Category Archives: head
Weight is Your Friend!
Is this instance we are talking about racquet weight. Not the few pounds we put on yesterday, Thanksgiving Day!
In the early 1990’s we made a tennis racquet which weighed slightly over 7 ounces. Awesome, some said! This racquet traveled along with the standard weight racquets in the line and was available for anyone to hit with.
“Hit” in this case is a misnomer because the mass of the racquet was not enough to get the ball over the net in most cases! Instead of a “hit” it was like a light “shove”!
With out a doubt the weight of a racquet must be “usable”. Take a look at these brief warm-up videos to see weight in action then we will find out how much these racquets weigh and the swing weight…
This is a Wilson Blade 98 18×20 pattern. Racquet weight is 329 grams (11.61 Oz.) with a swing weight of 332 kg/cm^2.
Next let’s take a look at a different player…
This is a Head Radical with the Pro Cap System creating a racquet that weighs 340 grams (11.99 ounces) with a swing weight of 349 kg/cm^2.
It is obvious that both payers are swinging the racquet with gusto and it should be obvious that the racquets are stable on impact and this stability is necessary for power and control.
So the next time your oppponent asks if you have “gained weight” it will because the ball is coming at them with more “heaviness”! And you can repsond “yes!” with a smile on your face! Just like Robert, Sophie, and Aleks!
You Have Been Waiting for These!
You may not know it but you have been waiting for these!
Head continues with thier anniversary edition parade! It seems twenty-five years is a good time to re-introduce the racquet(s) that made history then!
Head Radical 107
Head Radical 98 Limited Edition
The Head Radical 107 OS is a remake of the Andre Agassi racquet that is true to the characteristics of the era! Great weight, perfect flex, workable swingweight, a 18×19 string pattern, a 107 square inch head, and minimal graphics! This may be the purest example of a remake I have ever seen. It even comes with the rubber band vibration dampers Andre used!
The Head Radical 98 MP is the newer racquet geometry and 98 head size. The graphics reach back twenty-five years for the colors but the design is definately contemporary. Plus, this racquet accepts the Head Pro Player Cap System grommet set. Yes, that means you can turn this Radical into a “beast” just like the previous versions!
I will be posting all the specifications of both of these as soon as possible but they are in the shop so please come by and take a look, and feel, for yourself. These are limited edition racquets.
Turn the Head Radical Pro Into a Beast!
I am very happy to see players of every age returning to, or buying for the first time, racquets that have some weight! Weight is your friend! Any racquet can be “customized” to suit the needs of the player, of course.
But what do you do if you already own a Head Radical Pro? You simply add the Head Players Cap System to your current Radical Pro. This can be done the next time the racquet needs stringing and can be removed at the next stringing if wanted.
This is a “side by side” look at the Cap System Radical and the standard Radical. You will need to like the color “orange”.
The Cap System can be added to many past Radical Pro racquets. The Cap System does not fit the Radical MP, unfortunately.
The image below shows the racquets and the specifications of each one. You can see the difference between the two. It is obvious that the major difference will be weight and swing weight. The numbers between the two racquets are the data for the Radical Pro with the Cap System.
Turn the Head Radical into a Beast!
Head Graphene 360 Speed Pro
Head has introduced their new Speed Series, and it is here, yes, I men here, with some significant changes!
The most obvious and dramatic is the move toward a minimalist “look.” The graphics consist of black and white! Gone are the days of multi-colored Speed racquets.
As with many Head racquets, the graphics mimic the “SkiTip” angle as seen with the logo and white paint headed in the same angle.
Less obvious but no less important is the “360” designation that has replaced the “Touch” designation that was on the last series.
Players of the Speed series don’t want muted, as suggested by “Touch” they want feedback!
And, “360” suggests the use of Graphene in more areas of the racquet.
This image is the Graphene 360 Speed Pro, a highly maneuverable, flexible, (57RDC) racquet with an 18×20 string pattern. This may be the ticket for juniors that can’t handle a heavier, stiffer racquet but need the dense string pattern to mitigate string breakage. I would not recommend any stiff string in this racquet, however.
