Author Archives: RacquetQuest
Head Gravity MP 2023
Close behind the new Head Radical comes the new Head Gravity 2023! Not one but three (3!). The Gravity Pro, the Gravity MP, and the Gravity Team!
This Gravity MP 2023 demo racquet is ready to hit today! If you have not hit with a Gravity you will be intrigued by the weight distribution.
We are starting with the Gravity MP 2023.
Head Gravity has always used a multi-color graphic package with one color on one side and another color on the other side. This was clever, and many players liked the look.
The new models use a “color-shifting” graphic that you can see here. The colors are subtly different depending on how you look at the racquet.
And the graphic starts at the butt end on one side and starts at the tip on the other! So it has a lot going on.
The racquet is a 100-square-inch head with a fairly thin beam and deep throat shaft.
The string pattern is 16×20, which fills up the hitting area and produces a fairly dense pattern in the center of the racquet. This may contribute to a slightly longer string life.
You may notice the stiffness of this racquet should be perfect for the control component of your game and be very arm friendly (see effective stiffness).
Head Gravity MP 2023
| Manufacturer | Head |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Head Gravity MP 2023 |
| Reference Tension | 53 |
| String | MonoGut ZX Pro (PEEK) |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| String Bed Stiffness - RDC | 50.0 Units |
| String Bed Stiffness -FlexFour | 60.8 pounds |
| String Bed Stiffness - SBS | 49.6 pounds |
| String Bed Stiffness - ERT | 35 Kg/Cm |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 57 - After stringing |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 39.0 |
| Racquet - In Plane Stiffness | 397.4 lbs/Inch |
| Weight, Grams | 318 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.22 |
| Balance, mm | 335 |
| Balance, Inch | 13.19 |
| Length, Cm | 68.6 |
| Length, Inch | 27.03 |
| Head Width | 9.91 |
| Head Length | 12.86 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 645.9 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 100.1 |
| Beam Height @ Grip, mm | 21.2 |
| Beam Height @ Mid, mm | 22.5 |
| Beam Height @ Tip | 22.5 |
| Beam Width @ Grip, mm | 10.6 |
| Beam Width @ Throat, mm | 10.6 |
| Beam Width @ Mid, mm | 11.0 |
| Beam Width @ Tip, mm | 12.3 |
| Number of Main Strings | 16 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 20 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .617 |
| Main String Grid | 7.70 |
| Cross String Grid | 10.25 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | 70.0% |
| Average Cross String Space | .515 |
| Average Main String Space | .425 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 35 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 195.76 |
| First Moment, Nm | .827 |
| Polar Moment | 338 |
| Torsional Stability | 14 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 324 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 11.43 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 356.9 |
| Power, RDC | 46 |
| Control, RDC | 56 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 71 |
| Power, Calculated | 1867.4 |
| Head Points | 2.68 |
| Head Weight, % | 48.8% |
| Center of Percussion | 21.0 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 9.00 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 26.6 |
| K, Lb/In | 160.26 |
| Recoil Weight | 150.77 |
| Twist Weight | 233.27 |
| End Weight | 122.3 |
| Tip Weight | 197.8 |
| 9 O'Clock | 98.9 |
| 3 O'Clock | 99.7 |
| Butt Cap | 119.8 |
| COF, Main | .426 |
| COF, Cross | .378 |
Wilson Pro Staff v14
Wilson Pro Staff 97 v14
Wilson Pro Staff v14
The initial response to the new Wilson Pro Staff 97 v14 graphics pack is similar to the Blade shifting color graphics…you either like it, or you don’t! There seems to be very little “in-between.”
Wilson Pro Staff v14
We care about the racquet’s appearance, but we really care about the specifications!
So here we go…
| Manufacturer | Wilson |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Wilson Pro Staff 97 v14 |
| Reference Tension | 55 |
| String | PEEK 1.25mm |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| String Bed Stiffness - RDC | 51.0 Units |
| String Bed Stiffness -FlexFour | 64.1 pounds |
| String Bed Stiffness - SBS | 49.0 pounds |
| String Bed Stiffness - ERT | 34 Kg/Cm |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 66 - After stringing |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 49.0 |
| Racquet - In Plane Stiffness | 447.2 lbs/Inch |
| Weight, Grams | 330 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.64 |
| Balance, mm | 324 |
| Balance, Inch | 12.76 |
| Length, Cm | 68.57 |
| Length, Inch | 27.00 |
| Head Width | 9.438 |
| Head Length | 12.80 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 623.0 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 94.9 |
| Beam Height @ Grip, mm | 21.0 |
| Beam Height @ Mid, mm | 21.8 |
| Beam Height @ Tip | 21.8 |
| Beam Width @ Grip, mm | 11.1 |
| Beam Width @ Throat, mm | 11.0 |
| Beam Width @ Mid, mm | 11.0 |
| Beam Width @ Tip, mm | 12.8 (includes bumper guard) |
| Number of Main Strings | 16 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 19 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .621 |
| Main String Grid | 7.25 |
| Cross String Grid | 10.13 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | 77.4% |
| Average Cross String Space | .533 |
| Average Main String Space | .453 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 34 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 190.16 |
| First Moment, Nm | .822 |
| Polar Moment | 336 |
| Torsional Stability | 14 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 322 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 11.36 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 346.4 |
| Power, RDC | 53 |
| Control, RDC | 47 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 72 |
| Power, Calculated | 2036.6 |
| Head Points | 5.98 |
| Head Weight, % | 47.2% |
| Center of Percussion | 21.1 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 8.91 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 28.8 |
| K, Lb/In | 163.46 |
| Recoil Weight | 158.78 |
| Twist Weight | 220.98 |
| End Weight | 134.0 |
| Tip Weight | 195.9 |
| 9 O'Clock | 100.8 |
| 3 O'Clock | 100.5 |
| Butt Cap | 128.1 |
| COF, Main | .323 |
| COF, Cross | .323 |
Numbers, numbers, numbers! What do they mean?
