LiquidMetal Radical MP - anything like it today?

TripleB

TripleB

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One of my favorite racquets of all time - I think mainly because it's the only 18x20 string pattern racquet that I've ever had a great deal of success with!

It seems as though Head has moved away from the 18x20 string pattern on their Radicals and don't have a Radical (at least in the last three versions) with specs that match the LM Rad MP (318g/4 HL/325SW/64 flex)...and even if the specs matched it doesn't mean it would play exactly like the LM Radical!

Several years ago I was demoing a few of the Wilson Blades and they seem to have been the only racquets I've played with that seem to offer a playing experience like the LM Radical.

So are there any current racquets that play similarly to the Liquid Metal Radical Midplus?

Do any of the three current Radicals (Rad MP 2021, Graphene 360 Rad MP, Graphene XT Rad MP) even come close to the feel and playability of the LM Rad? As far as similar specs it seems like the Rad 2021 comes closest with the Graphene XT Rad next in line.

Thanks for all input!

TripleB
 
I understand liking the LM radical series. I switched last Fall. I ended up with the Gravity Pro and Speed MP. Gravity Pro for most days and Speed MP for days I need to take it easy.
Both perform well as a radical but feel a little different. Gravity Pro feels close. Speed MP performs well, but feels different. Radical 360+ wasn't out at the time. I did try the MP and Pro and loved both racquets. MP was a little light for me, Pro felt a little bit better. Both played amazingly well and performed close to a LM radical. Prince Textreme Tour 290/310 would play reasonable well as well.

Wilson Blade series is nice and Radical like. Clash might be worth trying.

My suggestions would be try
Gravity Pro/Tour If you go tour try to get one onspec or slightly light.
Speed MP
Radical MP/Pro
Prince Textreme Tour 290/310


Speed Pro might be what you are looking for as well. What I like about the Radical series was the ability to hit with so many options. All of the above allowed me to play with a similar style. There are a few spin monsters Ieft out...
 
You could give the Microgel Radical MP re-issue a try. With a little lead, it would be very close to the Liquidmetal. Otherwise, probably the Blade V7 18x20 (higher SW).
 
The LM Rad MP was a 95 calling itself a 98. A leaded up MG Rad MP or Flexpt Rad MP may do the trick tho they are less massive and have lower flex ratings. Moving up would be the Blade 18x20 tho they are true 98.
 
Villain said:
You could give the Microgel Radical MP re-issue a try. With a little lead, it would be very close to the Liquidmetal.
Click to expand...

Took your advice, since I have three of the MicroGel Radical Midplus racquets. My three came in lighter than listed specs, 10.85 ounces (listed 11.0 oz).

My LM Radical Pro is 11.2oz/318g and 4 points headlight strung. So I added weight (mainly tungsten putty in the butt) to bring my MG Radical MP up to 11.1oz/315g and 4.5 points headlight strung.

One thing I remember about the LM Rad is that I wished it was a bit more maneuverable...so I left it 3g below my LM Rad and a half point more headlight. If it doesn't have the stability like the LM Rad then I can just add a bit of weight to the head. Both are strung with Tour Bite mains and Gosen OG Sheep crosses. If it turns out the MG Rad offers a similar feel (as far as weight, balance, swingweight, flex, etc.), I may have it strung up with Kirschbaum PL Evolution (my current favorite string) - either in a full bed or hybrid.

With it strung, overgrip, headtape, and rubberband my MicroGel Radical comes in at 11.5oz/325g and 5.5 points headlight.

Can anyone give me the backstory on the Graphene XT Radical Midplus? I think it originally came so that you could string it as 16x19 or 16x16? I know the 16x16 got a lot of hype (and a review from T-W), but I never heard much about the 16x19 model.

After some searching I found, Lorenn, that I have tried the XT Speed Midplus in the past (2017) and loved a lot about it.*

Thanks for everyone's input!

