Category Archives: Graphene

We Believe!

In addition to our commitment to full custom racquets, we also believe in racquets that have been pushed aside by newer models just because it is the thing to do each year!

Of course, there can be material and design changes to racquets that make them desirable and that is always a good thing but maybe not every year!  Our experience has been that a typical consumer will use a racquet for about three (3) years.  But we also know that there are those players that want the very latest of everything!

This post is to let you know that there is life before the latest racquets!

We know the Head Speed Graphene Touch is an extraordinary tennis racquet!  The shared hole string pattern was around for a short time but it is a good pattern…so we have some of those!

The Head Prestige Tour Graphene 360+ is another incredible tennis racquet that should not be overlooked even though the Auxetic Prestige series is here.  The Prestige Tour features a 99 square inch head size with an 18×19 string pattern.  This is a real “players” racquet, to use the common descriptive, although anyone can play with this racquet.  We have these!

The Yonex V-Core without the VDM is another example of a good racquet being replaced before its time, and the same goes for the V-Core Pro 97 and 100!  Some players prefer the feedback of the non-VDM racquets.  We have those.

The previous version of the Wilson Ultra 100 is preferred by some due to the grip pallet configuration and construction.

So what is the point, here?

Very simply it is to let everyone know that there is life after new models by opting for an older model, and, letting those that prefer previous models know that some are available.  These racquets will not be “dumped”, they are too good for that!

Of course, there are not many of the “special” racquets so use the “Easy Order” tab to let us know you are thinking about one or more!

 

 

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.  

 

The MP and Pro demo’s are ready for your evaluation! These are very popular demo’s!
ManufacturerHead
Racquet ModelHead Boom MP 2022
Reference Tension55 lbs - 24.9 kg
String
Tecnifibre BiPhase 124
Machine UsedTrue Tension Professional
Static
ASPS, RDC55.0
ASPS, FlexFour64.0
Racquet Flex, RDC62 - After stringing
Racquet Flex, FlexFour42.0
Racquet - In Plane Stiffness344.8 lbs/Inch
Weight, Grams320
Weight, Ounces11.29

Balance, mm327
Balance, Inch12.87
Length, Cm68.6
Length, Inch27.008
Head Width9.83
Head Length12.84
Head Area, cm2639.4
Head Area, Sq. Inch99.1
Number of Main Strings16
Number of Cross Strings19
Ratio Cross/Mains.645
Main String Grid7.61
Cross String Grid10.68
Density (% of head filled with string).774
Average Cross String Space.475
Average Main String Space.562
Dynamic
Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT35
Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in195.7
First Moment, Nm.807
Polar Moment325
Torsional Stability13
Swing Weight, Kg/cm2312
Swing Weight, Ounces11.01
Swing Weight Calculated342.2
Power, RDC45
Control, RDC56
Manueverability, RDC79
Power, Calculated 1936.2
Head Points5.04
Head Weight, %47.7%
Center of Percussion20.80
Dwell Time, ms8.58
Efective Stiffness - lbs29.1
K, Lb/In176.26
Recoil Weight149.42
Twist Weight231.14
End Weight 127.9
Tip Weight 191.8
9 O'Clock96.5
3 O'Clock96.1
Butt Cap126.8

 

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 around the head of the racquet making this a classic in its own right!

 

 

The Prestige series just keeps getting better!

 

You can demo this racquet now!

