The Head Xenon 135 has been one of the top-of-the-line Head squash rackets for years now. Its various incarnations have been used by several top pros.
Note: The Xenon 135 is being replaced by the Head Radical 135 in 2018.
Versions
Head Graphene XT Xenon 135 AFP
Head Graphene Xenon 135
Head YouTek Xenon2 135
Head YouTek Xenon 135
Head Xenon 135 CT
Head Graphene XT Xenon 135 AFP
This is the 2016 model, dubbed the Head Graphene XT Xenon 135 AFP. It’s just starting to come out in July 2016:
Image via controlthet.com
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Product Notes
The AFP designation means this racket comes with Head’s Adaptive Fan Pattern stringing option.
Reviews
Here’s a video from Paul at PDH Sports:
Spotted
Laura Massaro will apparently be using this racket — she posted this sneak peek of it on social media:
Excited to see the new #head #racket range. This is what I’ll be playing with from around April time ? #orange&blue? pic.twitter.com/UKsihN0vGK
— Laura Massaro (@ljmassaro) March 22, 2016
Wish they wouldn’t advertise squash rackets with the word “weapon”, but other than that looks cool.
Yep, here’s Laura at the 2017 US Open:
Photo via US Open Squash ∞
Here’s a sneak peek from Paul at PDH Sports:
Mazen Gamal was using the Xenon AFP at the 2016 World Championships:
Photo via SquashSite ∞
Head Graphene Xenon 135
The Head Graphene Xenon 135 is the latest iteration of the Head Xenon 135 series. It came on the market in 2014.
Image via head.cl
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Advertised Specs
Weight: Medium (135 grams)
Balance: Head-Heavy (37 cm)
Head Size: Small (460 sq. cm)
String Pattern: 14 x 16
On my home scale, this racket weighed in at about 157 grams all-in.
Reviews
I tried this racket in February 2016 and put together this review (in two parts):
A reader named Carlos wrote in to say that “this racket has an unbelievable control and the necessary power for attacking shots” but he “had a big problem with the grommets, 4 of them broke down” on the same section of the bumper about 6 months into owning it. Carlos made sure to tell me that Head’s customer service was excellent when he reported the problem to them.
Have you tried this racket? Please let us know your review in the comments section!
Spotted in the Wild
This is what Jenny Duncalf was playing with in the 2014 British Nationals:
Image via Jenny Duncalf Instagram ∞
Here’s Omar Mosaad, playing with this racket at the 2014 El Gouna Open:
Image via Steve Cubbins ∞
Here’s Laura Massaro with this racket at the 2015 US Open:
Photo by Steve Cubbins ∞
Thanks to Joe Magor, Paul Selby, and Lucas Nicolau for the tips
Head Xenon2 135
This guy is called the Head Xenon2 135, or sometimes by its full name, the Head YouTek Xenon2 135. This was a popular racket on the pro tour. It was used by Karim Darwish, former world number 1 of Egypt, Laurens Jan Anjema, a top-10 men’s player from the Netherlands, and Laura Massaro, a top 5 women’s player from England.
Advertised Specs
Weight: Medium (135 g)
Balance: Head-heavy (37 cm)
Head Size: Small (460 sq. cm)
Sponsored Links ∞
Buy (Canada): racquetguys.com
Buy (France): amazon.fr
Buy (Germany): dlsports.de
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Search: eBay
Spotted
Here is Laura Massaro using the racket against Nicol David in the Qatar Classic.
Here’s LJ Anjema using the Xenon 135 with his smooth lefty strokes against Hisham Ashour in the 2010 Dutch Open:
And here’s Karim Darwish at the 2013 British Open:
Photo: Steve Cubbins
Reviews
If you’ve tried this racket, please leave a review in the comments!
