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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!
What is Pointy?
Briefly, Pointy is a program that allows shoppers to enter a barcode, or Google product search online, to see if that product is available locally.
As a long time user of Square as the POS in the shop, we engaged with Pointy as a service through Square so our clients can quickly see what we have in stock. A link to our Pointy shop is below so you can take a look around and let me know what it needs to be a valuable resource for you.
Every product you see on the page was input by Racquet Quest so it is in stock at the time the shop was opened, however, the images are supplied by the software so some may not be exactly updated packaging.
Just click here and browse the store!
If you have any questions or would like to hear about any “special offers” please call or text!
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 |
What is “Best Overall Performance”?
In our “Recommended Stringing Frequency” calculator we state that this frequency is to get the best possible performance from your racquet. But, what exactly is “best performance”?
To establish this we need to take you, the player, out of the picture for a moment and concentrate on the racquet and string setup. the reason is simple: no two players strike the ball the same way.
We start with “Swing Weight” which is the most important dynamic property of a racquet. So a higher swing weight will contribute to power and stability, thus performance.
Overall weight is important because you need to be able to get the racquet to the court and out of your bag! Heavier racquets contribute to energy, stability, and comfort.
Effective Stiffness is important because it represents the stiffness of the string bed (SBS) and the racquet stiffness (xxRA, or something like that). This number represents the impact each time you strike the ball. The higher the number, the stiffer, of course.
Of the four (4) things mentioned above we can control the string bed stiffness with ease. One of the easiest methods is to string your racquet regularly to maintain the effectiveness of the elongation of the string being used. Elongation relates to energy return in a string and while strings will stay resilient for a long time a well-worn string takes a while to return energy to the ball.
You, the player, of course, determine performance so when using the SFR you can enter a high UTR or Style rating or a low UTR or style rating if maximum performance is not required.
New Head MXG 1
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 function(s) is the increase in main string length across the entire throat area and torsional stiffness for control. We now have ten (10) main strings that are the same length in the throat, and this does contribute to “power.”
The Head MXG 1 is a 98 square inch head with a thin beam (22mm) that puts it in the “player” category, but it may need additional weight for big hitters. You will see all the specifications below. If you are a player and have shied away from the MXG for head size reasons, this is for you!
Head MXG 1
The MXG 1 demo is available now. Call to reserve it!
The new MXG 1 is available for pre-order and will available May 11, 2018.
| Manufacturer | Head |
|---|---|
| Racquet Model | Head MXG 1 |
| Reference Tension | 53 |
| String | Head Velocity MLT 17 |
| Machine Used | True Tension Pro |
| APPS, RDC | 50.0 |
| ASPS, FlexFour | 59.0 |
| Racquet Flex, RDC | 65 |
| Racquet Flex, FlexFour | 48 |
| Weight, Grams | 312 |
| Weight, Ounces | 11.01 |
| Balance, mm | 319.0 |
| Balance, Inch | 12.56 |
| Length, Cm | 68.5 |
| Length, Inch | 26.986 |
| Head Width | 9.51 |
| Head Length | 13.50 |
| Head Area, cm2 | 649.9 |
| Head Area, Sq. Inch | 100.7 |
| Number of Main Strings | 16 |
| Number of Cross Strings | 19 |
| Ratio Cross/Mains | .593 |
| Main String Grid | 7.20 |
| Cross String Grid | 9.37 |
| Density (% of head filled with string) | .658 |
| Average Cross String Space | .490 |
| Average Main String Space | .445 |
| Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT | 34 |
| Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in | 190.16 |
| First Moment, Nm | .762 |
| Polar Moment | 320.0 |
| Torsional Stability | 15 (the difference between polar moment and swing weight. Higher is better) |
| Swing Weight, Kg/cm2 | 305 |
| Swing Weight, Ounces | 10.76 |
| Swing Weight Calculated | 317.5 |
| Power, RDC | 51 |
| Control, RDC | 51 |
| Manueverability, RDC | 83 |
| Power, Calculated | 1996.9 |
| Head Points | 7.40 |
| Head Weight, % | 46.6% |
| Center of Percussion | 21.5 |
| Dwell Time, ms | 9.00 |
| Effective Stiffness | 28.3 |
| K, Lb/In | 160.26 |
| Recoil Weight | 157.54 |
| Twist Weight | 211.48 |
Get real!
