2023 Radical Pro Auxetic.... wow!

TennisManiac

TennisManiac

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Earlier this year I was on a racket journey. I demoed 9 rackets and settled on the PSV14. I never gave the Rad Pro 2023 a look as I felt that the last generation was just meh. I did however demo the Rad MP weighted up to my specs and thought it was decent. Anyhow, I was at a club last night playing a match and was looking at a bunch of demo rackets hanging on the wall. The Rad Pro Auxetic was one of them. Curiosity got the best of me so I grabbed it off the wall and hit a couple of balls with it. I was really surprised at how solid and stable it was. I really liked how it swung through the air too. The 20-21.5-21 beam design imo is perfection. I don't care what anyone says. The MP weighted up to the Pro's specs just doesn't hold a candle to the Pro. No way... No how... Period. The Pro hits a much heavier ball than the MP and returns are much better as well. Makes me want to order a demo now and tinker around with a little customization. Why in the heck aren't more people talking about this racket? Does everyone these days think they need to use a thick beamed, light, spin friendly racket with an RA of 60 to play tennis? Well good luck with that if you ever meet a high level player on court holding a racket like the Rad Pro, Pro Staff or Prestige Pro. Because you're about to get your butt spanked by some heavy balls. ;)
 
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Yeah once you are pushing serious specs the Pro starts to make a lot of sense.

I kind of wrote it off honestly until I did a bunch of customization for the Youtuber MP Tennis who ended up switching to the Rad Pro I customized for him.
 
@TennisManiac - Sounds like a classic example of how even when strung spec is equal in two "sister" frames within a silo, the more "tour spec" of the two just feels more solid. Sometimes having more of that weight as additional layup baked in from the start can really be a difference-maker. I'm sure @socallefty and others might agree.

That said, though, let's be real. From the sounds of it, you appear to be a young (ish?) 4.5(?)++ who absolutely smashes the ball, with what has to be at least fairly solid technique. That right there is going to put you in pretty rarified air in many places, let alone on TTW. For as good as many of us like to think we are, and for as modest as the Rad Pro spec actually seems on paper, most here and elsewhere will probably be inclined to pick lighter, higher innate power-to-weight-ratio frames (even if they ultimately aren't the best choice for someone's skill level, biomechanics or body condition). So that's why you don't see more discussion, IMHO. The Rad Pro is simply not a "feature" frame in the wake of all that. Just is what it is.
 
It felt hollow and stiff to me, but the control and playability were good. Good all-around but nothing about it really stands out. I thought the Prestige line felt more premium and played better off the shelf. If you like high power out of thin(ner) beams the Prestige Tour, Blade 18x20 v7, and VCP 97H are great. Prince ATS 95 is also underrated
 
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@TennisManiac
-i feel ya!
-i also did not like the last 3 gens of the MP weights,
-but the PRO weight on the last 3 head.rads were right on my wheel house!!
-"heavy ball" you say, imo it is due to the slightly tighter string pattern from the h.radicals, they do hit a bit more than the w.blades
-i am a wilson guy mostly now, but i keep my eyes out for the h.radicals
-always a good line of stick to hit with

-the new color scheme on these radicals is pretty nice too!
-i have both, the 2021 and 2023 h.rad.PROS, i can tell a slight difference, but its very minor to me
 
I overlaid the Pro Staff 97 V14 over the Radical Pro Auxetic to compare string patterns. To my surprise the Radical Pro 2023 has a tighter string pattern. So it would only make sense that the Radical Pro will offer more control. But everyone who reviews this racket seems to think that the Rad Pro doesn't offer as much control as your "control" frames like the Pro Staff, Prestige and Gravity Pro. I'm going to have to disagree with these assessments. The 2023 Rad Pro's string pattern is basically as tight as most 18x20's.
 
Radical Pro, and basically all other Head's player's frames, were always total control racquets, needing a lot of effort and usually a lot of added weight. G360+ Rad Pro, I played with it for a year or so, is really underpowered, so this new one tries and somewhat succeeds to not be underpowered, it's nice when modded to min 325g

Pro Staff is - and always was - somewhat the opposite - control racquets but with max punch. Edberg's first 6.0 85 was like that, then Courier, Sampras, Federer ending with the mighty K88 and RF97A

6.1 95 introduced in early 90s was a 22mm beam punchy racquet, and most iterations afterwards always were on the stiffer side too, and we still see Lehecka blasting balls with it, and others of course. Nobody ever said that those frames were low powered.

