TWE Graphene XT Extreme Pro
Summary
Loaded with power and spin, the Head Graphene XT Extreme Pro has the potential to be a dangerous weapon in the hands of attacking baseline players. Weighing in at nearly 340 grams strung, this racket feels maneuverable and whippy, and the addition of Graphene XT makes it firm and stable on every shot. Our team of big hitting playtesters found ample power and spin, and they easily took charge of points by trading big groundstrokes or launching powerful serves. We think this Graphene XT Extreme Pro may be the game changer intermediate and advanced players have been searching for.
Overall - Score: 85/100
Groundstrokes – Score 87/100
Our team immediately enjoyed the Graphene XT Extreme Pro from the baseline. The massive amounts of power, maneuverability and control were a great match for our team of four, and it was very clear that power and spin were the stand out features of this racket. Even on the defense, it offered ample power to help with depth and pace. A firmer, deader poly-based string worked great because it added a bit of control without sapping too much of the racket"s power. Andy summed it up best and said, "This racket offered an infectious blend of power, control and spin that encouraged me to swing big and aggressively. On defense, I found it extremely easy to hit an effective shot even when I was out of position."
Volleys – Score 78/100
With a 68 RA, the Graphene XT Extreme Pro played stable yet comfortable and manueverability at the net. Volleys felt simple, and it didn"t take much to get the ball back deep in the court. When stretched, our team found the racket was stable enough that they could reach out with a firm wrist and hit something effective back. The only downside from our team at the net came from a lack of touch offered by this firmer racket.
Serve – Score 80/100
Our playtesters continued to take advantage of the free power from the Graphene XT Extreme Pro when it came to serving. All four of our playtesters benefited from some free points off big first serves. Our team agreed the racket gave them the confidence to go after whatever serve they wanted to hit. Marco noted, "I felt dialed in more often than not. I found the racket favored flat serves more so than slice, but generating some big racket head speed for kick serves always felt like an option I could bank on making."
Returns – Score 85/100
Between the maneuverability, powerful response and spin potential, our playtesters were dangerous when returning serves with the Graphene XT Extreme Pro. The easy access to spin really helped as well. Most impressively, this racket offered plenty of comfort even when paired with a firmer co-poly string — a nice thing to have on returns as getting a clean hit can"t always be guaranteed against a big server. Michelle also added, "I was really happy with the maneuverability when attacking returns. I could really accelerate and be offensive from the first ball."
Likes:
Chris -- "I liked the power, spin and blend of stability and maneuverability."
Andy -- "I really liked this racket from every area of the court. Improved control over the previous version to go along with excellent power, spin, maneuverability and stability."
Michelle -- "Enjoyed the controlled power. Liked how maneuverable it played."
Marco -- "Easy access to power, very maneuverable through the air."
Dislikes:
Chris -- "At first, I got into trouble with all the power when hitting approach shots but I was able to make the adjustment easy enough by taking even less backswing."
Andy -- "The only thing I could see as a potential issue for me is the stiffness of the racket. Combined with a stiffer poly (which I would want to put it in for added control), continuous play with it could eventually take a toll on my arm."
Michelle -- "I just don't love the shape of this racket but this is nothing new. Also, I'd prefer a bit more control in place of some of the racket's power."
Marco -- "Not a massive fan of the wide beam, like something with a bit more solid feel to it."
Comparing it to other racquets they've used, our testers said:
Chris -- "Similar rackets would include the Volkl Super G 8 315, Babolat Pure Drive Tour and the Tecnifibre TFlash 315. For me, this one is the crispest of the bunch so if you like a very direct feel I think it is well worth a demo."
Andy -- "This is one of my favorite rackets I"ve played with in a while. It reminded me of the Youtek IG version but with a bit more pop. It"s more comfortable and offers better control than the Graphene version it replaces. This racket belongs in the same class to me as the Babolat AeroPro Drive, but the Extreme Pro may offer just a little bit more feel and comfort."
Michelle -- "I preferred this update over the Graphene Extreme Pro from 2014 as it felt a bit faster and more comfortable to me. Another comparison I would make is to the Babolat Pure Drive Tour, I find the Babolat easier to find a consistent sweet spot with and enjoy the feel of that racket a little bit more. Both are powerful frames though."
Marco -- "It definitely showed similarities to the Babolat Pure Drive Plus I was using for a couple of years, although this XT Extreme Pro shed more feel and control on the ball for me."
Playtester Profiles:
Chris: 4.5 all-court player currently using the Wilson Six.One 95S. Chris uses a full-western forehand grip, has a fast swing style and hits a one-handed backhand.
Andy: Open level all court player with a semi-western forehand grip and a two handed backhand. Andy currently using a Yonex EZONE Ai 98.
Michelle: Open level baseline player with a semi-western forehand and a two handed backhand. She currently plays with the Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph.
Marco: Open level lefty aggressive baseliner with a semi-western forehand and a one-handed backhand. He currently plays with a Babolat Pure Drive Plus.
Review date: June 2015. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us: information.en@tenniswarehouse-europe.com.
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