A lot of players are anxious for new tennis racquets this time of year and have, maybe, asked for one as a gift. A great idea, of course.
However, be sure the gift giver, or yourself, gets real! There are some real bargains out there, but the bargains may not get you what you expect. This can happen to any brand and the more popular the racquet, the more likely there are to be fakes!
Fake Blade 98
This is an image of a fake Wilson Blade 98 compared to a real Wilson Blade 98.
I am showing this image because without seeing this detail the fake racquet graphics will look nearly identical to the real Wilson racquet.
One of the best ways to confirm a fake or real racquet is to “bend” it, that is to check the stiffness of the racquet. In almost every case the fake will be quite a bit more flexible. For example, this fake racquet has a stiffness of RDC 41 whereas the real racquet has a stiffness of RDC 63. If your racquet technician does not have a device for checking stiffness the next best thing is to look at the “insides.” A qualified racquet technician will know what the insides of the real racquet look like.
Another sign of fakery is the grip pallet. Most performance racquets will have a foam pallet molded over the graphite shaft or a two-piece pallet that is attached to the racquet shaft.
Fake racquets may very likely have a continuous graphite pallet. You can quickly look under the first couple of inches of the grip and see if it is foam or graphite.
Clamshell grip pallet
If you are requesting a new tennis racquet be sure you get it from a local business, if possible, or an otherwise reputable source.
If you have any questions at all, please call your local dealer or us (407.491.4755) to be sure you “GET REAL.”
Why Sell Tennis Racquets?
With a zillion or more places to buy tennis racquets, why would Racquet Quest, LLC want to to do it?
Simple. Racquet Quest, LLC offers a level of racquet preparation that just can’t be matched by an online or big box seller of the same equipment!
Racquet Quest, LLC sells only a few brands of high-quality tennis racquets, so it is reasonable to look online for the racquet we do not carry. We can assist you in making the right decision wherever you decide to buy.
But, please take your new racquet to a local, and hopefully qualified racquet technician for stringing!
“But, dude, what about the free stringing I am getting online?” The value of “free” is not very high, so please consider the following post I made a long time ago:
https://racquetquest.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3860&action=edit
So, the answer to the question is “we sell tennis racquets, so you get the very best performance from that racquet from the very beginning!”
We take tennis racquets very seriously, and we suspect that you do too so get it right!
What is Important?
I spend hours each day dealing with tennis racquets, strings, machines and questions of all sorts!
By doing this I am learning what is important to tennis players but it should not require a one-on-one discussion to learn this, in my opinion.
So, what is important to you? Here is what I am discovering.
Comfort. It goes without saying that you don’t want to play tennis if you are hurting! Players are requesting racquets that are more arm friendly. But wait, the racquet really holds the string which has a huge impact on comfort. So should we begin with string? I think so!
String. Every string I have has undergone a comprehensive testing procedure to determine elongation which in turn is converted to Power Potential. The higher the elongation the higher the power potential and the less stiff the string bed will feel when the ball is hit hard, all other settings being equal. If you have a stiff racquet it is important to select a string and tension that will mitigate the racquet stiffness to some extent. Every racquet we do has the “effective stiffness” calculated which is the combined stiffness of the racquet and string bed. Once we have the preferred effective stiffness for a customer we can achieve that even if a new racquet is added to the mix.
Durability. We try to associate the cost of racquet stringing to “cost per hour” of play time. What is your threshold? $1.00 per hour or $10.00 per hour? When considering durability do not confuse “performance” with “durability”! There are several strings that may not fail for several months however the performance is gone in a few hours. This is typical of polyester based strings. So, even if the string is still intact the performance is way gone!
Cost. The cost of tennis racquets is increasing, sometimes justified, sometimes not but are rising none the less. If cost is your “driver” some navigation around the market is important, however, we do not suggest you buy the “cheapest” thing you can find without a thorough understanding of what you are getting. We can assist you in evaluating racquets from any source.
Racquet Quest, LLC
