Switching from K90 to Head LM Radical Midplus

[JustTennis76]

This racket has a good review on TW by the playtesters and also good cust. feedback. This racket is also on sale now.

I am a baseliner mostly with a 2HBH - decent serve and go to the net on good approach shots. I am a rated 4.5 player and I currently play with my K90 which seems to be too demanding especially during long matches.

How much of a change would it be going from a 90 head size to a 98 head size racket? The k90 strung is 12.5 Oz and the Head LM Radical is 11.2 Unstrung.

Please give me some opinion on this switch.

 

[MrAWD]

Hmm, interesting choice of racquets to go from - to! I have not switch from the K90 to LM Radical, but I used Radical for a while. I switched from that Radical to the Redondo Mid and then withing the first couple of months I switched back to the Radical on few occasions.

The feel from the Radical was nowhere near to the feel that I get from the Redondo. LM felt like a toy that I could do anything with it. Even things that I was not suppose to do, like wristing action. Needless to say every time after trying back my Radical, I would feel the pain in my wrist afterward. Due to lack of weight you can do anything with it and that wasn't helping in my case. With heavier stick you can swing with it and then just guide it on its trajectory. With Radical, you could do bunch of other things.

It also kind of felt like having the toy in my hands due to the lack of weight. I was coming from 12.2 that Redondo is and in your case it will be even worse!

At the end, it will not be an easy ride to get to the Radical. It is a nice stick and it plays well overall. But, once you feel how better sticks are it will be hard to go there. Different league completely.

Good luck!

Fedja

 

[the Town Sherif]

You are going from apples to oranges. There is very little similarity.

 

[bertrevert]

Well if you added lead onto the hoop of the LM Rad you could add the heft to just where you want it, however that's never going to make it like your k90.

Also the 98 hoop is really a 95, so factor that in.

I think you shuold be able to find something else a bit closer to what you are familiar with.

 

[samster]

The transition was effortless for me going from K90 to LM Radical MP. I usually don't care for sub-12 oz frame but the Radical seems to have the ideal balance for its weight. You will immediately see that the Radical is much easier to use than the K90. You won't be tired as quickly.

 

[herosol]

Played both for awhile. The switch will take away a few nice K90 attributes: (1) Stability via it's heft, (2) the amazing spin off strinbed, (3) touch and feel especially at the net, and (4) serve potential.

What you will gain is: (1) Comfort, the radical with it's middle flex rating, (2) Increased racket head speed due to lighter mass, and (3) endurance.

The LM Radical Mid+ is okay in its spin department, it's solid enough for your level, and it's serving pretty much dependant on users technique. Volleys can be done well, but is just okay in touch. In my opinion playing with the Radical has been a ride of "mediocrity" and versatility. It does EVERYTHING "good", but not excellent.

You will definetely enjoy its easy use. It was my entrance into the low 11 oz. racket categories, as it really suited my sort of counter-puncher and run-around like play style.

 

[JustTennis76]

some of you consider making the switch would be a big change. So, if I consider a KFactor Tour 95 or the KFactor Team 95, would that also be a big change? Thanks

 

[nickb]

Hmm, interesting choice of racquets to go from - to! I have not switch from the K90 to LM Radical, but I used Radical for a while. I switched from that Radical to the Redondo Mid and then withing the first couple of months I switched back to the Radical on few occasions.

The feel from the Radical was nowhere near to the feel that I get from the Redondo. LM felt like a toy that I could do anything with it. Even things that I was not suppose to do, like wristing action. Needless to say every time after trying back my Radical, I would feel the pain in my wrist afterward. Due to lack of weight you can do anything with it and that wasn't helping in my case. With heavier stick you can swing with it and then just guide it on its trajectory. With Radical, you could do bunch of other things.

It also kind of felt like having the toy in my hands due to the lack of weight. I was coming from 12.2 that Redondo is and in your case it will be even worse!

