Can anyone compare the Dunlop 300G to Head i-Radical MP?

A

AndrewD

Legend
I've been considering the POG OS as my much needed new frame but have been a little concerned about the 107sq headsize.

As a result I began looking at a 98sq alternative and found the Dunlop 300G far and away the best of the bunch (good power, control and spin. excellent on serves, groundies and at net) within my price range. However, when I had a look at its specs I noticed that they were very similar to the older Head i-Radical MP although the i-Radical is (to me in Australia and on a budget) about $50 cheaper.

Dunlop 300G Head I-Radical MP
Head size: 98 98
Length: 27 27
Strung Weight: 10.8 10.8
Balance: 4pts HL 2pts HL
Swingweight: 300 297
Stiffness: 64 64
Beam Width: 21.5 21
String Pattern: 16x19 18x20

Can anyone who has played with both of these racquets (Ive only hit with the Dunlop) provide some feedback regarding similarities and differences between the two?
 
AndrewD,

I've been playing with the 300G for a year now, and I have occasionally hit with the Liquidmetal Radical (not the i.Rad). In general, the 300G is an awesome racquet, though it lacks some power. The Radicals have more power (especially the OS), but are less spin-friendly (especially the MP) and have less feel (though feel is so personal...)

Hope that helps.
 
Boris, Thanks that helps quite a lot thanks. As I said, I was going to go for the POG OS but just had some doubts about using an oversize head. Apart from that it had good power, spin, control, feel, stability and comfort. Just wasnt sure if I would weaken my game by using a 107sq head instead of a 98sq

I originally tried out the LM Rad and liked it a lot but way too expensive here ($300plus). The 300G seemed a good alternative and better priced. The POG OS isnt supposed to be a high power frame either but I got good pace on my shots plus a very solid response when the ball was hit hard to me. Have you found any problems with the 300G due to the light weight (i know you can add lead tape) when you're playing someone perhaps of a higher standard than you who hits harder and with more weight on their shots?
 
Hi,

I am a good 4.0 player. When I play someone better than me, the problem is not that they pound so hard as to torque my racquet, but that they move me around until I make an error. A lighter stick is helpful here, because it gets to the ball sooner, and produces more spin, which is critical to keep a ball in play when you are stretched out wide. Honestly, I have never felt that stability was a serious issue with the 300G (I used to play with an I.Prestige MP, so I know how a hefty stick feels like). If anything, when I play a hard hitter I try to focus on using good stroke mechanics, and that is normally enough. And, at least for me, the additional spin I get is definitely worth the price I pay. By the way, I totally second the saying that one should use the heaviest stick that does not slow one's swing down.

That said, the 300G has (in my view) one single drawback: it is not-so-powered. The lack of power also requires a bit more punch to hit deep volleys. After trying various configurations, I ended up adding 3+3 grams of lead tape at 3 and 9 o'clock (if you search in the forum you will find several tips for customizing the 300G); this provides improved stability and some additional power without sacrifying maneuverability too much.
 
sorry to hijack the thread Andrew but i believe u have a HEad stick to sell right??

what grip size is it??? might be interested thanks man
 
No, sorry Cedric I cant recall posting anything about a racquet for sale. I did say a while back that I had a Head Prestige Pro and the idea of selling it had occurred but haven't really put any further thought into it. Is that the one you mean? Regardless, Im in Australia so that might be a pain for anyone if I did want to off-load it.

Interesting Boris. You pretty much confirmed what a lot of others have said about the 300G's lack of innate power. I really mix my shots up - some hard and flat, some heavy top, some slice- and will occasionally move my grips around to get the spin I want. So, if I always have to provide the punch, even when I just want to slide into a slice backhand, it mightn't be the one for me. Im a 3.5 (due to infrequent play) but my net game is still a notch or two higher (4.0 at the moment, 4.5 when Im playing regularly) so I know that a frame requiring me to really give the volleys a nudge isn't the best idea.

I'm getting the feeling that the POG OS might be the better frame then. It's not overly powerful (dont want that at the expense of control) but it gives me sufficient pace probably due to the OS head and allows me to play a more classical style game. That last part is probably the most important to me. I was brought up playing a classical serve-volley/all-court game without the extreme grips, lots of slice, chip and charge, hitting the ball early and using my opponents pace to get pace on the shot. So, from your feedback and my playing of the POG it would seem I'd have a better chance at playing that game with the POG OS rather than the Dunlop 300G.

