Category Archives: Juniors
Pssst…want to try something?
If you read our recent post about “How to Demo a Racquet,” you may be incentivized to do it!
So while you are at it try one of our performance racquets setup with MonoGut ZX or ZX Pro (thinner) to get the maximum performance from the racquet.
Ashaway MonoGut ZX and ZX Pro have been one of our most popular strings for well over five (5) years!
Top players have been using it, but now the word is spreading that is not just for “the good player” but for everyone! We are very sensitive to injuries and injury prevention, so that is why we recommend MonoGut ZX to almost all players. The durability and feel of this string are unique, and, MonoGut ZX and ZX Pro is a monofilament but is PEEK and no polyester.
As with any string, some will not want to change, but if you are looking for a new racquet, why not demo a racquet setup with MonoGut ZX or ZX Pro?
MonoGut ZX & ZX Pro
Ashaway MonoGut ZX and ZX Pro come in Black and Natural and 16 (1.27mm) and 17 (1.24mm) gauge.
Is Your Racquet Healthy?
I started thinking about this as I made my way to a routine doctor’s appointment last week. Here is the scenario I formed while waiting:
The doctor has been seeing all sorts of patients already today and I suspect the first glance at each one elicited some sort of reaction, quielty probably, like this; “Good Greif, that guy is fat! Bad trousers, terrible shoes, nice shirt, whats with the hair, dude?” etc, etc.
So what do you think happens when a racquet shows up for a checkup?
“Good grief, that is an old racquet, who would ever buy one of those, this person is too good for that racquet,” etc, etc.
As humans we can communicate how we feel to the doctor but your racquet can not, so it has other ways to tell you if it is healthy or not. Here are a few signs of an unhealthy racquet:
- Grommet set, and specifically the protective head bumper is worn out. If this is not fixed quicky the racquet will die!
Worn Out Bumper Guard
- Grommet set individual barrels are broken or missing. If this is not fixed the strings will die!
- Overgrip is disgustingly dirty requiring exam gloves to remove it! Doctors use exam gloves too and you know what that means!
- Under grip is essentially rendered to powder, requiring exam gloves to remove it.
Obvious!
What is not so obvious sometimes is that strings need to be replaced. Even before they break! What!
Yes, strings loose tension over time and in some case rather quickly! By knowing what the original string bed stiffness was we can determine how much “stiffness” has been lost. For most players a degradation of 20% is maximum.
Depending on the string material a loss of 8 to 9% overnight is not uncommon…so that leaves 11 to 12% for playing.
Take a look at our String Frequency Calculator to get a better idea of stringing frequency required to keep your racquet really working for you.
To keep you playing at your best you need to keep your racquet at it’s best!
How to Demo a Racquet
We have what seems to be a zillion demo racquets, and there is a player for each of them, I suppose.
One of the biggest complaints against “demoing” is precisely that…too many to choose from!
This is what we recommend;
- Start the convesation with yourself before you need to make a decision. Allow a month before the “season” starts if you can,and start the conversation with us early on.
- What do you want that your current racquet is not providing.
- What is your budget. If you are a junior what is your “sponsors” budget.
- With these three questions you are well on the way to a painless “demoing” expreience!
Here is what we would like to have to speed up the process:
- Bring your current racquet in “play ready condition” with you to the primary discussion.
- Tell us what has changed physically since you selected the current racquet.
- Injuries, including tennis elbow, shoulder and wrist issues, or a long layoff, etc.
- What do you want the new racquet to do that the current racquet is not?
- Power, or “POP”, Control, Comfort, Grip Size, String Issues, etc.
- Do you have a brand preference?
- If we can make your current racquet better will you not demo other racquets?
- It is possible that the current racquet can be better than it is so demo it as well after some customization.
- Tell us if this is of interest or “I want a new racquet…period!
With this information we can make the demoing process much more fun,consise, and ultimatley rewarding, and in a much shorter time period.
Our demo process is free however we believe the racquet should be “setup” just as it will be used which may require stringing and a litttle customization and there will be a charge for that if you agree.
Our huge database of racquet specifications allow a quick look at the characteristics you prefer.
We think you wil be surprised at how much fun the demo process can be!
Head Graphene 360 + Gravity S
Here is where it gets interesting! This racquet, the Gravity S, is a realtivley thin beam 104 square inch racquet!
It has been a while since Head has presented this head size in a player oriented racquet! This 296 gram (10.44 ounce) racquet fills a serious need, in my opinion, for a “players” 104! The 24mm beam allows the stiffness to reflect the new “Spiral Tech” fiber placement.
