Head squash rackets

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HEAD released their 2011/2012 range of squash rackets earlier this year updating three current rackets with their technology “Innegra” and also adding a new racket into the mix. The Cyano, Neon and Argon have all been given the update and also come with different styling. The new racket is the cyrus which along with the others offers a good choice of racket for each type of player.

STATE-OF- THE-ART RACKETS FOR ANY KIND OF PLAYER!

The HEAD YouTek Innegra series of rackets has been designed to work alongside the existing ” d3o” and “teflon” helping to advance the feel of the rackets. It will enhance the player’s performance whether you are playing smooth and consistent or if you are playing powerful and aggressive as the racket can adapt using its unique characteristics. The new Innegra high performance fibre will keep the racket in the best condition so it will not lose any of its properties and eliminate vibration considerably.

HEAD has used the new d30 technology in the racket’s lay up and is positioned in the frame’s shaft. This new d30 is being classed as a ‘smart material’ mainly for its futuristic and abnormal behaviour under stress. It is a ‘dilatant foam’ which can suddenly change under load or impact and offers new opportunities for the player.

The d30 technology can sense the on impact of the ball whether it is a hard aggressive stroke in which case the racket stiffens to allow explosive power or whether a soft accurate stroke is being played resulting in the frame absorbing the impact. This is achieved by the d30 smart molecules suddenly locking together which dramatically stiffens the racket in nanoseconds.

This should result in the player getting to use maximum power for attacking and accurate slice and touch for short play at any time.

HEAD have also added Teflon grommit strips to this new range to reduce friction. On other rackets friction can occur between the strings and the grommit strip which gives some resistance and in turn reduces the power and energy of your shot. The Teflon grommit has low friction contact surface which lets the strings slide through with hardly any friction at all allowing full power in your shots. The grommit also maintains excellent tension in the strings due to the low friction which also creates a larger sweet spot.

The YouTek series still combine the revolutionary corrugated technology from the last range with its excellent benefits. It is incorporated into the shaft giving a 12% increase in stiffness optimizing torsion, power, bending and comfort on every shot.

Introducing the Innegra, the lightest high performance fibre in the world today. This revolutionary fibre although being very light is extremely tough and when married up with HEAD’S advanced carbon composite creates an ultra tough hybrid composite. The new hybrid – composite is put in place for advanced shock absorption and stability, the results show that the vibrations created on the actual ball impact can be reduced by up to 17% which is a vast improvement for the players precision and control. The main benefit is your racket will stay in the perfect position for longer so you do not lose any of the other major properties. Stability is also increased due to the ultra tough hybrid – composite making the racket more durable but not adding extra weight.

HEAD CYANO2

Specification

Weight – 115 g

Beam – 20 mm

Head Size – 500 cm2

String Pattern – 12/17

String – Evolution Pro

The new look for the cyano 2 is yellow and black with the teardrop designed head. Built to deliver power on every stroke with its head heavy balance.

HEAD NEON2

Specification

Weight – 130

Beam – 16.5 – 20 mm

Head Size – 500 cm2

Balance – 370 mm

String Pattern – 16/17

String – Evolution Pro

The Neon 2 130 is finished in red and black an is also head heavy. Designed for control but is also very powerful for a quadroshaped racket.

HEAD ARGON2

Specification

Weight – 155 g

Beam – 16.5 – 20 cm

Head Size – 460 cm2

Balance – 335 mm

String Pattern – 14/16

String – Evolution pro

The Argon 2 155 is head light and designed for control and precision, it’s also the choice of professional player Daryl Selby.

REVIEW

I am now becoming quite a fan of these rackets which seem to be well designed and feel very solid. The Cyano 115 is slightly lighter than a racket I would normally use and is very easy to move round the court, but because it is head heavy the weight is well-balanced. Although it is light I still wasn’t tempted to start flicking shots which is usually what I am tempted to do with light rackets, but because the head is that bit heavier I found I could still play my normal squash game. Once again the teardrop head shape with the open throat creates excellent power when attacking and still has a good mount of control for touch shots. I would definitely recommend this racket to an aggressive hard hitter who likes to power his or her opponent off the court. For the touch players the Argon 2 155 would be more suited with its head light design which creates more feel to your shots. I found this racket great for drop shots, controlled volleys and lobs as it gave me more accuracy. It is nowhere near as powerful as the cyano but once again it comes down to what size the player is and how strong etc, but it had enough power to attack the ball nicely and still control with slice. The Neon 2 130 is the middle of the road racket which still has the heavy head for power but the quadroshaped head for more touch and feel. This was my favourite racket as it suited my game the best, enough power and enough control and also roughly around the weight I would prefer. I was getting nice length up and down the walls, not over hitting or struggling to find the back wall and it was also good for my volley game.

After reviewing HEAD rackets for a third time I am impressed at the way they have improved over the years, maybe ten years ago I would have not even contemplated using one. The rackets were more like slingshots, full of vibration and only really built for maximum power. Now the HEAD rackets are competing with the top brands and seem to improve every season which attract more top players to use their equipment, I would certainly own a HEAD racket as they have a certain feel and balance that I personally enjoy, also they are slightly cheaper than some of the other top name brands which also a bonus.