K88 and RF97A are proper power frames with a flat beam and high stiffness

Whoever thought that Pro Staffs were somehow low powered total control frames was just wrong. Some youtubers were talking about the PS97 v13 a bit like that, total precision etc. Whether they were served that phrasing by Wilson marketing or not I obviously don't know. But PS97 v13 is an exception, having lower swingweight than usual, and it's not a surprise that PS97 v14 is trying to be a more powerful frame for proper ball blasting.

These last 3 Rad Pros actually remind me a lot of Pro Staffs, with a light tip and stiff and stable throat, and this new PS97 v14 is different than usual, with a flexy - twisty -throat. Weird times..
 
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TennisManiac said:
Earlier this year I was on a racket journey. I demoed 9 rackets and settled on the PSV14. I never gave the Rad Pro 2023 a look as I felt that the last generation was just meh. I did however demo the Rad MP weighted up to my specs and thought it was decent. Anyhow, I was at a club last night playing a match and was looking at a bunch of demo rackets hanging on the wall. The Rad Pro Auxetic was one of them. Curiosity got the best of me so I grabbed it off the wall and hit a couple of balls with it. I was really surprised at how solid and stable it was. I really liked how it swung through the air too. The 20-21.5-21 beam design imo is perfection. I don't care what anyone says. The MP weighted up to the Pro's specs just doesn't hold a candle to the Pro. No way... No how... Period. The Pro hits a much heavier ball than the MP and returns are much better as well. Makes me want to order a demo now and tinker around with a little customization. Why in the heck aren't more people talking about this racket? Does everyone these days think they need to use a thick beamed, light, spin friendly racket with an RA of 60 to play tennis? Well good luck with that if you ever meet a high level player on court holding a racket like the Rad Pro, Pro Staff or Prestige Pro. Because you're about to get your butt spanked by some heavy balls. ;)
Click to expand...
Which do you prefer to you use now? Rad Pro or PSV14?
 
Mischko said:
Radical Pro, and basically all other Head's player's frames, were always total control racquets, needing a lot of effort and usually a lot of added weight. G360+ Rad Pro, I played with it for a year or so, is really underpowered, so this new one tries and somewhat succeeds to not be underpowered, it's nice when modded to min 325g

Pro Staff is - and always was - somewhat the opposite - control racquets but with max punch. Edberg's first 6.0 85 was like that, then Courier, Sampras, Federer ending with the mighty K88 and RF97A

6.1 95 introduced in early 90s was a 22mm beam punchy racquet, and most iterations afterwards always were on the stiffer side too, and we still see Lehecka blasting balls with it, and others of course. Nobody ever said that those frames were low powered.

K88 and RF97A are proper power frames with a flat beam and high stiffness

Whoever thought that Pro Staffs were somehow low powered total control frames was just wrong. Some youtubers were talking about the PS97 v13 a bit like that, total precision etc. Whether they were served that phrasing by Wilson marketing or not I obviously don't know. But PS97 v13 is an exception, having lower swingweight than usual, and it's not a surprise that PS97 v14 is trying to be a more powerful frame for proper ball blasting.

These last 3 Rad Pros actually remind me a lot of Pro Staffs, with a light tip and stiff and stable throat, and this new PS97 v14 is different than usual, with a flexy - twisty -throat. Weird times..
Click to expand...
seen a few people on here say the Pro Labs Pro Staff (Hyper PS 6.1) is low powered interestingly
 
Mischko said:
Played with it in my university years, still have it. 66 flex, sw at 335, 22mm beam, 335g unstrung, how is that low powered..
Click to expand...
I agree in general that the 6.1 95 is not low powered, but the 6.1 Pro Labs is 18x20 while I think the original HPS 6.1 95 (at least the US version) was 16x18, so people could be thinking it feels lower powered by comparison. Or people are just stringing too high on the 18x20.
 