At the end, it will not be an easy ride to get to the Radical. It is a nice stick and it plays well overall. But, once you feel how better sticks are it will be hard to go there. Different league completely.

Good luck!

Fedja

What do you mean better sticks?

Just because you like a heavier racket and dislike the LM Radical does not mean one is better than the other...

 

[MrAWD]

What do you mean better sticks?

Just because you like a heavier racket and dislike the LM Radical does not mean one is better than the other...

For your info, I still have one Radical MP in my bag next to 4 other Mids and it is there because it is a nice stick and I like it! It plays much heavier then its original weight and have a surprising feel for its static numbers.

With all that said, I do believe that some of other Mids that where mentioned (K90 or Redondo Mid) are better stick! By better I mean that one can go further with them. They will allow users to push them harder and they wouldn't buckle along the way and I do believe that at the end they could offer higher performance levels then the Radical MP. Whether you or me or anyone else around here is able to push those sticks that far is another question, but you will get the point if you let it.

Fedja

 

[nickb]

For your info, I still have one Radical MP in my bag next to 4 other Mids and it is there because it is a nice stick and I like it! It plays much heavier then its original weight and have a surprising feel for its static numbers.

With all that said, I do believe that some of other Mids that where mentioned (K90 or Redondo Mid) are better stick! By better I mean that one can go further with them. They will allow users to push them harder and they wouldn't buckle along the way and I do believe that at the end they could offer higher performance levels then the Radical MP. Whether you or me or anyone else around here is able to push those sticks that far is another question, but you will get the point if you let it.

Fedja

But they might not be better to someone else.

You cant call anything better...its all personal preference.

I know so many good players (some are 6.0+) using the LM Radical..with NO lead. So IMO the Radical is a better stick.

I just switched to a pure drive..I would rather use that than a K90 any day of the week (and I used the N90 for 2 years)..

Each to their own.

 

[Wheelz]

But they might not be better to someone else.

You cant call anything better...its all personal preference.

I know so many good players (some are 6.0+) using the LM Radical..with NO lead. So IMO the Radical is a better stick.

I just switched to a pure drive..I would rather use that than a K90 any day of the week (and I used the N90 for 2 years)..

Each to their own.

yeah I'm with you, it's really personal. I'm more and more happy with the LM Radical and how it responds to my strokes. I have a 12+ oz racquet and the lighter LM is welcomed, like some said, the swingweight is comparable to other 12+ Oz racquet.

Sweet spot is nice and solid., never tried the K90. I love how it feels with the serve and I'm more and more confident to go to the net.

 

[MrAWD]

But they might not be better to someone else.

You cant call anything better...its all personal preference.

I know so many good players (some are 6.0+) using the LM Radical..with NO lead. So IMO the Radical is a better stick.

I just switched to a pure drive..I would rather use that than a K90 any day of the week (and I used the N90 for 2 years)..

Each to their own.

The fact is that more people out there would be happier with the LM Radical then with the K90. No question about that. But, more people would be happier to drive/race a stock/factory car compare to the heavily prepared race dedicated car. They would be even faster in the regular car. But, when a good driver gets in both cars it will be much faster in the race car.

So, which one is better will depend on how someone is going to use it. But, since we are comparing racquets/cars in a competition with serious players/drivers, they would produce better results in better equipment.

Do you really thing that Federer would play better with LM Radical vs. his racquet what ever it is?

Fedja

 

[bertrevert]

(K90 or Redondo Mid) are better stick! By better I mean that one can go further with them. They will allow users to push them harder and they wouldn't buckle along the way and I do believe that at the end they could offer higher performance levels then the Radical MP. Whether you or me or anyone else around here is able to push those sticks that far is another question, but you will get the point if you let it.

Yes there are these more demanding racquets with exacting standards which repay with brilliant feel and satisfying results. But the player is called up at the line to be consistently consistent.

The Rad offers him a middle ground.

