Quick Summary

Both of us would pick the Head Extreme MP for a match tomorrow. Not because it's better, but because it's easier to use. The Extreme takes your inputs naturally and lets you play however you want to play. The Wilson Defyer 100 is more powerful and generates more spin, but it demands a specific style of tennis and takes quite a lot of getting used to.

Spin is the A theme in both rackets. The B theme in the Extreme is control. In the Defyer, it's power. What you want out of your spin racket beyond the spin is what dictates which one you go for.

Watch the video for the hits. You'll see exactly what we mean about the Defyer's launch angle on court.

Specs: Head Extreme MP vs Wilson Defyer 100

Head and Wilson quote balance differently, so those two figures aren't directly comparable as published. Everything else lines up almost exactly, which is the point: on paper these are the same racket.

We strung both frames with reString Zero 1.23 at 52lb and tested them on court.

What It Is

Head's brand new spin racket against Wilson's brand new spin racket. On paper they are incredibly similar: 100 square inch heads, 300g weights, everything about them designed for power, spin, and ultimately grinding your opponents into the dust on a clay court in the south of Spain.

We strung both with reString Zero 1.23 at 52lb and got on court to put them through their paces.

The Extreme is a very underrated racket as a franchise generally. The Defyer we don't really know yet because it's so new as a brand new Wilson racket silo, but it has hype. People know about it. The Extreme is more under the radar. Having released at very similar times, it's a very obvious head-to-head to do.

We could also do the Extreme Pro, the 98 version, against the Wilson Defyer 98 Pro. That will come soon. These are the more mainstream rackets that we think most club players are going to be looking at.

Our Verdict

Better players are probably going to prefer the Extreme. Faster swings, flatter swings, quicker surfaces, the Extreme. If you want to camp out and rip buckets of spin on every single ball, the Defyer might take a bit of getting used to, but if and when you get used to it, it's going to be an absolute monster.

If you're playing on artificial clay, the Defyer. If you're playing on a real quick astro court here in the UK or a nice acrylic court over stateside, the Extreme is going to be it.

Tech

The new Extreme has Hy-Bor in it. Head describe it as a state-of-the-art material with compressional strength that maximises perceived stability. As we said in our full Extreme review, the Extreme has taken Hy-Bor really well. It's probably had the biggest jump of all the other Head rackets. It just makes it feel tighter and more solid, especially when you start swinging faster.

The frame also carries Head's Auxetic 2.0, which Head describe as actively responding to give real-time, accurate feedback.

The Defyer exists because Wilson were trying to create a racket that generated more power for players as the environment of tennis has slowed down. Their stats all said balls have got slower, courts have got slower. How can we help our athletes hit through the court and generate winners still despite everything else getting slower? The Defyer was born. That power is at its heart, to be able to get penetration and get extra depth.

How It Plays

Power. The Defyer, by quite a lot. They weigh the same, but it just feels like there's more racket there. It picks up heavier. It has more juice to it. Because it has more power, you have to add spin to the ball, you have to have a more vertical swing path. If you try and play flat with the Defyer, you have to absolutely nail it perfect or it is flying long. Whereas with the Extreme, if you flatten it out, you get that little bit of give. You can still commit and go for blood and it doesn't just spray randomly everywhere.

Spin. The Extreme generates spin effortlessly. You get spin on your shots without really having to do much. With the Defyer you have to play in a certain way and then you get loads of it. It doesn't give you the spin for free like the Extreme does, but when you have that perfect style of play and that perfect swing length and speed, the Defyer in terms of spin generation is top. The Defyer just gets lots more spin than the Extreme. The launch angle on the Extreme is quite high compared to the rest of the Head range, and that's part of what separates it. But the Defyer takes it to another level.

If you have that slightly longer, more vertical swing that isn't lightning fast, more of a heavy style, then the Defyer is really going to suit you. You can generate a really heavy ball very easily with it. With the Extreme, you can't. It's more whippy and livelier rather than that solid heavy ball delivery.

Control. Control is the inverse of power and speed, so the Extreme has to be the more controllable racket. And it is. It really is. Far more connected. Not only do you have more control over the outcome, you feel more connected while you're doing it. The racket is livelier, a bit sharper, and there's less between you and the ball. The Defyer's spin will allow you to control where the ball lands, but in terms of getting feedback and feeling like you're in control of what's happening, the Extreme is significantly more lively.

