Racquet Review

Head Speed Tour 2026 Tennis Racquet Review

By Sam Jones

Verdict. The middle ground of the Speed line, and an all-court player's frame. A smaller 97 head and a headlight balance that reward touch, net play and a full swing, sitting between the lighter MP and the heavier Pro.

Tennis Express Playtest Head Speed Tour 2026 Tennis Racquet Review
At a glance

Where the Speed Tour 2026 Tennis Racquet sits

Specs

Head size97
Length27
WeightStrung 11.4 oz / 323 g
Unstrung 10.8 oz / 305 g
Balance6 Points Head Light
Beam23mm
CompositionGraphite/Graphene/HY-BOR
Flex (RA)62
GripHydrosorb Pro
Patterns 16 Mains / 19 Crosses
Mains Skip: 8T, 8H
Two Piece
No Shared Holes
Swing weight326

The Fit, On A Spectrum

ControlPower

Middle of the range, a touch control-first.

Flat-friendlySpin-friendly

16x19, but the smaller 97 head keeps it measured.

ManeuverablePlow-through

Headlight and quick, good coming forward.

Firm / CrispSoft / Comfortable

Comfortable flex, easy on the arm.

DemandingForgiving

The smaller head asks for a bit more.

Best for

Advanced and improving all-court players who found themselves between the MP and the Pro. The smaller head suits a player who comes forward and wants precision on slices, volleys and serves, while the comfortable flex keeps it easy on the arm. A good fit if you want a control-leaning Speed without the full weight of the Pro.

Skip if

Players who want a larger, more forgiving head and easy free depth. Beginners and those still grooving their strokes will get on better with the Speed MP.

The Speed Tour is the one our tester could not put down. A smaller 97 head and a headlight balance that split the difference between the MP and the Pro, and reward a player who likes to move and mix it up.

What changed for 2026

The Speed line sits in the middle of Head's range, balanced between power and control, and for 2026, Head added HY-BOR material to the graphite. It brings a little more perceived stability at contact, a more planted feel on the ball, while keeping the soft, arm-friendly flex the Speed is known for.

The Tour is the newer idea in the family. Head has long had the MP and the Pro, and the Tour slots between them at 10.8 ounces, heavier than the MP and lighter than the Pro. For a player who always felt caught between the two, that middleweight is the whole appeal.

It is also the only Speed with the smaller 97 head. The beam width matches the rest of the line, but the tighter head makes it the most precise and the most net-friendly of the three, an advantage if you like to come forward.

How it plays

Our all-court tester kept going back to the Tour. He liked its work from the baseline, and more than that, how comfortable it felt on every shot in the bag.

A frame for every shot

It handled everything our tester threw at it, from slices to serves, so cleanly that he said he might stay back more with it. The smaller head and headlight balance give it a quick, connected feel that makes shot-making easy to trust.

“I felt really comfortable hitting every shot, slices, backhands, forehands, even serves.”

Tennis Express playtester, on the Speed Tour

Sharp at the net, quick to react

The 97 head is the Tour's signature. It is more precise than the 100s in the line and quicker to swing, which pays off when you move forward and want to place a volley. If you get to the net a lot, that smaller head is an advantage rather than a compromise.

Comfort without the weight of the Pro

You still get the Speed's comfort. The soft flex and the HY-BOR stability give the Tour a steady, arm-friendly feel, and because it is lighter than the Pro, it stays easy to swing over a long match. It is a control-leaning frame that does not wear you out.

Which Speed is for you

The Tour is the middle option, lighter than the Pro and more precise than the MP. If you want the biggest, most forgiving head and the easiest swing, the Speed MP is friendlier. If you want maximum control from a heavier frame with a dense pattern, the Speed Pro is the one. The Tour is for the player who lives between them.

“I'm an all-court player, but with this racquet I might stay back more.”

Tennis Express playtester, on the Speed Tour

Who should buy it

The Tour is for advanced and improving all-court players who find themselves between the MP and the Pro. The smaller head rewards a player who comes forward and wants precision on slices, volleys, and serves, and the comfortable flex keeps it easy on the arm through a long match.

If you want a larger, more forgiving head and easy depth, the Speed MP is a better start. If you want maximum control from a heavier frame, the Speed Pro is waiting. For the in-between player, the Tour is the answer Head built for exactly that gap.