Customized HEAD Youtek Radical MP

[zspyderman]

There have been a lot of talk about the Youtek Radicals here, and how they could be customized. I figured I post some pictures and the specs on a setup that rerally works with the Youtek, and turns it into a "Heavy Hitter". I've been customizing the Youteks for some time now, and they can be great player's racquets after a little touch up in the right hands. Any of the customizing companies can do this for you, if you don't want to get your hands dirty, and you want it right the first time.
Unstrung weight: 348g
Balance: 31 cm

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[big bang]

looks nice with caps on how does it play compared to the stock?

 

[zspyderman]

looks nice with caps on how does it play compared to the stock?

Plays like a Prestige on steroids. The extra weight compliments the stiffness of the racquet well, and you can really feel the youtek technology at work. The frame becomes very stable even on off centered shots, and goes through the ball with ease.

 

[Spatula]

So all you did was put CAP grom's on it? What were the new specs after that? Or was their lead used as well?

 

[zspyderman]

So all you did was put CAP grom's on it? What were the new specs after that? Or was their lead used as well?

The racquet is almost 50g heavier then the stock. The cap grommet only adds 14g to the original weight.

 

[zspyderman]

I hope I figured out how to resize the pictures to something more managable.

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[zspyderman]

There you go... LOL

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[forthegame]

As an aside, how did you resize the pics?
Thanks.

 

[ace0001a]

So Cap Grommets and Silicone in the handle. Doing the math, the Silicone adds roughly 30 grams since the Caps add 14 grams and the leather grip (I forgot how much a leather grip adds). So this also makes the racquet even more head light?

 

[zspyderman]

As an aside, how did you resize the pics?
Thanks.

When you upload them from "tinypic.com" click on resize, and pick the size for boards an blogs.

 

[zspyderman]

So Cap Grommets and Silicone in the handle. Doing the math, the Silicone adds roughly 30 grams since the Caps add 14 grams and the leather grip (I forgot how much a leather grip adds). So this also makes the racquet even more head light?

Yes. It is head light. No question. The leather grip is 22g usually. Minus the synthetic over grip, which is about 10g.

 

[Ross K]

To the OP,

Could you please go into detail re difference in feel between the frame before customizing and after.

Thanks,

R.

btw, I'm still seriously considering a major modding up job on a MG Rad.

 

[rjg007]

My customisation of my radical MP's was to put 15grams of lead on the handle and 5 grams of thinn strip placed under the original grommets. It seems to work quite nicely altho I am interested in playing a capped MP just to see what it is like. How hard is it to fit the caps and which ones do you use??

 

[Buckethead]

Plays like a Prestige on steroids. The extra weight compliments the stiffness of the racquet well, and you can really feel the youtek technology at work. The frame becomes very stable even on off centered shots, and goes through the ball with ease.

Do you sell them?If so leave your email address,i may be interested depending on the price.
thanks

 

[dgoran]

Of course he is selling them that was the reason for this post lol

Nice job on the radicals Zspydie Did you use tk57 Caps or the crappy TG238 caps?

 

[Jaewonnie]

eww Prestiges look gross without CAPs

 

[zspyderman]

To the OP,

Could you please go into detail re difference in feel between the frame before customizing and after.

Thanks,

R.

btw, I'm still seriously considering a major modding up job on a MG Rad.

The off the shelf version is very light and very "hollow". With the lack of mass in the racquet, the frame feels even stiffer then what it is, and it gives out this "ping" when striking the ball. You ahave to work pretty hard on every shot, and any off centered shot the racquet is twisting in your hand like crazy. Especially on returns. Of course this greatly depends on your playing style. If you are a touch player, the fram is probably prety good as is.
With the extra mass after modification, you gain a lot of stability. With the silicone in the handle, you get a more solid feel, and the racquet loses it's "hollowness". You will actually feel the racquet (frame) do the work, instead of the strings. (That's one of the things I go for when trying to get the string tension calibrated to a new frame) The custom Radical hits deeper and you gain a little more hight over the net. The biggest advantage is the serve.

 

[zspyderman]

eww Prestiges look gross without CAPs

Sorry. That was uploaded as an accident. Those are custom Prestiges built to Zimonjic's specs. (double's frame) You don't like them 'cause you haven't held one in your hand... LOL

 

[big bang]

so whats the balance after your modification? how headlight did you make it?

 

[teamzero]

What are some of the customizing companies out there?