Many thanks for your input Boris. Sorry about the mix-up Cedric, let me know if that was the frame you were talking about.
 
Andrew D,

In reference to your question about the differences of the 300G and i.radical, IMO the 300g MP is a slightly better racquet than the i.radical. The 300g seems to have a LITTLE better in power, stability, and spin. However, it seems to me that your consideration of the POG OS and the 300G is for quite different racquets. If you can handle the weight of the POG OS and a livelier stringbed of an OS then I would say go with the POG, especially if you play doubles. However, I found the POG OS a bit cumbersome through a long match. I am using a 300g with a little lead tape at 3 and 9 and find it very maneuverable and okay for hard hitting.

Good luck.
 
yup that's the one AndrewD, btw if u r in Sydney there's few places in town i would recommend to purchase your 300G

top of the list woould be

Bakers Tennis shop 155 castlereagh street
9264 5288

but your racket should cost under $250

there's a place @ burwood aswell ....200 for the 300G

btw how playable is the Head prestige Pro? is it heavier than your radical?
would u rate it as an all court stick?
 
Thanks Cedric. Unfortunately, Im in Queensland which is one of the reasons Ive had so much trouble in demoing racquets. Really nowhere here that lets you take them out for long enough. I was lucky with the POG that Equinox from this board offered to have a hit with me when I was in Melbourne and got to use his POG OS for a good hour and a half. My experience of it was different to many others (good power, feel, comfort, spin, control -the works) so if it hadnt been for the generous offer I might have passed it by.

I find the Prestige Pro to be substantially more head heavy than the LM Radical I demoed (dont own the LM) with a lot less power, higher swingweight and, naturally, a far smaller sweetspot. Its the sort of frame Id use for some fun but not in competition. Nice on the arm but you've really got to smack the ball to get power, its not so good for slice shots and topspin is there is you build up massive racquet head speed. Volleys are solid but its too head heavy to be a real weapon at net(especially now when everyone can get huge power out of their PD's etc). In all, its not the sort of frame Id recommend if you have the time to get used to one with a slightly larger headsize.

The LM really did everything very, very well. Like I said, I'd have gone with it if it wasnt so bloody expensive. Through TW (plus shipping) its around $290. Purchased in Australia its $300+. Not sure where you are but if you're in the States I'd say give it a try. If I didnt have to pay shipping and got it at US prices for $240 it would have been tempting. Only downside I found is, once again, it didn't take slice as well as other frames (string pattern is 18x20) but otherwise it's a lovely frame.

Swingman, thanks mate. I'm pretty badly out of shape but when I hit with the POG OS (thanks to Equinox) I was surprised at how light it is. Thought it'd be far heavier so it wasn't a problem. Im sure as I get back into shape and hit with it more often the weight wont be an issue. Helps for me that Ive had a long time out of tennis and my last frames have all been from the 80's where 12oz+ were the norm. My game would only change slightly with the POG and the 300G due to the smaller headsize. To me the key is stiffness and there's only a notch between the two (POG 63, Dunlop 64). Swingweight and balance would all change when I modified the 300G so I'd end with two frames that spec'd quite closely. But when you said 'the livelier stringbed of the oversize' I did think thats far better for my chip charge style than the Dunlop.
 
Boris said:
That said, the 300G has (in my view) one single drawback: it is not-so-powered... I ended up adding 3+3 grams of lead tape at 3 and 9 o'clock
Click to expand...

Hi Boris, I added lead the same at 3 and 9 - and then half the rest of the goddam packet of lead under the butt cap of the handle just to make the thing behave! Really it's a great frame but you _must_ customise it. It's just too light otherwise. It's comfortable and good quality and has many good points, but on the downside...

. I found the upper hoop area unresponsive
. too much torque without the lead
. slices float way too easily

I cannot comment on the iRad but have myself moved to the LM Radical MP and absolutely love the added pop punch power.

I was failing with the 300g. I'm a light skinny 5'11" guy and I needed a beefier swingweight, plus the liquidmetal titanium that seems to pull open the sweetspot. There's always a downside - the stiffer frame has my wrist hurting. I figure this is just transitional though.

