Agassi Racquets

[Big John]

I started playing tennis again probably say 10 or 15 years ago and the racquet I used at the time was the Liquidmetal Radical OS. The pros at the club I hit at were huge Agassi fans and that was the latest in the retail line of racquets I guess that was most similar to what he endorsed at the time.

Following this was the Intelligence Radical OS from memory, then maybe the Flexpoint Radical OS. Not sure what happened after that, my experience with these racquets stopped at the Intelligence model.

From another thread, apparently this is the order -

260 (yellow and black),
then the gray and yellow Twin Tube,
then the gray, yellow, and red twin Tube(the pic is earlier in the thread),
then the Head Radical Ti,
Intelligence Radical,
Liquid Metal Radical,
Flexpoint Radical, and since he has been retired I have seen the
Microgel and now Youtek Radicals.

Then a few years ago, Head brought out the Limited Edition Agassi Racquet, to mixed reviews it seems.

To cut a long story short, has anyone hit all or most of these racquets and which one is seen as the best model? Is it the Trisys 260? Has anyone really compared the LE with the 260? I understand that the quality control from Austria is/was vastly superior to the Chinese racquets, but practically speaking, is there that much difference if you got a few that were of similar weight from China?

I had a hit of dubs yesterday and if there is an easier racquet to volley with I would love to know what it is! The combination of a larger head with enough weight to know where the racquet is was wonderful, really enjoyed it.

 

[scotus]

Paint jobs.

 

[Big John]

Really? That's why I used the word 'endorsed'.. I do believe he used some form of OS Radical for most of his career and not too many others did, hence 'Agassi Racquets,' essentially his signature line of sticks?

I know a bloke who has a number of his actual racquets, and no, not the remake, some racquets he played with on tour. People seem to believe that it was a made in Austria 260 under the paint most of the time? I'm not so much interested in what he used, I can go and hit with those. What I'm interested in is which of the OS radicals in the learned opinion of some the experts on these boards is the best to buy and play with now?

I'm not Andre Agassi and wouldn't even attempt to play like him. I think he might have been on the right track with using such an easy to hit head size though for us mere mortals who haven't got the time, talent or inclination to hit as many balls as the pros. Particularly when overcoming poor footwork when attempting to serve volley at doubles, I need all the help I can get!

 

[Vlad_C]

I believe he played with the POG OS in the beginning, and later when he switched to Head he just asked them to replicate that.

 

[Big John]

It could well be, apparently Bolleteri's was sponsored by Prince at that stage? Not so much interested in what Agassi used, interested in how all of the various Radical OS racquets play!

Am getting my hands on a few over the weekend, will figure it out by myself in the absence of any help!

 

[floydcouncil]

Really? That's why I used the word 'endorsed'.. I do believe he used some form of OS Radical for most of his career and not too many others did, hence 'Agassi Racquets,' essentially his signature line of sticks?

I know a bloke who has a number of his actual racquets, and no, not the remake, some racquets he played with on tour. People seem to believe that it was a made in Austria 260 under the paint most of the time? I'm not so much interested in what he used, I can go and hit with those. What I'm interested in is which of the OS radicals in the learned opinion of some the experts on these boards is the best to buy and play with now?

I'm not Andre Agassi and wouldn't even attempt to play like him. I think he might have been on the right track with using such an easy to hit head size though for us mere mortals who haven't got the time, talent or inclination to hit as many balls as the pros. Particularly when overcoming poor footwork when attempting to serve volley at doubles, I need all the help I can get!

Go get an Austrian Radical Tour OS (black/yellow version) from E*bay for around $50 and you are set. They are very easy to find.

 

[nycoara]

LM paint

Pls check it out

This stick is Andre's LM paint @2004.

http://twitpic.com/7na5iv
http://twitpic.com/7na614

No clagetion, just paint like zebra,,lol

 

[jokinla]

I believe he played with the POG OS in the beginning, and later when he switched to Head he just asked them to replicate that.

Yep, he played with the Prince Graphite at the start of his career, and it was great, I used it for years, still have some around somewhere.

 

[Long Face]

I have several Agassi racquets, such as Trisys 260 Bumblebee, Zebra, Ti Radical and liquid metal.

As a 4.5 level player, I like the Ti Radical the best, and am still using it from time to time.

The original Bumblebee is too heavy for me.

