HEAD Speed 2022: What's new?
With the new HEAD Speed series, one of the most popular tennis racket models gets a complete redesign, revised model names, and the new Auxetic Technology. But is it really worth the switch?
New Model Names
The first major difference from the previous series concerns the naming convention. The Pro, MP, and MP Lite models remain. The former Speed S is now called Speed Team, and the previous Speed Lite becomes the Speed Team L.
At a glance
• Speed S → Speed Team
• Speed Lite → Speed Team L
• Pro, MP and MP Lite remain unchanged.
New Design and Novak Djokovic
At first glance, the new design is particularly striking. The white elegance of the previous generation gives way to a black finish with copper and white accents. Novak Djokovic, the long-standing face of the HEAD Speed series, continues to be featured on the cover.
His sporting successes are undeniable, and the tennis world is hard to imagine without him. At the same time, his events surrounding his trip to Australia at the beginning of 2022 made headlines and sparked controversial discussions worldwide.
This was partly noticeable in sales. Statements like "I really like the bag, but is it available without Djokovic's signature?" we heard regularly at the time. This shows what influence brand ambassadors can have on purchasing decisions.
How popular Djokovic is depends heavily on the respective country. While he is considered a national hero in Serbia, he polarises much more strongly in Switzerland, for example. Especially in a country that has produced its own tennis hero in Roger Federer.
What do you think?
Does a brand ambassador influence whether you buy a product or not? Feel free to share your opinion with us.
The new Auxetic Technology
Back to the racket. The most important technical innovation is the Auxetic Technology. According to HEAD, Auxetic constructions possess special material properties: they react to stress by changing their structure, thereby providing a more direct feel for the game.
Upon ball contact, the material contracts, providing more control. At the same time, vibrations are better absorbed, making the hitting sensation feel more pleasant and comfortable.
The advantages of Auxetic Technology
✓ More control on ball contact
✓ Improved vibration dampening
✓ More comfortable feel
✓ More direct feedback at the point of contact
Our Conclusion
In my opinion, the improvement over the predecessor is noticeable. The racket plays more comfortably, and the sweet spot feels larger than in the previous generation.
The previous model was already one of the most popular performance rackets on the market. It was therefore even more difficult to improve it further. In my opinion, HEAD has succeeded in doing so with the new Speed Series.
Test HEAD Speed yourself
Are you unsure which model of the HEAD Speed series best suits your game? We would be happy to advise you personally or arrange a test racket.
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