- Key-Takeaways about the Gravity 2023
- First Gravity with new Auxetic technology
- Successful update to the old version, especially the MP & Tour
- Pro variant is a very good off the shelf choice for ranked players
Table of Contents
What’s new with the Gravity 2023?
The biggest change to the Gravity Auxetic 2023, as evident in the name, is the new Auxetic technology. This is not a new material, however, but a new way in which the structure of the racket behaves at impact. More on this below under technologies.
However, the frame itself is not new, so no new “mold”. There’s not much wrong with the previous model either, so it doesn’t make sense for HEAD to make any major changes here yet.
Other new technologies, which have much less influence on the performance of the Gravity, are Elliptical Beam and Flex Groove.
| Technologies | Gravity 2023 | Gravity 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Auxetic | ✓ | ✘ |
| Graphene | ✓ | ✓ |
| Elliptical Beam | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sweet Zone | ✓ | ✘ |
| Flex Groove | ✓ | ✘ |
HEAD Gravity 2023
What’s a “Gravity”?
The Gravity has been released by Austrian racket company HEAD in 2019 (I was at the shoot for the teasers).
After the Gravity, HEAD has so far only introduced the Boom as a new series.
The special thing about the Gravity is the unconventional club head shape, which resembles a teardrop and is therefore also called “teardrop”. This design lets you hit more balls in the sweet spot. More on this later.
After the release of the Gravity, we saw the racket on the major center courts of the world in the hands of Zverev and Rublev, who still play the Gravity (paintjob) to this day.
The second version of the Gravity was released in March 2021. The new Gravity Auxetic 2023 is therefore the third version.
Technologies in the Gravity Auxetic 2023
Here are all the technologies in the HEAD Gravity Auxetic explained in an easy to understand way:
Auxetic
How does Auxetic work?
Auxetic technology causes the fibers in the frame to expand and contract in a specific way upon impact.
One of the two engineers behind the new Gravity and many other HEAD racquets, Stefan Mohr, gave this model to Tennisnerd for display:
What does Auxetic offer me?
Auxetic gives the racket a much more stable feel at impact. The point of impact also comes across much crisper.
I should mention, however, that Auxetic doesn’t feel as good in the Prestige, for example, as it does in the Gravity or Speed. Maybe that’s because the Prestige is already “touchy” enough.
Elliptical Beam
How does Elliptical Beam work?
The frame is build in a special way which makes it deform even more on impact.
What’s the benefit of Elliptical Beam?
Like all Gravity technologies, Elliptical Beam makes the frame softer and more forgiving. This brings you more control and a healthy arm.
Flex Groove
How does Flex Groove work?
I’ve been searching for an hour for a reasonable explanation of this technology, and the only thing I’ve found on all the websites is the same copy-paste text: “The deeper flex notch provides a softer cross-sectional geometry in the shoulder section for a better point of impact.”
WTF?
After a bit of research and some help from Reddit, I found out what Flex Groove is:
Less material has been used in the racket heart thanks to a new type of application. This makes the Gravity significantly more flexible in this area. This new way of manufacturing the racket heart is then called “Flex Groove”.
What does Flex Groove do for me?
A softer racket, i.e. with a lower RA value, as has been the case with all Gravitys so far, deforms more at the point of impact. This means that the power transmission is lower, but the control increases considerably.
So Flex Groove helps make the Gravity a control-oriented racquet that you can use to put the ball in the field sometimes.
Sweet Zone
How does Sweet Zone work?
The Sweet Zone is simply the name of the “tear-shaped” head shape of the Gravity. Of course, Sweet Zone sounds much better from a marketing point of view.
This special head shape doesn’t increase the sweet spot of the club, but it doesn’t have to. The teardrop shape moves the sweet spot up a few inches.
HEAD has found out that players usually hit the ball higher up, more towards the end of the longitudinal strings.
What does Sweet Zone do for me?
The increased sweet spot gives you a greater chance of hitting the ball with maximum power transfer. So you no longer have to hit every ball perfectly in the middle, but can also be human for a change.
Graphene Inside
How does Graphene Inside work?
Graphene is a material that has been used in HEAD rackets for ages. It’s basically twisted fibers placed in the head and shaft of the racket to make it more flexible. The technology used to be called Graphene, then Graphene 360, then Graphene 360+ and now just “Graphene Inside”.
