Construction: Main: Triangular Co-Polyester Monofilament Cross: Co-Polyester Monofilament

Color: White and Silver

Gauge: Mains: 17G (1.25mm) - Crosses: 18G (1.20mm)

Length: 40’

Test Racquet / Tension
Tecnifibre TFight 315 LTD 16M @ 55lbs

Intro

Revolution is the name of the game in tennis right now. Or rather, revolutions. Everywhere you look, companies are developing new ways for players to increase the RPMs they are able to put on the ball. Having already introduced new spin friendly technology on the racquet front, Head introduces a new string designed to maximize spin. Head Gravity is a prepackaged hybrid of two polyester strings. Composed of a triangle shaped main string for maximum bite and a smooth, thinner gauge cross to allow for better movement, Gravity is built to add the spin necessary to pull the ball back down to the court (hence the name). Here’s a closer look at how it performs.

Power/Spin/Control

The power level was on par with most co-poly strings I have tested. It feels lively enough but it still retains enough control that you can hit out with confidence that the ball will stay in the court. Control is excellent and I found it easy to manipulate depth and pick my spots with each of my strokes. Spin is where Gravity really starts to shine. The triangle shaped mains provide a tremendous amount of bite on the ball. This allows you to generate a variety of spin levels depending on the swing speed and path. The thin, slick cross allows the mains to move freely and snap back into position with force. This further amplifies the spin on the ball. Topspin groundstrokes jumped off the court and accelerated up and out of my opponents’ strike zones. Slices stayed low and skidded away thanks to the extra rip on the ball. Spin is also enhanced on serving with easy access to high bouncing kick serves and a great ability to slice the ball out wide and transition right to offense.

Feel / Comfort

Gravity provides surprisingly solid feel for an all polyester combo. With both mains and crosses being fairly thin, the string bed plays with a crisp yet comfortable feel. Responsiveness is solid from the back of the court but like many polyester offerings, the string is a little numb at the net. This especially true with touch volleys where the string lacks more of the feel I would want to execute those shots. Gravity also exhibits a consistent feel across the string bed with no hot spots or jarring feedback on off center contact. The end result is an all poly setup that plays comfortably with a clean feel and solid response.

Durability

Durability appears to be the factor that may bring Gravity back down to Earth. I broke a main string just above the sweet spot in a little under 2 hours. The mains were already exhibiting evidence of heavy notching. It would appear the increased spin is going to take a toll on longevity. The main strings are snapping back across the mains so heavily that they burn through rapidly. Durability could be increased in smaller head sizes and I would be interested to see if Head offers Gravity in some other gauge combinations as well to offer increased performance in this area.

Overall

Head Gravity represents another innovation focused on bringing spin to the masses. Its uniquely shaped mains and thin, slick crosses work in unison to increase the RPMs off the ball as it comes off the string bed. Its limited durability may make it difficult for advanced players to take advantage of without frequent re-stringing. But for developing juniors and players who are just starting to add spin to their game, it provides an attractive mix of aggressive spin, solid power and feel and confidence boosting control.

About the Reviewer: Matt Locke currently serves as the Junior Programs & Development Coordinator for USTA-Idaho and is an active USTA League and Tournament player.