I am a little surprised by the low swing weight (306kg/cm2) but this can be increased as necessary.
| Manufacturer | Head |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Graphene 360 Speed Pro |
| Reference Tension | 55 |
| String | Head Velocity MLT 16 |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| APPS, RDC | 56 |
| ASPS, FlexFour | 59.5 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 57 |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 46 |
| Weight, Grams | 323 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.39 |
| Balance, mm | 323 |
| Balance, Inch | 12.72 |
| Length, Cm | 68.5 |
| Length, Inch | 27.0 |
| Head Width | 9.75 |
| Head Length | 13.12 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 648.4 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 100.5 |
| Number of Main Strings | 18 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 20 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .669 |
| Main String Grid | 7.70 |
| Cross String Grid | 10.25 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .784 |
| Average Cross String Space | .525 |
| Average Main String Space | .417 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 37 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 206.94 |
| First Moment, Nm | .802 |
| Polar Moment | 321 |
| Torsional Stability | 15 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 306 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 10.79 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 337 |
| Power, RDC | 39 |
| Control, RDC | 63 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 83 |
| Power, Calculated | 1753.0 |
| Head Points | 6.14 |
| Head Weight, % | 47.2 |
| Center of Percussion | 20.7 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 8.50 |
| Efective Stiffness | 28.2 |
| K, Lb/In | 179.49 |
| Recoil Weight | 147.6 |
| Twist Weight | 229.75 |
Meet Jennifer
Jennifer walked into the World Headquarters of Racquet Quest the other day and asked to have her racquets strung. Nothing unusual about that, of course.
I looked a the racquets in her hand and thought to myself…” Well, where are they?”
In her hands were two (2) Head You Tek IG Prestige Mid racquets! If you don’t remember these, they are the pinnacle of the Head Performace series racquets. The head size is 93 square inches; the weight is 350 grams (12.35 ounces), with a swing weight of 309 kg/cm2 (10.9 ounces), and a racquet flex of 64 RDC units.
This is a great racquet for sure, but I don’t see many anymore in the good condition as these are. One needed a grommet set, but that was all.
The reason I mention this is to reassure tennis players that they are capable of using racquets they normally scoff at including a comment “I am not good enough to use that!” A lot depends on what you want to do with the racquet. In Jennifer’s case, she wants to get to the net as quickly as possible, and the nice recoil weight of 146.1 makes this a good racquet at the net! The low swing weight enhances the “mobility” of the racquet which also means this is not a particularly “powerful” racquet.
The new Head Graphene Touch Prestige Mid is still 93 square inches but now has a 16×19 string pattern.
If you are interested in hitting with a Head Graphene Touch Prestige Mid, our demo is strung with Babolat VS Touch natural gut which represents the purest combination I can think of!
Thank you, Jennifer, for giving me an example of what tennis players are capable of!
Big Bag Blowout…Again!
This seems to be a semi-annual event but that’s OK!
This event is a little different though!
Every bag regardless of size is only $60.00! This is extraordinary but we need the room.
Most bags are Head or Wilson, some are 6 racquet bags some are 12 racquet bags. It makes no difference!
Walk in with three (3) 20’s and walk out with a bag worth twice that much!
Hurry because this event is for in-stock bags only and the supply while taking up a lot of room, is limited!
This picture is not representative of all the bags. Call for a quick update on available bags!
Head MXG 1 and MXG 7 are Here!
The new additions to the Head MXG series have arrived and waiting for you!
The new MXG 1 is a 98 square inch head with ten (10) extra long main strings to deliver the power needed to hit massive topspin! The rigid throat piece maintains torsional stability so the massive topspin will go where you want it to go! According to Head;
“Designed like no other for those who play like no other: With MXG, the MXG 1 features the first racquet technology that combines precision-injected Magnesium and Graphene to provide the ultimate balance of power and control like no other racquet ever before. In addition, the MXG1, the heaviest of the series, provides ultimate stability to support players at each level to raise their game. Based on a completely new way to engineer a racquet, the racquet features an innovative Magnesium Bridge construction that allows for longer free-moving main strings which leads to a much larger sweet spot and, ultimately, more power. At the same time, the molded bridge ensures that the upper hoop does not deform under pressure, which gives the player total control on every shot. The MXG 1 is the perfect weapon for tour players who need extreme control.”
All of the data is posted here, but it is worth hitting with this racquet to see for yourself what power with control feels like.
The new Head MXG 7 is also here and deserves the attention of players now using or considering big headed racquets such as Weed, for example. The MXG 7 is 115 square inches of hitting power in a very easy to handle package. The ten (10) long main strings are at the ITF limit of 15.5 inches long, about the same as the Weed Open 135.
You can see all the specs here but you should really hit with this to see that you too can play with a “performance” racquet masquerading as a game improvement racquet!
New Head MXG 7
Head is introducing two (2) new racquets to the MXG Series, and this is an excellent thing in my opinion! It is not that we need a bunch of new racquets, but this signals a commitment to the MXG concept.
