Head
+ Head is the tennis racquet, shoe and accessory sponsor to the Tennis+ coaching team.
Tel: 021 557 8380
HEAD LAUNCHES NEW TECHNOLOGY
FAQ YOUTEKTM / d3oTM / Teflon® / Aramid Bumper
Q: What is "YOUTEK" exactly?
A: "YOUTEK" is the name of the new HEAD technology concept. "YOUTEK" will be the umbrella that combines different superior technologies to perfectly match your individual playing styles. As the line develops "YOUTEK" will be the main advertised technology on all racquets and may include different sub technologies in different models in order to maximize performance across all swing styles: different technology combinations for different players!
Q: Is "YOUTEK" a special material?
A: No. "YOUTEK" is the umbrella of all the different HEAD technologies included in the racquet.
Q: What does "d3o" stand for?
A: d3o is related to the name of the ingredients that are in the material itself but is not a chemical formula. The first samples of d3o were made in a university lab in a room which name is d3o.
Q: What is "d3o" exactly?
A: "d3o" is a smart material which belongs to the category of "dilatant foams".
Q: What is a "dilatant foam"?
A: A dilatant (or shear thickening) foam is a special foam which radically stiffens up when subjected to high deformation rates such as a racket-ball impact.
Q: Why is the material "smart"?
A: It is a single material exhibiting two different mechanical states (stiff or soft) under different impact rates or forces. The molecules react in nano seconds and change from relaxed (soft) and locked (stiff).
Q: Where is "d3oTM" integrated?
A: "d3o" is integrated into the graphite lay-up of the frame and positioned in shaft area of the frame where the racquet flexes the most in order to maximize performance.
Q: Can you see and/or touch the material?
A: No. "d3o" is inside the layup, between the carbon layers.
Q: Where is the benefit for the player on the court?
A: "d3o" is able to sense the need of the player and actually adapts to the shot
- On high speed impacts (aggressive shots & winners) the smart molecules lock together within nano seconds to dramatically increases its stiffness of the racquet to provide Maximum Power.
- On slow speed impacts (Drop Shots & Slices): d3o in its relaxed state absorbs the impact to provide a softer touch and better feel.
Q: What is "Teflon®" exactly?
A: "Teflon®" is a friction reducing polymer made by DuPontTM. This material has an extremely low coefficient of friction.
Q: Where is "Teflon®" integrated?
A: "The "Teflon®" polymer is mixed with a Polyamide (PA = standard material for grommets) before the injection molding process. This creates a new material that consists of PA and Teflon® polymer. This new material is injected into the grommets and into the side strip (white grommets and white side strip).
Q: How does the "Teflon®" work?
A: The "Teflon®" friction reducing polymer creates a self-lubricating effect in the base material which enables the strings to slide through the grommets with nearly no friction.
Q: Where is the benefit for the player on the court?
A: By having an extreme, low friction contact surface, the string does not lose energy during ball impact and can move freely around the grommets with little resistance.
This offers more POWER and FEEL.
Q: What is an "Aramid Bumper" exactly?
A: HEAD has added Aramid into the bumperguard. Aramid Fibers have very high resistance, strength and durability.
Q: Where are "Aramid Fibers" integrated?
A: This new grommet system is 2 pieces. The bumper and the grommet strip. The grommet strip (with Teflon® friction reducing polymer) extends around the frame as an inlay into the bumper.
Q: Where is the benefit for the player on the court?
A: The Aramid reinforced PA bumperguards provide maximum impact protection and
abrasion resistance for longer durability.