2018 25-year anniversary Radical

[B Cubed]

I have the current Radical Ltd and the current POG. I will say having different strings in them throw comparisons off quite a bit as my POG has a multi and the Ltd. has a poly. As far as specs, on paper, they are pretty much the same, but to me, that’s where the similarities end. The POG swings much heavier and club like. It seems more stable and predictable. The Ltd. is much more maneuverable which is a real surprise. How can they be the same swing weight, weight, balance and material, but swing so much different? The Ltd. is also less stable, more power and not as predictable. Next, I plan on putting the same strings in both and do more comparisons. It’ll give me a more accurate baseline readings of the two. These aren’t just racquets I have and play with every once and awhile. They will be my everyday racquets. Hope this helps!

Which version of the POG, the one T-Dub is selling currently, or the PCG 107 (2014)?

 

[ybot]

Which version of the POG, the one T-Dub is selling currently, or the PCG 107 (2014)?

I’m using the current version sold on TW. I do have a 2014 version also and it’s a lot different than the current version also. It’s not as club like and the launch angle is a little higher.

 

[mikele]

At the end I got the original bumblebee pretty good condition, with original grip and grommets (TK59), any string suggestions? I hit mainly flat, was thinking in Lux BB original, but any recomendation is highly appreciated, thanks!

 

[TennisAddiction]

I'm irritated that I missed out on a brand new never used zebra for $60 on the bay over the weekend!

 

[B Cubed]

At the end I got the original bumblebee pretty good condition, with original grip and grommets (TK59), any string suggestions? I hit mainly flat, was thinking in Lux BB original, but any recomendation is highly appreciated, thanks!

Have you ever hit with one before? I think BB is a solid choice. The frame does really well with 16L or even 17 gauge. You can still hit flat, but get some great bite on the ball.

 

[djNEiGht]

I have hit with both a smooth and textured string in the original bee. 50# I believe on both but you could prob also go up to 55# if you feel you need to tame the power.

LaserFiber Smooth & Signum Pro Yellow Jacket in 16g both worked well.

 

[mikele]

Played with it yesterday, I used to played with the donnay OS ltd ,orange and grey, back in the day and after hitting with the trysis is was like going back home. Great feeling racquet nothing modern these days can really compare to this

 

[mikele]

Have anyone bought the 25 anniversary edition? How does it play?

 

[gvsbdisco]

I just bought a used one. I am a current POG 107 user (one current version, one 4 stripe). I think the Radical is a great alternative if you feel you are ageing out of your POGs or just need something a bit easier to use. Comments below are based on 1 hr of hitting. String was Technifibre Black Code S at 57 lbs. Not sure how old the string was but regardless that setup was too stiff for me.

- My Radical is 9 G lighter than my POGs (346 vs 355)
- Radical feels head heavy in hand (didn't put it on balance board)
- Radical significantly easier to swing than POG
- big improvement on FH
- miss the extra mass of the POG on 2HBH
- serve better with Radical (this is my one issue with POG....I just can't get it going fast enough on serve)
- slice better with Radical (i suspect due to the 18x19 string pattern)
- No issue with control
- Rad is chunky and clunky looking compared to POG
- Feel on Radical is meh. Feels generic. Significantly less sweet than POG
- Rad more powerful

I don't care about the mold etc etc; I was purely looking for an oversize racquet that is slightly easier than the POG to use but still had mass enough to play at a decent level. Fits the bill IMO. I mean, what other options are there?

 

[B Cubed]

I just bought a used one. I am a current POG 107 user (one current version, one 4 stripe). I think the Radical is a great alternative if you feel you are ageing out of your POGs or just need something a bit easier to use. Comments below are based on 1 hr of hitting. String was Technifibre Black Code S at 57 lbs. Not sure how old the string was but regardless that setup was too stiff for me.

- My Radical is 9 G lighter than my POGs (346 vs 355)
- Radical feels head heavy in hand (didn't put it on balance board)
- Radical significantly easier to swing than POG
- big improvement on FH
- miss the extra mass of the POG on 2HBH
- serve better with Radical (this is my one issue with POG....I just can't get it going fast enough on serve)
- slice better with Radical (i suspect due to the 18x19 string pattern)
- No issue with control
- Rad is chunky and clunky looking compared to POG
- Feel on Radical is meh. Feels generic. Significantly less sweet than POG
- Rad more powerful

I don't care about the mold etc etc; I was purely looking for an oversize racquet that is slightly easier than the POG to use but still had mass enough to play at a decent level. Fits the bill IMO. I mean, what other options are there?

