Intro

As Head updates their popular Speed family of frames, they couldn’t overlook updating the most supercharged model in the family. For players after maximum power and ease of use, Head has the new Graphene 360+ Speed PWR on tap. This frame boasts massive power, incredible forgiveness and newly enhanced feel and comfort. For this update, head incorporates Spiralfibers into its Graphene 360 build (hence the “+”). This new material stretches on contact in the lower hoop, producing a softer, more flexible feel without compromising on your connection to the ball. Although not my typical type of frame I was curious to see how this hyper powered Speed PWR would perform on court.

Groundstrokes

The 360+ Speed PWR was mindlessly powerful off the ground. The 115 inch head size had incredible forgiveness and basically turned the entire head into one big sweet spot. The 26/26/28 mm beam and 69 RA ensured there was always power on tap for every groundstroke. At 9.7 oz strung, bringing the Speed PWR up to speed was effortless. Generating pace on any shot was straightforward. While there wasn’t the same court penetration of beefier models, the raw ball speed of the PWR made it fun to hit with. Precision targeting was not exactly this model’s strong suit so I focused on just blasting the ball into the court rather than pinpoint targeting the lines. With a 16 x 19 string pattern, the Speed PWR had more than enough spin from the baseline. The spin proved useful as a tool to control the massive power the frame had. The head heavy balance gave the PWR solid stability for its weight and players with short, compact strokes should find it plenty stable at their level of play. I also enjoyed hitting some absolute rockets on the dead run. The PWR was so easy to swing that I could just line it up and smack a huge shot on the dead run repeatedly. The large head size also improved my defense as it allowed me to get a racquet on several balls that smaller frame would not.

Volleys & Serves

At net, the Speed PWR was a power player. Anything in the vicinity of the huge head and the frame made people pay. I had to be careful not to over hit, as there was so much power that over swinging would send volleys sailing well long. Short, compact mechanics were rewarded with easy depth and power. Directional control was average and similar to groundstrokes; I picked safe targets and just blasted away. Touch volleys were possible with the well connected feel, but there just wasn’t enough mass for them to be truly effective. The Speed PWR was at its best when the net exchanges were short and aggressive.

Serving with the Speed PWR was about bringing the cannons to bear. It swung so fast and so easily that I had no trouble generating pace on first serves. If anything, I had to find the right rhythm for controlling the power of the frame. Players will find easy acceleration for even the most compact stroke, putting plenty of pace on any type of serve. In keeping with other areas of my play test, serving was less about precision tactics and more about brute force. Once in rhythm, I fed people a steady diet of high speed artillery. My kick serve had plenty of bounce height and action thanks to the head speed and forgiving string pattern. Slice serves were less effective due to the reduced mass so I stuck to using high bouncing kick serves to keep me out of danger on second serve points.

Feel & Comfort

Despite its firm, thick beam, the Speed PWR had solid feel and playability. The addition of Spiralfibers to the build gave it better ball connection and some noticeable flex on contact compared to some of its peers. It returned plenty of energy to the ball, but I still felt well connected to how the ball was responding on the string bed. Comfort was also above average for its build style. The frame played smoothly across the entire hoop and was incredibly forgiving. Players will have no problem pairing this forgiving frame with a variety of string setups.

Overall

Head has a new choice for players looking for maximum power and forgiveness. The racquet provides truly effortless power and spin while also offering enough responsiveness and comfort. The new Head Graphene 360+ Speed PWR is a perfect match for the player who needs a high dose of free power, forgiveness and feel in an easy to swing package.

About the Reviewer: Matt Locke formerly served for 3 years as the Junior Programs & Development Coordinator for USTA-Idaho. He is a PTR certified coach and is an active USTA 4.5 League and Tournament player.