Head 360+ in MP - Speed or Radical

[eb_tennis_247]

For those who have hit with both, how would you describe the difference and the ideal playstyle between these two (Head Graphene 360+ Speed MP vs. Head Graphene 360+ Radical MP).

I cannot clearly tease out the difference just by looking at the specs.

Is Radical more like Blade v7?

Is Speed MP more like Pure Strike 100?

Are they "safe" for the recovering tennis elbow issues?

 

[JW89]

Radical smaller sweet spot
Speed more friendly overall, including arm friendly

 

[ChanterRacquet]

Is the Radical like a v7? No. I won’t deny that it probably flexes in the motion that is measured by RA, but it is stiff in other ways my wrist did not like.

Speed MP...haven’t played a PSk100. I would compare it to Prince TT100 or TT100P which I would order TT100P > Speed MP > TT100 which all boils down to easier control of these more powerful frames.

Forced to pick between these two only, Speed wins.

 

[colan5934]

Radical plays stiffer and hits a bigger ball with a shorter swing for me. The speed mp doesn't have enough mass for its flex for me. I get arm pain whenever I play it stock with poly, and I don't with the new radical mp. I also feel a bit pushed around with the speed mp and don't with the radical. I'm used to heavier, flexier frames, though, and when I demo'd a speed mp at my specs, it was quite nice and the pain issues disappeared. If it's in your weight class, it's worth a demo. The radical probably is too...it's a bit firmer to me and provides a crisper response and feels more stable for me in stock form--not unlike older, stiffer blades (the first BLX one specifically comes to mind). Both have great feel and a traditional flex, unlike the Blade v7.

On your tennis elbow issue, listen to your physical therapist and do your home program. String with natural gut even if you're a string breaker. The extra $20 or so in the short term is incredibly worth it for your arm health in the long term.

If you can get an extended demo on any frame or find one you really like, string it with some syn gut or cheap multi and put stencil ink over the whole stringbed. Go out for a hit and see where the ink wears off. If it's mostly worn in a single area near the center of the frame, you can hit the sweetspot of that frame well and minimize shock to your arm. Whether specs have a huge impact on this is a completely different conversation, but it's an extra step you can take if you want more peace of mind and have the time.

 

[str33tspirit]

Radical is more controlled, stable and feels more crisp. The balance is more even while I felt the speed was more head heavy. The speed has a bigger head size and doesn't feel as maneuverable but has more power and better acces to spin. Both play well and I could have gone with either of them but I just liked the feel of the Radical better. The Radical plays well in stock form while I probably would have added some lead on the speed mp for better stability.

 

[Chezbeeno]

Speed seems a little whippier and better for hitting topspin due to the more open string bed. It also feels more flexible and comfortable, though I don't find the Radical to be uncomfortable (unlike the previous version). Radical is better for control and it feels more stable.
I find I can be more consistently precise with the Radical, but the Speed is a little easier to use overall. I don't like how the Speed feels hitting a backhand slice at all, though, for what that's worth.

 

[Rentege]

Speed
- touch more power
- more spin (Radical is still plenty spin-friendly for a 98 though)
- more forgiving/bigger sweetspot
- more comfortable
- more modern feel

Radical
- more maneuverable
- more precise (Speed still has good control for its specs though)
- more crisp/raw feel

I’d say the Speed is for baseliners who want to hit with more spin and have more forgiveness, the Radical is more for precise, all-court players. You are correct that they are not wildly different offerings, both very solid.

 

[MrAvocado232]

I have read some people who say that the sweetspot of the radical is very small, but I don't know what they are used to... I would say that the radical is more closer to the blade v6 cv than v7, since v7 is quite low powered. For me the key question would be the difference in control between the two, because if the difference is minimal, I think speed would be a much better option.

