head pro tour 630 made in austria

Head Pro Tour 2.0 Racquet Review

Although it is impossible to state which tennis racquet is the GOAT (greatest of all time), Head's Pro Tour 280 is likely on the shortlist of a great many players. Originally launched in the early '90s as part of Head's Trisys line, the Pro Tour 280 (630 in Europe) became a staple at the elite levels of the game. The most recent version of the Pro Tour 280 is called the Pro Tour 2.0 . Unlike the original Austrian-made Pro Tour 280, the 2.0 has CAP grommets, and the graphite layup lacks Twaron, a dampening aramid used by Head in the late '80s and '90s. According to our playtest team, this update also swings a tad easier than the original, and although it has its own distinct and compelling identity, the Pro Tour 2.0 doesn't forget its roots. With its dense string pattern, 20-mm beam and sub-100-square-inch head, the 2.0 gave our crew the surgical control and sublime ball feedback that has defined so many of Head's vintage player's racquets. Granted, with its 335 swingweight, this racquet can be challenging to swing, but for the advanced ball-striker who craves a rock-solid player's racquet with outstanding control and feel, the Head Pro Tour 2.0 is as good as it gets.

• Nothing we could agree on

Bottom Line

This updated classic feels wonderfully solid at impact, and it drops the ball on a dime.

Groundstrokes - Score: 83

From the baseline, the Head Pro Tour 2.0 is everything you would expect a classic racquet with a pro tour pedigree to feel like: plush, precise and solid as a rock. It's safe to say that Chris , whose closet is overstuffed with vintage Head racquets, was extremely excited to try out this update and compare it to the original. He said, "I really enjoyed hitting this racquet off the ground. I found lots of plow-through power to help me drive the ball deep. The more I played with the Pro Tour 2.0, the more I got used to handling its weight and swingweight. The specs fall right at the upper end of my comfort zone, so there was some adjustment before I felt at home with the racquet. Once dialed in, I loved the control and feel I had on every shot. I felt very connected to the ball with this racquet. The Pro Tour 2.0 reminded me of Head classics. Hitting it side by side with an old Pro Tour 630, the biggest difference was this new Pro Tour 2.0 had a more manageable swingweight. While the feel was not identical, I still felt every bit in touch with my shots. I was placing my backhand slice on a dime. I was also able to hit a low, skidding slice that was tough for opponents to return. Flicking angles and lobs was easier with my regular racquet, but I got more drive and plow through from the Pro Tour 2.0. I had a lot of fun driving heavy shots down the line. The dense stringbed and classic feel gave me the confidence to swing big and aim for small targets."

Although this racquet isn't identical to the vaunted Pro Tour 280 used by some of the game's greatest legends, it does have a similar mold, and Mark simply couldn't ignore its history. He said, "Being that Guga Kuerten and Thomas Muster are two of my favorite players, I feel like I have to play well with Head's update to the classic 280/630 racquets. That said, every time Chris gave me a chance to play with one of the originals, I struggled with their high static and swingweight, so I was both nervous and excited to be brought into this playtest. Within a few baseline exchanges, I could tell that the new Pro Tour 2.0 was a little more tip-light than the earlier Austrian-made versions, and by the end of that first session my inner Muster was out. Shot power is not what I am known for, with ball placement being my predominant strategy, and the directional control I had with this stick was outstanding. As far as power goes, I have to say that the more I played with the Pro Tour 2.0, the more confident I became, and the velocity on my groundstrokes did increase without a drop in consistency."

Volleys - Score: 85

At net, the Pro Tour 2.0 delivered the considerable benefits of mass. Put simply, it doesn't get pushed around when the pace goes up. Needless to say, Mark appreciated what the stability did for his volleys. He explained, "Obviously, a lack of stability at net is not going to be a concern with a racquet weighing 12.2 ounces strung, but when paired with a 335 swingweight, maneuverability might be. Personally, the tip-light balance that Head assigned to the new Pro Tour 2.0 is such that I had no issue getting it into position on time, and its hefty swingweight helped keep most of my volleys flying straight and true."

