HEAD Speed TOUR 2026

On court: precision, soft feel, quick preparation

Control starts with head size. At 97 in², the TOUR is smaller than the 100 in² MP and PRO, and its shorter strings make the stringbed respond more firmly, so the ball leaves on a more consistent line. Tennis Warehouse rates the power level Low-Medium and pairs it with medium-full strokes and medium-fast swing speeds. The racquet does not launch the ball for you, so you can swing freely without watching it sail past the baseline. It is a tool that transfers the pace you create, accurately.

The feel is soft and clear. 61 RA is flexible, and Tennis Warehouse says the sub-64 stiffness gives good ball feedback. HEAD adds Hy-Bor, compression-resistant boron fibers in the shaft, for a more stable, connected feel through impact; Auxetic 2 returns in the yoke and handle to refine feel and response; and Graphene Inside reinforces key areas. The beam is 23 mm all the way around, so the frame does not rely on a bulging cross-section for its pop.

The balance between stability and handling is the frame's quiet strength. Tennis Warehouse calls the 325 swingweight stable without feeling sluggish. Swingweight describes both how much effort it takes to swing the racquet and how firmly it resists the ball at contact. The TOUR gets into position slightly faster than the 329 MP, while its 323 g still blocks pace well. You will feel the difference on reflex volleys and on returns.

Spin is there too: Tennis Warehouse describes spin and power as accessible from the 16×19 pattern. A smaller head is, however, less forgiving away from the center. If depth disappears on running forehands or high backhands, where contact tends to drift, decide in your demo whether the reward on clean hits outweighs that cost.

Strings and tension: go a little softer in a small head

The recommended range is 48–57 lb, and Tennis Warehouse lists 53 lb as optimal. Full-swing baseliners can start with HEAD Lynx Tour, a hexagonal polyester, in 1.25 mm at around 52 lb. A small head has shorter strings, so the same tension tends to feel firmer than in a 100. If balls land short or impact feels harsh, drop 2 lb; if they fly long, go up.

To make the most of the flexible frame, try a round polyester such as HEAD Hawk Touch (1.15–1.30 mm), or a hybrid with Babolat Touch VS natural gut in the mains and polyester in the crosses. Gut mains bring pocketing and comfort; poly crosses add direction and durability. If your arm is sensitive, a full bed of HEAD Velocity MLT, a multifilament in 1.25 or 1.30 mm, works well. Softer strings generally add power and comfort and give up some control, a trade that costs little on a frame with this much control built in.

Tell your stringer: two pieces, no shared holes, mains skip 8T and 8H. Customize carefully. Lead in the hoop raises swingweight quickly and blunts the fast preparation that sets this frame apart; if you want more mass, add it toward the handle first, where it raises swingweight far less. Polyester loses tension quickly, so when balls start flying long and spin fades, it is time to restring.

Choosing within the line: MP, PRO and the lighter models

The frame it is most often compared with is the MP. HEAD lists the Speed MP 2026 at 100 in², 300 g, 320 mm and 16×19; Tennis Warehouse measures 318 g, a 329 swingweight and 60 RA. Lighter than the TOUR but heavier toward the head, it actually swings heavier, and its larger head rescues off-center balls better. The Speed PRO 2026 pairs a 100 in² head with an 18×20 pattern, 310 g and 310 mm; Tennis Warehouse measures 326 g, a 328 swingweight and 61 RA. The TOUR finds its control through a smaller head, the PRO through a denser pattern. Choose the TOUR for precision while keeping spin and swing speed; choose the PRO for a lower, straighter flight from a bigger head.

If 305 g is too much, the Speed MP L 2026 (100 in², 285 g, 325 mm) keeps the same pattern and beam, and for more help the Speed TEAM 2026 offers a 105 in² head at 270 g.