What are the benefits of Graphene Inside?
Similar to Flex Groove, the material Graphene makes the racket softer and gives you much more control over your shots. Graphene dampens the impact of ball and racket and is therefore gentle on the arm.
Variants
You can buy the Gravity Auxetic in the following variants:
- Gravity PRO 2023
- Gravity TOUR 2023
- Gravity MP 2023
- Gravity MP L 2023
- Gravity TEAM 2023
- Gravity TEAM L 2023
Specs
| Modell | GRAVITY PRO 2023 | GRAVITY TOUR 2023 | GRAVITY MP 2023 | GRAVITY MP L 2023 | GRAVITY TEAM 2023 | GRAVITY TEAM L 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPI | 200 | 300 | 400 | 500 | 600 | 700 |
| Beam Thickness | 20mm | 22mm | 22mm | 22mm | 24mm | 24mm |
| Head Size | 645 cm2 / 100 in2 | 645 cm2 / 100 in2 | 645 cm2 / 100 in2 | 645 cm2 / 100 in2 | 670 cm2 / 104 in2 | 670 cm2 / 104 in2 |
| Weight (unstrung) | 315 g / 11.1 oz | 305 g / 10.8 oz | 295 g / 10.4 oz | 280 g / 9.9 oz | 285 g / 10.1 oz | 270 g / 9.5 oz |
| Balance (unstrung) | 315 mm / 1 in HL | 320 mm / 1 in HL | 325 mm / 0.7 in HL | 325 mm / 0.7 in HL | 325 mm / 0.7 in HL | 335 mm / 0.3 in HL |
| Length | 685 mm / 27.0 in | 685 mm / 27.0 in | 685 mm / 27.0 in | 685 mm / 27.0 in | 685 mm / 27.0 in | 685 mm / 27.0 in |
| String Pattern | 18/20 | 18/20 | 16/20 | 16/20 | 16/20 | 16/20 |
| Grip Size | 2-4 | 1-4 | 1-4 | 1-3 | 1-4 | 0-4 |
| Grip | HydroSorb Pro – Black | HydroSorb Pro – Black | HydroSorb Pro – Black | HydroSorb Pro – Black | HydroSorb Pro – Black | HydroSorb Pro – Black |
| Strung with | Lynx, 1.25mm – Anthracite | Lynx, 1.25mm – Anthracite | Lynx, 1.25mm – Anthracite | Lynx, 1.25mm – Anthracite | Lynx, 1.25mm – Anthracite | Lynx, 1.25mm – Anthracite |
| Recommended String | Hawk Touch, 1.25mm | Hawk Touch, 1.25mm | Hawk Touch, 1.25mm | Velocity, 1.30mm | Velocity, 1.30mm | Velocity, 1.30mm |
| RRP (unstrung) | 300,00 $ | 280,00 $ | 280,00 $ | 250,00 $ | 250,00 $ | 230,00 $ |
Pro Players
These players “play” or promote the Gravity.
Please note that the rackets are most likely special frames that are not available in stores. They just look like the Gravity, as the racket has been given the matching paint job by HEAD.
HEAD Gravity 2023 Auxetic Review
Finally, let’s get to the important part that you’re probably here for. The review!
Independent & Unbiased
All products featured on FourtyLove are tested independently by me. I do not favour any brands nor do I receive any money from brands influencing my results. I might earn a small commission if you buy products through my affiliate links.
Rackets Tested
Hits per Racket
Hours Tested
Readers
Groundstrokes
Forehand
The forehand with Gravity impressed me directly. Whether with a lot of or little spin, the balls go well away from the racket and land very controllably in the field.
The racket feels extremely stable in the hit and immediately gave me a lot of confidence, which is necessary when you go for the aggressive longline ball, for example.
Although the Gravity is very soft and in theory should have less “power”, I didn’t feel like I had to do very much myself. The new string and balls probably help 😉
If you play an extreme amount of topspin and wear a Rafa bandana, the Gravity will weaken a bit as it becomes difficult to keep the ball in the court.
Backhand
For me personally, this is a very difficult shot, because I actually get my control via topspin, but of course I can’t do that to the same extent with the backhand as with the forehand.
It is precisely with this difficulty that the Gravity, especially the Gravity Pro, has helped me a lot.