Known for his crafty hands on court, Chris turned this solid and buttery-feeling masterpiece into a weapon at net. He said, "The Pro Tour 2.0 was a gem of a racquet at net. Rock-solid and loaded with feel, this racquet had me feeling in control of every volley. The stable response allowed me to relax and let the racquet do the work. I could punch volleys deep with pace, cut a short angle or hit a deft dropper almost at will. The only adjustment I had was on my overheads. The higher swingweight had me driving shots longer with this racquet until I got used to snapping it down faster to help spike my shots shorter in the court."

Serves - Score: 85

Our playtesters found that the Head Pro Tour 2.0 offered a controlled response and more weight behind their serves. While Chris was able to generate some pace on serve, he mostly relied on his slice on both first and second serves. He said, "I like serving with heftier racquets because they plow through the ball well and help me generate power. The weight of the Pro Tour 2.0 delivered lots of useful pace, and when I added spin, I was hitting some nice, heavy serves. My slice serve wide was working very well. I was able to add a lot of pace to that shot and get enough spin to make it drop inside the lines. The slice serve quickly became my favorite to hit with the racquet, and I mixed it in on both first and second serves with good results."

"I prefer racquets that weigh more than 320 grams on serve for easier access to pace on the ball," added Mark . "And I enjoy slightly lighter racquets (maybe 305 grams) from the baseline for the same reason: easier pace. Hence, there is usually some trade-off for me when it comes to racquet selection. That said, the Head Pro Tour 2.0 complemented my serve nicely. It did not add much in the way of velocity, but the pace I typically generate was effortless with this racquet, and as with my groundstrokes, directional control was great on serve."

Returns - Score: 80

As with the other strokes, the Pro Tour 2.0 was not without its challenges on returns, but Chris simply couldn't argue with the stability, precision and feel. He described, "When having to react quickly, it's not always possible to contact the ball perfectly, and it was on those less-than-perfect returns that I really appreciated the forgiving response of the Pro Tour 2.0. When I was better prepared and hitting cleanly, the racquet felt silky smooth. I felt confident hitting aggressively, using lots of pace and going for smaller targets. The heft of the racquet also made it perfect for redirecting the incoming pace of the serve."

For Mark , this stick felt solid and precise on his slice returns. He said, "Directional control (again) was top-notch from this racquet's heft and tight 18x20 pattern, and that made my backhand slice return one of my favorite shots to hit. On a related note, I liked this racquet enough to play with it more than once per day on a couple of occasions, and the first area of my game where it began to feel pretty heavy was on my return of serve."

Overall - Score: 86

Mark - "Head nailed this frame! This has been one of my favorite playtests, with the new Pro Tour 2.0 now becoming one of my favorite frames. Power-wise, I like that most of the energy return is coming from the Pro Tour 2.0's overall weight, which provides a predictable and comfortable response shot after shot. Lastly, I have to say that the switch to a CAP grommet was a good idea, and it helps protect the Pro Tour 2.0's (coolest ever) paint scheme."

Chris - "I love the classic feel of the Pro Tour 2.0. I've always been a fan of the feel of racquets with a full CAP grommet system. The response of this racquet reminds me of some of my favorite vintage Head offerings, such as the classic Prestiges and the Pro Tour 630. Comfort is fantastic due to the plush feel and hefty stability."

Chris - "While it has a lower swingweight than our vintage Pro Tour 630, I can see some players struggling with maneuverability. Having gotten used to lighter and faster-feeling racquets over the last 10-plus years, it took me some adjustment to get back in the groove with the Pro Tour 2.0 ."

Mark - "It did take a little while to get used to the broader Head pallet since I am accustomed to a more quadratic handle shape, but other than adding a leather grip, I do not think I would change a thing about this classic racquet."