ManufacturerHead
Racquet ModelHead Prestige MP 2021
Reference Tension55 lbs - 24.9 kg
String
Victrex 7718 (PEEK)
Machine UsedTrue Tension Professional
Static
ASPS, RDC54
ASPS, FlexFour66.0
Racquet Flex, RDC63 - After stringing
Racquet Flex, FlexFour41.0
Racquet - In Plane Stiffness384.6 lbs/Inch
Weight, Grams332
Weight, Ounces11.71

Balance, mm327
Balance, Inch12.87
Length, Cm68.6
Length, Inch27.008
Head Width9.551
Head Length13.13
Head Area, cm2635.4
Head Area, Sq. Inch98.5
Number of Main Strings18
Number of Cross Strings19
Ratio Cross/Mains.689
Main String Grid8.00
Cross String Grid10.10
Density (% of head filled with string).727
Average Cross String Space.529
Average Main String Space.396
Dynamic
Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT35
Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in195.7
First Moment, Nm.837
Polar Moment343
Torsional Stability17
Swing Weight, Kg/cm2326
Swing Weight, Ounces11.50
Swing Weight Calculated355.0
Power, RDC49
Control, RDC52
Manueverability, RDC69
Power, Calculated 2042.9
Head Points5.04
Head Weight, %47.7%
Center of Percussion21.016
Dwell Time, ms8.66
Efective Stiffness - lbs29.1
K, Lb/In173.08
Recoil Weight157.3
Twist Weight227.24
End Weight 133.1
Tip Weight 200.8
9 O'Clock101.3
3 O'Clock98.9
Butt Cap131.3

 

Head Speed Pro Black

As you probably know by now Novak Djokovic plays with a version of the Head Speed but in black, not black and white! So it was only a matter of time until the all-black Speed Pro became available.

Until now we only had the black and white Speed Pro demo but now we have the black one!

This review will include the white and black version of the Speed and we will include a comparison to the Wilson Blade Pro!

These are each extraordinary racquets!  You will discover subtle differences in the specifications, especially the Wilson Blade Pro being a 16×19 pattern and the Head Speed Pro, in this case, is 18×20.  The geometry and frame of the 16×19 and 18×20 are the same so the numbers are meaningful!

 

ManufacturerHead
Racquet ModelHead Graphene 360 + Speed Pro Black
Reference Tension54 lbs - 24.5 kg
String
Head Reflex MLT
Machine UsedTrue Tension Professional
Static
ASPS, RDC56
ASPS, FlexFour66.5
Racquet Flex, RDC57 - After stringing
Racquet Flex, FlexFour50.5
Racquet - In Plane Stiffness325.2 lbs/Inch
Weight, Grams334
Weight, Ounces11.78

Balance, mm325
Balance, Inch12.80
Length, Cm68.6
Length, Inch27.008
Head Width9.618
Head Length13.10
Head Area, cm2636.1
Head Area, Sq. Inch98.6
Number of Main Strings18
Number of Cross Strings20
Ratio Cross/Mains.662
Main String Grid7.565
Cross String Grid10.30
Density (% of head filled with string).7735
Average Cross String Space.513
Average Main String Space.413
Dynamic
Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT35
Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in195.7
First Moment, Nm.836
Polar Moment341
Torsional Stability15
Swing Weight, Kg/cm2326
Swing Weight, Ounces11.50
Swing Weight Calculated352.8
Power, RDC42
Control, RDC59
Manueverability, RDC69
Power, Calculated 1832.1
Head Points5.51
Head Weight, %47.0%
Center of Percussion21.016
Dwell Time, ms8.502
Efective Stiffness - lbs28.25
K, Lb/In179.49
Recoil Weight159.3
Twist Weight231.4
End Weight 134.5
Tip Weight 198.0
9 O'Clock99.0
3 O'Clock99.6
Butt Cap134.0

 

And now for the white and black version:

