Executive Summary
The Head Extreme MP occupies the most power-oriented position in Head's lineup — above the Speed Pro in raw pace output, and fundamentally different in character from the control-focused Prestige family. It is Head's dedicated weapon for players who want to attack from the baseline with heavy topspin and explosive pace.
Key Characteristic: The Extreme's defining technology is Auxetic geometry — grommets engineered to expand and change shape during ball impact rather than constraining string movement. The result is an enhanced sweet spot that behaves as though the frame is larger than its nominal 100 sq in. The auxetic grommets also reduce string bed stiffness at impact, adding feel to what would otherwise be a relatively powerful frame.
Key Positioning: At ~70–71 RA, the Extreme MP is among the stiffer frames in the Head lineup (comparable to the Pure Drive, softer than some Wilson iterations). However, Auxetic technology and Graphene 360+ carbon construction moderate the feel. Players come to the Extreme from the Aero family wanting more Head-brand identity, or from the Speed family wanting more power and topspin character.
Performance Profile
The Extreme Tour's denser 18x20 pattern provides greater directional control and precision. The Extreme MP's 16x19 pattern delivers more natural spin and a larger, more forgiving sweet spot — the dominant choice on tour.
Performance Comparison: Extreme Models
Extreme Tour leads in control and stability · Extreme MP leads in spin and maneuverability
On-Court Playtest
We took the Head Extreme MP through a full hitting session strung with a spin poly in the low 50s. Here's how Head's spin platform plays, shot by shot.
Groundstrokes
Off the ground the Extreme MP is a spin-and-power frame: the 100 sq in head and spin-friendly pattern launch a high, heavy ball with easy depth, and there is more raw pop on tap than the more neutral Speed. It rewards a fast, brushing swing with heavy topspin and good net clearance, making it a strong fit for aggressive, spin-oriented baseliners.
Serve
Serving is easy and spin-friendly: the frame accelerates well, kick and slice bite, and flat serves get free pace from the power platform.
Volleys & Net
At net the 100 sq in head is forgiving and stable, punching volleys deep with little effort. The feel is solid and modern rather than delicate.
Return & Defence
On the return the spin access lets you swing out and bring the ball down; on defence the easy spin and depth help you reset with heavy, looping balls. It is stable enough for its weight against pace.
Comfort & Feel
Head's Auxetic construction gives a cleaner, more connected feel than older Extremes, and comfort is reasonable for a power-spin frame. String a soft poly at a sensible tension for the best comfort and spin balance.
Pros & Cons
The quick scannable summary of what we liked — and what to be aware of.
Pros
- Heavy topspin with easy power and depth
- Forgiving, stable 100 sq in sweet spot
- More raw pop than the more neutral Head Speed
- Spin-friendly serves and aggressive baseline play
- Cleaner, more connected feel from Auxetic construction
Cons
- Less pinpoint control than a dedicated control frame
- Power-and-spin bias can launch long until you brush up
- Solid, modern feel rather than soft and flexible
- Rewards fast swings; less suited to compact strokes
Model Context
The Extreme family covers three distinct approaches: the control-dense Tour, the all-round MP, and the heavier Pro spec. All share the Auxetic grommet system and Graphene 360+ platform.
Extreme Tour
The precision-oriented Extreme. Smaller head and denser 18x20 pattern deliver maximum directional control from the Extreme platform. Preferred by advanced players who want the Extreme's power identity paired with tour-level precision. Requires good technique to generate topspin from the dense pattern.
Extreme MP
The tour favourite. Open 16x19 pattern and Auxetic grommet expansion produce a large, forgiving sweet spot with excellent natural topspin. The MP is the Extreme family's best combination of power, spin and accessibility. Berrettini, Cerundolo and Krejcikova all choose this spec — testament to its all-round capability.
Extreme Pro
A heavier version of the Extreme MP. The additional 10g raises swingweight and plow-through, adding stability against heavy incoming balls. Preferred by physically strong players who want the MP's feel and spin profile with improved performance against the hardest serves and groundstrokes at tour level.