Obviously not doing well with the k90 means he wants to step back and re-assess and get his game back on track. Arthur Ashe wrote that getting at least 5 balls back in rallies every time statistically puts you in a good position to win matches.

Might find the Head grip odd if you haven't tried before.

 

[rockbox]

Nick,

What happened to your Vantage sponsorship?

 

[bertrevert]

Do you really thing that Federer would play better with LM Radical vs. his racquet what ever it is?

YOu don't see any/many pros use the Rad MP but it's always been an exceptional hit for rec players down at many a court.

Given that the OP is a 4.5 with a k90 I still don't think the LM Rad MP is the stick for him.

He actually hasn't told us in what way he is failing with it so how can we guess?

To say it's "demanding" actually shouldn't be a complaint for it is not necessarily a bad thing to have a demanding racquet.

 

[LafayetteHitter]

I know a couple really good 4.5 level players locally here that I am friends with that use the LM Radical in stock form and love the racquet. Not everyone can generate the results they desire from a 12.5 ounce 90" frame and for these guys a 98" mid 11 ounce is perfect.

 

[MrAWD]

Because I really loved how it played when it was stock my LM Radical MP actually has some lead in the handle and it weights 11.7 oz and it is 6 points HL. That offers even nicer middle ground between the 12+ oz frames and stock radical!!

Fedja

 

[nickb]

The fact is that more people out there would be happier with the LM Radical then with the K90. No question about that. But, more people would be happier to drive/race a stock/factory car compare to the heavily prepared race dedicated car. They would be even faster in the regular car. But, when a good driver gets in both cars it will be much faster in the race car.

So, which one is better will depend on how someone is going to use it. But, since we are comparing racquets/cars in a competition with serious players/drivers, they would produce better results in better equipment.

Do you really thing that Federer would play better with LM Radical vs. his racquet what ever it is?

Fedja

Your comparisons are useless.

What you say is wrong. Good players use light rackets. Good players use heavy rackets.

If you give a 6.0 player that uses a stock LM radical a K90 do you think he will play better?

Better equipment means nothing...your K90 costs more than my racket...does it make you a better player?...NO

Do you think Djokovic would play better with the K90 vs his LM Radical based wilson racket?

Personal preference.

 

[Satch]

^yes it is personal preference, but what else can he say to the OP?
He can't say from OP's preference that's for sure, so your posts doesn't make sense at all.

IMO k90 and 95 are much better racquets than radical, radical felt like a toy compared to them from the feel on contact to paintjob, to everything, they are not in the same league...
Get yourself some k95's and enjoy.

 

[nickb]

^yes it is personal preference, but what else can he say to the OP?
He can't say from OP's preference that's for sure, so your posts doesn't make sense at all.

IMO k90 and 95 are much better racquets than radical, radical felt like a toy compared to them from the feel on contact to paintjob, to everything, they are not in the same league...
Get yourself some k95's and enjoy.

Eh...what else can he say to the OP? (apart from his biased, ego driven opinion?) your post doesnt make sense...

 

[newracketagain??]

^yes it is personal preference, but what else can he say to the OP?
He can't say from OP's preference that's for sure, so your posts doesn't make sense at all.

IMO k90 and 95 are much better racquets than radical, radical felt like a toy compared to them from the feel on contact to paintjob, to everything, they are not in the same league...
Get yourself some k95's and enjoy.

THE LM RADICAL HAS TONS MORE FEEL THAN ANY OF THE K range. end of story

 

[Satch]

Eh...what else can he say to the OP? (apart from his biased, ego driven opinion?) your post doesnt make sense...

he said from his experience, maybe on some stupid way but bottom line is that radical felt cheap to him.

didn't you used fischers before pure drive,why you changed to such a different stick?

 

[Satch]

THE LM RADICAL HAS TONS MORE FEEL THAN ANY OF THE K range. end of story

k range is very big, so many different sticks (flex, patterns and so on), that it's stupid to say something like that...