Feel. Which you prefer is the one you'll like. It's a more connected feel in the Extreme and a more muted feel in the Defyer. The Defyer feels almost Yonex Ezone like, whereas the Extreme is similar to all Head rackets.

Surface. When I first tested the Defyer on the grass at Roehampton I really enjoyed both the 98 and the 100. Playing on grass the ball is lower, the contact point is probably a foot or two lower than you're used to on a hard court or an astro court, and you need that launch angle. It's really delightful. But on a hard court where the launch angle is already high, that extra launch angle becomes a lot. Court surface is going to be quite an interesting element of this.

Swing speed. It's at high swing speeds where these rackets diverge the most. The Extreme becomes controllable and actually a joy to play with, and the Defyer becomes harder and harder to use. Leave your ego at the door. If you're reading this thinking, actually I don't swing that fast, I am a club level player, then the Defyer is going to be great because it's going to give you power, depth and spin and a heavier ball. But if you really work the ball with genuinely hard swings and you're a high level player, then the Defyer 100 isn't going to be right. You're going to have to look at the Wilson Defyer 98 Pro.

Who It's For

Clay court baseline grinders and the future ripper-uppers out there, the Defyer is going to suit you more than the Extreme. So will a slightly longer, more vertical swing that isn’t lightning fast.

Maybe those who've been using spin rackets for a while, maybe you're getting a bit older, getting a bit slower, and it's either commit to a very strict physical training regimen or buy a Defyer. The Defyer might be a quicker and easier option.

Better players, faster swings, flatter swings, quicker surfaces: the Extreme.

Try Before You Commit

You can't tell from a spec sheet which of these two suits your swing. That's the whole point of this comparison, and it's why we run our demo service.

Add £25 to any adult racket order and we'll string it, fit an overgrip, add protection tape and send it out to you. Test it properly. If it's wrong, return it for a full refund on the racket minus strings and the demo fee. If it's right, we refund the £25. UK-wide.

Demo the Head Extreme MP or Wilson Defyer 100

FAQ

What's the difference between the Head Extreme MP and the Wilson Defyer 100?

Both are 100 square inch, 300g spin rackets. The Defyer is more powerful and generates more spin but demands a specific vertical swing path. The Extreme is easier to use, more controllable and more versatile across shot types.

Which is more powerful, the Head Extreme MP or the Wilson Defyer 100?

The Defyer, by quite a lot. It picks up heavier and has more juice despite weighing the same.

Which generates more spin?

The Defyer gets more spin, but you have to earn it with the right swing. The Extreme generates spin effortlessly without you having to do much.

What are the specs of the Head Extreme MP?

300g unstrung, 100 sq in head, 320mm balance, 16x19 string pattern.

What are the specs of the Wilson Defyer 100?

300g / 10.6 oz, 100 sq in head, 9 points head light, 16x19 string pattern.

What's the difference between the Wilson Defyer 100 and the Defyer 98 Pro?

The Defyer 98 Pro is the more precise, Tour-inspired model in the range, built for advanced players and high swing speeds. It's 98 sq in, 305g, 16x20. The Defyer 100 is 100 sq in, 300g, 16x19, designed for competitive players who want to dominate with heavy baseline play.

Which is better for club players?

If you don't swing especially fast, the Defyer will give you power, depth, spin and a heavier ball. If you swing hard and play at a high level, the Defyer 100 isn't going to be right and you should look at the Wilson Defyer 98 Pro.

Which is better on artificial clay?

The Defyer. On a quick astro court in the UK or an acrylic court, the Extreme.

What string and tension did PH Tennis test these at?

We strung both frames with reString Zero 1.23 at 52lb.

Where can I demo the Head Extreme MP or Wilson Defyer 100 in the UK?

Through PH Tennis. Add £25 to any adult racket order and we'll string it, fit an overgrip and add protection tape. Test it properly. If it's not right, return the racket for a full refund minus strings and the demo fee. If it is right, we refund the £25 demo fee. UK-wide.

Final Thoughts

As always, thank you very much for reading. If you feel like you've learned something, let us know. We always appreciate the feedback. And if you haven't learned anything, well, you weren't paying close enough attention. So go back and read the whole thing again.