Technical Must-Knows
Who Plays With This?
The Extreme MP has grown significantly in tour adoption over the past three years. Its combination of power, spin and the Auxetic grommet's enhanced feel has attracted multiple top-100 players who previously used other Head models or competitors.
The Italian powerhouse's flat, heavy-hitting serve-and-groundstroke game is perfectly served by the Extreme MP's explosive power platform. Uses Signum Pro Firestorm 1.30mm — a thick-gauge co-poly that adds directional control to Berrettini's large-scale strokes and amplifies the Extreme's already powerful output into controlled, penetrating groundstrokes.
Cerundolo's topspin-heavy, aggressive baseline style benefits from the Extreme MP's spin and power combination. Uses Head Hawk Touch 1.25mm — the Head ecosystem co-poly known for its touch and feel component that complements the Auxetic grommet's feel enhancement. An example of pairing a feel-oriented string with a power frame to achieve balance.
The Grand Slam champion and creative all-court player uses the Extreme MP with Head Lynx Tour 1.25mm — a spin-oriented co-poly from the Head string family. Krejcikova's game mixes heavy topspin baseline play with net approaches and volleys; the Extreme MP's power identity powers her aggressive groundstrokes while the Lynx Tour adds spin precision.
String Setup Guide
The Extreme MP's stiff beam and Auxetic grommets interact distinctively with string tension. The grommets' expansion behaviour makes low-to-moderate tensions especially effective — high tension partially negates the Auxetic effect by restricting grommet expansion. Reference range (Extreme MP): 50–62 lbs (22.7–28.1 kg).
Quick Start (Most Players)
- Start point (medium poly, 1.25mm, full bed): 53–56 lbs (24–25.4 kg) — moderate tension to allow Auxetic grommets to flex freely and provide their sweet spot benefit.
- For more spin: Drop 2–3 lbs or try a shaped poly (Solinco Hyper-G, Head Hawk). The 16x19's open pattern benefits significantly from shaped string snapback at lower tensions.
- If the ball is flying long: Add 2 lbs rather than 3+. The Extreme's power is partly structural — large tension increases reduce feel without proportionally reducing power.
- For arm comfort: Drop to 51–54 lbs and use Head Hawk Touch or a soft co-poly. The ~71 RA stiffness at high tension is arm-demanding; moderate tension with a soft poly maintains the frame's Auxetic feel advantage.
- Thick gauge (1.30mm, like Berrettini): Reduces snapback and spin output but improves directional control for high-pace flat strokes. Suitable for big hitters who don't need additional spin assistance.
Pro Reference
| Player | String | Tension | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matteo Berrettini | Signum Pro Firestorm 1.30mm | ~55 lbs | Thick gauge for flat power control |
| Juan Manuel Cerundolo | Head Hawk Touch 1.25mm | ~53 lbs | Feel-oriented Head ecosystem pairing |
| Barbora Krejcikova | Head Lynx Tour 1.25mm | ~52 lbs | Spin-focused Head ecosystem string |
Top 3 String Recommendations
Best for: Amplifying the Auxetic grommet's feel advantage — Cerundolo's choice and the Head ecosystem natural pairing.
Hawk Touch's softer, elastic co-poly formula pairs exceptionally well with the Extreme MP's Auxetic grommets. Where standard polys at high tension restrict grommet expansion, Hawk Touch at moderate tension allows the Auxetic system to operate optimally — producing a frame that feels noticeably softer and more responsive than its RA rating suggests. The combination delivers excellent spin, good feel and solid control without the harsh edge that stiffer strings can produce in the ~71 RA Extreme frame.
Best for: Players wanting maximum spin production from the Extreme MP's 16x19 pattern — Krejcikova's choice.
