PRICE: $200
HEAD SIZE: 109 sq. in.
LENGTH: 27 in.
WEIGHT: 9.0 oz
FLEXIBILITY: Firm
BALANCE: 1/2 in. head heavy
IDEAL SWING: Medium
NTRP: 2.5–4.0

SALES PITCH:
If you find the Airflow 3 to be a bit stiff, and the Airflow 7 has too much power, the Airflow 5 should be right in your sweet spot.

COMPARE TO:
N/A

HOW IT TESTED:
When measured with its two sister sticks in the new line of Head racquets, the Airflow 5 is the middle-of-the-road offering in terms of weight, power, and head size. For that reason it should appeal to the broadest range of players. It’s slightly more forgiving than the Airflow 3, and takes a little more skill to handle than the 7. Playtesters gave the Airflow 5 high marks in terms of stability, with limited twisting only on off-center hits. There were a few complaints about vibration, but again this occurred when a player missed the sweet spot, which is far from small. The Airflow 5 has plenty of power and scored well in maneuverability due to the extremely manageable weight and nearly even balance. The most frequent criticism of the frame, though, came in the spin department, as several playtesters felt they had trouble hitting anything other than a flat ball. This may present problems if you rely on heavy topspin for control.

BOTTOM LINE:
It wasn’t as well-received as the other two Airflow racquets, but it still delivers on its promise of lightweight power and maneuverability.