Category Archives: Easy Order
Head Graphene 360+ Gravity MP/Tecnifibre RPX
Normally our racquet reviews are when a racquet is brand new; however, this is a case where the updated string, RPX, from Tecnifibre is an excellent opportunity to add another review to the site!
There are some excellent reasons to review the same racquet again with different string or tension settings.
- It allows us to evaluate new strings for comparison purposes.
- It will enable the player to demo the same Racquet with a different string.
- The string can affect the overall weight to a small degree but significantly impact swing weight.
For example, this racquet with Victrex 7718 PEEK string (15.9grams installed) has a swing weight of 318. With the new Tecnifibre RPX (18.0 grams installed), the swing weight is 325. That is not huge, but it is different.
Lead tape, commonly used to increase swing weight, weighs in at 2.8 grams for 12 inches! So, slightly over 2 grams of additional string weight in the strung area contribute to the difference between these strings.
Of course, this also means that swing weight can be reduced, somewhat, by using lighter string! We weigh all of the string we test for Power Potential, so we know which string can benefit either swing weight preference.
| Manufacturer | Head |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Head Graphene 360+ Gravity MP |
| Reference Tension | 55 lbs - 24.9 k |
| String | Tecnifibre RPX 16 |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| ASPS, RDC | 53 |
| ASPS, FlexFour | 62 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 59 - After stringing |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 54 |
| Weight, Grams | 322 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.36 |
| Balance, mm | 337 |
| Balance, Inch | 13.27 |
| Length, Cm | 68.6 |
| Length, Inch | 27.008 |
| Head Width | 9.92 |
| Head Length | 12.85 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 645 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 100 |
| Beam Width, mm, Shaft, Center, Tip | 22, 22, 22 |
| In Plane Stiffness, Pounds/In | 381.0 |
| In Plane Stiffness, Kg/cm | 68.12 |
| Number of Main Strings | 16 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 20 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .617 |
| Main String Grid | 7.75 |
| Cross String Grid | 10.37 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .784 |
| Average Cross String Space | .480 |
| Average Main String Space | .520 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 36 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 201.35 |
| First Moment, Nm | .843 |
| Polar Moment | 339 |
| Torsional Stability | 14 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 325 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 11.46 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 365.7 |
| Power, RDC | 46 |
| Control, RDC | 56 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 70 |
| Power, Calculated | 1938.8 |
| Head Points | 1.89 (negative = head heavy) |
| Head Weight, % | 49.1% |
| Center of Percussion | 20.7 |
| Dwell Time, ms, No Swing | 8.74 |
| Effective Stiffness - lbs | 27.9 |
| K, Lb/In (SBS) RDC | 169.87 |
| Recoil Weight | 146.57 |
| Twist Weight | 236.38 |
| End Weight | 119.8 |
| Tip Weight | 202.2 |
| Total Weight Check | 322 |
| 9 O'Clock | 102.3 |
| 3 O'Clock | 101.4 |
| Butt Cap | 117.9 |
| Total Weight Check | 321.6 |
What is UTR?
UTR is “Universal Tennis Rating” and it is the new standard in terms of player ratings based on match play. The range is 0 to 16.6. UTR has taken the place of the NTRP system that was sort of self-rating system. UTR is powered by the algorithmic genii at Oracle.
Guess who has the highest UTR right now at 16.14?
I mention the UTR because it is asked on our “Easy Order” system as a way to help determine what we can do for you. This is important for racquet and string selection but it is OK if you don’t know your UTR. We will figure it out!
BYOS?
Bring Your Own String!
This post is a brief explanation of why we do not, normally, string a tennis racquet with string supplied by the customer.
- The string may not be suitable for the player or racquet.
- The string is not in good condition.
- The string package is damaged so the condition of the string is unknown.
- The string reel is tangled which requires a great deal of time to untangle.
- There is normally no cost savings.
We do, however, keep client supplied string at the World Headquarters for those clients that buy it. The string is owned by the client and can be taken for off site tournament use.
The number of different strings and brands that make it impossible to keep an adequate supply of all of them without knowing they are going to be used!
Of course there are cases that are not categorized above. The client can go to the “Easy Order” tab on this site and add information to the form which clarifies the string, racquet, and condition.
We can take a look and make a decision based on that information.
The BYOS stringing cost is $30.00. This cost is subject to actual review of the string and racquet.
Racquet Quest keeps a very broad and deep selection of the best possible strings from many brands.
Head Extreme Tour
Head is, I believe, going to expose and promote the Extreme Series to a greater extent than before.
Why do I think that? Because I am holding in my very own hands a Head Extreme Tour! This 98 square inch racquet continues the Graphene 360+ technology which has become popular in the last several releases of Head Racquets!
The new Extreme series will be shipping in July so we can’t show many pictures except the all-black version I am holding.
Head Extreme Tour
The other Extreme models will be:
Extreme MP – 100 square inch head size, 300 gram
Extreme S – 105 square inch head size, 275 gram
Extreme Lite – 105 square inch head, 265 gram
Extreme PWR – 115 square inch head, 230 gram
Extreme Jr – 100 square inch head, 240 gram
All of this series continues the “extreme” optic yellow colorway but it is now complemented by a really nice grey upper shaft and hoop! The optic yellow grip may be over the top but that is easily changed.
The Extreme Tour is fitted with a TK82S grip pallet for a comfortable rounder feeling.
Take a look at the specs here:
| Manufacturer | Head |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Head Extreme Tour |
| Reference Tension | 55 lbs - 24.9 kg |
| String | Victrex PEEK fiber Experimental 7718 |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| ASPS, RDC | 52 |
| ASPS, FlexFour | 63.5 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 62 - After stringing |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 40 |
| Weight, Grams | 320 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.29 |
| Balance, mm | 323 |
| Balance, Inch | 12.72 |
| Length, Cm | 68.6 |
| Length, Inch | 27.008 |
| Head Width | 9.59 |
| Head Length | 12.87 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 625.1 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 96.9 |
| Beam Width, mm, Shaft, Center, Tip | 22, 23, 21 |
| In Plane Stiffness, Pounds/In | 359.5 Lbs/In. |
| In Plane Stiffness, Kg/cm | 163.0 Kg/cm |
| Number of Main Strings | 16 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 19 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .627 |
| Main String Grid | 7.12 |
| Cross String Grid | 9.63 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .708 |
| Average Cross String Space | .507 |
| Average Main String Space | .445 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 35 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 195.76 |
| First Moment, Nm | .794 |
| Polar Moment | 322 |
| Torsional Stability | 16 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 306 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 10.79 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 333.9 |
| Power, RDC | 47 |
| Control, RDC | 55 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 83 |
| Power, Calculated | 1856.5 |
| Head Points | 6.30 (negative = head heavy) |
| Head Weight, % | 47.1% |
| Center of Percussion | 20.8 |
| Dwell Time, ms, No Swing | 8.62 |
| Effective Stiffness - lbs | 28.3 |
| K, Lb/In (SBS) RDC | 166.67 |
| Recoil Weight | 149.14 |
| Twist Weight | 220.52 |
| End Weight | 132.8 |
| Tip Weight | 190.4 |
| 9 O'Clock Position | 96.6 |
| 3 O'Clock Position | 98.3 |
| Butt Cap Position | 126.3 |
Racquet Quest, LLC
