head pro tour 630 specs

HEAD PT57A Review

A closer look a the head pro tour 630/280 pro stock racket. does it live up to its legendary status.

The HEAD Pro Tour 630/280 tennis racket was introduced in 1994 and is revered by many as the “holy grail” of tennis rackets.

Despite its age, the HEAD Pro Tour 630/280 is still in use by several elite tennis players today, most notably Andy Murray , who uses it under the pro stock racket code PT57A.

Pro Stock rackets, like the PT57A, are constructed from better-quality materials and usually strung with unique strings not offered to the general public.

They vary from the racket’s standard sale version in that they are often lighter (awaiting customisation, which makes them much heavier than retail rackets) and have a different balance point.

This enables elite athletes to customise their gear to suit their unique playing styles and preferences, which can significantly impact how well they perform on the court.

I was fortunate to get a Head PT57A in the Graphene Prestige MP paint and took it for a playtest. How did it perform?

Head PT57A Cosmetics

First of all, the racket looks fantastic. I like the paint job, and the racket’s colours matched well. The paint is high quality, as this was a racket made for a professional player. 

Pro Stock rackets tend to use glossy paint to aid the appearance on TV, for example, the Wilson Blade V7 had a matte paint job for retail customers, but all tour players were using glossy paint, which looks better on camera.

Specification and Setup

Head pt57a playtest and review.

First Impressions

The Prestige tennis racket series has a classic feel with smaller head sizes and heavier weights designed to provide players optimal control and precision from all court parts.

Those characteristics fit the bill for me, and the PT57A strikes the perfect mix between the racket style I prefer while still possessing specs that apply to the modern game and one that can be enjoyed by quite a few different playing styles/levels.

Groundstrokes

The control that the PT57A offers is my favourite aspect of the racket. It gives the player control of groundstrokes by requiring good technique and accurate ball hitting to achieve a higher precision.

It works nicely from the baseline if you add enough spin for a little more margin for error. Forgiveness is low, but you are rewarded if you work hard to find the middle of the string bed.

Advanced baseliners typically favour the 18–20 string pattern on the PT57A because their technique allows them to produce power and spin without needing too much assistance from a more open string pattern (16 x 19).

Their racket should support them by giving them a sense of control and accuracy, provided by a denser string pattern. Also, you get a marginally longer string life, which doesn’t necessarily concern pros, but for higher-level club players, it’s beneficial.

You can see the PT57A in action below:

Rackets with higher control and manoeuvrability are more critical for the serve and volley player, and the PT57A Pro Stock racket is perfect for this game style. 

Smaller head sizes and thinner frames are the best for serving and volleying because they provide more accuracy and feel, especially during volleys, and my experience with the PT57A was great.

Some more weight would have benefitted me on faster incoming balls, but the racket delivers crisp volleys, and you get a feel for where the ball will land.

I hit a few volleys with it in the video below:

This PT57A racket also served quite well. I was able to produce a lot of speed. I particularly loved the flat T serve with this racket. I had the impression that I could make an excellent fluid swing.

The racket gave me the feeling I was hitting my serve well, and I also thought I could put quite a bit of topspin on the ball with the kick serve when needed.

On return, the PT57A felt quick and manoeuvrable. I could access power to speed up and deepen my shots.

Since I could produce a lot of spin and the racket seemed solid on quick swings, I had the best results hitting spin returns.

The PT57A offers an exceptional feel from all parts of the court, especially at the net. I could strike with finesse and guide the ball accurately because I felt connected to the ball and confident in my approach.

Who is this Racket For?

The PT57A rackets are for advanced players who prefer feel, control and spin over free power.

If you’re an experienced player who enjoys feel from the stringbed, playing precisely, and being connected to your racket with each shot, then this racket is definitely for you.

Because of that, it’s no wonder elite players praise the PT57A Pro Stock racket, and it’s highly sought after on the aftermarket, with some rackets going for over $500.

However, there is no such thing as a one size fits all for tennis rackets. You must choose the best tennis racket for your style; not everyone should use the PT57A.

However, regardless of level, I do encourage everyone to, if at all possible, try a PT57A or a HEAD Pro Tour 630/280 to properly appreciate that great, “classical” feeling of the ball impacting the strings.

Few tennis rackets compare to the PT57A, and it is a joy to play with. Whether it helps you as a player depends on your overall technique and physical abilities. But irrespective, it will undoubtedly give you a fun-filled hitting session.

Can you buy the PT57A?

Yes, but not directly from the HEAD. Head did re-release a limited edition Head Pro Tour 2.0 in 2021, but they sold out.

So you’ll have to find it on the aftermarket; they sometimes crop up on eBay and sites like ProStockTennis , but they’re rare, and you’ll need to part with the best part of $500 / £500 for one in good condition. 

Other than that, you are reliant on knowing someone who still uses the racket or has it in their collection and hoping they will let you borrow it!

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Final Thoughts

The Head PT57A has a terrific feel, swings quickly for its weight, and has a strong, comfortable feeling, regulated power, and stability.

From every part of the court, I enjoyed the racket. Whether hitting with spin or flattening out the ball, I liked the control and accuracy the PT57A provided me (mainly on my volleys).