AndrewD - your racquet quest truly continues... I can see a Holy Grail search on the horizon for you... listen I walked into a tennis shop in Syd here and said I can buy the LM Radical MP online for $279 (tennis mart .com.au) and so the shop sold to me for $289. Try a price-matching approach.
 
Ha, ha, bertrevert. I promise I'm not the new TripleB LOL. All up Ive only hit with a small handful of frames (especially compared to others on the board) but enough to know what I did and didnt like. Keep coming back to the same ones though.

My only concern with the POG OS was just the typical, 'should I use an oversize or midplus'. I dont think that's a new issue for me LOL. I like your enterprise but $290 is just out of my price range (Im studying for a PhD and we students are notoriously cheap LOL). I think the issue would have been solved if I could have had a week with the LM and the POG OS but, most likely, I'll have to bite the bullet and go with the POG. I figure, if I pay 200 and dont like it then I'll have an easy sale on Aus ****.

Until then, I thought Id suss out some opinions on each. I find that sometimes helps to bring up an issue you hadnt paid much attention to or glossed over in the typical excitment of trying a new frame.

Should add that when Equinox and I had a hit it was a stinking 35 degrees so the fact that it took an hour and a half for me to feel tired using the racquet does make me feel that its weight cant be an issue. Also bonus marks that my arm felt better after using it than it did when I hit with the LM. Thought that was just me but I see you noticed it as well.
 
bertrevert said:
Hi Boris, I added lead the same at 3 and 9 - and then half the rest of the goddam packet of lead under the butt cap of the handle just to make the thing behave! Really it's a great frame but you _must_ customise it. It's just too light otherwise. It's comfortable and good quality and has many good points, but on the downside...

. I found the upper hoop area unresponsive
. too much torque without the lead
. slices float way too easily
Click to expand...

Hi,

initially I also compensated with some weight in the handle. Then I found that I liked the racquet to be just a tad more head heavy, and now I only keep it at 3 and 9. I will definitely agree that slices tend to float with the 300G if you don't put your body weight in the shot; I think this is somewhat typical of lighter racquets (my backhand slice with the I.Prestige was much sharper). Without lead I didn't have torque problems; that happens IMO if you mainly hit with your arm, but if you put your weight behind the shot stability is much less of an issue. The reason why I added lead is to have some more pop on my groudstrokes and serve.
 
If you are set on a 98 sq. in. frame, I would suggest the Head TiRad MP instead of the iRad. The iRad felt too stiff in comparison to the TiRad. Other suggestions include Head I prestige MP XL or even the Dunlop 200G XL
 
Hi Andrew,
I used the i-Rads for bout 18months and the 300g for 9. I believe the i-Rad to be better. The 300G was just to flimsy. Lacked stability etc, nice to hit serves with good to volley with but just lacked it off the ground. The i-Rad i just feel I can hit with more control. I actually just dumped my 300G's a few months back and got my shipment of tour 10MP VE's from TW yesterday, these r the bomb man.
The I-Rads are stiff as a plank tho, but whenever I go back to em, they just feel good.

Come on down to Melbourne man and u can demo all 3 of these babies
-well at least an i-Rad and a T10 MPve
 
tiptopperoo,
you actually liked the tour 10MP VE? I had a hit with it a couple of times and just couldn't get into it. Really had a lot of vibration on anything struck up the top of the head and didn't like the feel. Truthfully, I dont think that the Volkl head shape suits me at all. Reminds me a lot of the old Puma/Estusa Becker racquets and I just never liked the feel I got from hitting with them. Guess I like very traditional head shapes as have never enjoyed Yonex either. But mate, I wish I was back in Melbourne. Im Victorian born and bred and really miss the place.

Richie Rich, thanks very much but I'll give the LM Prestige a miss. Havent liked any of the Prestige range to date but thanks for the offer. Looks like Cedric is interested though.

Bhagi Katbamna, I wasnt set on a 98 at all. Originally was going to grab the POG OS but just wanted to be sure there wasn't something else Id be as happy with that had a slightly smaller headsize. In my price range and for a 3.5-4.0 with my style of game Im getting the feeling there isnt.
 
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