TripleB

* Head Graphene XT Speed MP (16x19): I added 8 grams (6g butt, 2g 3 & 9) of lead tape prior to playing with this racquet today, trying to solidify the feel a little bit and make it more headlight...and like with the Duel G 100 I removed the lead tape at 3 and 9 after a game or two...much to my surprise the sweetspot actually felt larger today (even without the little bit of weight at 3 & 9) - the inconsistent response I had problems with yesterday really didn't show itself today; the control felt much better today because I was getting a more consistent response on every shot; the power level is much more to my liking than the other three racquets I'm demoing...not overly powerful but enough to put short balls away when needed and enough to put volleys away with ease; spin is 100% better with this racquet than with the Duel G 100 (which should be the case because of the wide open 16x19 string pattern and poly/syn hybrid in the Head); really loved hitting a heavy slicing backhand with this racquet...the ball stayed so low after it hit; my flat serves were working well (but not as well as with my BLX Pro Open...see more below) and with the more open string pattern I was having good success with my kick serves; touch at net and from the baseline wasn't quite as good as with the Duel G 100, basically because of the extra power with this racquet, but well above average and I hit some nice droppers today; I liked the maneuverability of the racquet, especially with the 6g in the butt, but it still swung a bit heavier than the weight and balance would indicate...still could whip the racquet around nicely for angles off both sides but not quite as easy as I could with the Duel G 100; the XT Speed MP is definitely the stand out racquet of this foursome
 
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My memory of the LM is fading, it was a long time ago when I tested it. But I dig my TT 100P (add lead for higher SW), and would probably test the Head Graphene 360+ Prestige MP, if I was you.
 
i sold a like new one on auction site and it sold lightning quick. (probably a steal at $100)

a bit old school feeling, i think you should check out the tecnifibre racquets
i suggest trying the tf40 305/315 and the tfight 305

i think also the babolat pure strike 18x20 might give you a modern version of the LM
 
ichaseballs said:
i sold a like new one on auction site and it sold lightning quick. (probably a steal at $100)
Click to expand...

100 would've been a good deal for a like new LM. They are getting closer to closer to expensive...I mainly upgraded so I would stop hunting for them...head racquets were pretty affordable last fall. Just wish the Radical 360+ series had been available. Still enjoying the Gravity Pro and Speed MP. 360+ series is a worthy replacement to the LM series.
 
Lorenn said:
Still enjoying the Gravity Pro and Speed MP. 360+ series is a worthy replacement to the LM series.
Click to expand...

Is the Speed MP you mention here the original Speed, the Graphene XT MP, or the Graphene 360 Speed MP?

In reference to the Radical, the 68 flex of the 360 Radical is a bit concerning. Not sure how the 360 Rad MP compares to the XT Rad MP but I'll search the boards to see if I can get some info!

If I'm going that high of stiffness I like the overall specs of the XT Speed MP at 67 a bit better. Also like the fact that the XT Speed doesn't have the dynamic string pattern and the beam is the same width throughout the racquet.

In addition to all the great options listed here, the Graphene Touch Speed has some similar specs as does the XT Instinct.

Thanks for everyone's input!

TripleB
 
TripleB said:
Is the Speed MP you mention here the original Speed, the Graphene XT MP, or the Graphene 360 Speed MP?

In reference to the Radical, the 68 flex of the 360 Radical is a bit concerning. Not sure how the 360 Rad MP compares to the XT Rad MP but I'll search the boards to see if I can get some info!

If I'm going that high of stiffness I like the overall specs of the XT Speed MP at 67 a bit better. Also like the fact that the XT Speed doesn't have the dynamic string pattern and the beam is the same width throughout the racquet.

In addition to all the great options listed here, the Graphene Touch Speed has some similar specs as does the XT Instinct.
Click to expand...

Sorry I should say 360+. I am fond of the 360+ line of head racquets in general. I tried but didn't like most of the early graphene models. Nothing wrong with them but the feel was different then what I was accustomed ...
 