Comparing the racquet to others they've tried, our testers said:

Mark - "Head adds another high-quality example to that small group of heavyweight tennis racquets weighing north of 12 ounces. By virtue of its weight, but not its string pattern, we can compare this Head Pro Tour 2.0 to the Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph and the Yonex VCORE Pro 97 (330). And by virtue of overall weight and string pattern, but not head size, both Prince Phantom 93Ps are comparable as well. However, it is the ProKennex Ki Q + Tour Pro (325) that shares the most traits with the Head Pro Tour 2.0 . Of these racquets, I am most challenged with the Pro Staff RF 97 and have the easiest time (and most fun) swinging the Phantoms and the new Pro Tour 2.0 ."

Chris - "I had a blast testing this racquet. Did I find it identical to the original? No. Just as impressive? Yes. I found a ton of classic feel in the Pro Tour 2.0 . The level of control and precision rivaled the original for me, so much so that the most noticeable change boiled down to the differences in swingweight. Our original Pro Tour 630 has been on a stringing machine many, many more times and hit with many, many more times, so the slightly softer, deader response would likely be due to racquet fatigue. Compared to current racquets, I'd compare this Head Pro Tour 2.0 to the Head Graphene 360+ Prestige Midplus, Prince Phantom 93P 18x20 and Dunlop CX 200 Tour 18x20. The current Prestige Midplus is the closest of the bunch since it shares that CAP grommet feel, but it is slightly more flexible and has a lower weight and swingweight."

Playtester Profiles

Chris: 4.5 all-court player currently using the Tecnifibre TF40 305. Chris uses a full-western forehand grip, has a fast swing style and hits a one-handed backhand.

Mark: 5.0 lefty all-court player with a one-handed backhand. He currently plays with the Head Graphene 360+ Gravity Pro.

Review date: May 2020. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us. All content copyright 2020 Tennis Warehouse.

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Head Pro Tour 630 Designed in Austria

Legendary racket. Back in the days used by Thomas Muster. Still used by many ATP players. Very flexible racquet, low in power. Good for those players who generate most of their own power, and want a fast, manuverable racquet.

Specifications

Contact for price.

Head Pro Tour 2.0 Racquet Preview

HEAD has finally re-released the legend, the HEAD Pro Tour 630 / 280. But is it the same? I hope to review this racquet soon.

Tennis nerds and racquet enthusiasts have been asking for the re-release of the HEAD Pro Tour 630 / 280 for a long time. It is still surprising that HEAD obliged. Is this racquet still viable for club and intermediate level players? If you have tried the original version, you know it is a beautiful but demanding racquet. You can watch my take on that version here in my review below or read my post Magic Made in Austria . This re-release is called HEAD Pro Tour 2.0.

HEAD Pro Tour 2.0 vs 630/280. Is it the same thing?

The question many will ask is: is the HEAD Pro Tour 2.0 the same thing as the original? Well, not exactly. The mold is the same, but the racquet does not include Twaron and has a higher stiffness rating (65 vs 58). I base this on the Tennis Warehouse review which you can watch below. The racquet is also made in China and most HEAD classic racquet fans prefer the Made in Austria versions. So there are quite a few differences. We can be pessimistic about that or perhaps see it as a true 2.0 version that is easier to use. I can’t really say until I have tried it.

Here are some pics from racquet collector extraordinaire, Dane Miftari of prostockracquets.com.au

The racquet is available from Tennis Warehouse (US), Tennis Warehouse Europe, and Tennis Only (AUS). I hope to get my hands on one for a review as soon as the courts open up here. Below are the specs from the Tennis Warehouse Europe website .

Specifications

Head pro tour 630 / 280 racquet review.

I review the original Made in Austria version in the video below. This is a great racquet to use, but I generally find it a bit too demanding for match play these days. On the other hand, the updated version has a slightly lower swing weight and higher stiffness (more power?) so it could be a tad easier to use. Still, there is no getting away from that a 95 sq inch head size is on the small scale of things in today’s tennis.

