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The Head Extreme tennis racquet has grown in popularity over the last 5 years for its “extreme” power and spin.
This powerful racquet is great for tennis players who like to hit big serves and heavy groundstrokes.
Below, we will review the Head Extreme Graphene 360+ Tour, MP, and other racquets. You’ll learn how each racquet model performs on the tennis court. We’ll also compare the Extreme with other racquets so you can find the best tennis racquet for your game.
The Different Versions of the Head Extreme
The Head Extreme tennis racquet comes in several different versions that vary in size, weight, and other specifications.
Below is a list of the different Head Extreme tennis racquets available.
- Head Extreme Tour – The most control-oriented of the Extreme racquets. This 98 square inch model still offers a lot of power and spin for advanced players.
- Head Extreme MP – At 100 square inches, this version maximizes power, spin, and stability. Great for intermediate or advanced players.
- Head Extreme S – For beginners or intermediate players, this version is lightweight with a 105 square inch head, giving it a larger sweet spot.
- Head Extreme Lite – This is an even lighter version of the Extreme S. Great for beginner and junior players who need a racquet that is easy to handle.
- Head Extreme PWR – This racquet is for beginners only. It has a 115 square inch head size for excellent power and a big sweet spot.
More in-depth reviews of the different models of the Head Extreme are below.
Head Extreme Tour Review
This is the most control-oriented version of the Head Extreme for advanced level tennis players.
Head Extreme Tour Racquet Specifications
Here are the specifications for the Head Extreme Tour.
- Weight: 11.4 oz. strung
- Head Size: 98 square inches
- Length: 27 inches
- Balance: 320 mm
- String Pattern: 16×19
This racquet is fairly lightweight for an advanced tennis racquet, making it easy to generate racquet head speed. The open string pattern maximizes spin potential, so you can control the ball with heavy topspin groundstrokes.
The Head Extreme Tour Offers Controlled Power
The Head Extreme racquets are built for both power and spin. The Extreme Tour offers this combination in a controlled frame for advanced players.
The frame’s beam is wide for a 98 square inch racquet, and the open string pattern will help you create more spin and power. The weight of the racquet makes it fairly easy to maneuver and swing if you’re a competitive tennis player.
Head’s Graphene 360+ technology gives this tennis racquet good feel around the net as well.
Advanced tennis players who swing fast and control the point with big serves and groundstrokes will get the most out of the Head Extreme Tour.
This racquet is not great for players who need more help with control. The Head Extreme Tour’s performance on returns and volleys hit slightly off-center is worse than many of the best advanced tennis racquets.
The Extreme Tour is Great for Serves & Groundstrokes
The Extreme Tour performs well on both groundstrokes and volleys.
- On groundstrokes, the Extreme is easy to swing, and explosive on contact. The Tour version offers good control and spin.
- On volleys, the maneuverability and feel of this racquet will help with touch volleys. It can feel unstable defending against fast paced groundstrokes.
- On returns, the Extreme Tour will generate good power to attack second serves. Defending against big servers will be a bit more difficult.
- On serves, this racquet performs best. It will maximize your power and spin so you can hit flat, slice, or kick serves with ease.
Overall, the Extreme Tour is great for advanced players who like to stay at the baseline and want to add power and spin to their shots.
Head Extreme MP Review
The Extreme MP tennis racquet has even more power and is great for a wider range of skill levels.
Head Extreme MP Racquet Specifications
Here are the specifications for the Head Extreme MP.
- Weight: 11.2 oz. strung
- Head Size: 100 square inches
- Length: 27 inches
- Balance: 335 mm
- String Pattern: 16×19
This version of the Head Extreme is 0.2 ounces lighter and has a larger frame making it more powerful with a larger sweet spot. The beam is wider and this racquet is head heavy making it a very stable racquet as well.
The Head Extreme MP Helps with Power & Spin
One of the most powerful tennis racquets on the market, the Head Extreme MP is great for intermediate and advanced players who like to hit big.
This version of the Head Extreme is lighter and easier to swing, but has a thicker frame to increase its explosive power. The 100 square inch head size and open string pattern create unmatched spin potential.
Because of the balance point being towards the head, this racquet has surprising stability as well. You won’t lose too much control when defending against pace.
Intermediate and advanced players who take an aggressive approach from the baseline will get the most out of this racquet. The Head Extreme MP will maximize your power and spin when attacking or hitting approach shots.
This racquet is stiffer than other advanced and intermediate tennis racquets. It is not great if you’ve had tennis elbow issues. It also sacrifices some control to prioritize its power and spin.
For a racquet with more control and comfort, read our Head Radical Review.
Pros & Cons of the Head Extreme MP
When choosing a tennis racquet you’ll need to prioritize what is important to you. Here are the pros and cons of the Head Extreme MP.
Pros
- Great power on serves & groundstrokes
- Very spin friendly
- Good stability
- Easy to swing
- Good for most skill levels
Cons
- Can feel a loss of control against pace
- Less comfort than other racquets
Reviewing Other Versions of the Head Extreme Tennis Racquet
There are several other versions of the Head Extreme that a beginner or intermediate player might consider.
- Head Extreme S
- Very forgiving 105 square inch head size & 10.2 ounces.
- Good power and spin for beginners & intermediate players.
- Great for learning topspin.
- Head Extreme Lite
- Lightweight version of the Extreme S (9.8 ounces).
- Great for beginners or junior players who need something lightweight.
- Good transition racquet for beginners.
- Head Extreme PWR
- For beginners only.
- Very big sweet spot with a 115 square inch head size.
- Great for people who are new to tennis & less athletic.
The Best Alternatives to the Head Extreme
Below are 3 other tennis racquets similar to the Head Extreme that you may want to consider.
- Babolat Pure Aero – Rafael Nadal’s racquet offers tons of power and spin. Great for players who like to hit heavy groundstrokes from the baseline.
- Wilson Ultra – Another power-oriented racquet, the Ultra is a bit stiffer than the Extreme.
- Babolat Pure Drive – The Pure Drive is a great racquet for all skill levels. It has similar power to the Extreme with a bit better feel but doesn’t offer the same level of spin.
My Experience Playing with the Head Extreme
After playing several sets with the Head Extreme MP racquet, it is now one of my favorite power-focused racquets on the market.
The level of power and spin were similar to the Wilson Ultra, but with even better comfort and handling. I was easily able to hit with dept, power, and spin from the baseline. I also felt more in control of my shots with the Extreme than I do with other similar racquets.
At the net, this racquet was very easy to handle. While I didn’t have quite as much control on my volleys as I did with the Head Prestige, for example, the comfort and stability were still very solid.
The Head Extreme also helped my serve. I was able to generate plenty of spin and pop on first and second serves.
If I played more singles, I’d consider switching to the Head Extreme for its excellent power, spin, and feel from the baseline. However, since I play mostly doubles and like to get to the net, I prefer a more control-oriented racquet.
