HEAD Gravity Tour 2025 Racquet Review: Tested Against Two of the Best 98s in the Game

When we first hit the HEAD Gravity Tour 2025 during its teaser phase, the most striking thing was what it was not. It was not a heavy, tour-caliber workout disguised as a racquet. It was not stuffy or demanding. For a control-oriented 98-square-inch frame, it played with a surprising combination of pop, spin, and buttery feedback that the Gravity line is known for. Now that it has been on shelves long enough to compare it properly, we put it side by side with two of the most popular 98s on the market: the Babolat Pure Aero 98 2026 and the Wilson Blade 98 v10 (16x19). Three racquets. Same head size. Same stock weight. Very different personalities.

What You Will Love About the HEAD Gravity Tour 2025

• A flex and comfort level that sets it apart from every other 98 in this class
• Surprising power and spin from a thin-beam, control-oriented frame
• The Sweet Zone head shape rewards contact in the upper hoop and feels larger than the specs suggest
• More accessible than the Gravity Pro without giving up control
• A 16x19 pattern that bites and snaps back in a way the older Gravity frames never could

Quick Specs

Feel and Flex

The stiffness numbers tell an interesting story. The Gravity Tour (61 RA) and Blade v10 (62 RA) are within a point of each other on paper, but they feel noticeably different in hand. The Pure Aero 98 sits six points stiffer than the Gravity Tour at 67 RA, a gap that registers immediately on contact.

The Gravity Tour is the most comfortable of the three, and for players who have dealt with arm pain, that matters more than any other spec on the sheet. The 61 RA rating is low enough that you can swing freely and aggressively without worrying about what the frame is doing to your arm. HEAD's Auxetic 2.0 layup reinforces that soft, pocketing sensation at contact, and the teardrop frame geometry places the widest section of the hoop high up near the tip. That head shape does something interesting on court: it makes the racquet feel like it has a larger hitting surface than the 98-square-inch spec implies, which adds confidence on a wide range of shots.

The Blade 98 v10 sits just one RA point above the Gravity Tour, but its Turbo Taper beam gives it a more solid, planted feel. The beam thickens from 20.5mm at the shaft to 21.5mm through the head, adding stability at the point of contact. Previous Blade 98 versions could feel demanding for players who needed more help from their racquet in terms of power and stability. The Turbo Taper addresses that directly, making the v10 the most forgiving Blade 98 Wilson has built.

The Pure Aero 98 2026 is the most rigid of the three, though Babolat's Flax 2.0 fibers at 3 and 9 o'clock do a good job of filtering vibrations. The comfort improvements were noticeable even on imperfect contact, which earlier Aero models did not always reward. Players with arm sensitivity will still want to demo it first.

Power and Trajectory

Power has not historically been a selling point for the Gravity line, but the 98 breaks that pattern. Ball speed out of this frame is higher than you expect from a 61 RA, thin-beam racquet. The teardrop head shape and 16x19 string pattern work together to produce serious spin and real pop, and the proof is in how confidently you can swing it. The Gravity Tour makes a strong case that spin and power do not have to come at the cost of comfort.

The Pure Aero 98 2026 produces the most raw power of the three. The aerodynamic throat provides real muscle, but the 98-square-inch head and 16x20 string pattern keep shots honest and on target, making it a genuine all-court racquet rather than a baseline-only weapon. The Blade 98 v10 produces the lowest trajectory of the three, which suits players who prefer a flatter, driving ball. It is still a control racquet at its core, but the Turbo Taper adds enough power and stability that players who previously found the Blade 98 too demanding will want to give v10 a serious look.

Spin

The Pure Aero 98 2026 generates the heaviest topspin. The FSI Spin grommet system increases string movement and dwell time, and the aerodynamic design lets players swing harder without fighting the air. The Gravity Tour is not far behind. The 16x19 string pattern bites the ball better than any previous Gravity model, and the teardrop head shape opens up a generous spin window in the upper hoop. The result is spin that feels effortless rather than forced, particularly on kick serves and topspin forehands. The Blade 98 v10 produces controlled, repeatable spin rather than outright heavy topspin. Exactly where you put it, at the pace you intended.

Control and Precision

The Pure Aero 98 2026 plays like a true all-court racquet. The beam provides pop, but the 98-square-inch head and 16x20 pattern keep shots on target and let you swing aggressively from anywhere on the court. The Blade 98 v10 is the most precise of the three, with SI3D technology reducing torsional flex on contact, and it is still the control racquet the Blade has always been, but the increased stability from the Turbo Taper makes it noticeably more forgiving than past versions, particularly on off-center contact. The Gravity Tour sits right behind the Blade in precision. Its lower-powered character means the player is always in control of where the ball goes, and for its weight, it is remarkably mobile.

Net Play and Volleys

The Gravity Tour handles well at net, repositioning quickly and rewarding touch on delicate volleys. The Blade v10 is excellent at net, with its directional accuracy and reduced frame wobble making swinging volleys feel planted and predictable. The Pure Aero 98 2026 was the biggest surprise at net. Volleying with it felt confident and easy, more so than the Aero's reputation would suggest, with the flax inserts delivering noticeably better touch than older Aero models.

Serving

The Gravity Tour shines on serve. The wide teardrop head shape makes kick serves and out-wide placement satisfying, and the 16x19 pattern adds variety that older Gravity models with their dense patterns could not provide. The Pure Aero 98 2026 is the most powerful server of the three, generating racquet head speed easily above the shoulder. The Blade 98 v10 serves with precision, excelling on flat and slice placement for players who can generate their own racquet head speed.

Who Should Play Which

HEAD Gravity Tour 2025 is the right choice for intermediate to advanced players who want comfort and control from a 98-square-inch frame. If you have dealt with arm issues in the past, the 61 RA rating lets you swing freely without second-guessing the stiffness. The teardrop head shape and open string pattern deliver spin and power that feel out of proportion to how easy the racquet is to play. Players coming from the Gravity MP who want a tighter, more precise hitting surface will find the Tour a natural step up.

Babolat Pure Aero 98 2026 fits players who want a genuine all-court weapon with tour-level spin. The comfort improvements over previous Aero models make it far more forgiving on imperfect contact than its 67 RA rating might imply. Players with arm sensitivity should demo it first.

Wilson Blade 98 v10 (16x19) is the most forgiving version of the Blade 98 Wilson has produced. The Turbo Taper adds power and stability without softening the control that defines this line, making it accessible to a wider range of advanced players than previous versions. If the Blade 98 has historically felt too demanding for your game, v10 is worth another look.

Try Them All! 

These three models represent different takes on a modern control racquet. All three are worth a demo with our Tennis Express Demo Program.