I believe this racquet will appeal to serious adults seeking a comfortable racquet (RDC 56 strung) that can elevate their game.
This racquet has plenty of “cutomization” potential which makes it great choice for quickly advancing players.
Stop by and feel this combination for yourself, and take the demo for a real test on the court!
| Manufacturer | Head |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Head Graphene 360 + Gravity S |
| Reference Tension | 55 lbs - 24.9 kg |
| String | Head Velocity MLT Black |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| ASPS, RDC | 56 |
| ASPS, FlexFour | 64.0 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 55 - After stringing |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 45 |
| Racquet - In Plane Stiffness | 304.6 lbs/Inch |
| Weight, Grams | 296.0 |
| Weight, Ounces | 10.44 |
| Balance, mm | 329 |
| Balance, Inch | 12.95 |
| Length, Cm | 68.6 |
| Length, Inch | 27.008 |
| Head Width | 10.15 |
| Head Length | 13.19 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 678.4 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 105.2 |
| Number of Main Strings | 16 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 20 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .616 |
| Main String Grid | 7.25 |
| Cross String Grid | 9.87 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .680 |
| Average Cross String Space | .495 |
| Average Main String Space | .453 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 37 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 206.9 |
| First Moment, Nm | .752 |
| Polar Moment | 306 |
| Torsional Stability | 14 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 292 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 10.30 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 320.4 |
| Power, RDC | 35 |
| Control, RDC | 68 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 92 |
| Power, Calculated | 1705.7 |
| Head Points | 4.41 |
| Head Weight, % | 48.0% |
| Center of Percussion | 20.9 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 8.50 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 27.7 |
| K, Lb/In | 179.4 |
| Recoil Weight | 138.9 |
| Twist Weight | 227.0 |
| End Weight | 117.8 |
| Tip Weight | 180.8 |
| 9 O'Clock | 91.3 |
| 3 O'Clock | 91.2 |
| Butt Cap | 114.8 |
Head Graphene 360 + Gravity MP Lite
The Gravity MP Lite as you would expect is lighter than the MP by about a ½ ounce with a corresponding reduction in swing weight. This can be easily remedied by increasing the swing weight while not effecting the ovefrall weight very much.
The MP LIte is a great example of a “customizable” racquet and deserves great consideration by any player seeking a performance racquet that will stay with them for a long time.
The head size of 100 square inches is consistent with the Pro and MP models.
Head Graphene 360 + Gravity MP Lite
These are not the same racquet but the entire series uses the two color graphics package with Lava on one side and Miami Green (my words) on the other. Sort of a fun point!
Take a look at the specifications that follow.
| Manufacturer | Head |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Head Graphene 360 + Gravity MP Lite |
| Reference Tension | 55 lbs - 24.9 kg |
| String | Head Velocity MLT Black |
| Machine Used | True Tension Professional |
| ASPS, RDC | 53 |
| ASPS, FlexFour | 60.0 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 59 - After stringing |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 45 |
| Racquet - In Plane Stiffness | 331.5 lbs/Inch |
| Weight, Grams | 292.0 |
| Weight, Ounces | 10.3 |
| Balance, mm | 333 |
| Balance, Inch | 13.11 |
| Length, Cm | 68.6 |
| Length, Inch | 27.008 |
| Head Width | 9.94 |
| Head Length | 12.85 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 647.1 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 100.3 |
| Number of Main Strings | 16 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 20 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .619 |
| Main String Grid | 7.70 |
| Cross String Grid | 10.30 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .791 |
| Average Cross String Space | .515 |
| Average Main String Space | .481 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 35 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 195.7 |
| First Moment, Nm | .753 |
| Polar Moment | 308 |
| Torsional Stability | 14 |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 294 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 10.37 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 323.8 |
| Power, RDC | 41 |
| Control, RDC | 62 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 91 |
| Power, Calculated | 1757.3 |
| Head Points | 3.15 |
| Head Weight, % | 48.5% |
| Center of Percussion | 20.9 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 8.74 |
| Efective Stiffness - lbs | 27.9 |
| K, Lb/In | 169.8 |
| Recoil Weight | 137.6 |
| Twist Weight | 215.2 |
| End Weight | 114.4 |
| Tip Weight | 181.1 |
| 9 O'Clock | 88.8 |
| 3 O'Clock | 90.9 |
| Butt Cap | 113.8 |
Racquet Quest, LLC