 

[str33tspirit]

Also to answer to your last question. Yes, Radical would be closer to the Blade in term of control and speed more to a Pure Strike in term of power but Blade is way more muted and plush than radical and the speed is more comfortable than the Pure strike. The speed is probably easier to play with if you come from a tweener racket. Oddly, I'm a baseliner with heavy topspins especially with my forehand, played with a yonex 100 Dr and chose the Radical. I generate a lot of spin with any racket so I picked feel and control instead. I don't especially agree with the Radical having a small sweetspot. The strings are tighter in the middle and wider on the sides so I feel like it's actually very forgiving if you hit outside of the sweetspot. And the shape is actually pretty wide for a 98 headsize.So I guess, yea smaller sweetspot but more forgiving on mishits.

 

[Polotechnics]

I found the Speed more comfortable. Radical is jarring off centre. Probably due to the the 98 head size compared to the 100 of the speed

 

[Lorenn]

I have read some people who say that the sweetspot of the radical is very small, but I don't know what they are used to... I would say that the radical is more closer to the blade v6 cv than v7, since v7 is quite low powered. For me the key question would be the difference in control between the two, because if the difference is minimal, I think speed would be a much better option.

Describing sweet spots always depends on which racquet you are comparing it to...Compared to Speed MP and Gravity Pro. I find the Radical Sweet spot rewarding but slightly tight. Well formed could be another description. A good OS radical 360+ would be lovely. Previous I was playing with LM Radicals before switching to Gravity Pro and Speed MP. I would've picked the Radical 360+ Pro if it had been available when I switched, but happy with the Gravity Pro/Speed MP combo. My hitting partner loved the Radical 360+ MP for their third set over their Normal Speed MP 360+. It perfectly corrected their swing when tired.

I find the Control between the two similar. Slightly prefer the Radical, but that is mainly because of the feedback and past experience. The Speed MP has great control but I don't get my normal feedback. Feedback that would allow easy micro corrections. Having said that if I just swing and let the racquet do its job it is amazingly accurate. SO with the Speed series just relax and swing.

Speed
- touch more power
- more spin (Radical is still plenty spin-friendly for a 98 though)
- more forgiving/bigger sweetspot
- more comfortable
- more modern feel

Radical
- more maneuverable
- more precise (Speed still has good control for its specs though)
- more crisp/raw feel

I’d say the Speed is for baseliners who want to hit with more spin and have more forgiveness, the Radical is more for precise, all-court players. You are correct that they are not wildly different offerings, both very solid.

Not sure we disagree on much but I would say that...

Spin I would say it is closer to a tie or Radical slightly ahead, but not by enough I would care.(it depends on swinging style to be honest) Basically the difference for me would be

Speed MP 100 inch forgiving sweet spot modern comfortable feel easy to swing for it's size. Low feedback.
Radical MP 98 inch tight but rewarding sweetspot nice raw feel insanely fast to swing. High feedback.

Basically a mater of knowing yourself which racquet is better. If you can use the extra swing speed to attack the ball early the Radical MP is a great racquet. If you can't the Speed MP is a safer choice. Both are what I would call counter puncher racquets. Both can go from defense to offense very quickly. Just a mater of if you are better with a 100 or 98.

 

[Lorenn]

I found the Speed more comfortable. Radical is jarring off centre. Probably due to the the 98 head size compared to the 100 of the speed

Likely the Beam design as well...they flex differently. You can actually really leverage the Radicals flex to your advantage or it can really punish you. It depends on how you swing the Radical. If you are hitting flat and hit off center it can really get you. If you catch the ball early and are adding spin it tends to be more forgiving. Overall Speed is forgiving with most swings. You really need to use the ease of swing to harness the Radical MP.

 

[time_fly]

Radical is more controlled, stable and feels more crisp. The balance is more even while I felt the speed was more head heavy. The speed has a bigger head size and doesn't feel as maneuverable but has more power and better acces to spin. Both play well and I could have gone with either of them but I just liked the feel of the Radical better. The Radical plays well in stock form while I probably would have added some lead on the speed mp for better stability.

I demoed both this winter and this echoes my impressions as well. More precision, maneuverability, and feel with the Radical, and more spin and free power, a bigger sweet spot, and more muted feel for the Speed. I also went the the Radical since it still offered enough power and spin for my needs and I liked the precision and feel. I did end up with the Pro however because I prefer a more classic heavier, HL spec.

