HEAD has recently launched the HEAD Graphene Touch Prestige line of racquets and at the end of July it is time for the new HEAD Graphene 360 Speed racquets. This is the line endorsed by Novak Djokovic and Alex Zverev to name a few.
The new HEAD Graphene 360 Speed racquets will have a new paint job (see an idea of how it will look above) and slightly different specs. Not sure why the release date is set by the end of July and not in time for Wimbledon, but that is up to HEAD to answer.
As I mentioned above, the HEAD Graphene 360 Speed racquets are endorsed by Novak Djokovic (read what racquet he really uses here and about his new setup here) and Alexander Zverev (read about his racquet here) and also racquet switcher Fernando Verdasco (read about his racquet here) but neither of them are actually using the actual HEAD Graphene 360 Speed mold. Like so many ATP professionals, they are using HEAD pro stock racquets.
New HEAD Graphene 360 Speed Racquets – Let us look at the specs
This table is copied from a brochure so perhaps not the most easy to read, but I think it should work as a decent overview of the different racquets available in the new HEAD Graphene 360 Speed racquets line. Do not bother with the crossed-over racquets, they should also be available.
So what is new with the new HEAD Graphene 360 Speed racquets compared to the previous HEAD Graphene Touch Speed line? Well, for one, they have a thicker beam. From 22 mm to 23 mm for the Pro, MP and MP Lite models. There are no RA numbers in the above image, but I guess the thicker beam will mean slightly different racquets. Since this is quite fresh information I have no idea what the Graphene 360 is and if it is intended to mute the racquets even more than the Touch. I hope to review the Graphene 360 racquets and give a better idea of how they play.
New HEAD Graphene 360 Speed Racquets – Are they “new” enough?
When it comes to the head size it is pretty much 100 sq inches all across the board. This has definitely become the new standard in tennis racquets, with 97-98 being more control-oriented and above 100 being player improvement racquets. The Pro is suitably heavier at 310 grams but slightly more head light and the MP is ten grams lighter but more head heavy to compensate. There is nothing ground-breaking or very different here compared to earlier versions of the HEAD Graphene Speed line, so it will be interesting to know how the Graphene 360 affects the playability.
The buzzwords in the HEAD marketing materials for the new Graphene 360 Speed racquets state:
- Providing great stability and optimized energy transfer.
- Denser mains and wider cross strings for more control and spin generation.
- Strengthened shaft and shoulder area for more stability.
I will give you more information about the new HEAD Graphene 360 Speed racquets as soon as I have it. Are you curious about this line? What do you think about the Speed racquets in general? Please comment below.
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14 comments
I play with the Graphene Touch Speed MP with 8 g added to the handel, plus overgrip and dampener. Total weight strung 327 g. Have tested with more lead in the hoop and other places but this setup works best for my strokes and style of play (Agressive baseliner). String it arround 57 pounds with a full bed of thin poly on the softer side.
I love the feel and find this racquet to provide a good balance between power and control with plus scores on manouverability and spin.
I would not tinker with the stiffness and feel of this frame if I were Head. If the new version adds a bit of stability at net and perhaps a bit more pop on the serve without compromising the other already great features then it would be an improvement. Otherwise no.
I played with Yonex eZone 98, Babolat Pure Strike 98 16×19 and the Head Speed MP. The 3 racquets were similar, with the Speed MP giving me the most confidence, Babolat being the most demanding, and the Yonex somewhere in between.
I loved, loved, loved the Speed MP. I was almost ready to pull the trigger on this racquet, and the local store informed me today that its on clearance due to an impending update of Head’s racquet line, for US$30 cheaper than Tennis Warehouse. New racquet arrival is expected mid-July.
I will wait till mid-July to try out the Graphene 360 Speed MP racquet.
I just played with a blacked out prototype version of the 360 MP version yesterday. Feels very different compared to previous iterations of graphene racquets. Better over all balance in my opinion, possibly because the graphene is placed evenly throughout the racquet frame (hence the 360 name) instead of specific places in the frame. Other graphene racquets I’ve used felt weird – no feel making it hard to tell how the ball comes off your racquet. The beam/frame is thicker but it doesn’t take anything away from it. I didn’t hit long enough yesterday to do a full review but I certainly liked it better than other graphene frames.
Thanks for your comment! Really curious about what way they can keep working with Graphene as a technology. I agree with you about the weird muted feeling from some Graphene frames, although I did like the Touch Prestige Tour. If they create a better sensation/feedback when hitting the ball, finally the Graphene line might start making sense.
I bought the Speed 360 MP and over all it plays similarly to the Speed Touch MP. Main difference is that it feels lighter, whippier and crisper at contact compared to the Touch. It’s plush feeling and not stiff. Provides a bit more pop and is even more manouverable and spin friendly. I really like it and will play it parallel to my trusted Touch MP. Time will tell which one becomes the go to racquet. The 360 is perhaps easier to swing after hours of play but the Touch might handle heavy balls better. Need to play more opponents to know. From my initial days of playing the racquet I think Sam Jones review captures it very well https://www.tennisexpress.com/info/head-graphene-360-speed-mp-tennis-racquet-review
Thanks for your comment Joakim, really curious about the 360 MP or Pro. Not sure which one I should test…
Any word on when Graphene 360 will hit the Radical line?!
Hi Ron,
Not sure. Could be a big improvement for the Radical line too, because I was not a fan of the Touch. Will try to find out! Cheers / J
Hi guys, I bought the 360 speed Pro racket and I think that it is the best version till now. Before this one I was playing with the touch speed Pro. I think the difference is huge in terms of stability. However, I feel a very big pain in my elbow when I use the 360 version. I did not have any issue when I was playing with the touch version. What is your opinion? Did anyone have the same issue using the 360 version?
Hi Stelios,
Performance-wise the Graphene 360 Speed Pro was a huge improvement, but I did feel a slight tenderness in my wrist with that racquet so there might be stiffness issues there. I did use it with a stiff poly strung at 24 kg so that might have something to do with it. What strings are you using? Cheers / Jonas
Any word on the street yet about Graphene 360 Radical?!
Hi Ron,
Nothing yet, I think later next year in that case. The Graphene Touch Radicals were released November last year so I think they would at least wait 18 months before another update to that line. Will post here if I hear something more!
Regards / Jonas
Hi,
Kudos on your detailed review of 360 speed pro. Also your unique reviewing style made me subscribe immediately.
I’m curious to know how the MP version and Pro version compare especially on volleys, slices and serves. Also I would like to know flat shot comparison of 360 Speed Pro/MP and Babolat Pure Aero 2019. Planning to buy a racket for this Christmas.
Thanks and Regards,
Hari
Hi,
Thanks! I have not done a proper review on the HEAD 360 Speed MP to compare it to the Pro, but would expect a higher launch angle and a slightly more unstable response due to the lower weight.
Comparing the 360 Pro vs Babolat Pure Aero, the 360 Pro is more controlled, lower-powered with a lower launch angle. The Pure Aero will give you more power and spin, but for my game with flatter shots, the 360 Pro wins.
Cheers / Jonas