I was always a fan of 95 sq inch racquets, but lately, I have started to appreciate the forgiveness of a 100 sq inch head. Will the HEAD Pro Tour 2.0 be good enough to sway me back in that direction?

Have you tried the new HEAD Pro Tour 2.0? Or maybe the old one? Let’s hear what you think of it in the comments below.

Jonas Eriksson

Jonas has been known as "tennis nerd" mainly for his obsessing about racquets and gear. Plays this beautiful sport almost every day.

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It’s so confusing. So it is closer to a 95″ head? I thought since Head’s measurements are now in line with other manufacturers they’d provide the actual size. I have an H22 and that’s supposed to be an actual 98 but when I line it up w my oPT280 (original) it looks the same size. … could it be that head size is that difficult to determine by just lining up two rackets?

Hmm Im curious about this racquet, since I love thin 18×20 racquets. Still love using my TI Radical MP but changing to a Ultra tour 97 now ( still like the feel of the radical more, but I need a new racquet lol ) I bet this Pro Tour will be fun to play, but not a good racquet to play a serious match with. At least for me, its too heavy. Im more intrigued about the new Ultra Pro 97 actually. Cheers!

Hey guys @tennisnerd, so I got mine today and took it out on some private courts to hit. This new version plays a LOT like the PT57E. Maybe a tad plusher but power levels are quite similar. Swings akin to the RF97A but for a baseline slugger. That being said it’s low powered and with the retail strings (head lynx) it comes with lacks some pocketing. Feels like it is strung at 55 ibs. Im sure cutting these out and stringing around 46 ibs should do the trick. Unlike a lot of the old fans of the stick im only 6 years out of college but I played with a PC600 for my college matches. Kinda wish I had this one at that time to give myself some more wiggle room in longer rallies. That being said, not so sure this will be widely accepted by recreational players. Time will tell! Excited to hear your thoughts. Cheers!

I have just ordered one earlier this week and it is expected to be sent on Monday 11th of May. I hope to try it out soon next week when tennis courts in The Netherlands are expected to open up. Then I can also try my other new rackets: Head Graphene 360+ Prestige Mid and Prince 93P 14×18 :-)

Wow my lineup is exactly the same as yours! Enjoy !

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HEAD PT280 made in vs. designed in Austria

• Thread starter Jason Sugai
• Start date Sep 1, 2008

Jason Sugai

• Sep 1, 2008

hey PT280 lovers/players, i have a few Pro Tour 280's i'm playing with still and i have two versions of it. my original (made in austria) and the newer (designed in austria) ones. i'm not sure if any of you notice this or not as well, but they feel different. the paint job is a bit different too, with the Made in austria being a darker blue/purple. the made in austria also feels a bit different (softer more feel)... is it a different racket/composition? i can definitely tell the difference between them. but i only have one (made in austria left) and 4 designed in austria. so i'm not sure it might just be that ONE racket since it's older than the other 4 (designed in)... let me know if you guys think differently  

Does your Designed in Austria Pro Tour 280 have a Hologram Butt-cap and on the side of the racquet does it have written "HEAD Barcode Label Inside"?  

hey sorry to hijack the thread but whats the difference between the hologram and black butt cap with the barcode? i have the black one  

vsbabolat said: Does your Designed in Austria Pro Tour 280 have a Hologram Butt-cap and on the side of the racquet does it have written "HEAD Barcode Label Inside"? Click to expand...

Pro_Tour_630

I have both versions and I can tell the difference between them too. My Chinese PT 280 plows through the ball better than my Made in Austria frame. It just seems more stable to me, it plays a lot like my Volkl Tour 10 mid Gen 1. I have CAP grommets on both racquets and between the two, I prefer the Chinese PT 280.  

i actually have one chinese PT 280 too. that looks and feels a little bit more copareable to the MADE IN AUSTRIA version than the Designed in. Designed in Austria feels a little wobbly, too flexible. while the other two feels softer and more absorbant. don't know if it makes sense but apparently there are differences between them all...  