While there are no universal specs for Pro Stock rackets, as they are heavily customised after manufacturing, I think the optimal weight for this racket is between 330 and 350 grams.

The PT57A I was using during this playtest was 315 grams unstrung, and I had the feeling I didn’t have enough power on some shots and it would be perfect if the racket were a bit heavier.

Overall, this is a true player’s racket for skilled players and will give you an incredible feeling when hitting the sweet spot. Try it if you can!

• Not enough power on this particular PT57A (315g)

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Head Pro Tour 280/630 vs PSC 6.1

• Thread starter bumfluff
• Start date Jan 23, 2009

• Jan 23, 2009

I currently play with a single PSC 6.1, I am kind of developing a thing for discontinued rackets, so far only Wilsons though. After a quick search I haven't really found anything very detailed on the specs of the PT280/630 can anybody post some. What I like about my PSC6.1 is its manouverability, its pretty head light and I think the power is ok, I just have the problem that its stiffness requires me to string it quite low so I don't get the best control out of it. I understand that the PT280/630 is a more flexible frame. Can anybody tell me of any similarities between the two frames (if there are any) or the key differences.  

jayserinos99

Hall of fame.

Look in the PT280/630 thread, you'll find something there. Anyway, I used the PSC6.1 for 7 years before arm problems made me give it up; I'm now with the PT630 and PC600. Besides the fact that both are 12+oz. head-light midplus frames with a graphite and aramid (wilson has kevlar, head has twaron) composition, not much else is the same with them. Different string pattern (16x18 v. 18x20, unless you're using a European or Tour version of the PSC6.1) and vastly different flex and balance are the two biggest things I can think of right now. The comfort of the PT630 for me was key; I can play without pain, especially with a natural gut hybrid strung low. There will be some adjustment period if you do switch to a PT280/630, people have commented that the PT280/630 wasn't very mobile at net (opinions vary, I didn't find this at all).  

Thanks, can you tell me a bit about the PC600 aswell? Thats another interesting frame which is completely different again if I am correct?  

Yes, quite different from the PSC6.1. In many ways the PT280/630 is the logical extension of the PC600. To me, both feel great with the flex and comfort; the PC600 is more rapier like since it cuts through the air faster and is more mobile. To really mess with your mind, I suggest doing research on the Head Pyramid Tour 630. It is really maneuverable due to the beam shape; it's sort of a blend of the PT630 (head size) and PC600 (maneuverability). Look up !Tym's posts on this great frame.  

^ It's an acquired feel.  

• Jan 24, 2009

Both great frames. Two of my all-time favorites ever as a matter of fact. Just a few thoughts here then... PSC 6.1 has the rare distinction imo of being excellent equally from the b-line as well as for more of a net game, the touch stuff, etc. Very high-powered (flex rating 70-ish) and therefore somewhat stiff, but also has a lush, 'immense' feel too. Heavy to swing for some (12.06 g I think), but you're rewarded with a granite-like stability and big-time 'oomph' (you might want to try serving the flat bomb and then seeing the resulting carnage!) If there's a negative, for me it was a major one... it's harsh on the arm (and this is coming from someone who's very familiar with Babolats!) PT 280/630 is probably more suited to a b-line game. The former (without the CAPS) is a tad stiffer. The latter (with the CAPS running all around) is more flexy. Very smooth and easy to play with generally imo. A lush and well renowned 'buttery' feel (especially the 630) as well as being highly solid and awesome in the power dept when you catch it right - and that's with a far lower stiffness RA than the PSC (I think it's 58 or so.) Whilst some ppl view it as just adequate re volleys, touch stuff and the like, many think it a great serve frame and quite fantastic on groundies... tons of control and that plush, going-through-gears, smooth feel/power. R.  

There's a reason why people still want the PT280, much like how people want the PS6.0 85/95 back, they're just great racquets. You do remember that Emilio Sanchez and Thomas Muster helped design the PT630 right? By the way, thanks for the pictures but I wouldn't want to be charged for looking at it...since I have quite a few PT630s of my own.  

I did do a bit of a search for specs of the 280/630, but I can't really find any? Anyone help me out? Silly I know...  

THe PSC6.1 is high performance as well as feel. Head racks are all about sacrificing feel for performance. How can you comapre? Braided graphite,....c'mon...I have to weigh in for wislon for baseliners, even though head are good frames; the ptclub popularity is dangerously out of hand, what do you guys see in those blue things? Click to expand...

• Jan 30, 2009

bumfluff said: I did do a bit of a search for specs of the 280/630, but I can't really find any? Anyone help me out? Silly I know... Click to expand...

• Feb 3, 2009

The PT280 felt less mobile, to me, because it's a lot less headlight, even though it's a little lighter I think in static weight. It has a lot less pop than the PSC 6.1 (though a little more than the PC600 line). It has a denser string pattern for a flatter ball. It also is stable around net, but in a different way. It's softer. It may be a smidge more forgiving. The PSC 6.1, to me, promotes power tennis - quick points. Big flat serves, big groundstokes, hitting winners on the first or 2nd volley, the PSC is for you. If you like to pummel your opponent with big kick serves (or at least well-placed serves), steady heavy groundstrokes, angles, and caressed volleys ...then you'll like the PT280.  

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