Enter the world of Fine-Tuning with HEAD's new Adaptive Tuning Kit. Novak Djokovic’s racquet of choice, the HEAD Speed Graphene Touch, comes with a slue of new tricks. There are three sets of grommets varying in weight and string patterns, 3 spacer rings for adjusting beyond the standard length of 27”, by adding +0.2, 0.4, or +0.6 inches to the overall racquet. Lastly, the additional weighted end cap helps beef the racquet with +0.35 oz.

Now that you know what comes in the kit, lets talk about what this kit could do for your game. The racquet comes standard (unstrung) at 285 grams/ 10.1 oz. and at a balance of 325mm/0.7 IN HL. Of course, the kit can adjust weight, balance, and length.

If you like the 22 mm beam on the HEAD Speed racquet and would like to increase maneuverability to whip cross court shots like Novak himself, use the standard 16/19 string pattern and add the heavy end cap to push the weight to 295 grams/ 10.66 oz. and a balance of 313 mm. This combination adds maneuverability without sacrificing control.

Now, if you are an aggressive baseliner looking for more precision from all areas of the court, then switching your grommets to the heavier 16/19 (+0.5g) and adding one of the spacers (+0.2) helps achieve a more balanced weight from head to end cap. Remember that the heavier weight end cap is to remain in the racket to give the racquet the balanced swing weight. At this point with everything added, the racquet will come in at 300 grams or 10.95 oz., a balance of 324 mm, and a length of 690 mm, 5 mm over standard.

If you’re a player wanting to impose spin and power from your end of the court, then opening the string bed and increasing the weight is what you need to do with your adaptive kit. Switching to the heavier 16/16 grommet (adding +0.5g), keeping the standard length grip size, and using the heavier end cap will change from a more controlled oriented racquet to a power and spin-friendly racquet.

Some of us are in search of the racquet that can do it all. A great setup to achieve maneuverability, control, spin, and power would be the following: By changing the 16/19 grommet to the 16/16, removing the (0.2 mm) spacer, coupled with the heavier end cap, you’ll get a good balance of control and power allowing you to withstand harder-hitting players and put more action on the ball. The finished product will weigh in at 295 grams or 10.63 oz. with a balance of 319 mm. Please note that all of these configurations can be altered between string jobs. We focused on various characteristics and weights being altered but the string being used plays a very important role in the racquet's playability. String is a very personal choice. My recommendation for any of these configurations would be HEAD Velocity MLT for power and comfort or the HEAD Hawk Rough for power and spin.

Shop the Latest Collection of HEAD Speed Tennis Racquets

This blog was posted in February of 2017. Sadly, we no longer carry this product.

On January 5th, Wilson's East Coast National Account Manager, Sarah Maynard, came in to discuss the newest and coolest Wilson products. She had the Wilson Pro Staff RF97 (autographed and designed by Roger Federer,) the Wilson Blade Serena Williams 104, Wilson Amplifeel high tops, and multiple racquets infused with "Countervail technology" among a few other things.

When she said "Countervail technology" and held up the Wilson Blade SW104, you could almost hear the brain-spoken "ooos" and "ahhhs" from Holabird's tennis enthusiast-filled staff.

"Countervail? What does that even mean?" we asked collectively (again, in a brain language only audible to staff).

Sarah started... "This technology maximizes a player's energy."

Cue tennis geeking.

"I'll give you an analogy. There's a construction worker outside, working a long shift with a jackhammer. He's exhausted by the end of the day, grabs a cold one and remembers his day, fighting fatigue the entire time. Now, a different picture. The Tour de France, the winning biker, and those brutal cobblestone streets, facing that same fatigue as the man working the jackhammer, allll of those vibrations working against him. But this time, this person is prepared. Infused into his bicycle is: Countervail technology. He's able to cut down on the vibrations caused by that brutal terrain and go on to win."

Dutch champion Dylan Groenewegen rode the Bianchi Oltre XR4, with Countervail vibration-canceling technology.

Countervail® can be tailored to balance stiffness, strength and damping performance that outperform constructions using traditional approaches, so it was the perfect choice for Wilson's Blade and Burn families

A study by the University of Minnesota School of Kinesiology found that players using Countervail had:

• 40% more control over shots when nearing exhaustion

• 30% less racquet vibration

• 10% less fatigue, meaning players were able to hit 10% more shots

The Department of Defense and the aerospace industry also use Countervail as it increases energy efficiency during movement in extreme conditions. So, basically, Countervail technology helps us fly into space and defend our country. Wilson wanted in. Milos Raonic switched to Wilson's Countervail racquets and says he's "never felt stronger in the biggest moments of matches since [he] started using Countervail- it's helped [him] save energy without compromising feel." His average speed of his 5th set first serves during Wimbledon victories against David Goffin and Roger Federer using Countervail? 131 miles per hour. The amount of 5 set wins in 2016 (already matching his career total) using this new tech? 4.Amount of arm sleeves he needs now? 0.Milos is currently ranked number six, eight spots better since the transition. Shop the entire raquet line. Have any more questions? Reach out! Or comment below.

Shop Countervail Racquets at Holabird Sports!