 

[MrAvocado232]

Describing sweet spots always depends on which racquet you are comparing it to...Compared to Speed MP and Gravity Pro. I find the Radical Sweet spot rewarding but slightly tight. Well formed could be another description. A good OS radical 360+ would be lovely. Previous I was playing with LM Radicals before switching to Gravity Pro and Speed MP. I would've picked the Radical 360+ Pro if it had been available when I switched, but happy with the Gravity Pro/Speed MP combo. My hitting partner loved the Radical 360+ MP for their third set over their Normal Speed MP 360+. It perfectly corrected their swing when tired.

I find the Control between the two similar. Slightly prefer the Radical, but that is mainly because of the feedback and past experience. The Speed MP has great control but I don't get my normal feedback. Feedback that would allow easy micro corrections. Having said that if I just swing and let the racquet do its job it is amazingly accurate. SO with the Speed series just relax and swing.



Not sure we disagree on much but I would say that...

Spin I would say it is closer to a tie or Radical slightly ahead, but not by enough I would care.(it depends on swinging style to be honest) Basically the difference for me would be

Speed MP 100 inch forgiving sweet spot modern comfortable feel easy to swing for it's size. Low feedback.
Radical MP 98 inch tight but rewarding sweetspot nice raw feel insanely fast to swing. High feedback.

Basically a mater of knowing yourself which racquet is better. If you can use the extra swing speed to attack the ball early the Radical MP is a great racquet. If you can't the Speed MP is a safer choice. Both are what I would call counter puncher racquets. Both can go from defense to offense very quickly. Just a mater of if you are better with a 100 or 98.

So, if want to be able to swing hard, fast and confident, and having a preference for flatter shots, the radical would be the best option?

 

[SinneGOAT]

So, if want to be able to swing hard, fast and confident, and having a preference for flatter shots, the radical would be the best option?

The radical has a more controlled launch angle but the difference between the two is minimal. The radical would be better for flat shots and for swinging harder with confidence it will stay in.

 

[Lorenn]

So, if want to be able to swing hard, fast and confident...

Depends on how you play not how you want to play. Basically both exceptional racquets. If you can harness the extra time given to you by the radical then it is the better option. Otherwise I would suggest the Speed as it is more forgiving. Feel might always be an issue for players and they might pick the racquet with better feel than the one they play better with....in the end it is best if you enjoy the game.

and having a preference for flatter shots, the radical would be the best option?

Both are amazing at letting a player hit flat or with reasonable topspin. That is one of the many reasons I like the racquets...diversity of shots. Radical and Speed MP 360+ are great in this regard. I have played with Radicals from the start to the LM series, currenly playing with Gravity Pro and Speed MP(360+). Radical Pro is my favorite of the Radicals but I enjoy both. Mainly they were not an option last year. Gravity Pro plays well, only negative for me is a little extra effort with one handed backhands. Otherwise I can relax more and let the racquet do most of the work...

 

[MrAvocado232]

Depends on how you play not how you want to play. Basically both exceptional racquets. If you can harness the extra time given to you by the radical then it is the better option. Otherwise I would suggest the Speed as it is more forgiving. Feel might always be an issue for players and they might pick the racquet with better feel than the one they play better with....in the end it is best if you enjoy the game.



Both are amazing at letting a player hit flat or with reasonable topspin. That is one of the many reasons I like the racquets...diversity of shots. Radical and Speed MP 360+ are great in this regard. I have played with Radicals from the start to the LM series, currenly playing with Gravity Pro and Speed MP(360+). Radical Pro is my favorite of the Radicals but I enjoy both. Mainly they were not an option last year. Gravity Pro plays well, only negative for me is a little extra effort with one handed backhands. Otherwise I can relax more and let the racquet do most of the work...

Well, I am currently looking for a pair to my blade CV 18x20, which doesn’t have much mobility (I play well with it anyway). I think that the radical could be a better pair than the speed, i expect that radical should be more closer to the blade but with more mobility.