 

[zspyderman]

Of course he is selling them that was the reason for this post lol

Nice job on the radicals Zspydie Did you use tk57 Caps or the crappy TG238 caps?

I don't see any difference between the two. I haven't seen any tk57s on any of the new racquets, and even the new PT57s from Kennelbach have the TG238 caps. I'm pretty happy with them. Before I wrote this response I even checked some of the older PTs I have laying around. 0 for tk57...

 

[big bang]

sorry you said it in your first post, my mistake

 

[zspyderman]

What are some of the customizing companies out there?

I guess we are not allowed to list them here. My list of about 4 different co's was removed by TW in a minute. I guess you need to find out on your own.
I didn't know TW customized racquets, but if they do, there is one...

 

[steve728]

I don't see any difference between the two. I haven't seen any tk57s on any of the new racquets, and even the new PT57s from Kennelbach have the TG238 caps. I'm pretty happy with them. Before I wrote this response I even checked some of the older PTs I have laying around. 0 for tk57...

Very nice work, Z!

Are there advantages to using the CAP grommets instead of using the equivalent amount of extra lead? I suppose the aesthetics are better because you can hide more lead around the head and the CAPs are better protection. But are there any playability advantages?

 

[zspyderman]

Very nice work, Z!

Are there advantages to using the CAP grommets instead of using the equivalent amount of extra lead? I suppose the aesthetics are better because you can hide more lead around the head and the CAPs are better protection. But are there any playability advantages?

It just turns it into more of a "player's racquet". You covered all the advantages yourself. No difference in playability.

 

[The-Lengend]

How hard is it to put the cap grommets on the Youtek Radical?

 

[zspyderman]

How hard is it to put the cap grommets on the Youtek Radical?

VERY! LOL

 

[zspyderman]

How hard is it to put the cap grommets on the Youtek Radical?

Make sure you have the right grommet. Some of the port holes are not big enough. When you do it for the first time, it will take some effort and work.

 

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

Yes. It is head light. No question. The leather grip is 22g usually. Minus the synthetic over grip, which is about 10g.

Haha. You look at the unstrung specs and of course it's more headlight! Stock form is around a quarter of an inch headlight, which is what? A balance of around 34 or 35 cm? The unstrung specs of your Radical is 0.5 cm more headheavy than an unstrung stock [K]Six.One Tour with and extra 8 grams.

So no lead tape under the caps? That's the biggest reason I want a Prestige, so I can hide lead under there with ease. :twisted:

I was actually expecting something a bit more complex when I saw that you suggested customization companies. No custom grips. But lots of silicone in the handle, nice! Saves the pain of shoving in 18g of lead in there.

 

[dr325i]

It just turns it into more of a "player's racquet". You covered all the advantages yourself. No difference in playability.

I also believe that the CAP adds slightly to the stiffness of the hoop...

 

[ace0001a]

Yes. It is head light. No question. The leather grip is 22g usually. Minus the synthetic over grip, which is about 10g.

So how much of the handle is filled with Silicone? I have a pair of Youtek Radical OSes that I'm thinking of adding weight to.

 

[star 5 15]

Zspyderman. What kind of silicone would reccomend exactly to put in the handles of racquets? What is it exactly and where can you buy it?

 

[zspyderman]

Zspyderman. What kind of silicone would reccomend exactly to put in the handles of racquets? What is it exactly and where can you buy it?

Something that's clear and stays elastic...

 

[zspyderman]

So how much of the handle is filled with Silicone? I have a pair of Youtek Radical OSes that I'm thinking of adding weight to.

It really depends on how much weight you need in the handle

 

[steve728]

I also believe that the CAP adds slightly to the stiffness of the hoop...

That's an interesting point, dr325i. Plus, the CAP goes down to the throat level, so the weight is distributed even more. With lead under the regular radical bumper, I think I would use lead only from 9 to 3. I've never used lead below those positions. So I guess that's another difference.

BTW, these recent YT Rad posts inspired me. I should be getting mine in the next few days!

 

[Raymond089]

What cap grommets would fit into the youtek radical easier? intelligence prestige caps or microgel caps? i am interested as i am going to attempt this myself (first time doing caps, but i have changed grommets before)

Please let me know.

Thanks.

Raymond.

 

[zspyderman]

That's an interesting point, dr325i. Plus, the CAP goes down to the throat level, so the weight is distributed even more. With lead under the regular radical bumper, I think I would use lead only from 9 to 3. I've never used lead below those positions. So I guess that's another difference.

BTW, these recent YT Rad posts inspired me. I should be getting mine in the next few days!

