Racquet Review: Head Gravity Tour 2025

Head Gravity Tour 2025

• Price: $269
• Head Size: 98 sq. in.
• Length: 27 in.
• Weight: 11.4 oz.
• Balance: 4 pts. HL
• Swingweight: 328
• RA Rating: 59
• Beam Width: 22 mm
• String Pattern: 16x19

What’s New

The Head Gravity Tour underwent a significant overhaul. The head size was shrunk from 100 to 98 square inches, while the string pattern was opened up to a more spin-friendly 16x19 setup. Additionally, Auxetic 2.0—a staple in all of Head’s new releases—expands the carbon fiber construction into added parts of the frame. Along with the yoke piece, it now occupies space at the end of the handle. It helps create a more uniform and pleasing response at contact, regardless of impact location on the string bed.

What Works

Few racquets coming out this year carry the hype of the Gravity Tour. In theory, the updated design is intended to take the great feel and large sweet spot the line is known for, and condense it into a predictable, spin-friendly 98 square-inch head. This change in dimensions and promise of enhanced playability—Head has positioned it as a challenger to the ultra-popular Wilson Blade 98—has both players and social media abuzz. The slick new cosmetic only adds to the thirst.

In action, the Tour possesses some serious baseline chops. The teardrop head shape and wide string pattern naturally produce a high launch angle with the potential for ample topspin and finishing power. Depending on what you’re currently playing with, it could take some adjustment to rein in your shots. But once you find the range the racquet produces a bully ball that’s relatively dependable to direct and a handful to return. Head may want to put the Tour up against the Blade, but the Yonex VCORE 98 or Babolat Aero 98 might be more appropriate comps.

Read More: Alexander Zverev must elevate his game when it most counts—and keep it there

The topspin generation and heaviness of shot are quite apparent when compared to racquets that generate more linear trajectories. I put the Tour in the hands of a frequent playing partner who plays with an 18x20 frame and the flightpaths of his shots took on a much more severe arc. His forehand became particularly obnoxious, adopting a last-second nosedive deep into the court. It’s one of those racquets that performs better when you go after the ball, rather than just rolling or finessing it. After a few ground stroke games I had to take the racquet away from him.

Similarly, serves bring a lot of mph and aggression to the start of points. Hard slices and kickers with purpose fair take violent turns off the court to force weak replies. Serve +1 tactics are the divine spark of the modern baseline game and this racquet thrives in those scenarios. Beat an opponent with pace or placement, then crank a forehand into the open court.

A quirk of the frame is when you do step on the accelerator to make an impression, it makes a distinctive whistling sound. It’s unclear if it’s because of the new half-cap grommets or some other design element. Your mileage may vary on whether the noise adds or detracts.

The feel of the Tour is somewhat unique. It has a very low RA rating—a few points lower than the outgoing model—but doesn’t react that way at contact. The flex is predominantly in the throat which helps soften impact and bolster control, but the concentration of mass in the hoop gives it a firmer than expected response. It’s certainly comfortable, but not in line with what one might expect from that stiffness score or the franchise.

Accordingly, it’s a bit of a compromise at net. It’s stable and predictable enough for requisite volleying needs, including decent touch, but it doesn’t add much to the proceedings. It’s more in its element conducting business on the baseline and then moving forward to net to mop up a trouble-free floater with a forceful punch into the open court.

What Needs Work

Because of the frame’s higher launch angle and predilection for spin, hitting hard and flat can be a bit tricky. It’s not out of the question, but shouldn’t be a major part of the repertoire. Players with more conservative grips and linear swing paths may struggle to keep their shots inside the lines.

The concentration of mass in the teardrop hoop delivers power and stability, but can make the racquet a little challenging to accelerate. It’s most apparent when attempting to cut, roll, or pick up the ball from weaker positions. Returning serve is another area, as the higher launch makes blocking the ball back risky, and you need to take a fuller swing to provide coverage over the shot. It’s generally not an issue at net, although quick exchanges could be a test.

Although not necessarily a shortcoming, the brawny performance may not be what some were expecting from this frame. It’s not a quicker Pro model with a more open string pattern. If you were hitting a blacked-out version, you may not guess it’s a Gravity. That said, while several testers don’t think the Tour supplies the plush feel or all-court precision they were hoping for, it’s performance in competition is nonetheless highly effective.

Tester Comments

“I found I could really thump the ball, and despite the pocketing and launch from the stringbed, the ball still stayed in the court.”

“It feels more like a battering ram—albeit a good one—than a scalpel."

“It seems more like a cousin than a brother to the rest of the line.”

Bottom Line

The Gravity Tour has been transformed. Players in the market for a potent 98 should definitely add it to their demo list.