blackpearl2007
Semi-Pro
So, I am new to the board so be nice.....I recently had the chance to do an extensive play test with these three racquets. I know that there are separate threads for these racquets but thought I would create one based on these three.
A little bit about my playing style...baseliner for the most part that plays 4.5 and learning to play more of a transition game. My forehand is semi-western and is my primary weapon. I have a one handed backhand and like to judge my racquets on how well I hit that shot (right or wrong..). I play 3-4 times a week. My current racquet is the Dunlop Aerogel 4d 200. I like this racquet as it is a solid stick. However, sometimes I feel like I have to be "too vertical" with my swing to get good spin. I feel this impacts me on my returns. I value a racquet with plow through and it's overall solidness. The 4d 200 is very good in this area.
Regarding the review, here it goes.....
Juice Pro: Pleasantly surprised by this stick. It was strung with Spin Cycle..not my favorite string but it played well with this string. The demo was freshly strung right around 52lbs. Overall, I was impressed with the control I had with this frame. I expected to be over hitting at first and that really never happened. For me, it shined on my forehand and my one handed backhand. I really felt like I could move my opponent around with general ease and finish the point off on a short ball by hitting through the court. I really felt like the Juice Pro could hit through the court well..I like a racquet where you can flatten out a short ball and put it past my opponent. My returns were pretty good but here is where I may have felt the swing weight. I felt like i was late and would struggle carching balls in fromt of me. Other than that, the swing weight or the extended length really never hurt me. At the net, here is where I thought the racquet for me was a little too lively. I really had to be precise and deliberate with my volley or it would go deep. This is definitely a racquet I could play well with. I would like to play more with it to see how I play in "pressure situations".
Radical IG Pro: This racquet was freshly strung with Black Code 1.24 at 57lbs. Very interesting what Head has done with this racquet. I tried the previous version and didn't like it at all as I thought the swingweight was too heavy and it was too spinny. However, this new version had me intrigued. A lot of players have commented on the flex of the frame. Honestly, I never really felt that. It may have been the Black Code but I never felt like the flex caused any issues. Hits a heavy ball..like the Juice Pro, my forehand shined with this racquet. I really felt like I could dictate play with this racquet. It kinda reminded me of a Pure Drive Roddick as far as dictating points with my ground strokes. My slice backhand was the most lethal with this racquet. Loved the slice...it really stayed low and drove through the court. Steffi Graf would have loved slicing with this! I did feel like I really had to concentrate on racquet head speed with this frame. More so than the others. Pretty good at net, had similar experience as with the Juice Pro..at net is where I was missing my 18x20 Dunlop 200...I am sure I would get used to volleying with any of these racquets. On serve, I struggled with racquet head speed...did not have this experience with the Juice Pro. If I purchased this frame I would probably add 3 or 4 grams of lead at the bottom of the racquet. Very nice change to the racquet by Head in my opinion.
Pure Storm Tour: I have had the most time on court with this frame. It was strung like the Radical Pro with the same string and tension (fresh). This racquet is very solid and that makes it very tempting. In my opinion, I felt like it absorbed pace the best of the three racquets. Particularly at net, really enjoyed this frame at net. I felt like my volleys had pace and they were precise. The sweet spot felt the smallest with this frame with the Radical having the largest. The other thing about this racquet is the power it packs. It is powerful for a control oriented racquet. Maybe not as lively as the 6.1 but definitely packs a punch. I did struggle with control in pressure situations but that may have been me more than the racquet. My forehand was good with this frame maybe not as good as it was with the Radical Pro. I also felt like I had to work a lot more with this frame which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Liked my one handed backhand the best with this frame. The grip shape on this racquet is nice and suits backhand grip.
I need more court time with all of these racquets before I switch. I do feel with the Radical Pro I would have to have a poly in it all the time where as the others I wouldn't. If I had to pick right now, it probably would be the Juice Pro.
Would love to hear what others think. Particularly those that have court time with these racquets.
A little bit about my playing style...baseliner for the most part that plays 4.5 and learning to play more of a transition game. My forehand is semi-western and is my primary weapon. I have a one handed backhand and like to judge my racquets on how well I hit that shot (right or wrong..). I play 3-4 times a week. My current racquet is the Dunlop Aerogel 4d 200. I like this racquet as it is a solid stick. However, sometimes I feel like I have to be "too vertical" with my swing to get good spin. I feel this impacts me on my returns. I value a racquet with plow through and it's overall solidness. The 4d 200 is very good in this area.
Regarding the review, here it goes.....
Juice Pro: Pleasantly surprised by this stick. It was strung with Spin Cycle..not my favorite string but it played well with this string. The demo was freshly strung right around 52lbs. Overall, I was impressed with the control I had with this frame. I expected to be over hitting at first and that really never happened. For me, it shined on my forehand and my one handed backhand. I really felt like I could move my opponent around with general ease and finish the point off on a short ball by hitting through the court. I really felt like the Juice Pro could hit through the court well..I like a racquet where you can flatten out a short ball and put it past my opponent. My returns were pretty good but here is where I may have felt the swing weight. I felt like i was late and would struggle carching balls in fromt of me. Other than that, the swing weight or the extended length really never hurt me. At the net, here is where I thought the racquet for me was a little too lively. I really had to be precise and deliberate with my volley or it would go deep. This is definitely a racquet I could play well with. I would like to play more with it to see how I play in "pressure situations".
Radical IG Pro: This racquet was freshly strung with Black Code 1.24 at 57lbs. Very interesting what Head has done with this racquet. I tried the previous version and didn't like it at all as I thought the swingweight was too heavy and it was too spinny. However, this new version had me intrigued. A lot of players have commented on the flex of the frame. Honestly, I never really felt that. It may have been the Black Code but I never felt like the flex caused any issues. Hits a heavy ball..like the Juice Pro, my forehand shined with this racquet. I really felt like I could dictate play with this racquet. It kinda reminded me of a Pure Drive Roddick as far as dictating points with my ground strokes. My slice backhand was the most lethal with this racquet. Loved the slice...it really stayed low and drove through the court. Steffi Graf would have loved slicing with this! I did feel like I really had to concentrate on racquet head speed with this frame. More so than the others. Pretty good at net, had similar experience as with the Juice Pro..at net is where I was missing my 18x20 Dunlop 200...I am sure I would get used to volleying with any of these racquets. On serve, I struggled with racquet head speed...did not have this experience with the Juice Pro. If I purchased this frame I would probably add 3 or 4 grams of lead at the bottom of the racquet. Very nice change to the racquet by Head in my opinion.
Pure Storm Tour: I have had the most time on court with this frame. It was strung like the Radical Pro with the same string and tension (fresh). This racquet is very solid and that makes it very tempting. In my opinion, I felt like it absorbed pace the best of the three racquets. Particularly at net, really enjoyed this frame at net. I felt like my volleys had pace and they were precise. The sweet spot felt the smallest with this frame with the Radical having the largest. The other thing about this racquet is the power it packs. It is powerful for a control oriented racquet. Maybe not as lively as the 6.1 but definitely packs a punch. I did struggle with control in pressure situations but that may have been me more than the racquet. My forehand was good with this frame maybe not as good as it was with the Radical Pro. I also felt like I had to work a lot more with this frame which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Liked my one handed backhand the best with this frame. The grip shape on this racquet is nice and suits backhand grip.
I need more court time with all of these racquets before I switch. I do feel with the Radical Pro I would have to have a poly in it all the time where as the others I wouldn't. If I had to pick right now, it probably would be the Juice Pro.
Would love to hear what others think. Particularly those that have court time with these racquets.
