Stephan has extensively tested the Head Extreme Tour 2022. His current racket is the previous version of the Extreme Tour, so this review includes a detailed comparison between the two models.
Specifications:
Intro:
Head has a wide range of rackets, and with the introduction of the Control Power Index (CPI), you can easily see where each racket stands in terms of control and power. With a CPI of 400, the new Head Extreme Tour 2022 is comparable to rackets such as the Head Radical MP 2021 and the Head Boom Pro 2022.
The (Graphene 360+) Extreme Tour is my racket of choice. I was therefore very curious about its successor. The problem with rackets like the Head Extreme Tour, which I called a "hidden gem" last year, is that they are already very good and you as a manufacturer cannot risk ruining something good. At the same time, you naturally always want to make improvements. Head therefore kept it subtle by adding Auxetic. The other specifications have remained completely the same. Auxetic material is unique because of its ability to dampen vibrations while maintaining a direct feel with the ball. But "the proof is in the pudding". Let's get straight to it.
Baseline:
I normally play with a weighted version of my Extreme Tour (leather grip and 2 grams of lead at 3 and 9 o'clock). For this test, I used the new Head Extreme Tour 2022 in stock form.
From the baseline, the racket immediately felt familiar. Without a dampener, I immediately noticed that the vibrations and sound were significantly reduced compared to the previous version. A big thumbs up for the Auxetic technology!
The racket offers a lot of control over the length of my shots, and both my forehand and backhand could be smoothly extended. The low weight and relatively thin frame ensure that the racket moves quickly through the ball without the shots getting out of hand. The spin potential is excellent thanks to the "spin grommets" and the 16x19 string pattern, although the racket feels more like a control racket due to its 98-inch head size and compact frame.
I would personally add some more weight to fully customize the racket to my preference. It seems that Head deliberately made this racket a bit lighter, so that advanced players can customize it to their own taste. Even in stock form, the Head Extreme Tour 2022 is stable and beautifully balanced.
Net game:
At the net, you notice that the racket is easy to get moving. However, I do miss some weight to hit the balls hard away. But that is easily solved by adding a few pieces of lead. Even in stock form, I can react quickly and the racket has a lot of feel at the net. Only with really hard incoming balls is a little more mass desired. But otherwise, I can deliver all possible volleys perfectly, including drop volleys just behind the net to the frustration of the opponent.
Service:
Due to the light weight and low balance point, I can create a lot of rackethead speed. I can serve quite hard without hurting my sensitive arm. That is also worth mentioning. This new Head Extreme Tour with Auxetic is very arm-friendly. It feels so safe to swing through completely that for the first time in years I have served full power again. That was a powerful feeling. Especially not feeling any twinges of pain afterwards. In short, a great racket for delivering big cannonballs. The control on full-swing serves is also perfectly fine.
Conclusion Head Extreme Tour 2022:
Bottom line is that the new Head Extreme Tour 2022 is a subtly improved version of its predecessor that I, as an Extreme Tour player, can highly appreciate. All the good things from the previous version have remained and the small imperfections have been fixed. In short: Head has succeeded in making a good racket even better without losing the fine characteristics of its predecessor. I think that is a major achievement. I therefore also recommend every Extreme Tour user to test this new version, but certainly also other 98 sq/inch players because you really don't know what you are missing if you haven't tried the Head Extreme Tour at least once.
An extensive review of the Extreme MP 2022 will follow shortly.