What Racquet Does Ash Barty Use?
It’s been a pretty fast rise to the top for Australian Ash Barty. A few years ago, she was burned out from the sport of tennis, switching temporarily to cricket. No one knew if she would even come back to tennis, or if she was ready to walk away for good at a young age.
Now, she’s the #1 player in the world, and the reigning French Open champion. At just 23 years of age, she is starting to really grow in popularity on tour.
With so much focus on her now, many want to learn as much as possible about her as a player. That includes what racquet she uses to generate so much power despite her relatively small frame. So, What racquet does Ash Barty Use?
Ash Barty is sponsored by Head, and she endorses the Graphene 360 Speed MP. While she endorses this new model, she actually uses something based on an old Youtek Speed Pro. Like a lot of pro tennis players, she is comfortable with what she has used in the past and doesn’t feel like switching everything up entirely.
Is The Racquet Actually What It Looks Like?
The tennis racquet that Ashleigh Barty uses is very old from a tech perspective. Many people believe that it is based on the Youtek Speed, which is a racquet Head that came out several years ago.
From a recreational player’s perspective, the two racquets are somewhat similar. The main difference is that it does not have the Graphene system in it. This system is built to reinforce the shaft of the racquet, causing last frame deformation when making contact with the ball. This intern should make the racquet a bit more stable and powerful.
Since the racquet that she is using right now seems to be working just fine for her, chances are she will continue to use her current setup. Head wants to sell their newest racquet, so they use her as one of the main endorsers. They also have players such as Bianca Andreescu and Coco Gauff endorsing this racquet, but with it being such new technology, a lot of players haven’t made the full switch just yet.
Specs Of Ash Barty’s Racquet
The racquet that Barty endorses, the Head Graphene 360 Speed Pro, has the following specs.
- Head size: 100 square inches
- Length: 27 inches
- Balance: 4pts HL
- Swingweight: 317
- Stiffness: 63
- String Pattern: 16 x 19
Ashleigh Barty’s Racquet
Comparing that to the racquet that Barty actually uses, there are some differences to keep in mind. For starters, she uses a racquet that is a little heavier, giving her a little bit more swingweight. She still uses a pretty head-light model for a pro player, but not to the extreme of the stock option.
She also strings her racquets at pretty low tension. Most of the time, she sticks in the 47-50 pounds range, depending on the tournament, the weather, the playing surface, and other factors. She appears to be using RPM Blast currently.
How Does The Racquet Play?
Even though she only endorses the racquet right now, Head is really pushing their Graphene 360 Speed MP option. It is very hard to find the Youtek Graphene Speed Pro brand new anywhere.
What Head has done with the new racquet is pretty great for players who want a very fast and easy to maneuver racquet. That is exactly what people should expect with the Graphen 360 Speed MP. It does a lot of things well, although people who hit hard might not be that happy with it since it doesn’t have that much weight behind each shot.
Serving
There is a lot of potentials to add spin to serves when using the Graphene 360 Speed MP. However, the downfall is that it does not have quite as much power as some of the other racquets out there. Those people who have a big serve might not be that pleased with how much speed they can put on the ball. It’s lacking just a bit in that department.
For anyone who has arm issues, this is a light enough racquet that it should be just fine. Serving is above average, but there is just a little bit of power lacking that keeps it from being great in this department.
Groundstrokes
There is a lot to like about hitting groundstrokes with this racquet. It has some decent power that a lot of people like, and that means plenty of shot depth is possible.
There is a pretty big sweet spot on this racquet, so those people who are not exactly hitting the ball perfectly every single time will see a difference as well. It has a head-light balance and a very low swingweight. This means any person who likes to hit with a lot of spins, can pull it off pretty easily.
Volleys
Maneuverability is great with this racquet, and it’s also great to have that sweet spot once again. The ball can be easily redirected at the net, and control is great.
Some people do feel like they need to swing through some volleys to put some extra power on the ball. That is not always natural for some players, so it might not be the perfect fit if that is the case. It takes a little bit of playing around with the racquet to see exactly how it works for each individual. Since it is lightweight, people need to be firm with their volleys to angle them off just right.
Overall
This racquet is definitely friendly for those players who might not hit the biggest shots in the world. There is a reason why a lot of pros need to add some lead to the frame or get them customized so that they have enough plow through when they hit the ball. At 11.2 ounces strung and a swingweight of 317, this is a racquet that is easy to swing around on any type of shot.
Despite it being a light racquet, there is still some great opportunity to add spin and control. Just be aware
that it’s not the most powerful racquet for those people who really try to hit through the ball.
Who Should Use Barty’s Racquet?
Even though she doesn’t use this particular model, it is built for players with a similar style to her play. She is an all-court player who is very crafty with some shots.
She might not be the hardest hitter on tour, but she can control the ball and put it where she wanted to be. With a variety of shots, she is quick on her feet and is not afraid to come to the net. The maneuverability of the racquet allows any player to come to the net and feel confident.
This racquet is a great option for anyone who wants consistency, but might not necessarily need a ton of power. It’s going to be just a little frustrating to play with this racquet on a consistent basis if a player is a hard hitter. Look for something that is a little heavier, and has a slightly higher swingweight in general. That is going to be the best option for those types of players.
For those players who are looking for their first real player’s racquet, this is a great option to consider. It is a racquet that plays well even for people who are somewhat just starting out.
Don’t be afraid to customize it a little bit once it has been played with a bit. Adding some lead tape strategically might transform the racquet into something that is pretty special for players in the end.
Can You Buy Ash Barty’s Racquet?
To buy the actual racquet that she uses, the only option is to find a store that might still have some in stock or shop online for used options. It is pretty rare to find them brand new these days, since they have been replaced with a new line of records from the company.
As for the model her racquet is painted to look like, it’s very easy to not only demo, but to buy the Head Graphene 360 Speed MP. It is available from just about every tennis retailer, and there are variations for people to consider as well. The company offers some models with different string patterns, different weights, and of course, different grip sizes. You can check the current price on Amazon here.
Final Thoughts
The Speed family of racquets from Head is the perfect blend between the Prestige line and the Extreme series. This racquet, in particular, is a great option for all court players who need control, spin, and some power.
Even though it lacks power just a little, It’s a very versatile racquet for anyone to try out. It has quickly turned into one of the top sellers on the market today, and it’s only going to go up in popularity with great players endorsing it.
Also Read: All Top 100 Players Racquets (WTA)