Good luck with your Youteks....

 

[Raymond089]

hey Zspyderman,

so with cap grommets it feels more solid? because i am keen on putting cap grommets on my radical and just a leather grip to counter weigh the caps.

 

[zspyderman]

What cap grommets would fit into the youtek radical easier? intelligence prestige caps or microgel caps? i am interested as i am going to attempt this myself (first time doing caps, but i have changed grommets before)

Please let me know.

Thanks.

Raymond.

Your biggest obsticle will be that some of the portholes are not big enough

 

[dr325i]

That's an interesting point, dr325i. Plus, the CAP goes down to the throat level, so the weight is distributed even more. With lead under the regular radical bumper, I think I would use lead only from 9 to 3. I've never used lead below those positions. So I guess that's another difference.

BTW, these recent YT Rad posts inspired me. I should be getting mine in the next few days!

Definitely worth trying...nice, soft (don't want to use word flexy) feel, easily customizable. It is just a PITA to fit those 238 CAPs.

However, I am sticking with my PT57A as the main stick... at least until I put the silicone in the Youtek.
I am waiting for the silicone to arrive, and with this USPS delivery service these days, it will probably arrive after the holidays (it was shipped 6 days ago from 200 miles away

 

[dr325i]

Your biggest obsticle will be that some of the portholes are not big enough

two of them actually -- at 8 and 4 o'clock. I simply could not fit them in...

 

[zspyderman]

two of them actually -- at 8 and 4 o'clock. I simply could not fit them in...

Those two are def, the most PITA. But just when you thought you were home scot free, come 11 & 1 o'clock...

 

[Ten_nuts]

I always play with Ti Radicals but they are a little light for me, so i add lead tape at 3 & 9 and at handle to bring it to 11.6 or 11.7 oz. I've read this and contacted Zspyderman to get 2 Youtek Radical with CAPS on. He is the best. After i got them strung with Luxilon Timo 17g at 54 lbs plus 1 overgrip and 1 Prince dampener, they weigh 11.66 oz each. I just played with them last night and felt right away in just a few strokes that i found the right ones for me. I am going to stick with them for a long time. I plan on getting 2 more from him. Thank you so much Zspyderman. Happy Holidays to you all.

 

[dgoran]

On an somewhat related but unrelated to youtek note Mr ZSpyderman did you ever have a request to mod Pure Drive tipe racket? I would love to hear about it

 

[AlpineCadet]

I deCAPped my i.Prestige frames since last year with Radical grommets, and the past month I switched to YT Radical Grommets.

Curious, how do your MG Prestige frames play with the YT Radical grommets? Less powerful? So you basically made your Radical into a heavier Prestige, and your Prestige into a very HL Radical?

 

[Ten_nuts]

I did try the Liquidmetal Prestige, I Prestige, Microgel Prestige, Pro Tour 280 but they were all too heavy for me. I weighed them and the Microgel Prestige was the lightest with 12.2 oz strung. The rests were 12.4 to 12.8 oz. Also i chose the customized Radical because i liked the low stiffness of it, like this Youtek Radical. The Prestiges i have tried have high tiffness. One thing i don't get it is that the Prestiges have specs 11.8 oz strung, but i've never seen one like that.

 

[AlpineCadet]

My i.Prestige MP is 12.1oz with radical grommets, and the YT Prestige MP demo I had was around 11.6oz strung with poly.

 

[blackfrido]

Plays like a Prestige on steroids. The extra weight compliments the stiffness of the racquet well, and you can really feel the youtek technology at work. The frame becomes very stable even on off centered shots, and goes through the ball with ease.

Is it difficult to cup the radical?

 

[AlpineCadet]

Adding 10+ grams to the head of the Radical would be similar, but the frame won't be as stiff without the CAP grommets. (I CAPped my PT630 over a year ago and the frame definitely stiffened up.)

 

[zspyderman]

Curious, how do your MG Prestige frames play with the YT Radical grommets? Less powerful? So you basically made your Radical into a heavier Prestige, and your Prestige into a very HL Radical?[/QUOTE]
I'm assuming this question was for me... The capped custom Youteks def. were modified to get closer to beefed up Prestige specs, and experience the new technology and the stiffer frame, with a "player" set-up.
The prestiges you see were a special order to duplicate Zimonjic's setup, and he does not use the cap grommets on his Prestige, in order to make the racquets more head light. The racquets are very heavy, but extremly manuverable at the net. I posted those pics as an accident...