Category Archives: Racquet Demo

Lets compare the Head Prestige Pro 16×19 v Head Prestige Pro 18×20

The following graphic will show clearly why the pro stock (SMU) racquets are very important in our quest to enhance the performance of all players!

Compare Prestige Pro

A primary reason we work with custom racquets is the length of the racquet as we receive it, which allows us to create up to 28 inches (71cm) long.  We can extend racquets however reducing the length is the preferred option. 

Of course, we can customize the SMU to match the specifications of the retail (27-inch) racquet but with a 16×19 string pattern. 

If you look closely you will recognize the tremendous possibilities beginning with a lighter, more flexible racquet for players of all physical abilities!

The supply of the 16×19 racquets is limited, however, demos are available for both.

Head Prestige Pro 18×20 2023 Retail

This Head Prestige Pro 18×23 Retail version offers a high performance racquet ready for serious play!  However, we offer the custom version for players who prefer a slightly more open string pattern and some customization.

As you will see on the specifications, this racquet is serious, but most players can use this racquet if they get over the idea that these are stiff racquets!

ManufacturerHead
Racquet ModelHead Prestige Pro 2023 18x20 Retail
Reference Tension52
String
MonoGut ZX Pro (PEEK)
Machine UsedTrue Tension Professional
Static
String Bed Stiffness - RDC54
String Bed Stiffness -FlexFour56.4
String Bed Stiffness - SBS44
String Bed Stiffness - ERT35 Kg/Cm
Racquet Flex, RDC58
Racquet Flex, FlexFour44
Racquet - In Plane Stiffness342.9
Weight, Grams340
Weight, Ounces11.99
Balance, mm3234
Balance, Inch12.72
Length, Cm68.6
Length, Inch27.03
Head Width9.476
Head Length13.052
Head Area, cm2626.7
Head Area, Sq. Inch97.1
Beam Height @ Grip, mm20.8
Beam Height @ Mid, mm20.0
Beam Height @ Tip20.0
Beam Width @ Grip, mm10.7
Beam Width @ Throat, mm10.8
Beam Width @ Mid, mm11.5
Beam Width @ Tip, mm12.2
Number of Main Strings18
Number of Cross Strings20
Ratio.655
Main String Grid7.56
Cross String Grid10.25
Density (% of head filled with string)71.4%
Average Cross String Space.513
Average Main String Space,453
Dynamic
Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT35
Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in195.76
First Moment, Nm.844
Polar Moment335
Torsional Stability16
Swing Weight, Kg/cm2319
Swing Weight, Ounces11.25
Swing Weight Calculated354.7
Power, RDC44
Control, RDC57
Manueverability, RDC74
Power, Calculated 1811.3
Head Points6.3
Head Weight, %47.1%
Center of Percussion20.5
Dwell Time, ms6.125
Efective Stiffness - lbs28.0
K, Lb/In173.08
Recoil Weight152.3
Twist Weight229.34
End Weight 139.8
Tip Weight 198.9
9 O'Clock100
3 O'Clock101.7
Butt Cap137.4
COF, Main.383
COF, Cross.204

 

 

Head Prestige Pro 2023 16×19 SMU

I told you something special is coming soon! Soon is here now! And it is special!

Head Prestige Pro 16×19 2023 SMU


We have a limited number of Head Prestige Pro 2023 with a custom 16×19 string pattern instead of the standard 18×20 (we have those as well). These are full custom racquets, meaning they need some customization, and are usually referred to as “Pro Stock” racquets.

These racquets have a different finish than the retail version, primarily shiny instead of a matt finish anywhere.

We receive these in “raw” form, meaning they are not cut or have any post-manufacturing additives, i.e., swing weight and overall weight.

This means we can make a “full custom” version of the retail model up to 27.8 inches long (70.6 mm) except with a more open 16×19 string pattern!

We will add a comparative table for the Pro 16×19 and Retail 18×20.

However, to get things started, we will post the specifications of each racquet “as is.”

ManufacturerHead
Racquet ModelHead Prestige Pro 2023 16x20 SMU
Reference Tension52
String
MonoGut ZX Pro (PEEK)
Machine UsedTrue Tension Professional
Static
String Bed Stiffness - RDC49.0 Units
String Bed Stiffness -FlexFour59.5 pounds
String Bed Stiffness - SBS43.0 pounds
String Bed Stiffness - ERT35
Kg/Cm
Racquet Flex, RDC57 - After stringing
Racquet Flex, FlexFour43.0
Racquet - In Plane Stiffness346.1 lbs/Inch
Weight, Grams296
Weight, Ounces10.44
Balance, mm331
Balance, Inch13.03
Length, Cm68.6
Length, Inch27.03
Head Width9.476
Head Length13.052
Head Area, cm2626.7
Head Area, Sq. Inch97.1
Beam Height @ Grip, mm20.0
Beam Height @ Mid, mm20.0
Beam Height @ Tip20.0
Beam Width @ Grip, mm10.7
Beam Width @ Throat, mm10.8
Beam Width @ Mid, mm11.5
Beam Width @ Tip, mm12.2
Number of Main Strings16
Number of Cross Strings19
Ratio Cross/Mains.611
Main String Grid7.25
Cross String Grid10.0
Density (% of head filled with string)74.6%
Average Cross String Space.526
Average Main String Space,453
Dynamic
Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT35
Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in195.76
First Moment, Nm.758
Polar Moment299.0
Torsional Stability14
Swing Weight, Kg/cm2285.0
Swing Weight, Ounces10.05
Swing Weight Calculated324.3
Power, RDC37
Control, RDC64
Manueverability, RDC97
Power, Calculated 1593.8
Head Points3.78
Head Weight, %48,3%
Center of Percussion20.3
Dwell Time, ms6.048
Efective Stiffness - lbs26.3
K, Lb/In157.05
Recoil Weight129.23
Twist Weight199.70
End Weight 117.0
Tip Weight 179.2
9 O'Clock89.5
3 O'Clock90.0
Butt Cap116.6
COF, Main.412
COF, Cross.331

