Squash Source

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

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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:

Product Notes

The AFP designation means this racket comes with Head’s Adaptive Fan Pattern stringing option.

There’s a slimbody version of this racket called the Head Graphene XT Xenon 135 Slimbody.

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:

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:

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Mazen Gamal was using the Xenon AFP at the 2016 World Championships:

Photo via SquashSite →

Shoes: Asics Gel Rocket 7
Location: 2016 World Championships

Cesar Salazar had this in 2019 at El Gouna:

Photo via #elgounasquash →

Shoes: Asics Gel Tactic
Location: 2019 El Gouna International

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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:

Photo 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

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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)

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!

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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 →

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There’s also a Karim Darwish signature version of the YouTek Xenon:

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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!