The Novak Djokovic Racket (Head Speed Pro 2022) is very popular amongst recreational players who want to emulate the man who has won a record 24 Grand Slam Singles Titles.
I have published the below guide with the aim of helping you understand what racket Novak Djokovic actually plays with on the ATP tour and whether the retail version that you can buy in shops is anything like it.
What Racket Does Djokovic Use?
ATP Pro Novak Djokovic currently endorses the Head Speed Pro (or “HSP”) but he actually plays with a customized Head PT113b pro stock frame which has completely different specs to the retail version of the HSP (see the table comparing the specs below).
Novak has used Head rackets for the majority of his playing career but he also used Wilson rackets for a short period between 2005 and 2008.
Novak has been using his Head PT113b for many years now with the only change being a paint job every time a new retail version of the HSP is released.
Unfortunately, this is a common practice in the tennis industry and is done to boost sales as pros are reluctant to change their racket set up once they have found something they like.
Racket Specs – Head Speed Pro vs Head PT113b
Below are the specifications for the retail and pro versions of Djokovic’s Racket.
| Racket Specs | Head Speed Pro | Head PT113b |
|---|---|---|
| Head Size: | 100 Inches | 95 Inches |
| Length: | 27 inches | 27.10 inches |
| Strung Weight: | 329 grams | 353 grams |
| String Pattern: | 18 x 20 | 18 x 19 |
| Swingweight: | 329 | 360 |
| Balance: | 6 pts HL | 6 pts HL |
| Swing Style Required: | You need a long and fast swing | You need a long and fast swing |
| Power Level: | Low powered (you need to generate your own power) | Low powered (you need to generate your own power) |
| Recommended Level: | Advanced player (not recommended for beginners) | Advanced player (not recommended for beginners) |
As you can see from the above specs, the retail and pro versions are very different with the Head PT113b having a smaller head size, longer length, and a much heavier weight when compared with the HSP.
Can You Buy Novak Djokovic’s Racket?
If you want to play with a racket with the same specs as Novak, then you might find it hard to get your hands on one as it won’t be available from your local tennis shop.
You can try websites like ProStockTennis which specializes in pro stock tennis rackets or another option is to wait for one of his rackets to be auctioned for charity.
Either way, it will be very expensive to get your hands on one.
If you are wondering what it feels like to play with Djokovic’s racket, you can check out a video by Jonas from TennisNerd.net who got a chance to play with one of his old rackets.
What Grip Size does Novak Djokovic use?
Novak uses a 4 and 3/8 grip size with two overgrips on his rackets with the overgrips bringing it closer to a 4 and 1/2 grip size.
Other top pros like Federer and Nadal also favor smaller grips with overgrips so they can get extra wrist snap on their serves and make changing their grips much easier.
As mentioned in my article on Roger Federer’s Racket, just because pros like Federer or Djokovic use a 4 and 3/8 grip size, that doesn’t mean you should use it too.
Everyone’s hands are different, so you need to get the grip size that suits you as playing regularly with a grip size that is too large or too small for you, can lead to issues like tennis elbow.
For help picking the right grip size, check out this guide to grip sizes.
Does Djokovic play with a Vibration Dampener?
Like a lot of pros, Novak plays with a Vibration Dampener and he currently endorses and uses Head’s Djokovic Dampener.
The dampener is white and features Djokovic’s logo in black and is available to purchase on Head’s website.
What Strings Does Djokovic Use?
Novak strings his rackets with Luxilon Alu Power Rough in the crosses and Babolat Natural Gut in the mains.
This is a similar string setup to other pros like Roger Federer.
The string tension on his rackets is usually around 55 lbs on the cross strings and 59 lbs on the main strings.
However, like many other top players, Novak will vary the tension on his rackets depending on the conditions and the court surface he is playing on.
Should you buy the Head Speed Pro (Retail Version)?
So you are probably wondering if Novak doesn’t play with the HSP then why should I?
However, I think the retail version of the Novak Djokovic Tennis Racket is a much better option than going for a racket closer to Djokovic’s specs, as the HSP is much lighter than Novak’s racket and will be much easier to play with for the vast majority of recreational players.
The lighter weight will be easier on your arm and the larger head size of the HSP will be a lot more forgiving on off-center shots.
All in all, I think it will be a much better fit for intermediate to advanced recreational club players.
Where can I buy a Head Speed Pro?
As Djokovic is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, you will have no trouble finding an HSP to buy as it will be stocked in most good online tennis shops.
If you are considering buying the racket and you would like to support our site, then consider purchasing the HSP by clicking on the button below.
By doing this we will receive a small commission from Amazon and you will be helping support our website.