Racquet Review: Head Extreme MP (2024)

Head Extreme MP

• Price: $269
• Head Size: 100 sq. in.
• Length: 27 in.
• Weight: 11.2 oz.
• Balance: 4 pts. HL
• Swingweight: 320
• RA Rating: 65
• Beam Width: 23mm / 26mm / 21mm
• String Pattern: 16x19

What’s New

The new Extreme MP brings some subtle, but effective updates to the frame’s easy power and spin formula. Like all other recent Head silos, Auxetic 2.0—carbon fiber construction that improves feedback at contact—has been added to give the racquet a plusher and more dependable response. The hoop has also been made firmer for better stability, which is offset by the comfort and control of its more flexible throat. Finally, a different material is used for the grommets and bumper, which improves the feel and ball sound at contact.

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What Works

Whether it’s the racquet’s eye-popping yellow cosmetic or its penchant for crunching spin-laden groundies, the Extreme MP makes an impression. It’s tailor-made to send shots high over the net and have them nosedive into the court, pushing your opponents deep behind the baseline. Or play bully ball with a barrage of deep inside-out forehands, before getting a short ball you can dispose of into the open court.

Even with its chunky beam the frame swings easily, but has just enough heft that it doesn’t get away from you. The power level for this type of bigger footprint racquet also somewhat defies expectations. You can take medium to full speed cuts, and create plenty of spin (both top and slice) to keep the ball in the court with reliable distance control. It’s rather forgiving off-center, and offers just a helping hand when backed into a corner.

The willing speed through contact is also appreciated when swinging the racquet overhead on serves. More than the frame’s makeup, the lightness in the hoop allows you to really whip it to generate pace and spin. There’s not a feeling that you need to restrain the motion in order to control it. The string bed grabs the ball nicely on kick serves and creates lots of vertical action.

The feel at contact is forgiving and comfortable given its stiffness rating. Whether it’s the additional Auxetic in the hoop, the new, clear grommet composition or a combination of both, the racquet has a fairly soft response for a racquet of its type. It’s even rather friendly around the tip of the hoop when making a defensive stab. Contact between the tip and the center of the string bed is even better, and breeds confidence when redirecting balls.

This shows up most when returning serves. For a 300g frame it holds its ground and absorbs pace well. It has enough backbone to block or chip heavy serves back with depth off a relatively short swing. And when soft second serves sit up, you can open up the shoulders for a much more forceful reply.

Even though the MP earns its boldest stripes at the baseline, it doesn’t disappoint at net. It’s extremely maneuverable (wink), and the response is perfect—enough power and feel—to work the ball offensively. Off-center hits don’t result in nasty vibration or wobble, so it really makes it attractive to be at net. As with the serves, it’s fast overhead, so smashes are point-and-shoot.

What Needs Work

Grip, rip it, put the ball on a…welcome mat? Perhaps a bit unfair since it’s not intended to be a precision instrument, but the MP works better when directing its pace and spin at larger targets. It’s just not as dependable hitting into tight windows or flattening out the ball. Same goes for trying to take pace off an incoming shot.

This plays into the feel of the frame, which could be somewhat muted to some. This is more of a case of player preference rather than the frame’s deficiency. It’s comfortable and arm-friendly, but doesn’t offer the crisper feedback often found in this type of racquet.

Similarly, depending on ability level, the frame could be a little underpowered for groundstrokes and serves, due to the lightness of the hoop. More advanced players could stand to have a little more mass towards the tip of the hoop to enhance plow-through and give slices a sharper bite. Or more power from the strings—a hybrid or soft, thinner poly—might provide the expected experience. In stock form, it should be suitable for players between the 3.0-4.0 level; with a little customizing, it could make sense for 4.0+.

Tester Comments

“Anything with topspin is great! Lobs, short angles, quick whippy ones…love them all with this racquet!”

“Plays like a stiffer racquet than the RA would indicate, but feels more flexible. Great blend of power, spin and maneuverability.”

“I think counterpunchers and doubles players would dig this stick.”

Bottom Line

The Extreme MP hangs its hat on its spin production, but this update shows it’s got more to offer. Its user-friendly demeanor and all-court versatility should appeal to a wide range of ability levels and styles.