shows the high elongation and nice elasticity of this string. The fairly linear slope up to failure would indicate some consistency of shot all the way up to breakage!
The knot strength is pretty good for a thin multifilament and we can say from experience that the know is going to be fine when property “tightened” and large enough to not slip bak into the grommet barrel.
If you are considering a multifilament this would be a good one to try!
Racquet Quest, LLC