4 stars

HEAD YouTek Innegra Cyano2 115 Squash Racket

HEAD YouTek Innegra Neon2 130 Squash Racket

HEAD YouTek Innegra Argon2 155 Squash Racket

HEAD YOUTEK INNEGRA CYANO² 115 2011

HEAD YOUTEK INNEGRA NEON² 130 2011 SQUASH RACQUET

HEAD YouTek Innegra Argon2 155 Squash Racket

head

The HEAD Microgel range of squash rackets are still widely used among club and county players. Although they have now been updated with the new range which integrated the Corrugated Technology, this range have succeeded in what they set out to achieve. Lots of power which we have come to expect from head rackets and also added control as the Microgel properties gives the rackets a rock solid feel on the ball’s impact.

The Microgel is a silicone based material which has been combined with stiff and strong carbon composite fibres which deforms and compresses on the ball’s impact. It absorbs and disperses the impact to the whole frame and then quickly reshapes again. The end result is a very responsive racket to suit the fast paced game of today.

microgel

microgelframe

Six rackets make up the HEAD Microgel range which are the – Instinct, Extreme, Fire, 125, 135, 145.

The Microgel 125, 135, 145 and Fire are pretty much the same rackets with just different weights although the balance in the 125 is slightly higher due to it being lighter. The string patterns are all the same leaving the long main strings free without a bridge in the throat for optimum power. They also have the same larger racket head area than the other rackets which gives a bigger sweet spot for better control.

HEAD Microgel 125

Specifications

Beam – 20 mm
Head Size – 500 cm 2
Weight – 125 g
Balance – 370 mm
Colours – Blue/White/Black
Grip Size – 1
String Pattern – 12/17

Head Microgel 135

microgel-135

Specifications

Beam – 20 mm
Head Size – 500 cm 2
Weight – 135 g
Balance – 335 mm
Colours – Gold/White/Black
String Pattern – 12/17

HEAD Microgel 145

microgel-145

Specifications

Beam – 20 mm
Head Size – 500 cm 2
Weight – 145 g
Balance – 335 mm
Colours – Red/White/Black
Grip Size – 1
String Pattern – 12/17

HEAD Microgel Fire

microgel-fire

Specifications

Beam – 20 mm
Head Size – 500 cm 2
Weight – 155 g
Balance – 335 mm
Colours – Red/White/Black
String Pattern – 12/17

As all the rackets were quite similar I was surprised at how much difference the weight of the rackets affected my shots. The 125 was extremely nimble and easy to maneuver from forehand to backhand but it was just a little bit too light for me. It is a nice racket but I felt on occasions I lost my shape and my footwork gets a little lazy as I start to flick the ball around the court. On the other hand the Fire was too heavy for me, once again It played well and felt solid but found I was just a little to slow at times in keeping my racket prepared for the next shot. I was most suited to the 135 and 145, just about right for shot taking and preparing quickly. The rackets in general were pleasant to use, plenty of power created from the open throat area and bags of control. HEAD rackets certainly have a unique feel and playability about them which has improved in this range. The power is still very much there but they seem more controlled and would probably appeal to more players of all standards.

I have added links below for the best deals I could find.(choose by country for better postage costs if any).

Head Microgel 125 Squash Racket

HEAD Microgel 145 Squash Racket

United States

HEAD Microgel 125 Squash Racket

HEAD MicroGEL 145 Squash Racket

The last two rackets in the range are the Microgel Instinct and the Extreme. These rackets are once again quite similar to each other apart from the weight and balance. These both have a smaller head size with a bridge in the throat area and a slightly denser string pattern.

HEAD Microgel Instinct

microgel-instinct

Specifications

Beam – 18-20 mm
Head Size – 460 cm 2
Weight – 155 g
Balance – 335 mm
Colours – Black/White
Grip Size – 1
String Pattern – 14/16

HEAD Microgel Extreme

microgel-extreme

Specifications

Beam – 18-20 mm
Head Size – 460 cm 2
Weight – 135 g
Balance – 370 mm
Colours – Black/Yellow/White
Grip Size – 1
String Pattern – 14/16

I opted just to test the Extreme as I knew the Instinct would be a little too heavy for me @155 g. The Extreme turned out to be my favourite out of the whole range. I have always preferred rackets with the bridge in the throat area as I feel this is vital for stability and control although you may lose some power. I felt much more at ease with the Extreme and could concentrate on my game rather than the racket itself. It still has great power but I really liked the the feel of it and to me it is the best all rounder. Nice weight and balance and actually felt a lot different from the first four rackets in this range, more comfortable and stable.

Once again use the links below to go to the best deals for these rackets.

