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100 square inches,16 x 19 string pattern, 11.8 ounces (strung)

Head must have been trying to give us a hint when the named the racquet Speed. I have been thinking about another way to phrase this for days but there just isn’t a better way to say it “This is the most un- Head racket that I have used in a really long time”. That is not- a dig at this frame or a cut at all other Head rackets. As a matter of fact I really like every other player oriented stick from Head. The fact is the Youtek Speed is very different from the others.

This racket seems to be the one that the YouTek (d30) technology really makes itself known. When you really unload on a shot it feels like a very stiff wider profile frame. That is unless you hit the very top of the string bed (unfortunately when you play on clay these things happen :). Conversely, the first few drop shots, ended up mid net because the racket’s feel is that feather soft on those shots.

If you haven’t heard much about d30, I will try to give you the synopsis on the material. It is one of a growing family of smart materials that have the ability to behave differently as a result of some outside force or in some cases on demand. In cars, an analogous technology that have been around for a while is viscous coupled differentials. The special silicone fluid stiffens drastically when it senses differences in the rotation speeds in the tires of a car. d30 has a similar behavior, push on it softly and it is very pliable. If it is hit with a hammer, it behaves more like a piece of metal.
Wonder how much longer it will be before we have batteries in our frames? ….magnetorheological fluid….. you heard it here first! Okay lab googles off lets talk tennis!

Looking at this frame you can tell that head wanted to make some departures from it roots. The frame has a very narrow , fairly aerodynamic shape, making it quick thru the air if you can manage the swing weight. The swing weight is fairly high and the somewhat head light balance allows players with long fast swings to really rip the ball. Don’t let the flexible looking static flex rating of 63 fool you. When you really rip groundies it feels as stiff or stiffer than some 72-73 flex rating rackets.

The grip pallet of the 4 3/8 is reminiscent of Wilson and Babolat frames, very symmetric is shape. Most head frames have an oblong octagonal grip pallet. For players that uses lots of variety in their games, I think that the grip shape of the Speed is ideal. For example, there are some players that use western and semi-western forehand grips depending on the spin and pace they are trying to generate. Some, have even more variance than this. The next time you get a look at some high definition video of Federer and you will se this is evident.

The head shape is another departure and seems to be a trend for Head frames these days. The Narrow inverted teardrop seems to be giving way to a wider ,more rounded shape in the advanced models. This is likely because the modern game requires use of spin to keep the ball in the court. The wider face of the racket and narrow beam help prevent mis -hits.

On ground strokes, this racket is as good as the person holding it. It is ultra precise even with the 16 x 19 string pattern. Spin production is excellent. Power, well… it is a player stick so you better bring your own. Think of it as the answer to the prayer of “ I love the Wilson Six- One tour but I don’t get to practice 3 hours a day”. Tuned for the advanced player but a tad more forgiving due to the sweetspot. It is slightly more powerful than the Six-One Tour as well.

On serves, the racket is great for spin and placement. Flat serves are powerful and precise. The weight if the racket and the headlight balance make this a great choice for players with good serves. If you have a lot of variety in your serve, this just may be your racket.

At the net, this racket shines. It gives up a little maneuverability compared with super light frames but the combination of touch, accuracy, and the ability to absorb punishing passing shots is really great. Reaction volleys are a dream. But as with most player frames this is one that you must have compact advanced volley technique to get the most from it.

If you need a little more zip on you strokes aim for the lower to mid 50’s on tension and use gut, a hybrid or a high end synthetic gut. You will feel excellent ball pocketing in the strings but but without a drastic loss of control. If you are a power baseliner, I would recommend a co-poly or poly string for better spin production and durability.

So it sounds like this is the perfect racket so far. Well if you a power topspin all courter you should try this racket. But be warned, you will probably need about a month or so worth of use to get the most from this frame. Ask Novak Djokovic, he has had his share of battles adapting. I think that the reason is that we are used to hitting the ball a fraction earlier on really hard shots and a fraction later on soft ones to deal with the variation in the flex and the change in the release angle of the ball off the strings on conventional frames. d30 is a step towards a frame that has a more consistent release angle regardless of how hard or soft the ball is struck. So if you are willing to look to the future of player frames, give this one a try.