Head YouTek Xenon 135
This is the original Head “YouTek” Xenon 135:
Reviews
Here’s a review from Paul Hargrave from PDH Sports, comparing this racket to the Tecnifibre Suprem NG 130. Basically he says the heavier head guides you through the shot, so it generates good power through a smooth controlled stroke. It’s not as good for people who like to use lots of wrist.
Spotted
Cesar Salazar was using this racket at the 2016 World Championships:
Photo via SquashSite ∞
There’s also a Karim Darwish signature version of the YouTek Xenon:
Head Xenon 135 CT
I first spotted the Head Xenon 135 CT in the White Pigeon video. It seems like the original descendant of the Head Xenon 135 rackets. Same weight (135 grams) and also head-heavy.
Reviews
If you’ve tried this racket, please leave a review in the comments!
Lloyd says
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In the commonwealth games, it looks like massaro has changed to the xenon2 135 racket but it has a blue top colour instead of black??
Pierre says
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Might be the first sighting of the Head Radical 135?
Lloyd says
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Yeh you’re right!
Ryan says
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Any idea what the delay is with the release of the new Head Xenon Graphene XT 135? would of thought Laura Massaro would of used this racket in Dubai?
Kevin Roberts says
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Hi Pierre,
Is the HEAD Graphene XT Xenon 135 Squash Racquet just a 2016 update on the 2014 Graphene Xenon 135 version?Graphene XT, CT2, AFP vs Graphene, CT2 technologies. Any comments on differences?
Regards, Kevin
http://www.sportco.co.nz/head-graphene-xenon-squash-racquet-p-5806.html
Pierre Bastien says
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Hi Kevin, I haven’t tried it myself but Paul from PDHSports has done a review. I’ve added it above under Graphene XT.
Georgie says
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Wonder if its the same frame type as the slim body, didn’t notice massaro using the slim body frames. maybe i’m wrong
Pierre Bastien says
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She tried out the slimbody but seems to have settled on the Xenon
Kevin Higginson says
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Looks like Head are trying to combine colours with the tennis range. These colours and graphics are same as Radical tennis racket.
andile makhubo says
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The head xenon graphene 135 is simply one of the best racquets out there. I previously used (exclusively) dunlop biomimetic ultimate racquets. I have changed to the head graphene and what a world of difference. It is has a great sweet spot, perfect weight distribution and very forgiving.
It is the kind of racquet that rewards technically sound players who swing properly and have good timing.
Warren says
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I have played with a good few racquets and have settled with the Head Xenon’s.
They are a bit on the head heavy side but there is a ton of control and pretty forgiving to be honest.
I am playing with the orange YouTek 2 and have a Graphene on order.
I played a while with the Anion 2 but it does not have the same feel as the Xenon quadro shape head.
Chano G L-Salazar says
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I just played a match with one of my friends. He just bought a couple of weeks ago from Canada a new 2015 release of this puppy namedGraphene Xenon 2 135. Amazing paintwork ( black, Blue, Green and yellow).
Lovely racket: amazing control and power
Chano G-L Salazar says
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The model is called HEAD Graphene Xenon Flare 135 but with similar specs to Xenono135 Graphene, only difference colour and painting
http://www.sportchek.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=41677756
Pierre Bastien says
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Thanks Chano, I think you’re right – will post that one soon.
paul mathieson says
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Tried this at Shrewsbury last Friday. Instantly loved it. Amazing power and control. Ordered !
Pierre Bastien says
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Great to hear – thanks Paul!
Lucas Nicolau says
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If I’m not wrong Omar Mosaad was using this racket in the El Gouna International Squash Open. There’s a picture of him using in the quarter-finals against Shabana.
Pierre Bastien says
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Nicely spotted Lucas! New racket (and shoes) for Omar. Will post about this.
Darren Cook says
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I played with this racket last night as well as the 140 version. I intended just to have a few rallies with it but ended up using it for the whole session! Great feel,control and power when I needed it. I could be converted from my teardrop shape racket.
Pierre Bastien says
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Darren – thanks for the feedback!