PRICE: $180
BALANCE: 3/5 in. head heavy
HEAD SIZE: 102 sq. in.
FLEXIBILITY: Stiff
LENGTH: 27 in.
IDEAL SWING: Medium to long
WEIGHT: 9.2 oz.
NTRP: 3.0–5.0

SALES PITCH:
A stiffer, more advanced alternative in Head’s new line of lightweight comfort racquets for women.

COMPARE TO:
N/A

HOW IT TESTED:
When Head decided to produce racquets for female players, they didn’t want to dress up an older model and pass it off as something novel. So they researched what women wanted in a racquet. The results became the ingredients of all the new Airflow models— lightweight power, an ergonomic grip tailored to a woman’s hand, and a nearly even balance point. After seeing what our testers thought, their diligence seems to have paid off. While the Airflow 3 is light, it is the heaviest and least powerful of the Airflows. Yet most playtesters said it provided an ideal amount of power and a generous sweet spot. They also liked the Airflow’s maneuverability and the way it felt in their hands. Superlight racquets are often extremely head heavy, but the Airflow 3 is designed to have the weight more evenly distributed for easier handling. That’s one reason it tested well in the volley department. Indeed, even though the racquet is intended for women, one of our male playtesters wanted to pick one up for himself.

BOTTOM LINE:
A good option for women with medium-length swings who play competitively.