 

[I Heart Thomas Muster]

I've played with the Radicals since they first came out and my all time favorite is a tie between the Twin Tube Zebra looking model for its amazing feel and the Flexpoint Pro Tour model.

http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/Reviews/HRTR/HRTRReview.html

Those are GOAT-ish specs in my book.

 

[Down_the_line]

Before I started using the IG Speed I was using Flexpoint Radical OS's and I loved them. I've also played with the Ti. Radical OS's and a bit with the i.Radical OS's but the Flexpoints were my favourite.

 

[Fed Kennedy]

I believe at one point Andre had a custom 20x21 string pattern

 

[Big John]

Thanks so much for your input, much appreciated. It is funny that you mention the Flexpoint Radical Tour IHTM. That seems to have pretty much my ideal specs, 58 flex (pt57a like?), open pattern, 100 head size etc. It had been a while since I hit with the Agassi LE but it did feel a bit 'sluggish' from memory. I was worried that the larger head size would lead to a heavy swingweight on some of the OS racquets, a bit like the 269.1 (pro stock Youtek Radical Pro)? That is probably my ultimate stick but it has so much weight in the head that to get it down to my ideal balance it needs weigh about 360 grams, about 10 too much for me ideally.

I've actually got a Flexpoint Radical Tour that a mate of mine won his first futures tournament with who's gone on to much bigger and better things but funnily enough had never hit it, had always preferred to try pro stocks instead!

I'm going to change the pallets and cut it longer to probably 27.5 and take it to the court today in comparison to the Agassi LE, pt57a, h22, pro stock open pattern Blx Blade, Pure Control Plus and 269.1. What's the bet that like every other racquet, it will be great for certain elements but one of the others will better it in another and I'll just end up more confused..

I'll report back with how I get on..

 

[Big John]

Got hold of a made in Austria 290 also, looking forward to putting it up against the LE model..

 

[Big John]

Thoughts on how best to string these racquets? Looks like rip control at 63 worked well 10 years ago, any thoughts for a more modern approach?

 

[Ronaldo]

Thought the LE is based on the Ti mold. Less refined than the previous Radicals or the i.Radical IMHO.

 

[Blaxican10s]

I believe at one point Andre had a custom 20x21 string pattern

I think that it was actually a 21x22 pattern.

 

[I Heart Thomas Muster]

I'm currently playing with Youtek Radical Pros with half an ounce of lead tape under the grips and love the way they hit. That said if I found 4 new Flexpoint Radical Tours in 4 3/8 my Youteks would be history. The FXP Radical Tour hits a heavy ball and has great plow through. And it seems to spin the ball even better than my Youteks. I think you're gonna have some fun with it despite it not being pro stock. Good luck!

 

[Big John]

I like your thinking IHTM! The tgk 269.1 (Youtek Radical Pro pro stock) in slightly longer form is glorious, hits a massive ball with heaps of spin and volleys well too. I guess this is why Sharapova and others use it.. Sounds like we're on the same path.

My only issue is that it is a little too heavy in the head even without lead and has a very high swing weight. Love it for clay, just a bit too hefty for me on fast hard court?

You are spot on, this is the advantage of the Flexpoint Radical Tour. The 58 flex, hundred head and open pattern are pretty much perfect specs along with the head light balance. I'm going to lengthen one and compare it to the 269.1..

The 260.4 (IG Radical Pro) has a more headlight balance but has no pop at all! Still playing around with that, having a look this week at a tour player's setup with this stick and am going to try and replicate it, have failed miserably so far!

 

[arrowtowntennisclub]

i have a austrian trysis 260 OS and string it up with kirshbaum proline evo and 58/56. imo a crisper syn gut like OGSM strung around 62 or a crisper/older generation poly strung in the high 50s work really well with the bumblebee. not sure about the other versions though as it's the only OS radical ive owned. crushes the ball!

 

[Ronaldo]

i have a austrian trysis 260 OS and string it up with kirshbaum proline evo and 58/56. imo a crisper syn gut like OGSM strung around 62 or a crisper/older generation poly strung in the high 50s work really well with the bumblebee. not sure about the other versions though as it's the only OS radical ive owned. crushes the ball!

Used the Bumblebee with 60# Polystar back in 2003. Awesome

 

[I Heart Thomas Muster]

I like your thinking IHTM! The tgk 269.1 (Youtek Radical Pro pro stock) in slightly longer form is glorious, hits a massive ball with heaps of spin and volleys well too. I guess this is why Sharapova and others use it.. Sounds like we're on the same path.