Mischko said:
Radical Pro, and basically all other Head's player's frames, were always total control racquets, needing a lot of effort and usually a lot of added weight. G360+ Rad Pro, I played with it for a year or so, is really underpowered, so this new one tries and somewhat succeeds to not be underpowered, it's nice when modded to min 325g

Pro Staff is - and always was - somewhat the opposite - control racquets but with max punch. Edberg's first 6.0 85 was like that, then Courier, Sampras, Federer ending with the mighty K88 and RF97A

6.1 95 introduced in early 90s was a 22mm beam punchy racquet, and most iterations afterwards always were on the stiffer side too, and we still see Lehecka blasting balls with it, and others of course. Nobody ever said that those frames were low powered.

K88 and RF97A are proper power frames with a flat beam and high stiffness

Whoever thought that Pro Staffs were somehow low powered total control frames was just wrong. Some youtubers were talking about the PS97 v13 a bit like that, total precision etc. Whether they were served that phrasing by Wilson marketing or not I obviously don't know. But PS97 v13 is an exception, having lower swingweight than usual, and it's not a surprise that PS97 v14 is trying to be a more powerful frame for proper ball blasting.

These last 3 Rad Pros actually remind me a lot of Pro Staffs, with a light tip and stiff and stable throat, and this new PS97 v14 is different than usual, with a flexy - twisty -throat. Weird times..
Click to expand...
Well said. Wilson was basically as a brand known for making stiffer racquets (bar the odd outlier like the nBlade), until around the time the V7 Blade and Clash emerged.

The 6.1 95 is a total powerhouse and I think the fact it is a stiffer layup is part of what gives it the enduring popularity, it’s a full on control racquet but it also packs a massive punch compared to its competitors.
 
Thanks for the thread! Can someone please compare 2023 Radical Pro with Wilson Blade v7 16x19?
I am a 4.0-4.5 player, sometimes struggling with consistency. I've been playing with Blade v7 for a while but had the feeling my game is not up to the racquet (less forgiving sweetspot and not the best movement on my behalf sometimes).
Moved to Speed MP which works fine for me but I can struggle with big hitters using heavier racquet and am looking for the most suitable racquet to me.
Boom Pro is also into consideration and I've heard nice things about TF40 versions. I tend to prefer less stiff racquets with good feel hence I am looking into this options. Any recommendations?
Thanks!
 
TennisManiac said:
Earlier this year I was on a racket journey. I demoed 9 rackets and settled on the PSV14. I never gave the Rad Pro 2023 a look as I felt that the last generation was just meh. I did however demo the Rad MP weighted up to my specs and thought it was decent. Anyhow, I was at a club last night playing a match and was looking at a bunch of demo rackets hanging on the wall. The Rad Pro Auxetic was one of them. Curiosity got the best of me so I grabbed it off the wall and hit a couple of balls with it. I was really surprised at how solid and stable it was. I really liked how it swung through the air too. The 20-21.5-21 beam design imo is perfection. I don't care what anyone says. The MP weighted up to the Pro's specs just doesn't hold a candle to the Pro. No way... No how... Period. The Pro hits a much heavier ball than the MP and returns are much better as well. Makes me want to order a demo now and tinker around with a little customization. Why in the heck aren't more people talking about this racket? Does everyone these days think they need to use a thick beamed, light, spin friendly racket with an RA of 60 to play tennis? Well good luck with that if you ever meet a high level player on court holding a racket like the Rad Pro, Pro Staff or Prestige Pro. Because you're about to get your butt spanked by some heavy balls. ;)
Click to expand...
Humph. So it was really that good? It’s one I haven’t thought of. Maybe since the YouTubers gave it a meh review, but were all jazzed up about the MP. Danggit, another demo
 
