Stephan has tested the new Head Gravity 2023 rackets over the past few weeks. Here is an extensive review of the Head Gravity MP 2023. A review of the Pro version will follow shortly.
Tester:
- Name: Stephan Couzijn
- Level: 5/6
- Player type: All-court player, eastern grip, one-handed backhand, fairly flat shots.
- Own racket: Yonex EZONE DR 98, Wilson Clash 100, Head Graphene 360+ Extreme Tour.
- Racket history: Incl. Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 95, Wilson Six-One 95, Head Radical, Babolat Pure Storm Tour GT, Wilson Pro Staff 95, Yonex VCORE 98.
Tested racket – Specifications:
- Brand: Head
- Model: Gravity MP 2023
- Head size: 100 sq/inch
- Weight: 295 gr
- Balance: 32.5 cm
- String pattern: 16×20
- Length: 27 inch
- RA: 59
- Beam: 22mm / 22mm / 22mm
- Head CPI (Control Power Index): 400
- Swingweight: 319 (demo was at 323)
- Stringing: Head Hawk 1.25 at average kg
Intro:
2023 has brought many new racket releases, and I was really looking forward to the update of the Head Gravity line, especially the MP. I had tested the first Gravity MP earlier, and although I thought it was a wonderful racket because of the 16x20 string pattern, it was just a little too light to be stable enough against hard hitters.
With the new Gravity MP 2023, subtle changes have been made. The racket still weighs 295 grams, has a head size of 100 sq/inch and a frame width of 22 mm. The most important improvement is the addition of Auxetic technology, which provides a more direct ball feel and more stability. The swingweight has also been increased, which further improves stability.
Racket Review
Baseline:
The difference between the old Gravity MP and the new Auxetic version is immediately noticeable from the baseline. The racket has more power and feels more stable, especially thanks to the higher swingweight and the Auxetic technology. Although the racket could benefit from a little extra weight, it is already much more stable in its current form than its predecessor.
My shots, both backhand and forehand, went through easily with sufficient length and control. The launch angle seems slightly lower, which suits my flat shots well. The slice backhand came off razor-sharp, but the spin potential was slightly less than with other rackets, probably due to the center of gravity being more towards the top of the frame. Despite this, it was easy to get a lot of length in my shots.
Volleys:
At the net, it was easy to volley just like with its predecessor. Due to the relatively light weight, it was not difficult to maneuver the racket quickly. The racket feels solid, allowing me to 'push through' and drive away the volleys well. On smashes, you can feel that there is a little more weight in the top of the racket. You can really fire it off. The balls explode off it. Honestly, volleying went better than expected. My expectation of a 100 sq/inch head with a substantial swingweight was that it would be difficult to react compared to, for example, my own Head Extreme Tour or the Head Radical MP 2023, but that was really no problem at all.!--nl-->
Serving:
As expected, serving with the Head Gravity MP 2023 was very easy. The racket has more than enough power to deliver cannonballs into all corners and positions. Slice serves also come off perfectly. Despite the swingweight, I get more than enough rackethead speed to land the balls in the service box at high speed. Precision is still sometimes difficult for me with a 100 sq/inch frame. Somehow the balls still occasionally shoot off it, causing me to lose control with full-swing shots. With this Head Gravity MP Auxetic, that is by no means the case. I think the 16x20 string pattern makes a positive contribution here, together with the slim construction of the frame. Just a little more control than an open 16x19 and not as plank-like as an 18x20. In short, the best of both worlds.
