Intro

Head looks to please beginners and fans of ultra light frames that pack spin as they bring a new line of Extreme racquets to market. The updated Graphene 360+ Extreme Lite puts the spin and power of the Extreme line into one of the lightest packages in the family. New to the line this year is Head’s revised Graphene 360+ layup. A revision of the previous Graphene 360, this new version uses Spiral fibers in the lower hoop for improved flexibility and comfort on contact. For enhanced spin and a larger sweet spot, Head employs funnel shaped Spin Grommets at the top of the hoop. Stability is improved using Spin Shaft to reduce twisting on contact. The Extreme Lite sports the same updated color scheme of light grey and vivid yellow as the rest of the Extreme series. Recently, I took this super light and fast variation of the Extreme recipe out on court. 

Groundstrokes

There was no shortage of swing speed on groundstrokes with the Extreme Lite. The relatively firm 23/26/22mm beam provided plenty of free power and pop from the baseline. With a 9.8oz strung weight and a 310 swingweight, the frame accelerated through contact incredibly quick, allowing me to apply plenty of pace to my shots. The racquet lacked the court penetration of heavier models but it definitely had the raw ball speed to prove dangerous at times. The 105 inch head size had a massive sweet spot and the power level was substantial, even off center. The Extreme Lite wasn’t the most accurate frame but I was able to hit my targets for the most part. Shorter, more compact strokes gave me the most control which made sense given the target audience of this particular model.  With a larger head size, open 16x19 pattern and the Spin grommets, spin was effortless to generate. My forehand lacked the depth I got with heavier frames but the ball still jumped off the court with a lot of rotation. I found plenty of air under my backhand and appreciated the ease with which I could add margin to my shots on that side. This frame excelled at trading loopy balls from the back court and was less adept at stepping in to flatten out mid court balls due to the lack of mass. Stability was decent for its weight but the frame struggled to hold up against big hitting. With a more head heavy balance, the Extreme Lite should have enough stability for beginners and developing juniors.

Volleys

Similar to the Extreme S, the Lite was at its best when being aggressive at net. The easy power made quick work of high balls but I had to be cautious not to overcook things. The key was keeping my volley motion short and compact and making sure I played with controlled aggression, while also not being too casual. This model was the least accurate of the Extremes I tested and I directed most volleys to big targets to keep myself out of trouble. Against power, the Lite was a bit wobbly but again, it likely will have plenty of stability for players playing against more moderate levels of pace. 

Serves

The Extreme Lite was all about speed on serve. The frame accelerated so quickly overhead that it was no problem to add plenty of pace to my serve. If anything, it took a bit of time to dial in my first serve and bring it back inside the service line. Once I found my rhythm, my first serve had plenty of speed, though it lacked a bit of the heaviness the other Extremes could create. I found body serves to be most effective with the frame as opposed to serving tightly to the side lines. My second serve had a lot of jump to it thanks to the racquet head speed and spin friendly pattern. Kick serves bounced up high and out of returner strike zones. Slice serves were less effective because of the lack of mass so I relied on getting serves above returner shoulders to keep myself out of trouble on second serve.

Feel/Comfort

Overall

Players looking for lightweight performance have not been left behind by Head. This racquet plays with lightning swing speed and massive spin potential. It also provides plenty of comfortable and reliable response during play. For beginners and players looking for a forgiving, fast frame that packs plenty of spin and power, the new Head Graphene 360+ Extreme Lite fits the bill perfectly.     

About the Reviewer: Matt Locke formerly served for 3 years as the Junior Programs & Development Coordinator for USTA-Idaho. He is a PTR certified coach and is an active USTA 4.5 League and Tournament player.