Mizuno’s nearly 80-year history of making tennis rackets hasn’t always included North America. It does again, with the launch of the AcroStrike and AcroSpeed frames in North America on April 1. The Japanese company started crafting tennis frames in 1947, first bringing them to the United States in the 1980s—notably used by Ivan Lendl—but Mizuno didn’t stay in North America. The brand’s latest tennis equipment build-out focuses on taking its racket technologies global.
“We set these rackets apart by focusing on technologies that directly enhance how the ball interacts with the frame at impact, rather than simply chasing stiffness or raw power,” Yohei Yamashita, Mizuno lead engineer for both frames, tells me. “We believe Mizuno is a premium, high-tech, quality brand that will always lead through great products and innovations.”
The two rackets feature core technologies but also provide unique differences. Each model includes the “Enerzy frame” technology designed to amplify energy return and a “dual spring” design that offers a fresh perspective on carbon fiber layering.
In the dual frame construction, a boundary layer dividing the carbon fiber helps make the frame compression more resilient. “This creates a trampoline effect for greater energy transfer and more ball speed,” Yamashita says. “The Mizuno dual spring is patented in Japan and patent pending the U.S.”
Dual spring works in tandem with the Enerzy frame construction that extends ball dwell time on the strings. “That added dwell time is critical because it gives players a more connected, controlled feel at contact, even in a frame like the AcroSpeed with a higher RA of 69,” Yamashita says. “The result is a response that feels both powerful and plush, which is a combination not typically found together in today’s racket landscape.”
The AcroStrike, launched in Japan in February, features a suite of control specifications focused on adding more spin and feel, Yamashita says. The 98-square-inch head includes a four-way pocket technology, a specific grommet hole shape that enables string movement and snap-back, maximizing pocket and spin. This technology is patented in Japan and patent-pending in the U.S.
The AcroStrike comes in a 305-gram and a 290-gram weight, both with a 16×19 string pattern.
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The AcroSpeed, designed with speed and power specifications, adds what Mizuno calls A.B.G. Technology. This grommet hole design mixes round and rectangular holes to improve bite on the ball for extreme levels of spin. “Our A.B.G. grommet and four-way pocket systems are both engineered to increase sting movement and snapback, which makes it easier for players to generate spin without having to overswing,” Yamashita says, adding the approach is a differentiator in the market.
The AcroSpeed comes in a 16×19 pattern on a 100-squre-inch head size in both a 300-gram and 285-gram offering. The AcroSpeed model had a first-generation release in Japan in 2023, but the newest offering is the generation two model with updated technologies, launching first in the U.S. and then in Japan in July.
Yamashita says the mix of technologies focus on helping Mizuno build a product that feels different in a player’s hands, “offering an uncommon balance of easy power, accessible spin and refined control that stands apart from other frames on the market.”
As Mizuno continues to grow its presence in tennis footwear and rackets, the brand isn’t stopping. “There are a few notable next steps that Mizuno has in mind,” Yamashita says, adding that consumers will soon see the frames on the ATP and WTA tours. “Additionally, we are devoted to providing the full layout of gear for racket sports fans. We have already begun developing grips and string to help support all of our customers.”
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