HEAD PT57A Review – Perfect Tennis

The HEAD Professional Tour 630/280 tennis racket was launched in 1994 and is revered by many because the “holy grail” of tennis rackets.

Regardless of its age, the HEAD Professional Tour 630/280 continues to be in use by a number of elite tennis gamers at this time, most notably Andy Murray, who makes use of it underneath the professional inventory racket code PT57A.

Professional Inventory rackets, just like the PT57A, are constructed from better-quality supplies and often strung with distinctive strings not provided to most people.

They fluctuate from the racket’s customary sale model in that they’re typically lighter (awaiting customisation, which makes them a lot heavier than retail rackets) and have a special stability level.

This allows elite athletes to customize their gear to swimsuit their distinctive enjoying kinds and preferences, which might considerably impression how properly they carry out on the court docket.

I used to be lucky to get a Head PT57A within the Graphene Status MP paint and took it for a playtest. How did it carry out?

Head PT57A Cosmetics

To begin with, the racket seems to be implausible. I just like the paint job, and the racket’s colors matched properly. The paint is top quality, as this was a racket made for knowledgeable participant. 

Professional Inventory rackets have a tendency to make use of shiny paint to help the looks on TV, for instance, the Wilson Blade V7 had a matte paint job for retail clients, however all tour gamers had been utilizing shiny paint, which seems to be higher on digital camera.

Specification and Setup

Specs
Head PT57A

Head Dimension
98in / 630cm

Size
27in / 68.58cm

Unstrung Weight
11.1oz / 315g

Strung Weight
~11.7oz / 332g

Unstrung Stability
12.4in / 315mm / 8 pts HL

Stiffness
60

Paint
Graphene Status MP

Energy Degree
Low

Stroke Fashion
Full

Swing Velocity
Quick

Grip Dimension
L3

String Sample
18 Mains / 20 Crosses

Head PT57A Playtest and Overview

First Impressions

The Status tennis racket sequence has a traditional really feel with smaller head sizes and heavier weights designed to offer gamers optimum management and precision from all court docket elements.

These traits match the invoice for me, and the PT57A strikes the right combine between the racket model I desire whereas nonetheless possessing specs that apply to the fashionable sport and one that may be loved by fairly a number of totally different enjoying kinds/ranges.

Groundstrokes

The management that the PT57A presents is my favorite side of the racket. It offers the participant management of groundstrokes by requiring good method and correct ball hitting to realize the next precision.

It really works properly from the baseline when you add sufficient spin for slightly extra margin for error. Forgiveness is low, however you’re rewarded when you work laborious to search out the center of the string mattress.

Superior baseliners sometimes favour the 18–20 string sample on the PT57A as a result of their method permits them to supply energy and spin with no need an excessive amount of help from a extra open string sample (16 x 19).

Their racket ought to help them by giving them a way of management and accuracy, supplied by a denser string sample. Additionally, you get a touch longer string life, which doesn’t essentially concern professionals, however for higher-level membership gamers, it’s helpful.

You’ll be able to see the PT57A in motion beneath:

Volleys

Rackets with greater management and manoeuvrability are extra essential for the serve and volley participant, and the PT57A Professional Inventory racket is ideal for this sport model. 

Smaller head sizes and thinner frames are the very best for serving and volleying as a result of they supply extra accuracy and really feel, particularly throughout volleys, and my expertise with the PT57A was nice.

Some extra weight would have benefitted me on sooner incoming balls, however the racket delivers crisp volleys, and also you get a really feel for the place the ball will land.

I hit a number of volleys with it within the video beneath:

Serves

This PT57A racket additionally served fairly properly. I used to be capable of produce plenty of velocity. I significantly beloved the flat T serve with this racket. I had the impression that I may make a wonderful fluid swing.

The racket gave me the sensation I used to be hitting my serve properly, and I additionally thought I may put fairly a little bit of topspin on the ball with the kick serve when wanted.

Returns

On return, the PT57A felt fast and manoeuvrable. I may entry energy to hurry up and deepen my pictures.

Since I may produce plenty of spin and the racket appeared strong on fast swings, I had the very best outcomes hitting spin returns.

Really feel

The PT57A presents an distinctive really feel from all elements of the court docket, particularly on the web. I may strike with finesse and information the ball precisely as a result of I felt related to the ball and assured in my method.

Who is that this Racket For?

The PT57A rackets are for superior gamers preferring really feel, management and spin over free energy.

For those who’re an skilled participant who enjoys really feel from the stringbed, enjoying exactly, and being related to your racket with every shot, then this racket is unquestionably for you.

Due to that, it’s no marvel elite gamers reward the PT57A Professional Inventory racket, and it’s extremely wanted on the aftermarket, with some rackets going for over $500.

Nevertheless, there isn’t any such factor as a one dimension suits all for tennis rackets. It’s essential to select the very best tennis racket to your model; not everybody ought to use the PT57A.

Nevertheless, no matter degree, I do encourage everybody to, if in any respect potential, attempt a PT57A or a HEAD Professional Tour 630/280 to correctly admire that nice, “classical” feeling of the ball impacting the strings.

Few tennis rackets evaluate to the PT57A, and it’s a pleasure to play with. Whether or not it helps you as a participant is determined by your general method and bodily talents. However irrespective, it is going to undoubtedly provide you with a fun-filled hitting session.

Can you purchase the PT57A?

Sure, however in a roundabout way from the HEAD. Head did re-release a restricted version Head Professional Tour 2.0 in 2021, however they offered out.

So that you’ll have to search out it on the aftermarket; they generally crop up on eBay and websites like ProStockTennis, however they’re uncommon, and also you’ll must half with the very best a part of $500 / £500 for one in good situation. 

Aside from that, you’re reliant on realizing somebody who nonetheless makes use of the racket or has it of their assortment and hoping they are going to allow you to borrow it!

Ultimate Ideas

The Head PT57A has a terrific really feel, swings shortly for its weight, and has a powerful, comfy feeling, regulated energy, and stability.

From each a part of the court docket, I loved the racket. Whether or not hitting with spin or flattening out the ball, I appreciated the management and accuracy the PT57A supplied me (primarily on my volleys).

Whereas there are not any common specs for Professional Inventory rackets, as they’re closely customised after manufacturing, I feel the optimum weight for this racket is between 330 and 350 grams.

The PT57A I used to be utilizing throughout this playtest was 315 grams unstrung, and I had the sensation I didn’t have sufficient energy on some pictures and it will be excellent if the racket had been a bit heavier.

General, this can be a true participant’s racket for expert gamers and offers you an unbelievable feeling when hitting the candy spot. Strive it when you can!

Execs

Cons