Racquet Preview: Head Speed 2022

There’s an adage in sports that you can’t teach speed. The thinking is, while it can be trained and improved, there are just some athletes who have a natural burst that can’t be duplicated with hard work. Fool’s errand or not, the obvious value of the attribute—“speed kills” being another sports maxim—incentivizes the pursuit. Whether dashing across the court, or taking a big cut at the ball, it’s better to do it fast.

That was the thinking behind Head’s Speed franchise. The aerodynamic cross-section of the Speed beam was designed to maximize swing speed and the resulting pace and spin that comes with it. For its recently-released 2022 edition of the frame, Head looks to improve the formula. Fast just got faster.

The Speed frames slot in somewhere between the precision of the Prestige and Gravity franchises and the easy power and spin of the Extreme and Boom. It fits comfortably into the modern game of baseline aggression, yet still has enough versatility to be an all-court asset. The overall playability has spurred the racquets to be some of Head’s bestsellers.

None of the specs on the new Speeds have been altered. Weight, balance, beam width, string pattern and everything else remain identical to the previous generation. The only significant change to the refresh is the addition of Auxetic: A construction design in the yoke of the racquet that promotes an all-around more solid response at contact, regardless of impact location on the string bed. It’s intended to be particularly beneficial on off-center hits. It first appeared in the new Prestige and Boom frames, and is being integrated throughout Head’s lineup.

The rest of the technologies will be familiar to previous Speed users. Graphene 360+ returns, strategically placing Graphene around the hoop for power and stability, and combining it with Spiralfibers for an improved feel. The Speed beam, pattern and enlarged power grommets are all back to help infuse shots with pace and spin.

Here’s a closer look at the specs of the four frames in the line:

The Head Speed 2022 racquets are currently available at tennis specialty retailers and head.com. Check back in the coming weeks for more detailed reviews.