My only issue is that it is a little too heavy in the head even without lead and has a very high swing weight. Love it for clay, just a bit too hefty for me on fast hard court?

You are spot on, this is the advantage of the Flexpoint Radical Tour. The 58 flex, hundred head and open pattern are pretty much perfect specs along with the head light balance. I'm going to lengthen one and compare it to the 269.1..

The 260.4 (IG Radical Pro) has a more headlight balance but has no pop at all! Still playing around with that, having a look this week at a tour player's setup with this stick and am going to try and replicate it, have failed miserably so far!

You're right about the Youteks being a bit sluggish on fast courts. Mine are 12.1 oz and have a 340+ SW which does require earlier prep on fast courts or with my flat hitting buddy. What I do like is when stretched wide or on reflex shots they give that extra little something that I never got from the older Radicals or Fischers I used.

I wish I still played on clay.

Unfortunately the IG Radical Pro didn't do much for me and my Youteks are hitting the two year mark (used to change once a year till two kids and a dog ruined all my fun :razz so I might take a sabbatical from the Radicals and switch to the Volkl PB10 Mid. The specs are somewhat close to the Flexpoint Tour Radical and I'm told it's a great racquet for the OHBH which is my best shot. Price is right too.

Sounds like with all your tinkering you need a Prince Tuning Center. Thing changed my life. Not for the better mind you cause I'll probably never stop tinkering but it's damn fun.

 

[Big John]

I hear you on the IG Radical Pro. I know a bloke on tour that uses one, going to check out his setup and will report back. It just had no pop did it, not a patch on the old one.

Funnily enough I'd been considering an RDC! I really do like your thinking. There's a bloke here in Australia that makes a 'better' rdc that measures radial flex and all sorts of things. I'm worried if I go there that I will open pandora's box.. I'm thinking it will be best for my sanity to stick with the 'how it feels' method?

I must be close to my ultimate stick, there are very few sticks left for me to try.. I think the sort of specs of the Flexpoint Radical Tour are where I will end up, would prefer it to be a Wilson ideally so am doing my best to find the Wilson most like that (h19, pro stock blade, h22 all in open pattern?).

 

[Down_the_line]

I hear you on the IG Radical Pro. I know a bloke on tour that uses one, going to check out his setup and will report back. It just had no pop did it, not a patch on the old one.

Funnily enough I'd been considering an RDC! I really do like your thinking. There's a bloke here in Australia that makes a 'better' rdc that measures radial flex and all sorts of things. I'm worried if I go there that I will open pandora's box.. I'm thinking it will be best for my sanity to stick with the 'how it feels' method?

I must be close to my ultimate stick, there are very few sticks left for me to try.. I think the sort of specs of the Flexpoint Radical Tour are where I will end up, would prefer it to be a Wilson ideally so am doing my best to find the Wilson most like that (h19, pro stock blade, h22 all in open pattern?).

The Blade may be your best bet.

 

[Fuji]

I like your thinking IHTM! The tgk 269.1 (Youtek Radical Pro pro stock) in slightly longer form is glorious, hits a massive ball with heaps of spin and volleys well too. I guess this is why Sharapova and others use it.. Sounds like we're on the same path.

My only issue is that it is a little too heavy in the head even without lead and has a very high swing weight. Love it for clay, just a bit too hefty for me on fast hard court?

You are spot on, this is the advantage of the Flexpoint Radical Tour. The 58 flex, hundred head and open pattern are pretty much perfect specs along with the head light balance. I'm going to lengthen one and compare it to the 269.1..

The 260.4 (IG Radical Pro) has a more headlight balance but has no pop at all! Still playing around with that, having a look this week at a tour player's setup with this stick and am going to try and replicate it, have failed miserably so far!

Quick question: 260.4? Is that just the stock IG Rad Pro? I haven't heard of that one before...

That being said, my dream frame is the 260.2 (Youtek Rad MP 16x19) it's such a great frame, too bad they are so darned rare to get a matched pair on!

-Fuji

 

[Big John]

Thats the one, IG Rad Pro. I had a 260.2 and it was a very different racquet to the 260.4, that's for sure.

Specs on the pro's 260.4 that I was after are balance 32.5, 330 grams unstrung. All lead at 12.. Will find out how he strings it, will try and replicate that with my couple and see how they go..

