Stephan has extensively tested the Head Extreme Tour 2022. His current racket is the previous version of the Extreme Tour, so in this review a detailed comparison is made between both 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 is in terms of control and power. With a CPI of 400, the new Head Extreme Tour 2022 is comparable to rackets like the Head Radical MP 2021 and the Head Boom Pro 2022.
The (Graphene 360+) Extreme Tour is my racket of choice. I am 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 as a manufacturer you cannot risk ruining something good. At the same time, you always want to make improvements. That is why Head has 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 and at the same time maintain the direct feeling with the ball. But "The proof is in the pudding". In short, get started.
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 felt familiar. Without the dampener I immediately noticed that the vibrations and noise 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 strokes, and both my forehand and backhand could follow through smoothly. The low weight and relatively thin frame ensure that the racket moves quickly through the ball without the strokes getting out of hand. The spin potential is excellent thanks to the "spin grommets" and the 16x19 stringing pattern, although the racket feels more like a control racket due to its 98 inch head size and compact frame.
I would add some weight to fine-tune the racket to my preference. It seems that Head deliberately left 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 nicely balanced.
Net game:
At the net you notice that the racket is easy to get moving. I do miss some weight to put balls away hard. 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 feeling at the net. Only with really hard incoming balls a bit more mass is desired. But otherwise I can deliver all possible volleys perfectly, including drop volleys just behind the net to the frustration of the opponent.
Service:
The light weight and low balance point allow me to create a lot of racket head speed. I can serve 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 pull through that I served full power for the first time in years. That was a mighty feeling. Especially not to feel any shooting pains afterwards. In short, a great racket to deliver big cannonballs. The control is also excellent with full-throttle serves.
Conclusion Head Extreme Tour 2022:
The 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 really appreciate. Everything good about the previous version has been retained and the minor imperfections have been resolved. In short: Head has managed to make a good racket even better without losing the fine features of its predecessor. I think that is a major achievement. I therefore 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're missing if you haven't tried the Head Extreme Tour at least once.
An extensive review of the Extreme MP 2022 will follow soon.