Wilson SHIFT 99 PRO – Jason’s Racquet Review

HIGHLIGHTS:

Fun racquet to try! Very different in both looks and feel, from the usual Wilson offerings. More suited to the advanced player, and aggressive baseliners who play with fast swing speeds, and a lot of spin.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

The most noticeable impression, on first pick up, of the PRO version, was the slightly thicker beam, and overall heft of the racquet. At 327g swing weight, this racquet is definitely in the heavyweight category, but it had a good feel in the hand, and generally good maneuverability, both at the baseline and at the net. As for looks, the contemporary aesthetics are very different from the usual Wilson look, and the string bed looks noticeably tighter than I’m used to.

CONTROL:

The sweet spot on this racquet feels small, suiting it to a more advanced player. Faster swing speeds seemed to produce more control, but with the smaller sweet spot, and low dwell time, I experienced some balls flying when I didn’t expect them to. The tight string bed does produce a lower trajectory, but I didn’t find that this prevented those occasional wayward balls. At the net, the racquet had a damper feel than I’m used to, and again, I felt I was in control as long as I hit the sweet spot.

SPIN:

I was looking forward to testing this racquet because of the new increased horizontal bending in the head of the racquet, which should generate more spin. Hitting my regular strokes, I didn’t notice any extra spin being produced naturally. However, when I really tried to increase the swing speed, and increase the spin myself, the racquet responded well and would allow for great spin creation.

POWER:

The thick beam gave the racquet a very solid and stable feel, and with the weight of the racquet, it was very powerful coming off the sweet spot. Great on days you’re playing well, but if you miss the sweet spot the racquet had a dull, non-responsive feel. Solid on returns and good momentum, but the flatter hitter may struggle for control.

OVERALL:

This is a very different racquet that takes a while to get used to. It would be well suited to an advanced player, who swings fast, and already plays with a lot of spin. Don’t expect this racquet to transform flat strokes into heavy topspin. I tested at 55 lbs but would string a little tighter than this if using it again.

Now you have Jason’s perspective! Click here to look at the “numerical” review of this racquet and see how the two reviews stack up!

I did also test the non-pro version of the Shift. With the more open string bed and lighter weight, I experienced even more balls flying long than with the pro version. It was definitely more forgiving on the arm, and easier to maneuver, but the trade-off was less control. Would be well suited to a more intermediate player. I feel an advanced player would have to add some extra weight, and string tighter.

Click here to see Jason’s tennis biography. Please contact Jason if you have questions or anything to contribute to the review!

Head Gravity Pro 2023

Head Gravity Pro 2023

Here comes the new Head Gravity Pro 2023, which brings some good stuff! Like a 100 square inch head with a string pattern of 18×20!

You will see more goodies when you look at the specifications!

This new Gravity Pro has a different “vibe” than last year’s model.  Maybe it is the muted graphics!

The specifications will tell this is true “players” racquet!

Hint:  Swing Weight=338

You need to try this demo soon!  Trust me!

ManufacturerHead
Racquet ModelHead Gravity Pro 2023
Reference Tension53
String
MonoGut ZX Pro (PEEK)
Machine UsedTrue Tension Professional
Static
String Bed Stiffness - RDC58.0 Units
String Bed Stiffness -FlexFour66.9 pounds
String Bed Stiffness - SBS52.4 pounds
String Bed Stiffness - ERT37 Kg/Cm
Racquet Flex, RDC64 - After stringing
Racquet Flex, FlexFour42.5
Racquet - In Plane Stiffness467.9 lbs/Inch
Weight, Grams344
Weight, Ounces12.13
Balance, mm327
Balance, Inch12.87
Length, Cm68.6
Length, Inch27.03
Head Width9.849
Head Length12.85
Head Area, cm2643.5
Head Area, Sq. Inch99.7
Beam Height @ Grip, mm21.2
Beam Height @ Mid, mm20.5
Beam Height @ Tip20.5
Beam Width @ Grip, mm11.3
Beam Width @ Throat, mm11.3
Beam Width @ Mid, mm11.0
Beam Width @ Tip, mm12.5 (includes bumper)
Number of Main Strings18
Number of Cross Strings20
Ratio Cross/Mains.693
Main String Grid7.87
Cross String Grid9.75
Density (% of head filled with string)71.4%
Average Cross String Space.488
Average Main String Space.406
Dynamic
Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT37
Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in206.94
First Moment, Nm.867
Polar Moment353
Torsional Stability15
Swing Weight, Kg/cm2338
Swing Weight, Ounces11.92
Swing Weight Calculated367.8
Power, RDC48
Control, RDC52
Manueverability, RDC61
Power, Calculated 2179.2
Head Points5.04
Head Weight, %47.7%
Center of Percussion21.0
Dwell Time, ms8.35
Efective Stiffness - lbs30.4
K, Lb/In185.90
Recoil Weight163.23
Twist Weight251.11
End Weight 138.2
Tip Weight 206.0
9 O'Clock104.5
3 O'Clock104.1
Butt Cap133.9
COF, Main.370
COF, Cross.309