With each of our racquet reviews a long list of numbers is included. It has been a few years since we explained what these numbers mean so here it is;
| Manufacturer | Head |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Head Radical MP 2023 |
| Reference Tension | 55 (what you tell the stingers to set the stringing machine). This should be replaced by String Bed Stiffness (SBS) |
| String | MonoGut ZX Pro |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| String Bed Stiffness - RDC | 53.0 Units (Babolat RDC) |
| String Bed Stiffness -FlexFour | 64.9 pounds (Flex Four) |
| String Bed Stiffness - SBS | 51.8 pounds (Racquet Quest string bed stiffness SBS Master) |
| String Bed Stiffness - ERT | 35 Kg/Cm (previously Beer's ERT1000) |
| Racquet Flex, Babolat RDC | 65 - After stringing (unstrung racquets will be slightly stiffer. Loaded from the tip) |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 44.5 (Loaded from the COP) |
| Racquet - In Plane Stiffness | 379.7 lbs/Inch (stiffness across the 3 ad 9 o'clock positions of the racquet head) |
| Weight, Grams | 326 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.50 |
| Balance, mm | 333 |
| Balance, Inch | 13.11 |
| Length, Cm | 68.57 |
| Length, Inch | 27.00 |
| Head Width | 9.63 |
| Head Length | 12.79 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 623.0 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 96.7 |
| Beam Height @ Grip, mm | 21.0 (how thick the racquet is looking at the side) |
| Beam Height @ Mid, mm | 22.5 (how thick the racquet is looking at the side) |
| Beam Height @ Tip | 20.5 (how thick the racquet is looking at the side) |
| Beam Width @ Grip, mm | 12.5 (how thick the racquet is looking at the front or face view) |
| Beam Width @ Throat, mm | 11.5 (how thick the racquet is looking at the front or face view) |
| Beam Width @ Mid, mm | 12.8 (how thick the racquet is looking at the front or face view) |
| Beam Width @ Tip, mm | 12.8 (how thick the racquet is looking at the front or face view) |
| Number of Main Strings | 16 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 19 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .634 ( typically the natural ratio) |
| Main String Grid | 7.18 (the distance between the two outer most main strings) |
| Cross String Grid | 9.44 (the distance between the two outer most cross strings) |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | 69.6% (how much of the head area is filled with string) |
| Average Cross String Space | .494 (how far apart the strings are). The farther apart the quicker the wear. |
| Average Main String Space | .449 (how far apart the strings are). The farther apart the quicker the wear. |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 35 (string bed stiffness in kilos per centimeter) |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 195.76 (DT converted to pounds per inch) |
| First Moment, Nm | .841 (sometimes called pickup weight) |
| Polar Moment | 347 (torsional weight) |
| Torsional Stability | 16 ( resistance to twisting on off center hits) |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 331 (the dynamic weight and the most significant property) |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 11.68 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 361.5 (calculated from the butt end to the tip) |
| Power, RDC | 52 (property calculated by Babolat RDC) |
| Control, RDC | 49 (property calculated by Babolat RDC) |
| Manueverability, RDC | 66 (property calculated by Babolat RDC) |
| Power, Calculated | 2101.4 (calculation based on several racquet properties) |
| Head Points | 3.15 ( a point is generally consider to be .125 inches/3.18mm) |
| Head Weight, % | 48.5% |
| Center of Percussion | 21.1 (highest COR) |
| Dwell Time, ms | 8.74 (length of time the ball is in contact with the string without a swing) |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 29.2 ( the calculated combined stiffness of the racquet and sting bed) |
| K, Lb/In | 169.87 (string bed stiffness in pounds/inch) |
| Recoil Weight | 156.44 (resistance to twisting about the grip) |
| Twist Weight | 226.48 (resistance to twisting about the neutral axis) |
| End Weight | 126.0 (two scale system to calculate CG) |
| Tip Weight | 197.7 (two scale system to calculate CG) |
| 9 O'Clock | 105.1 (three scale system to assure symmetry) |
| 3 O'Clock | 104.7(three scale system to assure symmetry) |
| Butt Cap | 115.6 (three scale system to assure symmetry) |
| COF, Main | .416 (the stickiness of the string bed sliding the ball with the main strings) |
| COF, Cross | .388(the stickiness of the string bed sliding the ball with the cross strings) |
What is wrong with this picture?
Actually, it is going to be two (2) pictures! One with no narrative and one with an explanation of what is wrong!
Did you see what was wrong with this picture? If you did, congratulations are in order!
If you didn’t know what was wrong with this picture, here it is! If you receive a freshly strung racquet that looks like this, take a close look at the strings and do not accept it if there is a “mis-weave” in the string bed!
Sometimes this condition is not easy to spot, so take a good look.
Some Time Off!
We are taking a few days off!
We are spending some time with one of our daughters and grandson…finally!
Thank you!
Racquet Quest, LLC