Head Microgel Instinct Squash Racket

HEAD Microgel Extreme Squash Racket

United States

HEAD Microgel Instinct Squash Racket

MicroGel Extreme Squash Racket (Strung)

I enjoyed all the rackets and I feel HEAD rackets have come along way with the Microgel range. It definitely still caters for the hard hitters in the game but they are more versatile and controlled than before. With squash getting more faster and aggressive I can see why many top flight players are choosing HEAD to keep up with the pace.

head

HEAD have been designing and producing squash rackets succesfully for many years and for the 2009 season have added extra muscle into their new line. HEAD rackets are very popular and are used by many players on the world circuit. The most recent and famous being the endorsement of top Egyptian squash player and world number one Karim Darwish who has moved to HEAD as from the 1st January 2009.

Karim Darwish who became world number one in the PSA rankings in January said.

“I am very excited to become part of the HEAD family. It was an easy decision to switch brands due to the quality products that HEAD offers. I can’t wait for the upcoming tournaments to get out on the court and play with my new racket”.

karim-darwish

The six rackets in the 2009 range all have the new Corrugated Technology as an added feature for explosive power and extra stiffness. The Corrugated Technology is a new shaft designed to enhance the power, torsion, bending and handling of each individual stroke. Corrugated rails are incorporated into the racket’s shaft resulting in 12% extra stiffness than a standard conventional shaft. This new technology along with the Microgel construction will help in reaching more power and overall improvement of the players game. The Microgel construction already in place is a revolutionary silicone-based material which is combined with stiff carbon composite fibres which deforms and compresses on impact. It absorbs and disperses the ball impact to the entire frame which results in a rock solid feel which superior touch.

microgel

corrugated-shaft

corrugated-technology

The HEAD 2009 range has four new Microgel CT rackets. The Ct 130 and 150 which are basically the same racket but different weights. These rackets have the bridge in the throat and are presented in blue and silver.

HEAD CT 130

Specifications

Composite – Corrugated Technology
Beam – 18-22 mm
Head Size – 500 cm 2
Weight – 130 g
Balance – 375 mm
String Pattern – 16/17

HEAD CT 150

Specifications

Composite – Corrugated Technology
Beam -18-22 mm
Head Size – 500 cm 2
Weight – 150 g
Balance – 335 mm
String Pattern – 16/17

I had a test with both weights but preferred the 130 as it is roughly the same weight as my own racket. The racket had a good firm feel with good touch as well. Lots of power is delivered when needed yet it felt a lot more controlled than past HEAD rackets I have tested. This seemed a well balanced all round racket with a lot thought gone into how the racket feels for the players on a variety of shots rather than just trying to use extreme power on every stroke.

stars

4 Star Rating

Click on the image below to go to the cheapest deal Icould find for these rackets. (choose country for cheaper postage if any).

Click here for CT 130

Click here for CT 150

United States

HEAD 130 CT Squash Racket

HEAD 150 CT Squash Racket

The second two rackets in the CT range are the CT 115 and the CT 135, both have the tear drop head shape with no bridge in the throat. These rackets look great as you can see below.

HEAD CT 115

Specifications

Composite – Corrugated Technology
Beam – 20 mm
Head Size – 500 cm 2
Weight – 115 g
Balance – 370 mm
String Pattern – 12/17

HEAD CT 135

Specifications

Composite – Corrugated Technology
Beam – 20 mm
Head Size – 500 cm 2
Weight – 135 g
Balance – 370 mm
String Pattern – 12/17

I tested both these rackets and was very impressed with the feel and comfort. I have tested HEAD rackets in the past which emphasise totally on power and had far too much vibration and not enough touch to enhance the whole of my squash game. This is a breakthrough for HEAD in my opinion because these rackets were exceptionally comfortable to play with. There is no doubt that these were the most powerful rackets I have used so far, but with an added controlled touch which was very unexpected. The racket could take the pace off the ball for drop shots with precision or be wound up for attacking shots like a Jekyll and Hyde. If you enjoy aggressive squash or simply play lob and drop games these rackets will suit it all.

5-stars

5 Star Rating

Click on the links below to go to the cheapest deals you will find, hurry while stocks last, you’ll know why when you see the prices!

HEAD Microgel 115 CT Squash Racket

HEAD Microgel 135 CT Squash Racket

United States

HEAD 115 CT Squash Racket (Strung)

HEAD 135 CT Squash Racket

The next rackets in the range are the are the vector 155 CT which I have not tested and the Xenon 135 CT which is the the racket Karim Darwish is currently playing with.

The HEAD Vector 155 CT

vector-155

Specifications

Composite – Corrugated Technology
Beam – 18-22 mm
Head Size – 460 cm 2
Weight – 155 g
Balance – 335 mm
String Pattern – 14/16

The HEAD Xenon 135 CT

Specifications

Composite – Corrugated Technology
Beam – 18-22
Head Size – 460 cm 2
Weight – 135 g
Balance -380 mm
String Pattern – 14/16

The Head Xenon is my favourite out of this range because of its versatility and looks. Not quite as powerful as the open throat models but certainly more than I could ever need. I felt I found my range and pace very quickly, hitting nice lengths with ease and the touch control was there when using a drop shot. Once again I was impressed how good this racket was because i was expecting to be fighting with the power and over hitting or under hitting my shots. The whole feel of these rackets have changed and are all very playable, Head are keeping up with other major brands on the technology and design front which is certainly not going unnoticed.