Agreed on the blade, winning so far. Yet to hit the h19, not so many people seem to like it as opposed to the h22 though? Would love to know if there is in fact a softer layup open pattern h22, or whether it is just the tight pattern ones that come softer?

I've got some Janko Tipsarevic racquets coming, 62 flex, open pattern. They might be pretty good too?

 

[Big John]

Strung up my friend's iradical OS with full RPM Team at 58 and he loved it..

 

[Puddy]

From what I remember, one of his custom-made Head sticks had so many mains (perhaps 20 or 22 - I don't know) that the Prince Pro Blend string (Kevlar mains) was not long enough to cover all of the mains. As a result, the cross stings (either natural gut or some synthetic) were strung to cover the two outer mains as well as the rest of the crosses. Look it up and you will see what I am talking about

I am most likely wrong, but I am on to something :shock:

 

[I Heart Thomas Muster]

Here's a bad pic showing the outside mains being different from the rest

http://www.pajiba.com/assets_c/2010/02/andre-agassi_1350126c-thumb-260x162-7914.jpg

 

[Ronaldo]

Here's a bad pic showing the outside mains being different from the rest

http://www.pajiba.com/assets_c/2010/02/andre-agassi_1350126c-thumb-260x162-7914.jpg

Around the mains pattern, eh?

 

[zapvor]

i was in new york for the open and dropped by Roman's shop. andre has 2 cubbyholes for his frames. he had most of teh paintjobs, but i did not see liquidmetal. of course there were a bunch of donnays too!

 

[Big John]

Have one of his actual sticks in my hand. Liquidmetal pj, just has 'Head' on the sides of the throat and 'Liquidemetal' on one side of the head and 'Head' on the other along with fake liquidmetal ridges. I have to say that I think the liquidmetal pj's (I've had pt10's and pt57e's) with the fake ridges are amongst the coolest Head paintjobbed racquets, love them! I thought this one was especially interesting as there was no model mentioned on the pj. The is just A.A. on the inside of the throat. Seems to have a blacked out in the centre Yonex buttcap?

Strung it up with full RPM Team at 58lbs, taking it for a hit shortly.. It weighs 376 strung with 2 over grips (I put one over the top) and a dampener. I think the owner may have taken some weight out to make it more playable. Balance is about 31.5 so it isn't ridiculous to think of playing with it, certainly will be very careful with low balls though..

I'll see if I can flex it on Saturday morning, will let you know..

 

[nycoara]

Hi

Your one is like this??
http://twitpic.com/7na5iv
http://twitpic.com/7na614

Thanks
nycoara

Have one of his actual sticks in my hand. Liquidmetal pj, just has 'Head' on the sides of the throat and 'Liquidemetal' on one side of the head and 'Head' on the other along with fake liquidmetal ridges. I have to say that I think the liquidmetal pj's (I've had pt10's and pt57e's) with the fake ridges are amongst the coolest Head paintjobbed racquets, love them! I thought this one was especially interesting as there was no model mentioned on the pj. The is just A.A. on the inside of the throat. Seems to have a blacked out in the centre Yonex buttcap?

Strung it up with full RPM Team at 58lbs, taking it for a hit shortly.. It weighs 376 strung with 2 over grips (I put one over the top) and a dampener. I think the owner may have taken some weight out to make it more playable. Balance is about 31.5 so it isn't ridiculous to think of playing with it, certainly will be very careful with low balls though..

I'll see if I can flex it on Saturday morning, will let you know..

 

[dr325i]

Thats the one, IG Rad Pro. I had a 260.2 and it was a very different racquet to the 260.4, that's for sure.

Specs on the pro's 260.4 that I was after are balance 32.5, 330 grams unstrung. All lead at 12.. Will find out how he strings it, will try and replicate that with my couple and see how they go..

Agreed on the blade, winning so far. Yet to hit the h19, not so many people seem to like it as opposed to the h22 though? Would love to know if there is in fact a softer layup open pattern h22, or whether it is just the tight pattern ones that come softer?

I've got some Janko Tipsarevic racquets coming, 62 flex, open pattern. They might be pretty good too?

Are you sure about the TGK260.4? I thought the YT Radical MP was the TGK260.x, YT Radical Pro was TGK269.x.
The IG Radical changed to TGT?
I may be wrong though. I would be surprised if IG Rad MP changed and Pro went back to the YT Rad MP Mold...

