Category Archives: Graphene Touch
Head Graphene 360+ Speed Pro
This is the “PRO est” of the new Speed series because it says so right on the tip of the racquet and it carries an 18×20 string pattern, so there!
However, do not be intimidated by the “Pro” label! You will see by the specifications that this is a racquet that can be used by any player wanting to maximize their current skillset.
A couple of good reasons for this assessment is the wonderful flex of RDC 60! The overall weight and swing weight are there as a good beginning but can be adjusted to suit any player.
Typically 18×20 string patterns are not considered spin-friendly but the dense pattern can be used to your advantage by reducing string bed stiffness, thus dwell time and therefore spin potential. In other words, this pattern is highly customizable!
Head Graphene 360+ Speed Pro
If you value string life the 18×20 pattern can reward you with some increased durability.
As we mentioned in the Graphene 360+ Speed MP review there didn’t need to be many changes from the previous version and probably the most noticeable change is going to be the color “flipping” and a little increase in swing weight.
The numbers will tell the story. Click here to see the Graphene 360 Speed Pro data from last year.
| Manufacturer | Head |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Head Graphene 360+ Speed Pro |
| Reference Tension | 56 lbs - 25.4 kg |
| String | Victrex PEEK fiber Experimental 7718 |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| ASPS, RDC | 55 |
| ASPS, FlexFour | 66.5 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 60 - After stringing |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 43 |
| Weight, Grams | 327 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.53 |
| Balance, mm | 323 |
| Balance, Inch | 12.72 |
| Length, Cm | 68.5 |
| Length, Inch | 26.97 |
| Head Width | 9.69 |
| Head Length | 13.06 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 641.2 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 99.4 |
| Beam Width, mm, Shaft, Center, Tip | 23, 23, 23 |
| In Plane Stiffness, Pounds/In | 335.2 Lbs/In. |
| In Plane Stiffness, Kg/cm | 152.0 Kg/cm |
| Number of Main Strings | 18 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 20 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .668 |
| Main String Grid | 7.62 |
| Cross String Grid | 10.37 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .768 |
| Average Cross String Space | .513 |
| Average Main String Space | .414 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 37 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 206.94 |
| First Moment, Nm | .812 |
| Polar Moment | 336 |
| Torsional Stability | 16 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 320 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 11.29 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 341.2 |
| Power, RDC | 45 |
| Control, RDC | 57 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 73 |
| Power, Calculated | 1908.2 |
| Head Points | 6.14 (negative = head heavy |
| Head Weight, % | 47.2% |
| Center of Percussion | 21.2 |
| Dwell Time, ms, No Swing | 8.58 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 28.7 |
| K, Lb/In (SBS) RDC | 176.28 |
| Recoil Weight | 159.71 |
| Twist Weight | 229.85 |
| End Weight | 133.4 |
| Tip Weight | 192.8 |
| 9 O'Clock | 97.1 |
| 3 O'Clock | 97.5 |
| Butt Cap | 131.0 |
Head Graphene 360+ Speed Mid Plus
The new(est) model of the very popular Graphene 360+ Speed series racquet is available NOW, so get up to “speed” by taking a look at the specifications for a strung racquet and the series comparison data.
The major difference between this and the previous version is the “flipping” of the colors! What was black is now white and what was white is now black! I believe not very much else was changed and for good reason! The racquet is a very, very good racquet so why make a bunch of changes?
Here is an overview of all the new Speed models. This is unstrung data, however, you can add 16 to the overall weight for string and 30 to the swing weight number to approximate the strung data.
| Manufacturer | Head |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Head Graphene 360+ Speed Mid Plus |
| Reference Tension | 56 lbs - 25.4 kg |
| String | Victrex PEEK fiber Experimental 7718 |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| ASPS, RDC | 52 |
| ASPS, FlexFour | 63.5 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 61 - After stringing |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 51 |
| Weight, Grams | 322 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.36 |
| Balance, mm | 332 |
| Balance, Inch | 13.07 |
| Length, Cm | 68.5 |
| Length, Inch | 26.97 |
| Head Width | 9.67 |
| Head Length | 13.06 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 639.9 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 99.2 |
| Beam Width, mm, Shaft, Center, Tip | 20, 20, 20 |
| In Plane Stiffness, Pounds/In | 329.6 Lbs/In. |
| In Plane Stiffness, Kg/cm | 149.5 Kg/cm |
| Number of Main Strings | 16 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 19 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .623 |
| Main String Grid | 7.44 |
| Cross String Grid | 10.62 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .797 |
| Average Cross String Space | .559 |
| Average Main String Space | .465 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 34 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 190.16 |
| First Moment, Nm | .828 |
| Polar Moment | 345 |
| Torsional Stability | 21 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 324 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 11.43 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 354.9 |
| Power, RDC | 48 |
| Control, RDC | 53 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 71 |
| Power, Calculated | 1960.1 |
| Head Points | 3.31 (negative = head heavy |
| Head Weight, % | 48.5% |
| Center of Percussion | 21.0 |
| Dwell Time, ms, No Swing | 8.82 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 28.1 |
| K, Lb/In (SBS) RDC | 166.67 |
| Recoil Weight | 153.07 |
| Twist Weight | 225.5 |
| End Weight | 125.1 |
| Tip Weight | 197.1 |
| 9 O'Clock | 97.4 |
| 3 O'Clock | 96.9 |
| Butt Cap | 126.7 |
2020 is Coming Into Focus!
2019 came and went in a blur! In a few days it will 2020 and with it will come some exciting new tennis stuff, for sure!
I am not so good at predicting things but I do it anyway! Here are a few predictions I will make for 2020:
- Tennis racquets will become more expensive, but only slightly.
- On-line sales of tennis racquets will increase. See this previous post.
- Customer satisfaction with on-line sales will decrease.
- Small specialty tennis shops will be the source of information, then #2, and then #3.
- Players will stick with a racquet longer, making customizations as needed.
- String and stringing will become a more important component of a racquet purchase. See below!
- Tennis related injuries will continue to be a problem for the sport going forward.
No Underage Polyester, Please!
Thank you for thinking about the “long term” for all tennis players!
There are no bad strings just bad applications!
The right equipment is crucial to the long term enjoyment, and winning, of tennis!
The local representatives I deal with are committed to our “well being” even though some may feel like they are facing “extinction”!
An excellent example of what we are talking about just walked in! Two (2) new racquets so poorly strung it is shocking!
The customer is having serious arm issues with an excellent racquet, with a terrible string setup! But the string setup is probably considered by many to be the ultimate combination, that is RPM Blast in the main and VS Touch in the cross! That combination is coming out in a few minutes! No more polyester!
The quality of the stringing is what is so wrong! Had you or I received this racquet, we would have returned it at once! Why? Because it exemplifies the attitude of so many stringers that is “who cares”!
Happy New Year!
Jack Wins at Eddie Herr International!
Congratulations to Jack Anthrop for winning the Boy’s 16 Singles at the Eddie Herr International Tournament!
Those who know Jack know that he has made steady progress on his quest to become a really great player!
However, here are some things you may not know:
Racquet: Head Graphene Touch Prestige Mid (93) 16×19 string pattern.
String: Pre-production Zyex monofilament, 16L gauge. Prior to this was Ashaway MonoGut ZX. Jack has been using Zyex (PEEK) material for well over six (6) years!
Tension: 56 (25.4kg)
In addition to Jack’s tennis skills he is also highly proficient at cutting and removing string from racquets!
Congratulations, Jack!
Racquet Quest, LLC
