Our tester Iris has spent the past few weeks testing the Head Speed MP 2026 and shares her findings in this in-depth review! Here’s a little teaser: its excellent blend of power and control is still there, and thankfully, the swingweight is much more in line with expectations than its predecessor.
Specifications:
Brand: HEAD
Model: Speed MP 2026
Head size: 100 sq/inch
Weight: 300 g
Balance: 32.0 cm
String pattern: 16×19
Length: 27 inch
RA: 60
Beam: 23 mm
Swingweight: +-325
String: HEAD Hawk Touch 1.25 at 23/23 kg
This racket is now available in our online store and comes strung for free with a string of your choice!
Introduction:
I had the chance to test the new HEAD Speed MP 2026. I tested it indoors on carpet over several sessions. The Speed series is known for its perfect combination of control and power. Auxetic 2.0 technology was introduced in the Speed MP 2024 for a softer feel. The Speed MP 2026 now features Hy-Bor, a material blend known in the aerospace industry, incorporated into the shaft for greater stability and a solid impact feel.
Baseline:
I tested this racket during training sessions on carpet at Sportcentrum Heemskerk. In one of the sessions, we practiced putting our opponents under pressure with aggressive spin shots. This was relatively easy with this racket thanks to its controlled power: the balls went deep with ease without flying off my strings. This racket has power grommets, which means the grommets are wider, giving the strings more room to move. This also helps with spin, as the strings get more snapback.
A really nice improvement over the 2024 version is the swingweight, which has been reduced considerably, so I can now complete my swing. It's now around 325.
Serve:
My serve felt great with the Speed MP 2026. Its large sweet spot made it easy to hit the ball cleanly. The power grommets made it easy to generate pace on my first serve and kick and spin on my second serve.
As I've mentioned before, I had a shoulder injury caused by a combination of overuse and a racket that was too stiff (an older version of the Wilson Pro Staff 97L). So whenever I serve with a stiff racket now, I feel it in my shoulder right away. But I didn't have that problem with the HEAD Speed MP 2026, thanks to the technologies built into the frame, such as Auxetic 2.0 and Hy-Bor.
At the net:
I had high expectations for this racket at the net. I was hoping for a stable, solid feel, and that's exactly what it delivered. Even at a higher pace, I could still volley with ease. The lower swingweight definitely helped too—my reaction time was simply better. My smashes felt just like my volleys and serves.
Power/control:
With its power grommets, speed beam, speed pattern, directional drilling, and narrow frame, this racket offers the perfect combination of power and control. You can easily hit the ball deep while still feeling connected to it. You can generate plenty of spin with this racket. If you want to make that even easier, you could use a hexagonal or octagonal string.
Comfort/arm-friendliness:
The 2026 version is definitely more comfortable and arm-friendly than the 2024 version, partly thanks to the introduction of Hy-Bor and its lower swingweight. So it's a big improvement in terms of comfort; at least, I didn't feel any discomfort in my shoulder!
The bottom line on the HEAD Speed MP 2026:
In my opinion, the Speed MP 2026 is a significant improvement over the 2024 version. Its lower, more accessible swingweight means that mere mortals can swing the racket with ease, while still getting plenty of mass behind the ball. The addition of Hy-Bor gives the racket more stability and feel. All in all, a great improvement to the Speed MP!
The Speed MP 2026 is now available in our online store!
Note: Iris currently plays with the Wilson Blade 100 V9, but is considering switching to this Speed MP 2026.