Can't tell much difference between the two. But, like Don, I am tending to like the Chinese model better as it seems stiffer and somewhat more powerful. That's kinda' funny becasue conventional racquet wisdom has been the Chinese version is inferior.  

• Sep 2, 2008

Jason Sugai said: i actually have one chinese PT 280 too. that looks and feels a little bit more copareable to the MADE IN AUSTRIA version than the Designed in. Designed in Austria feels a little wobbly, too flexible. while the other two feels softer and more absorbant. don't know if it makes sense but apparently there are differences between them all... Click to expand...

Deuce said: Umm... Aren't the 'Designed in Austria' and 'Chinese' versions one and the same???? Click to expand...

I'm quite sure that the 'Designed in Austria' ones are made in China. Different years can have slightly different labeling/graphics/colours.  

Jason Sugai said: well, one looks like it's obviously made of a better quality. (one that says HEAD BARCODE LABEL INSIDE) the one made in china doesn't have that logo in the side of the racket. the paint job is slightly different too, with the chinese one being darker purple/blue. Click to expand...

Deuce said: I'm quite sure that the 'Designed in Austria' ones are made in China. Different years can have slightly different labeling/graphics/colours. Click to expand...

• Sep 3, 2008

vsbabolat said: The "Designed in Austria" Pro Tour 280 with "HEAD Barcode Label Inside" are manufactured in Kennelbach, Austria and finished in Ceske Budejovice, Cech Rebublic. Just like all of my PC600 that have Designed in Austria and "HEAD Barcode Label Inside". The Designed in Austria PT280 Without "HEAD Barcode Label Inside" are all made in China. Also they very clearly say Made In China on the inside of the throat and "China" on the butt-cap. Click to expand...

• Sep 4, 2008

hate to keep bringing this topic back up but on **** now there is a MADE IN AUSTRIA one for sale. but that one also has the HEAD BARCODE INSIDE label on the side... this one i have doesn't... i'm not sure if the one i have is the original 280 and the barcoded ones are later and all play the same (designed and made in)? because i got mine when it first came out and the 3 other ones (designed in and with barcode) i got probably 4 years after my original one.  

Professional

Jason Sugai said: hate to keep bringing this topic back up but on **** now there is a MADE IN AUSTRIA one for sale. but that one also has the HEAD BARCODE INSIDE label on the side... this one i have doesn't... i'm not sure if the one i have is the original 280 and the barcoded ones are later and all play the same (designed and made in)? because i got mine when it first came out and the 3 other ones (designed in and with barcode) i got probably 4 years after my original one. Click to expand...

tandayu said: you may ask the seller what is the weight strung with the original grip in place. I keep one "made in Austria" PT280 because it is rare at 350 gram strung and feel much stiffer. Click to expand...

rorschack said: Why is it rare that the PT280 (made in austria) weights at 350 gram? They usually weight more? I ask because this is all I play with now. I have 3 x PT280 (made in austria) sticks all weight at around 350g strung with regular grommet. They are indeed stiffer and the feel is so solid and buttery! It's just the perfect spec for my style. I also have one old skool PT630 (made in austria printed on the side) that is identical to my PT280's in terms of weight and flex. Click to expand...

Hall of Fame

• Sep 11, 2009

so are all the ones made in austria (even the ones designed in austria) made of TWARON? :O i have read the chinese made ones do not have twaron in them.  

• May 16, 2018

Hi! can anyone tell me what version it is and if it has value? thank you https://ibb.co/fvizDy https://ibb.co/kmOzDy https://ibb.co/iG6KDy https://ibb.co/cbdXYy  

Is it Made in Austria?  

RF12 said: Hi! can anyone tell me what version it is and if it has value? thank you https://ibb.co/fvizDy https://ibb.co/kmOzDy https://ibb.co/iG6KDy https://ibb.co/cbdXYy Click to expand...

RF12 said: Is it Made in Austria? Click to expand...

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