 

[eb_tennis_247]

Well, I am currently looking for a pair to my blade CV 18x20, which doesn’t have much mobility (I play well with it anyway). I think that the radical could be a better pair than the speed, because i expect that radical should be more closer to the blade but with more mobility.

You are exactly right. I am demoing Radical and Speed MP now. Radical feels like a better v7 Blade.

I am liking 2021 Radical MP very much.

 

[PatellaJoe]

I really agree to many posts above.
In stock form the Radical seemed more head light, more maneuverable, offered more control and was more versatile especially in terms of playing volleys ans smashes.
The Speed offered more power, spin, was easier to swing and was better for attacking. On the other hand I struggled to control the ball against heavy hitters.

I will go for another testing after the summer season.
I am coming from tuned Pure Strike (18x20, 317g, balance 31,7) and I playing too flat shots for clay court tennis. That's why I want to have a new racket.

Has anyone experience with tuning and adding lead to radical mp or speed mp or putting a leather grip on it? I thought a tuned speed mp might be the best option to combine both worlds. It seemed that the grip from the radical was a bit longer which makes it easier for 2 handed backhand.

 

[guilhermefdc]

It seemed that the grip from the radical was a bit longer which makes it easier for 2 handed backhand.

It is. I mentioned this on another thread, but no one else commented on it. I’ve watched reviews and comparisons on YouTube and it is visible.
(I have no experience modding either frame, so I can’t help you with that. Both have rather a beefy SW, which might limit how much lead you can add)

 

[str33tspirit]

I really agree to many posts above.
In stock form the Radical seemed more head light, more maneuverable, offered more control and was more versatile especially in terms of playing volleys ans smashes.
The Speed offered more power, spin, was easier to swing and was better for attacking. On the other hand I struggled to control the ball against heavy hitters.

I will go for another testing after the summer season.
I am coming from tuned Pure Strike (18x20, 317g, balance 31,7) and I playing too flat shots for clay court tennis. That's why I want to have a new racket.

Has anyone experience with tuning and adding lead to radical mp or speed mp or putting a leather grip on it? I thought a tuned speed mp might be the best option to combine both worlds. It seemed that the grip from the radical was a bit longer which makes it easier for 2 handed backhand.

I added 4g to 3 and 9 on the Radical MP and it has helped my forehand. I think I could add even more but I'm gonna keep it like that for a couple weeks and play some matches.

 

[puppybutts]

For those who have hit with both, how would you describe the difference and the ideal playstyle between these two (Head Graphene 360+ Speed MP vs. Head Graphene 360+ Radical MP).

I cannot clearly tease out the difference just by looking at the specs.

Is Radical more like Blade v7?

Is Speed MP more like Pure Strike 100?

Are they "safe" for the recovering tennis elbow issues?

I don't know the answer to all your questions. but IME newest radicals are very similar to the pure strike 3rd gen, but a little less powerful, a little more comfortable, and a little easier to swing. i would say the radical compared to the blade....the radical is a little more powerful, a little less comfortable, and a little easier to swing. the speed is quite different from the pure strike....it's an odd racquet because the stiffness is relatively low, but the beam feels extra thick so it ends up feeling stiffer than its rating indicates. despite the thicker beam, it cuts through the air a little more swiftly than the pure strike.

i would say the radical is safe for tennis elbow, but there are more comfortable racquets out there (like gravity, vcore pro, etc.) if that is a huge concern.

i would say the radical is great for an all-court player who has a broad mix of skills and shots and isn't heavily oriented toward one thing like power or control or touch. the speed swings a bit more crisp and powerfully and feels better for a baseliner.

 

[beltsman]

If Speed is too HH, throw on a leather grip or add weight to handle.

 

[TF40]

I replaced original replacement grips with Leather ones on my 2 Speed MP 360+ frames. I used Volkl brand and Tennis Warehouse no label 15mm, they both weigh about 30g without trimming. The weight of rackets went up from 319g to 331g, including the over grips. The stability is improved immediately without losing much maneuverability, baseline shots got more power, and volley got more confidence . If you feel pushed around with MP by heavy shots, I'd recommend using leather replacement grip, I'll do it on my other MP's.