In case you don’t know, the MXG Series racquets incorporate a “string suspension system” (my words) into the throat of the racquet. The most notable of this system is the bright silver paint. However, the most important functions are the increase in main string length across the entire throat area and torsional stability that contributes to control of this 115 square inch racquet. We now have ten (10) main strings that are the same length in the throat. These 15.0 inch long main strings do contribute to “power”.
The Head MXG 7 has a slightly “fanned” pattern for the 16 x 18 string format and a built-in vibration damper in the throat. The MXG 7 will accept the Head Tennis Sensor.
The Head MXG 7 is a 115 +/- square inch head with a variable beam (28, 29, 26mm) that puts it in the “game improvement” category. You will see all the specifications below. If you are considering a new racquet and prefer power,”. this is a “must see.” Head has always done a good job in the game improvement category, and this adds a new dimension to the series.
Head MXG 7
The MXG 7 demo is here so call to reserve your spot!
The MXG 7 is available for pre-order and will be available May 11.
| Manufacturer | Head |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Head MXG 7 |
| Reference Tension | 57 |
| String | Head Velocity MLT 17 |
| Machine Used | True Tension Pro |
| APPS, RDC | 43.0 |
| ASPS, FlexFour | 55.0 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 67 |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 50 |
| Weight, Grams | 282 |
| Weight, Ounces | 9.95 |
| Balance, mm | 370.0 |
| Balance, Inch | 14.57 |
| Length, Cm | 69.7 |
| Length, Inch | 27.44 |
| Head Width | 10.13 |
| Head Length | 14.75 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 756.7 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 118.8 |
| Number of Main Strings | 16 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 18 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .610 |
| Main String Grid | 8.56 |
| Cross String Grid | 11.31 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .793 |
| Average Cross String Space | .622 |
| Average Main String Space | .519 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 32 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 178.98 |
| First Moment, Nm | .830 |
| Polar Moment | 340.0 |
| Torsional Stability | 18 (the difference between polar moment and swing weight. Higher is better) |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 322 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 11.36 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 386.1 |
| Power, RDC | 59 |
| Control, RDC | 42 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 72 |
| Power, Calculated | 2631.7 (compare to 1996.9 for the MXG 1) |
| Head Points | -6.77 (negative = head heavy. See % below) |
| Head Weight, % | 53.1% |
| Center of Percussion | 20.6 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 9.70 |
| Effective Stiffness | 26.2 |
| K, Lb/In | 137.82 |
| Recoil Weight | 118.85 |
| Twist Weight | 215.2 |
Head Visit
The World Headquarters of Racquet Quest was pleased to have Erika and Federic from Head visit recently. Erika is with Head in Phoenix and Frederic is from the Headquarters in Kennelbach, Austria.
Team Head player, Jack Anthrop was on hand to provide a players perspective.
“Champion”
The purpose of the visit was to discuss a “grassroots” program that can effectively address, and contribute to the growth of tennis worldwide.
I was commenting on racquets and string selections, of course, when it dawned on me that Head has done an extraordinary job in designing racquets that have vast player appeal! A prime example is the Adaptive Series, introduced about a year ago, consisting of a “Speed” and “Instinct” model.
Head Adaptive Length Extenders
This series can go from a lightweight standard length racquet to a more substantial, longer racquet in a few minutes! Plus this series can be either a 16 x 19 or a 16x 16 string pattern!
This concept is valid, and one that allows players to maximise the performance of the racquet. And the implementation is easy. Some changes can be made at courtside!
So, while I believe more can be done to get players into the correct racquet, the Head Adaptive Series is very close to being perfect!
Head Extreme…Yes!
Head continues to upgrade the Extreme Series racquets and that is a good thing, I believe!
The latest version has a slightly different head shape that is not quite as “round” as previous versions. The frame geometry is more contemporary with angles instead of smoothness. The string pattern, while still 16 x 19 has a little more open and the graphics are HUGE!
Head Graphene Touch Extreme MP
This version comes in two (2) models; the MP and Lite. The MP weighs in at 316 grams (11.15 oz), and the Lite comes in at an easy to use 279 grams (9.84 oz). Obviously, the Lite has some customization capabilities.
The MP is slightly stiffer at 61 than the Lite at 56. Not a big difference but it will be noticeable. The swing weight of the MP is a robust 331 while the Lite is easy to swing at 298.
Both models are 100 square inch head size and look exactly the same. These racquets are a perfect fit for good players wanting to become more aggressive. The “open” pattern will bring the ball down into the court (if you are swinging/hitting correctly) making it easy to go for shots that might otherwise go long.
To go with the new versions, there are two bags and a backpack.
Extreme BackPack and SuperCombi 9
Head Extreme MonstrCombi 12 Racquet Bag
Racquet Quest, LLC