ManufacturerHead
Racquet ModelHead Graphene 360+ Speed Pro
Reference Tension56 lbs - 25.4 kg
String
Victrex PEEK fiber Experimental 7718
Machine UsedTrue Tension Professional
Static
ASPS, RDC55
ASPS, FlexFour66.5
Racquet Flex, RDC60 - After stringing
Racquet Flex, FlexFour43
Weight, Grams327
Weight, Ounces11.53
Balance, mm323
Balance, Inch12.72
Length, Cm68.5
Length, Inch26.97
Head Width9.69
Head Length13.06
Head Area, cm2641.2
Head Area, Sq. Inch99.4
Beam Width, mm, Shaft, Center, Tip23, 23, 23
In Plane Stiffness, Pounds/In335.2 Lbs/In.
In Plane Stiffness, Kg/cm 152.0 Kg/cm
Number of Main Strings18
Number of Cross Strings20
Ratio Cross/Mains.668
Main String Grid7.62
Cross String Grid10.37
Density (% of head filled with string).768
Average Cross String Space.513
Average Main String Space.414
Dynamic
Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT37
Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in206.94
First Moment, Nm.812
Polar Moment336
Torsional Stability16
Swing Weight, Kg/cm2320
Swing Weight, Ounces11.29
Swing Weight Calculated341.2
Power, RDC45
Control, RDC57
Manueverability, RDC73
Power, Calculated 1908.2
Head Points6.14 (negative = head heavy
Head Weight, %47.2%
Center of Percussion21.2
Dwell Time, ms, No Swing8.58
Efective Stiffness - lbs28.7
K, Lb/In (SBS) RDC176.28
Recoil Weight159.71
Twist Weight229.85
End Weight 133.4
Tip Weight 192.8
9 O'Clock97.1
3 O'Clock97.5
Butt Cap131.0
This Wilson Blade Pro was not strung by Racquet Quest. The specifications are included as a comparison only…not a string recommendation.

And now for the Wilson Blade Pro:

ManufacturerWilson
Racquet ModelWilson Blade Pro
Reference Tension54 lbs - 23.6 k2
String
ALU Power Rough
Machine UsedUnknown
Static
ASPS, RDC35
ASPS, FlexFour53
Racquet Flex, RDC62 - After stringing
Racquet Flex, FlexFour48
Racquet - In Plane Stiffness387.1 lbs/Inch
Weight, Grams337
Weight, Ounces11.89
Balance, mm327
Balance, Inch12.87
Length, Cm68.6
Length, Inch27.008
Head Width9.6
Head Length12.80
Head Area, cm2623.3
Head Area, Sq. Inch96.6
Number of Main Strings16
Number of Cross Strings19
Ratio Cross/Mains.634
Main String Grid7.37
Cross String Grid10.40
Density (% of head filled with string).7934
Average Cross String Space.547
Average Main String Space.461
Dynamic
Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT27
Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in151.0
First Moment, Nm.850
Polar Moment358
Torsional Stability16
Swing Weight, Kg/cm2342
Swing Weight, Ounces12.06
Swing Weight Calculated360.35
Power, RDC55
Control, RDC42
Manueverability, RDC59
Power, Calculated 2069.0
Head Points5.04
Head Weight, %47.07
Center of Percussion21.535
Dwell Time, ms10.755
Efective Stiffness - lbs22.37
K, Lb/In112.18
Recoil Weight170.8
Twist Weight234.0
End Weight 135.0
Tip Weight 202.9
9 O'Clock100.8
3 O'Clock103.7
Butt Cap132.2

Still Committed to Your Racquet!

For the past few years and certainly the past year Racquet Quest has been committed to tennis racquets and yours is included!

Hopefully the days of the “mask”are over and we can resume actually talking to each other and be understood! Of course if you prefer to wear a mask that is OK, too!

Here is what is not OK!

Not caring about your tennis racquet is not OK, and by that I mean keeping it in the best possible condition. That includes string, grip, grommet sets, overgrips and general reactions of beating it against the ground or net!

We have seen five year old racquets that look brand new and five day old racquets that are in really poor shape! One of the most damaging “strokes” in tennis is the ball pickup stroke! This is not a stroke at all but a way to keep from bending over to pick up balls!

Using the racquet head to scoop up the balls is easy and cool! It is also the quick way to ruin the bumper guard which is there to protect the Racquet from normal stroke, not pick-ups!

So, what do you do about it? The next time you consider scooping up balls with the racquet consider tapping the ball to start it bouncing or simplpy use the fingers on your hand to pick up the ball…that would be good!