Haven’t tried the XT series or the 360 Rad. The 2021 Rad pro didn’t feel right to me granted it was very heavily customized. I would third the blade pro 18x20 similar to LM Rad and this is coming from a Head fan.
 
rolli013 said:
Haven’t tried the XT series or the 360 Rad. The 2021 Rad pro didn’t feel right to me granted it was very heavily customized. I would third the blade pro 18x20 similar to LM Rad and this is coming from a Head fan.
Click to expand...

Custom Radical Pro would be quite heavy compared to a Radical LM MP.

Radical MP is a little closer. I prefer the Pro over the Mp, but I think I am in the minority here. 60 percent or so seem to prefer the Radical 360+ MP over the Radical Pro. The 16x19 string pattern I find well controlled. If you need 18x20... Gravity Tour(try to get onspec or slightly light), Gravity Pro(heavier), Speed Pro 360+(heavier but swings well) or Blade 98 18x20 v7(heavier). You will likely lose a little maneuverability but gain in every other area. A slightly light tour would likely be a great choice and feel close. Speed MP 360+ might feel close as well.
 
I have a LM Rad MP and it is so soft but I just cant gel with the grip shape. I am currently using leaded up Dunlop CX 200 Tours both with 18 and 16 mains. The CX Tour's string pattern is not as tight as LM Rad MP but I can generate spin easier.
 
ariwibowo said:
I have a LM Rad MP and it is so soft but I just cant gel with the grip shape. I am currently using leaded up Dunlop CX 200 Tours both with 18 and 16 mains. The CX Tour's string pattern is not as tight as LM Rad MP but I can generate spin easier.
Click to expand...
You can easily change the grip type incl. size of any Head racquet! The LM has a TK76 gray pallet (nowadays TK82 black), which is more rectangular. All new head racquets come now with a TK82S pallet (a more squared grip à la Wilson / Yonex) and they are pretty cheap to buy (and easy to install / replace), here's an example: https://www.tenniswarehouse-europe....ip_Pallets_TK82S/descpageHEAD-HYTSPAL-EN.html I personally prefer the TK82 pallets and have been placing these in the Extreme Tour and more recently in the Speed Pro 2022. I highly recommend to replace the pallet and not giving up on a great Head frame!
 
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TNNSDR said:
You can easily change the grip type incl. size of any Head racquet! The LM has a TK76 gray pallet (nowadays TK82 black), which is more rectangular. All new head racquets come now with a TK82S pallet (a more squared grip à la Wilson / Yonex) and they are pretty cheap to buy (and easy to install / replace), here's an example: https://www.tenniswarehouse-europe....ip_Pallets_TK82S/descpageHEAD-HYTSPAL-EN.html I personally prefer the TK82 pallets and have been placing these in the Extreme Tour and more recently in the Speed Pro 2022. I highly recommend to replace the pallet and not giving up on a great Head frame!
Click to expand...
Fixed it for you.
 
I've played many iterations of the radical...despite the changes along the way, they've managed to retain the versatility of this frame - great for attacking creative shot making. No gimmicks, it's always been a frame that only gives back what you put into it.

Having that said, I don't think I've ever hit a heavier ball than with a radical. Specifically the TGT 307.2 and TGT 351.1 which are based on the radical graphene mp and radical 360+ series. Same thing as retail just more swingweight and silicone. Surprisingly good feel given the stiffness but I attribute that to the silicone and extra heft.

I guess what I'm saying is: the lineage is still there even in the newer generations but may require some tweaking with customization, extra weight or SW, ect. The 16x19 pattern is fairly closed and is literally perfect IMO for the modern game. Gravity pro is a great frame that may feel more like the radicals of old, I nearly switched. But the "duded" up newer radicals can hang, and hit deeper shots generally in my match experience that can trouble opponents - don't sleep on them. A lot of players give up on them because to be honest they are very string sensitive with regards to tension and main/cross differential. Strung too tight and they completely lose feel and the sweet spot shrinks drastically
 
I find the extreme tour g360+ layup not too dissimilar to the old LM radical's. certainly closer than the g360+ radical.
 
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