Interesting to hear. I've been in a slightly similar situation. I'd been playing off and on since the pandemic started with a buddy of mine. I've pulled out my Radical (2006 edition - same specs as 25th anniversary). I'd been alternating between that and my PCG 107 (2013 edition - lighter/stiffer than other POGs).

I think to one of your points, people have focused on the mold more so than it's playability, which I feel is underrated. Although to your other point about feel, it doesn't have the twaron of the original mold. But still, it's great for crushing groundies with great accuracy. Having a tight pattern on such a stick I feel is one of the classic hallmarks of the radical's unique identity.

I know there are a lot of Liquid Metal versions out there as well as microgel ones that people have weighted up to get decent mass as another player's OS platform.

 

[gvsbdisco]

I like the 18x19 string pattern....more suitable to this racquet than 16x19. I've restrung mine at 51 lbs PTP 1.20. I'll give it a rip tomorrow.

Interesting to hear. I've been in a slightly similar situation. I'd been playing off and on since the pandemic started with a buddy of mine. I've pulled out my Radical (2006 edition - same specs as 25th anniversary). I'd been alternating between that and my PCG 107 (2013 edition - lighter/stiffer than other POGs).

I think to one of your points, people have focused on the mold more so than it's playability, which I feel is underrated. Although to your other point about feel, it doesn't have the twaron of the original mold. But still, it's great for crushing groundies with great accuracy. Having a tight pattern on such a stick I feel is one of the classic hallmarks of the radical's unique identity.

I know there are a lot of Liquid Metal versions out there as well as microgel ones that people have weighted up to get decent mass as another player's OS platform.

 

[gvsbdisco]

Do we know which of the Radical OS iterations use the same mold as the 25th anniversary and which would be closest in specs? I'd like to look for a cheap old one and then try to match it. thx.

Interesting to hear. I've been in a slightly similar situation. I'd been playing off and on since the pandemic started with a buddy of mine. I've pulled out my Radical (2006 edition - same specs as 25th anniversary). I'd been alternating between that and my PCG 107 (2013 edition - lighter/stiffer than other POGs).

I think to one of your points, people have focused on the mold more so than it's playability, which I feel is underrated. Although to your other point about feel, it doesn't have the twaron of the original mold. But still, it's great for crushing groundies with great accuracy. Having a tight pattern on such a stick I feel is one of the classic hallmarks of the radical's unique identity.

I know there are a lot of Liquid Metal versions out there as well as microgel ones that people have weighted up to get decent mass as another player's OS platform.

 

[graycrait]

@gvsbdisco , @B Cubed ,

65 yr old having fun with Rad OSs. 30+ yrs with wood rackets. I had a mess of POG OS and Mids, traded most of them off so am down to 3 POG OSs and 5 POG Mids. I also have multiple Chang OS both graphite and Ti in various lengths. 28" is a bit too much for me with a 107" head and nearly 12oz. But a 28" Chang Ti 107 is a fun stick to serve with. I also have other Prince 107s: Graphtech DB 110, Spectrum Comp 110 and Graphite Pro 110. The only other 107" I have is a Blackburne double stringbed racket. I do have a 106" Wilson Ncode Nblade inbound as its specs are close to the stock MG Rad OSs, is 18x19 and is 27.3". That Wilson should be fun to throw in the mix with the Rad OSs. I haven't found a racket bigger than 107" that I really like regardless of how much lead, Blu Tack and whatever string I install.

I am liking these Rad OS's. The Candy Cane with syn grip and one OG is the heaviest stock at 11.9oz. One of the MGs has a custom Wilson shaped weighted handle and is 13.7oz and 27.25" 12pts HL for when I feel like hitting a Del Potro forehand (got that one in a trade). The others depending on basic grip and string are 11.2-11.5oz. Today I am liking the 11.2 oz MG strung with Ashaway Kevlar mains x Ashaway Zyex crosses. One of the Rad OSs is strung with fullbed Klip nat gut, 2 with multis and 2 with Ash Kev x ZX. I gave my last 20 sets of poly string away to a 20 yr old spin player. Even with a 10oz 100" 16x19 I don't have enough RHS to make poly useful for me.

Rad OS's:

 

[B Cubed]

Do we know which of the Radical OS iterations use the same mold as the 25th anniversary and which would be closest in specs? I'd like to look for a cheap old one and then try to match it. thx.

That's a good question. It's based off of the TiRadical mold. I would guess, based on balance, and RA, that the Ti Radical would be one of the better places to start, and then weight up substantially. I personally haven't played with anything post Flex-Point. There are a few relatively affordable Rad OS ltd's on the bay that pop from time to time.