Price: $225
Head Size: 115 sq. in.
Length: 27 in.
Weight: 9.4 oz.
Balance: 3/5 in. head heavy
Flexibility: Stiff
Ideal Swing: Short
NTRP: 2.0–3.5

Sales Pitch: The Airflow 7 with CrossBow is the lightest and most powerful racquet in the line.

Compare To: Head Airflow 7

How It Tested: This racquet will appeal to women who like their racquets to do a lot of the work for them. There’s plenty of pop on ground strokes, and as long as you’re not taking big cuts on the ball, control won’t be a problem. The sweet spot is inviting, although some testers felt that with the size of the racquet face it could stand to be a bit bigger. This generation of Airfl ows all have Head’s new InteGrip, which is a rubbery material in the shaft designed to reduce vibrations. It must be doing its job because playtesters repeatedly praised the comfort and solid feel of the frame. It’s also nearly an ounce heavier than the original Airfl ow 7, which adds to power and stability, but it’s also more head heavy. Some reviewers thought this balance made it diffi cult to maneuver, especially on serves. At the net, what the racquet lacked in maneuverability was more than made up for by the ample surface area and sturdiness in the head.

Bottom Line: This isn’t a bad choice for beginner and intermediate women who put a premium on comfort.