Head Gravity Pro Racket Review

Over the last year or so, I’ve gotten into the habit of using the demo program on Tennis Warehouse.

The model is simple, reminiscent of the video store model of old: once you select your rackets, they’re shipped to you, and then you have one week to demo before it’s on you to send them back. (For every day past the 1-week timeline, TW charges a $10 fee.)

In my most recent batch of demos, I haphazardly tossed the Head Gravity Pro into my virtual shopping cart. My expectations were low, most likely because it’s a stick you don’t see much around public courts, and it isn’t as prominent on the pro tour compared to other Head products.

Since that initial demo, I bought a Gravity Pro of my own and am a true advocate for this racket.

As someone who has played with the Prestige as my primary racket in the past (the Microgel line) and tested multiple iterations of the Radical, Extreme, Speed, and Boom, for me, the Gravity Pro has unseated all of the other Head rackets I’ve tried.

In this review, I’ll give you a brief history of the product, my initial impressions of the racket, the physical specifications, how the racket plays on the court, and who might be its ideal consumer. In the name of Andrey Rublev’s forehand, let’s proceed.

Launch & Use On the Pro Tour

The Gravity series launched in 2019 as a brand new line for Head. The initial launch video boasted the Graphene 360+ technology that incorporated “innovative spiral fibres for enhanced flex and a clean impact feel.”

The initial line included five rackets, all at varying weights (10.1 to 11.7 oz), string patterns (18×20 and 16×20), and head sizes (100 to 104 square inches).

Alexander Zverev and Ashleigh Barty became immediate endorsers of the series, shedding their association with the Head Speed line. Andrey Rublev would later switch to the Gravity in 2021, dropping his affiliation with the Wilson Six One 95 pro stock. 

Jule Niemeier, Wimbledon 2022 quarterfinalist, now also endorses the Gravity. Few other pros have adopted the racket since then, with the Speed and Radical being the most popular on tour. But in the doldrums of the Tennis Warehouse forums, I’ve heard rumours that Nikoloz Basilashvili uses a pro stock version of the Gravity Pro frame, like Zverev and Rublev, with the Speed Black paint job.

Cosmetics

The Gravity Pro has arguably one of the boldest and most unique cosmetic designs of any racket on the market. In 2021, Head revealed an updated aesthetic featuring a neon gradient – purple blossoms into blue on one side and yellow into green on the other. Sort of like a fishing lure flashing underwater.

Like the Head Boom, the Gravity mould features an even more pronounced teardrop-shaped hoop. The style might not be for everyone, but I find it practically designed and visually pleasing.

Specification

GET THE HEAD GRAVITY PRO

The Gravity Pro string bed runs 18 by 20 with a head size of 100 square inches. The strung weight is 11.7 ounces.

I’ve been playing with multiple variations of the Babolat Pure Strike and the Wilson Blade v7 for the last five years, which run at 11.4 ounces strung with a 16 by 19 string bed, so I was curious to see how this new setup would play.

I had the racket strung at my local tennis shop with Head Lynx Tour at 52 pounds. While I’ve been playing with 56 lbs for the last five years, I’ve been experimenting with dropping tension.

Listed below are the full specs of the racket. One stat to note, this racket is on the flexible side with a rating of 62, in line with the Wilson Blade v7. Supposedly this increased flexibility is driven by the carbon fibre structure in the throat.

Head Gravity Pro	Specification
Head Size	100 in / 645.16 cm
Length	27in / 68.58cm
Strung Weight	11.7oz / 332g
Balance	12.75in / 32.39cm / 6 pts HL
Swingweight	332
Stiffness	62
Beam Width	20mm / 20mm / 20mm
Composition	Graphene 360+/Graphite
Power Level	Low
Stroke Style	Full
Swing Speed	Fast
Racquet Colors	Black/Yellow/Purple
Grip Type	Head Hydrosorb Pro
String Pattern	18 Mains / 20 Crosses
Mains skip	8T,10T,8H,10H
String Tension	48-57 pounds

Head Gravity Pro Playtest

Groundstrokes

During my initial hit with the Gravity Pro, I was surprised by its sleekness, feel and control. The frame is thin, 20 mm all around, so the racket truly cuts through the air and allows the player to access high racket head speed.