 

[Big John]

Absolutely Nycoara, looks exactly like that. Hits a very solid ball too, a bit on the heavy side though!

Funnily enough dr325i I restrung the IG Radical Pro Pro Stock today and took it for a hit. I put that Flex Inifinity in it at 48 46 as my previous efforts have left me very much underwhelmed and hey presto! A magnificently flexy stick with so much feel and reasonable pop. Very happy, could be the best one yet..

As for the code, agreed on the tgk 269.1, got a few of those and it is one of my favourite racquets. My only complaint is that they are pretty heavy in the head even without lead. They were the update from the Microgel 233.1 from memory, which had a head that was supposed to be 100 but I was told was more like 104 in real life, it was big. The Youtek Radical Pro was more like a real 100 and had a pointier beam, clearly different mold?

The IG Radical Pro reminded me greatly of the 260.2 I had in shape. I think that was just a 260.1 in open pattern? Now the IG Radical Pro has the new grommets and is clearly smaller than the 269.1 I think it is 98? So looks pretty much the same as the IG Radical mp I think with an open pattern?

It does look very different with the clear CAP style grommets and is very flexy. I think they did this to overcome the complaints from many that the Youtek RP was too head heavy, this one is certainly more head light but it has become more of a control stick I think? The head size looks smaller than 98 to me but I could be wrong?

I could be wrong on the code, I'm pretty sure I checked when I took off the pallets to change them but I thought I'd read the 260.4 somewhere also. Could well be wrong, anyone else know?

 

[Big John]

Could well be wrong on the TGT thing too, I was looking for the code, was unaware of the TGK to TGT thing until recently, probably mistakenly assumed that they'd all become TGT's for the IG series.

All I do know is that strung loose and a bit longer, I love the racquet!

 

[NikeWilson]

Most of the people I've talked to don't like the new IG Radicals.

 

[Big John]

Until yesterday I would've agreed with them! I think the 260.2 was almost a test pilot for the IG RP and that racquet was great when you got it set up right but felt unstable and underpowered when you didn't. The Youtek Radical Pro was a fantastic racquet for those people that could handle the heavy swing weight, it hit a massive ball and had a lovely soft feel with heaps of spin in addition to being really easy to hit.

I think the only real complaint people had was the weight so I suspect Head thought they'd go with something more like the more manageable Radical MP mold that was less heavy in the head thinking they'd sell more if it was lighter in the head. Hence the IG Radical Pro, which did address the weight issue, but the problem now is it has lost a lot of pop, is harder to hit and unstable as a result.

The ideal solution would have been in my opinion to remake the Youtek Radical Pro mold with a different layup that was lighter in the head. I think this racquet does now exist for at least one tour player that I know of, essentially a more headlight 269.1. Not sure what the code is, hopefully at some point I'll be able to get one and have a look. If and when I do, I'll let you guys know. That setup for me would be the ultimate stick and the ultimate evolution of the whole Agassi line of bigger headed radicals that it appears peaked with the Flexpoint Radical Tour - 100 head, 58 flex, headlight balance, great stick!

As an aside, I think many are stringing their IG RP's far too tight, mine only came to life yesterday with Rod Groom's magical white Flex Infinity at 48 46 pre-stretched 15%. Came off the stringer at 31 on my ERT, 30 after hitting. We'll see how long it stays there, it felt glorious yesterday.

These extra pre-stretched polys like 4G need to be strung lower, the extra pre-stretch at the factory and on the stringer takes power out of it but they hold their tension beautifully, hence the need to string lower than many are used to. If you string them at your normal tensions, they'll feel completely underpowered and won't drop off to the point where they would feel good very quickly. This leads to most saying 'bad string.' Its not, just needs to be handled differently. What I would say is that it doesn't have that explosive elastic feeling of alu power when you first hit with it, but that feeling unfortunately doesn't last long and I can't be bothered re-stringing my sticks every time I hit. Expensive and time consuming and I'm not that good!

 

[Big John]

This 260.4 is very much a players stick and is quite pt57a like if you ask me. Which despite the feelings of many is not really the ideal stick for everyone, quite low powered and with a small sweet spot but with amazing feel. For those out there wanting the open pattern pt57a feeling, this 260.4 much too your disappointment I suspect is how it might play and yes, it is unstable and low powered but has awesome feel.

I'm pretty sure my 260.4 flexed at 59 but I'll check on Saturday morning, the IG RP is stiffer than that right? Will try and check that too.