Lynx Tour's pentagonal cross-section provides aggressive bite at contact, working with the Extreme's 16x19 pattern to produce significant topspin. In the Extreme MP, where the stiffer beam already generates pace, Lynx Tour's spin addition helps players control ball trajectory and keep heavy groundstrokes within the court. At 50–54 lbs, the Auxetic grommets function freely and Lynx Tour's snapback is maximised — the ideal all-court setup for heavy topspin players.
Best for: Big hitters (like Berrettini) who want maximum directional precision over spin output from the Extreme MP.
Firestorm's thick 1.30mm gauge reduces string snapback and spin contribution — shifting the Extreme MP's character toward flat, penetrating power rather than heavy topspin. The combination produces one of the most explosive flat-hitting setups available, well-matched to Berrettini's serve-dominant, flat-driving style. Players who generate their own pace and want surgical directional control will find Firestorm in the Extreme MP delivers exactly that — at the cost of some spin production and added arm stress from the thick gauge.
Full Specifications
| Specification | Extreme Tour | Extreme MP | Extreme Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head Size | 98 sq in (632 cm²) | 100 sq in (645 cm²) | 100 sq in (645 cm²) |
| Weight (Unstrung) | 305g / 10.8oz | 300g / 10.6oz | 310g / 10.9oz |
| Length | 27 in | 27 in | 27 in |
| Balance | ~317mm / 6–7 pts HL | ~320mm / 5–6 pts HL | ~318mm / 5–6 pts HL |
| String Pattern | 18x20 (control-dense) | 16x19 (open, spin) | 16x19 |
| Stiffness (RA) | ~70 | ~70–71 | ~70–71 |
| Swingweight | ~318–326 | ~315–322 | ~325–333 |
| Beam Width | 23–26mm | 23–26mm | 23–26mm |
| Technology | Auxetic + Graphene 360+ | Auxetic + Graphene 360+ | Auxetic + Graphene 360+ |
| Target Player | Advanced (4.5+) | Intermediate–Advanced | Advanced (4.5+) |
Our Verdict
The Extreme MP is Head's spin-and-power frame — heavy topspin and easy depth from a forgiving 100 sq in platform, with more raw pop than the Speed.
It's the frame we'd recommend to aggressive, spin-oriented intermediate-to-advanced baseliners who want easy power and heavy topspin in one package. You give up some pinpoint control to the power-spin bias, but for a modern, spin-heavy baseline game it is a forgiving, potent choice. If you want a more neutral all-court feel choose the Speed; for pure control look to the Prestige or Radical Pro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Head Extreme MP good for beginners?
The Extreme MP (100 sq in) is reasonably forgiving and accessible, but it is tuned for intermediate-to-advanced players who can swing fast to unlock its spin. Improvers can enjoy it; outright beginners may prefer a lighter, more purely forgiving frame first.
Head Extreme MP vs Head Speed — which should I buy?
Choose the Extreme MP if you want more spin and more raw power for an aggressive topspin baseline game. Choose the Head Speed if you want a more neutral, all-court, slightly more control-oriented feel. The Extreme is the spin-and-power option; the Speed is the do-everything option.
Is the Head Extreme MP arm-friendly?
It is reasonably comfortable for a power-spin frame thanks to Head's Auxetic construction, which gives a cleaner, less jarring response. For sensitive arms, string a soft polyester at a lower tension or use a hybrid rather than a firm poly at high tension.
What string and tension is best for the Head Extreme MP?
A spin-oriented co-polyester in the low 50s lbs is the best all-round starting point. Use a shaped poly to maximise spin, drop tension or add multifilament crosses for comfort, and go a touch tighter for control if the ball flies long.
Does the Head Extreme MP produce a lot of spin?
Yes. The Extreme line is Head's spin-focused platform, and the MP's head shape and pattern generate a high, heavy, dipping ball. Paired with a shaped poly and a fast swing it produces heavy topspin.
Is the Head Extreme MP a spin or power racquet?
It is a spin-and-power frame: built to maximise topspin and a high, arcing ball while still delivering easy depth and pace. It sits above the more neutral Speed in raw power and spin, and below dedicated control frames in precision.