 

[nickb]

he said from his experience, maybe on some stupid way but bottom line is that radical felt cheap to him.

didn't you used fischers before pure drive,why you changed to such a different stick?

So? The K90 feels like a lump of useless wood to me.

I did use fischers...I just wanted something lighter with more power.

 

[Satch]

So? The K90 feels like a lump of useless wood to me.

I did use fischers...I just wanted something lighter with more power.

that's ok, you say that and the OP will get his conclusion from all the posts...

And how do you like PD? is it PDR?

 

[JustTennis76]

I think I am going to try the K95 as my next demo. Thanks all for your replies.

 

[MrAWD]

Your comparisons are useless.

As is you comment like this one!

What you say is wrong. Good players use light rackets. Good players use heavy rackets.

And who argued here that good players don't use light racquets? Only in your head perhaps...

If you give a 6.0 player that uses a stock LM radical a K90 do you think he will play better?

The fact is that he/she might! And you have no clue whether that would be true or not even though you feel like you can use it as something to prove one of your flowed points.

Better equipment means nothing...your K90 costs more than my racket...does it make you a better player?...NO

I see what is going on here. You feel deep inside that you are not good player since you can't play with Mid racquets successfully, so in your flowed mind nobody else can do it either. If they say they do they must be just faking it since, hey, nobody can use them since you can't! Oh, boy...

Do you think Djokovic would play better with the K90 vs his LM Radical based wilson racket?

Yes, he might be!!! And again, you have no clue whether he would or wouldn't be a better player with a different stick!

Fedja

 

[nickb]

As is you comment like this one!

And who argued here that good players don't use light racquets? Only in your head perhaps...

The fact is that he/she might! And you have no clue whether that would be true or not even though you feel like you can use it as something to prove one of your flowed points.

I see what is going on here. You feel deep inside that you are not good player since you can't play with Mid racquets successfully, so in your flowed mind nobody else can do it either. If they say they do they must be just faking it since, hey, nobody can use them since you can't! Oh, boy...

Yes, he might be!!! And again, you have no clue whether he would or wouldn't be a better player with a different stick!

Fedja

You have no clue if people using the K90 would play better with a LM Radical either

Take a look at your posts...none of them make sense...

You think your a good player because you use a mid!....right now im using a 11.5 oz stiff 100sqin racket...im a 5.0 player. I can hit every shot in the book with this type of racket....sorry!

 

[MrAWD]

You have no clue if people using the K90 would play better with a LM Radical either

I have never stated that they would or they wouldn't! I only implied that Federed would not play better with LM Radical compared to the racquet that he is using now (only thing I know it is a Wilson and it is Mid). So, get your facts straight kiddo before start accusing other people of things that you have in your head.

Take a look at your posts...none of them make sense...

And, this is constructive how? Should we just take your word for it?

You think your a good player because you use a mid!....right now im using a 11.5 oz stiff 100sqin racket...im a 5.0 player. I can hit every shot in the book with this type of racket....sorry!

You see, this is your problem! You are taking whatever someone writes in here personally against your self! I don't give a things for what your level is and what racquet you are playing with! But, you are obsessed with people playing with Mid frames and you take it like someone is hurting you every time there is a post that concerns Mid frames.

I play with Mid right now because I like how it feels when I play with those frames! That is it! I would probably win more games if I would play with something easier (either lighter or bigger or whatever it is) to hit with, but as of right now I didn't find anything that gives me the pleasure I get from hitting with the Mid frames (particularly Redondo Mid as of now).

So, could you stop comparing my game with your self and my racquet with yours. This is not what we are discussing here so let it go! If you have a problem with the equipment you are using go find a shrink and hope that he/she will help you with that!

Fedja

 

[Tennis Man]

K90 is only comparable with LMP Mid not MP. I play with both and have tough time chosing one over another.

I have stronger serves with LMP Mid (more pace and better placement) and overall ball control (tighter string pattern?)

