Head Graphene Extreme Pro Racket Review
Summary
A racket to help raise your game to new levels and put pressure on your opponents, the Head Graphene Extreme Pro offers explosive amounts of power and spin for the modern player. It's the heaviest racket in the Extreme family and is an aggressive weapon in the right hands. It's also the racket of choice for ATP player Richard Gasquet. While the power and spin really stood out with this racket, we still found enough touch for cheeky drop shots here and there. With an aerodynamic beam, the Graphene Extreme Pro played fast from all areas of the court, but the racket head speed was most noticeable during big groundstroke exchanges and on returns and volleys. With a stiffness rating that comes in just under 70 on the RA scale, it is impressive to note the Extreme Pro remains comfortable, even when paired with a poly based string. Players who are looking for extreme amounts of spin and power in a comfortable package will find this racket lives up to its name.
| Head Graphene Extreme Pro Scores | |
|---|---|
| Power | 85/100 |
| Comfort | 78/100 |
| Touch/Feel | 79/100 |
| Serves | 80/100 |
| Groundstrokes | 83/100 |
| Returns | 83/100 |
| Slice | 80/100 |
| Topspin | 87/100 |
| Volleys | 83/100 |
| Overall | 82/100 |
Overall - Score: 82/100
Groundstrokes - Score: 83 / 100
A very forgiving and comfortable racket for players of all playing styles and levels, the Graphene Extreme Pro added a bit of power to each of our playtesters' games. From the first strike our testers found comfort from the baseline and also enjoyed the solid, stable feel when hitting groundstrokes. The Graphene Extreme Pro offers easy power and depth off the ground, and the racket felt quick and maneuverable off the baseline against bigger hitters. With the depth, power and spin that this racket can help generate, big ball strikers can play their game with the Graphene Extreme Pro.
Volleys - Score: 83 / 100
When our playtesters transitioned to the net with the Graphene Extreme Pro they found it easy to put the ball away. Our testers enjoyed the feel at net and could access enough touch to carve out some nice drop volleys and angles. However, one of our playtesters found that they did not feel 100% confident when placing volleys closer to the lines and had to aim for bigger targets. Nevertheless, our playtesters were able play aggressively at net and find easy depth on put-away shots.
Serves - Score: 80 / 100
Our team agreed that it was easy to hit with a lot of power on serves, and they used that to their advantage on big flat serves. They also found beefed up levels of spin when going after their second serves with the Graphene Extreme Pro. Only one playtester struggled initially with hitting angled slice serves into the net. After a few minor adjustments, it was no longer an issue. Overall, the racket performed well on serving, letting our team hit a variety of flat and spin serves.
Serve Returns - Score: 83 / 100
The power from the Graphene Extreme Pro let our testers really attack some serves, and there was ample stability when they had to be more defensive and block back returns. Although they all agreed there was enough stability to handle even the biggest serves, not all of them felt there was enough feel or plow through. However, even with those issues, the testers felt the Graphene Extreme Pro was a solid performer on returns.
Likes:
Granville - "Very, very comfortable racket with good power. The cosmetic looks very technical and it's easily recognizable as Gasquet's racket."
Michelle - "The specs of the Graphene Extreme Pro are right in my wheelhouse, so the feel and power I could access off the ground was great. I also really liked it at the net. I love the new cosmetic as well!"
Troy - "This was the most controllable modern power racket for me. The grip shape update was huge for me! I wish Head would provide this option on Prestige and Radical rackets as well."
Karly - "The crisp response and solid feel on contact. Not to mention the combination of extreme spin and power, which made it a really fun racket to mix my shots up with."
Dislikes:
Granville - "As solid an all around racket as this Graphene Extreme Pro is, I did not find what it excels at."
Michelle - "I found some inconsistencies off the stringbed and struggled with second serves and defensive returns. My defensive game didn't like this racket all that much."
Troy - "Not much. I don't feel as connected to the ball as I do with my Six.One 95, but that is pretty evident based on its specs. Maybe a smidgen of lead at 3 and 9 o'clock and a leather grip, please?"
Karly - "My only dislike came down to personal preference -- I like playing with rackets that offer more control than power. Don't get me wrong, the frame offered good control, but the power outweighed the control by a long shot."
Comparing it to other racquets they've used, our testers said:
Granville - "While this racket is somewhat similar to the Babolat Pure Drive and Pure Drive Plus in feel, it seems to have a bit less power. It does not feel much like a Wilson Six.One or Head Prestige, as these have less power but a crisper and more precise response."
Michelle - "Throughout the playtest I was comparing the Graphene Extreme Pro to the Babolat Pure Drive Roddick. The Roddick gives me a bigger, more consistent ball, while the Graphene Extreme Pro had more of a 'controlled power' feel. I never felt like I was hitting as big with it compared to the Pure Drive Roddick. Granted, I have spent more time playing with the Roddick, so it is more comfortable for me to use. I think anyone interested in a racket like the Pure Drive Roddick should definitely demo the Graphene Extreme Pro as well. Also, I think it's worth noting that the Graphene Radical Pro is still my favorite Graphene racket!"
Troy - "For me, not a whole lot has changed throughout the lineage of this racket. I really liked the original Microgel version of the Extreme Pro, and I still like this most recent Graphene edition. Out of all the modern style (100 sq. inch) power rackets that I have tried: Babolat Pure Drive Roddick, Tecnifibre TFlash 315, and Volkl Organix 8 (315g), the Graphene Extreme Pro has the best response and feel in my hand. The change in the grip shape was the best thing that Head did for this newest version of the Extreme Pro, in my opinion."
Karly - "The Babolat Pure Drive is the first racket that immediately comes to mind. Both are powerful frames that have a stiffer, solid feel. The biggest differences for me were that the Graphene Extreme Pro made it easier to generate power and spin than the Pure Drive, and the Pure Drive was a little more maneuverable than the Graphene Extreme Pro."
Playtester Profiles:
Granville: 5.5 all-court player currently using a Babolat Pure Drive 107. Granville is an aggressive player who uses an eastern forehand grip and goes continental on everything else, hits with a flat swing and a one-handed backhand.
Michelle: Open level baseline player with a semi-western forehand and a two handed backhand. She currently plays with the Babolat Pure Drive Roddick.
Karly: 4.0 baseline player currently playing with the Volkl Organix 10 Mid. She hits with a semi-western forehand grip and uses a two handed backhand.
Troy: 5.0 lefty all-court player with a full Western Forehand and a two-handed backhand. Troy currently plays with a Wilson BLX Six.One 95.
Review date: June 2014. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us: information.en@tenniswarehouse-europe.com.
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