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Ellxaber said:
Thanks for the thread! Can someone please compare 2023 Radical Pro with Wilson Blade v7 16x19?
I am a 4.0-4.5 player, sometimes struggling with consistency. I've been playing with Blade v7 for a while but had the feeling my game is not up to the racquet (less forgiving sweetspot and not the best movement on my behalf sometimes).
Moved to Speed MP which works fine for me but I can struggle with big hitters using heavier racquet and am looking for the most suitable racquet to me.
Boom Pro is also into consideration and I've heard nice things about TF40 versions. I tend to prefer less stiff racquets with good feel hence I am looking into this options. Any recommendations?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Worth trying the Pro Kennex Q+ Tour 315 as well
 
Ellxaber said:
Thanks for the thread! Can someone please compare 2023 Radical Pro with Wilson Blade v7 16x19?
I am a 4.0-4.5 player, sometimes struggling with consistency. I've been playing with Blade v7 for a while but had the feeling my game is not up to the racquet (less forgiving sweetspot and not the best movement on my behalf sometimes).
Moved to Speed MP which works fine for me but I can struggle with big hitters using heavier racquet and am looking for the most suitable racquet to me.
Boom Pro is also into consideration and I've heard nice things about TF40 versions. I tend to prefer less stiff racquets with good feel hence I am looking into this options. Any recommendations?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

If you are using the Speed MP and are looking at a little more mass then the Speed Pro seems like something you should consider. Same comfortable feel with more control and plow through.
 
heavyD said:
If you are using the Speed MP and are looking at a little more mass then the Speed Pro seems like something you should consider. Same comfortable feel with more control and plow through.
Click to expand...
Haven't seriously considered it as I've always played with a 16x19 string pattern. But I guess the spin potential of Speed pro is not that different compared to Blade v7 16x19 (at least if I look at Tennis Warehouse's reviews and stats).
So it makes sense to add it to my demo list :) thanks for the suggestion!
 
Is the quality control on spot? Because i just saw that auxetic has a lower SW than 360 plus and i am intrigued to try it. Loved 360 plus pro but only for 30-40 minutes max :p
 
dr. godmode said:
Yeah once you are pushing serious specs the Pro starts to make a lot of sense.

I kind of wrote it off honestly until I did a bunch of customization for the Youtuber MP Tennis who ended up switching to the Rad Pro I customized for him.
Click to expand...
What all strings did you try in the Rad Pro? And what do you think works best in "your" opinion? Something a bit gummy and powerful like Luxilon Alu Power, Firestorm or Head Lynx? Or something stiffer and spinier like Confidential or Poly Tour Rev?
 
TennisManiac said:
What all strings did you try in the Rad Pro? And what do you think works best in "your" opinion? Something a bit gummy and powerful like Luxilon Alu Power, Firestorm or Head Lynx? Or something stiffer and spinier like Confidential or Poly Tour Rev?
Click to expand...
on one of his videos he tried it with restring zero.
 
Ellxaber said:
Haven't seriously considered it as I've always played with a 16x19 string pattern. But I guess the spin potential of Speed pro is not that different compared to Blade v7 16x19 (at least if I look at Tennis Warehouse's reviews and stats).
So it makes sense to add it to my demo list :) thanks for the suggestion!
Click to expand...

Speed pro is down to $150 at TW right now
 
I highly recommend stringing the head radical pro with crosses 3-4lb looser than the mains, for a few reasons.

It significantly improves spin, cause the mains can move a lot easier.

Sweet spot is significantly improved.

It raises launch angle a little bit but not enough to be a problem, it makes the racquet a lot better at getting extremely low balls at reach back over the net, without imo taking away from its style of low launch angle on topspin groundstrokes or slice. Obviously it does slightly but not enough to make it bad; allows for much heavier balls.

There is a thread regarding this somewhere on the prior model about how much it significantly improved it. I've tried it on the prior model as well as this one and it really does upgrade the frame to the next level.

I'd start at 3lb and go from there. Also rather than loosening by 3lb, I'd instead only loosen by 1-2lb and tighten by 2-3lb vs your usual tension. Better to start at decrease Cross by 1lb and increase mains by 3lb, but depends what your usual tension is also.
 
Evobacsi said:
Anyone familiar with Head's XTR line? Only found out it exists today... it features graphene touch...
Click to expand...
I’m curious too. Sounds like the Radical XTR is a remake of the graphene touch Radical MP with an updated paint job that I really like. Really interested in trying one.
 
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