Strokes with a medium amount of topspin or even complete flat backhand boards have been more successful for me with the Pro than with any racket before.
Absolute madness, maybe I just had a good day.
The slice also works well!
Volleys
Since the Gravity shines with stability, it’s natural to expect it to do well on volleys, and it does!
The 100 square inch racquet head combined with the slightly offset sweet spot feels great at net.
Serves
Perhaps the best thing with the Gravity in hand: the serves!
Due to the massive stability, my rate went up significantly on the first serves.
The speed also convinced me and felt similar to my current gamer (HEAD Extreme Pro).
I was able to serve some very fast and beautiful aces with the pro, especially often to the outside.
The only small weakness, and I think Zverev will agree with me, I see in the second serves. Similar to the forehand, serves with a lot of spin are not so easy to control.
I hit my second serve exclusively with a lot of kick and would definitely need some time to get my kicker used to the Gravity.
The same story, by the way, with the Tour and the MP.
So it must be the racket that Zverev already has as many double faults as Rafael Nadal.
Returns
The returns with the Gravity work wonderfully, which is of course due to the stability and the good “touch” that such a racket designed for control provides.
What I like about Gravity 2023 Auxetic
For players who like to hold the racket with their left hand at the heart of the racket, the frame is a good choice because it is not as thick there as, for example, the Babolat Pure Aero. It also doesn’t have any distracting elements there like the Wilson Clash V2 with its engraved logo.
The design is definitely an upgrade, at least for me. The different colors of the frame sides from the old design force superstitious tennis players to only be able to play forehand with the red side…. Unnecessary stress 😛
The Gravity is available in a total of 6 variants. So everyone will find the right Gravity for themselves here.
Tour
If the Pro is too heavy for you and your arm, the Tour is probably a better choice at 295 grams.
MP
The MP is another 10 grams lighter, but not as control-oriented as the other two variants.
Another advantage on the Gravity is that the MP and Tour variants are great for modifying.
What I do Not Like about it
The only real weakness, though not particularly bad, is the lack of control on heavy topspin. The balls don’t fall fast enough and often end up out of bounds.
Who is the Gravity 2023 for?
The Gravity 2023 is the ideal racket for you if you’re looking for a racket that performs well in all areas and feels like a modern frame.
The balance between control and power is superb, making it an excellent choice for players looking for a Prestige with more power.
If you see your serve as the best shot, the Gravity is also excellent, especially the Pro, but the MP also does its job very well.
For a majority of advanced ranked players who want to buy an off-the-shelf racket without modifying it, the Gravity Pro is probably the best choice currently.
For medal level players who are not improving on the DTB rankings every weekend, I recommend the MP or Tour.
Tour
The Tour variant plays like the lighter variant of the Pro (both 18×20).
MP
The MP is a bit of a departure here with its 16×20 string ratio and 2mm thicker frame. This makes it much easier to play and a more forgiving tennis racket for control.
Ideally suited for players who may only play once or twice a week.
Who is the Gravity not for?
The only type of player I wouldn’t recommend the Gravity 2023 to is the classic baseline grinder who plays everything back high with lots of spin.
If you recognize yourself there: The Gravity is not for you.
In case you’re looking for the ultimate touch of a HEAD Prestige, I have to disappoint you. The Gravity comes close, but the #1 control racket remains the Prestige.
Gravity 23 vs. Gravity 21. Should I upgrade?
The Gravity 2023 is a successful update that is better than the Gravity from 2021 in almost all areas. If you don’t have a Gravity yet, I would definitely advise the new frame. If you already play the Gravity from 2021, I would also advise an upgrade, but that depends on the variant you own:
HEAD has achieved the greatest improvement with the MP and the Tour. Both variants feel significantly softer in the hit and at the same time they offer a corner more control. The Auxetic technology shows its effect particularly in these two variants.
MP & Tour
Upgrading to the new MPs or Tours will be noticeable and worthwhile.
Pro
If you already own a Gravity Pro, there is no need to upgrade.
MP & Tour
Ein Upgrade auf die neuen MPs oder Tours wird sich bemerkbar machen und sich lohnen.
Questions?
Of course, you can also ask me questions about the new HEAD Gravity 2023 Auxetic in the comments.
I’m happy to help you out.
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