The new Head Graphene 360 Extreme Pro tested by Mike. This racket is packed with power and spin, but has a nice solid playing feel and performs surprisingly well at the net!
The Extreme Pro is back! The previous Graphene Touch Extreme series lacked a Pro version. Traditionally, the Extreme Pro has been doing very well in various racket tests in recent years, so Head has brought this racket back. Mike has the noble task of testing this version. In this review, among other things, a comparison with the Babolat Pure Aero 2019.
Tested racket:
Brand: Head Model: Graphene 360 Extreme Pro Headsize: 100 sq/inch Weight: 310 gr Balance: 31.5 cm Stringing pattern: 16x19 Length: 27 inch RA: 64 Beam: 23/26/21 mm Stringing: Babolat RPM Blast 1.25 at 24/23 kg
Tester:
Name: Mike Playing strength: 4/4 Type of player: somewhat classic player, flat groundstrokes, generates little spin himself. Had shoulder problems in the past. Racket history player: Head Ti Fire, Babolat Pure Drive, Prince EXO3 Rebel Team, Wilson Steam 100 BLX2, Head Graphene Radical MP and the Prince Textreme Warrior 107. Recently also the Diadem Elevate 98 in use.Test scores Head Graphene 360 Extreme Pro:
Power: 9 Control: 7.5 Spin: 9 Arm friendliness: 7.5 Agility: 8 Touch: 7
Baseline:
The Head Graphene 360 Extreme Pro is a pretty solid weapon from the baseline. With this racket it is easy to produce full balls accompanied by above average spin. Recently I also tested the Babolat Pure Aero 2019. Both rackets have a lot in common. This Extreme Pro offers even more free power than the Pure Aero. The Pure Aero does have a slightly more consistent playing feel and slightly better dampening properties. The maneuverability of the Extreme Pro actually surprised me. The racket was easy to get around from the baseline and felt faster than expected. I missed the massive/full feeling of the (previous) Graphene Touch Extreme MP a bit. Nevertheless, it is a solid powerful racket from the baseline.
Service:
Serving was easy and consistent with this Extreme Pro. The balls are easy to grip in the fairly open string bed for good kick serves or easy slice serves out of the court. No blind power like the previous Pure Aero Tour when serving, but more than enough (consistent) power.
Just:
The low 31.5 balance point makes this racket nice and fast at the net. Quite special actually for a typical power racket! The mass of the racket is easy to use to parry hard balls. The touch volleys were a bit easier with the new Pure Aero.
Power/control:
Not surprisingly, this Head Graphene 360 Extreme Pro is all about power over control. You can really hit with this frame and the returns are also easy and fast. I would have liked a slightly fuller/more homogeneous playing feel to control this power. The racket is certainly solid for a racket in this genre, but that would have made the frame complete.
Comfort/arm friendliness:
For a typical power frame, the comfort is certainly good. The racket works with an RA value (stiffness) of 64. With many competitors, the RA easily shoots towards 70 to ensure the power. This RA of 64 gives the racket a less stiff playing feel, but sufficient power. Actually, this is just more than neat for a frame in this category!