K90 gives me more overall versatility (serve, slice, spin) although is a bit more powerful and gives me a bit less control (rounder head shape, open string pattern)

 

[nickb]

I have never stated that they would or they wouldn't! I only implied that Federed would not play better with LM Radical compared to the racquet that he is using now (only thing I know it is a Wilson and it is Mid). So, get your facts straight kiddo before start accusing other people of things that you have in your head.

And, this is constructive how? Should we just take your word for it?


You see, this is your problem! You are taking whatever someone writes in here personally against your self! I don't give a things for what your level is and what racquet you are playing with! But, you are obsessed with people playing with Mid frames and you take it like someone is hurting you every time there is a post that concerns Mid frames.

I play with Mid right now because I like how it feels when I play with those frames! That is it! I would probably win more games if I would play with something easier (either lighter or bigger or whatever it is) to hit with, but as of right now I didn't find anything that gives me the pleasure I get from hitting with the Mid frames (particularly Redondo Mid as of now).

So, could you stop comparing my game with your self and my racquet with yours. This is not what we are discussing here so let it go! If you have a problem with the equipment you are using go find a shrink and hope that he/she will help you with that!

Fedja

But you are saying that the OP should not use the LM Radical because you think it is "a toy" or whatever.

You dont have a clue what you are talking about...

You say frames are personal preference then go on to say a good player would be better off with a mid.

You contradict yourself in every post.

Cya.

 

[MrAWD]

But you are saying that the OP should not use the LM Radical because you think it is "a toy" or whatever.

You dont have a clue what you are talking about...

I do think that LM Radical is a "toy" next to the K90 that OP used to play, not "a toy" in general. What is wrong with that? Is this just your inability to accept what others think about the different racquets? You know that shrink figure could be actually very helpful here...

You say frames are personal preference then go on to say a good player would be better off with a mid.

You contradict yourself in every post.

You are as limited as they come, kiddo! Find something that I wrote in this thread that says that "a good player" will be better with the Mid frames! I only said that for Federer and nobody else! For everybody else, I said that they might be better, but I or you or anybody else in here don't know that as much as they don't know if opposite holds as well. The only way to know is for someone to try it and then they would know. And that would still apply only to them and not for everybody else.

It is getting really old that you keep bringing things about others that never took place anywhere except in your head perhaps!

Fedja

 

[nickb]

I do think that LM Radical is a "toy" next to the K90 that OP used to play, not "a toy" in general. What is wrong with that? Is this just your inability to accept what others think about the different racquets? You know that shrink figure could be actually very helpful here...


You are as limited as they come, kiddo! Find something that I wrote in this thread that says that "a good player" will be better with the Mid frames! I only said that for Federer and nobody else! For everybody else, I said that they might be better, but I or you or anybody else in here don't know that as much as they don't know if opposite holds as well. The only way to know is for someone to try it and then they would know. And that would still apply only to them and not for everybody else.

It is getting really old that you keep bringing things about others that never took place anywhere except in your head perhaps!

Fedja

So whats your point then?

You say that the OP would think the LM Rad is a toy but then say its all personal preference...how do you know it would feel like a toy to him?

Its clear from your posts that you dont have a clue about rackets or tennis in general..

 

[MrAWD]

So whats your point then?

You say that the OP would think the LM Rad is a toy but then say its all personal preference...how do you know it would feel like a toy to him?

Its clear from your posts that you dont have a clue about rackets or tennis in general..

LM Radical feels like a toy compared to the K90.

I am sorry I am offending your greatness with those comments of mine. Please forgive me if you felt that way. And then go a look up a shrink!

Fedja

 

[nickb]

LM Radical feels like a toy compared to the K90.

I am sorry I am offending your greatness with those comments of mine. Please forgive me if you felt that way. And then go a look up a shrink!

Fedja

You have no argument...thats pretty clear.

The K90 looks like a toy thats for sure..

WTH are you going on about a shrink for?...it just looks strange...you need to get out more.