The teardrop frame shape was a quickly noticeable feature as well. Especially at 100 square inches, this racket’s forgiving and sizable sweet spot feels like a cheat code. Never before had I thought I could consistently hit precise and deep shots.

The 18 by 20 string bed adds the perfect complement to the frame shape and size. This tighter setup provides an element of control that reinforces your ability to take confident cuts at the ball.

With a 98-square-inch racket, I would typically feel that an 18 by 20 string bed doesn’t offer me enough easy access to spin. This is not the case with the Gravity Pro – despite the tight string bed, I still felt the racket gripping the ball well.

Nonetheless, the Gravity Pro does force the player to deploy heavy racket head speed to hit a powerful shot. If you let up, you’ll see groundstrokes come up short. This, to me, is a fair price to pay for that sleek feel and control l you get in return.

Serving

It doesn’t take long to tell if a new racket suits your serve. With the Gravity Pro, the first few serves registered as smooth and controlled. Once again, the aerodynamics of the thin frame promotes a quick service motion.

I primarily hit the kick, and slice serves, which I think align well with the make-up of the Gravity Pro. As with the groundstrokes, the bigger, friendlier head size with the teardrop provides more significant territory for the ball to brush against, creating a forgiving feel.

Throughout a three-set match, the weight of the Gravity Pro might wear on a player, making it more challenging to hit aggressive serves consistently. Personally, keeping the string tension in the low 50s to high 40s (in pounds) helps ease that burden.

Returning

When playing with the Babolat Pure Strike in the past, a much stiffer and more power-centric racket than the Gravity Pro, I could drive aggressive returns but struggled to direct the ball, especially with the cross-court backhand.

With the Gravity Pro, my returns felt precise and accurate. I played the ad side in a doubles set and consistently struck crisp cross-court backhand returns.

If there’s any shortcoming here, the Gravity Pro sometimes feels unstable when up against bigger, flatter serves.

Volleys

The aerodynamic feel and tight string bed pay off on the volley side. The Gravity Pro seems to be reliable at the net and allows for accurate placement of the ball.

In the context of net play, the thin frame makes this heavier racket more manoeuvrable than expected. However, it still feels slightly heavier in the hand when you’re reacting quickly at the net to powerful shots.

And if the ball strikes the racket outside the sweet spot, the stability of the racket can break down, making it seem flimsy. You’ll know when this happens because you’ll feel the ugly vibrations of the racket.

Again, you might have to be more deliberate and conscious of the power you put behind the ball to ensure depth in your shots.

The Ideal Customer

For all of my compliments for the Gravity Pro, I wouldn’t say this is a racket built for the masses. One man’s tighter string bed is another man’s trash. The same goes for the heavier weight, the larger head size, and the emphasis on flexibility.

Intermediate or advanced players who want a racket that provides power through a stiff frame and enables spin through open string beds will not find the Gravity Pro to their liking. This racket leaves both power and spin to the player.

The Gravity Pro is ideal for advanced all-court players who prioritize control, feel, and reliability. I could also see a case for selecting this racket for intermediate players who prefer a heavier frame and hit flatter groundstrokes.

Parting Thoughts

More than maybe any other racket from the top racket brands, the Gravity Pro flies under the radar as a high-quality piece of tennis equipment.

Perhaps it’s because only a select few pro tour players endorse the racket, leading to its lack of popularity among recreational and competitive tennis players.

This racket is a wonderful blend of precision, control, feel, and heft made possible by an expansive string bed and sweet spot combined with a flexible and aerodynamic frame.

If you’re an advanced and competitive player inclined to use heavier frames that prioritize accuracy or a current user of a stiffer frame who’s willing to explore something new, take a whack at the Gravity Pro.

Pros

Cons

Have you tried the Gravity Pro or any other rackets in the Gravity lineup? Do you have any questions about it? Let me know in the comments.