2023 Head Radical Pro Customized: 3 Months Later!

[@mericusta1988]

Hi, I play with a radical pro that weighs about 350 as well. My main racquet is babolat pure drive, yet I love the feeling of radical pro, especially on the foreand. It gives me control, and great feel(unlike my pure drive). On the volleys, it is perfect, especially against hards shots,it is very stable. The reason I didn't switch yet 1) my backhand slice keeps sailing high, and I cant control the height well 2) It doesn't give me the same pop in my serve. I can live with a slower serve at my level, but what do you think is the problem with my bh slice? I rely on this shot a lot, and I need it to be consistent. Do I have bad technique? Why can I slice well with pure drive and not this one? Any ideas?

[@MPTennis]

Technically speaking the Pure Drive actually has the higher launch angle (16/19, 100sq etc). It is extreamly difficukt to say because I cannit see yiu hit the ball.

[@criktun3346]

The Radical is amazing for slicing in my opinion. I cannot believe you are hitting BAD slices with the Radical. I think you need to give the Radical more time to learn it. Maybe you added weight in the wrong places and made it unstable for slicing 😉.

[@mericusta1988]

@@criktun3346 thanks for replying. This was a grip 2 racquet transformed into grip 3 at the shop. No weights at the hoop. So basically it is a headlight racquet.

[@mericusta1988]

I will train more with it. I love the feeling of it. It is quite the older version. GraphneXt, orange and black.

[@jayortiz6188]

You need to cut your slice harder. You have to understand hitting a slice with a pure drive vs a players frame is completely different. Make sure you have a long slice swing and cut the ball hard.

[@userdjee834]

So how much lead did you remove? If the racquet is 5g lighter, would that mean you took 5g off from 12? But there's still 3.5g at 12, so there was 8.5g total at 12, when it was at 340 kgcm2 or?

[@MPTennis]

So, I had 5g total originally. Now its down to about 3.5g total. The 17g is also a bit lighter so it around that 345g weight.

[@kkarx]

In 90s when I was 12 yo kid and when I competed in tennis tournaments I had about 360 g racket. It was really a standard back then and it was considered to be light. Even my dad always told me the racket was very light and the rackets were way heavier in the past. Now das tell their children the same thing.😂

[@eggmaneggman9966]

I do have a question. I play with a loose grip. Do I need to watch for higher swing weight or more head heavy rackets when having a loose grip? Thx in advance.

[@nathanmiller6051]

What are your plans after school? one more year to go?

[@MPTennis]

Thats right! 1.5 left. I am not entirely sure would like to play tennis after school though.

[@nathanmiller6051]

@@MPTennis awesome, and of course best wishes always, hopefully you'll do some coaching 🎾 as well 🙏

[@Bambotb]

​@@MPTennisnot sure or too scared like most college grads ? Lol

[@greensky9530]

What’s your major, out of curiosity? I feel like you mentioned it before but I can’t remember.

[@MPTennis]

Business administration with a concentration in sport management with a minor in wellness

[@greensky9530]

@@MPTennis oh nice!

[@DwaynePretorius]

Itching to try a radical pro auxetic, use to play with the 360 then moved over to babolat pure aero before switching back to head with the extreme tour auxetic

[@oneshadeoff9440]

Hey, I really hope you respond to this! I have a head radical mp and I currently don't know the best strings on the market. I tried ALU power and it was a slop for my game, I currently use lynx tour but I'm not getting enough out of those strings. Any suggestions for comfort/spin strings???

[@MPTennis]

Tough to say because I've never seen you hit a tennis ball before. Also depends on your level as well. You could try hybriding with a nice multi with a stiff poly. the poly will give you the spin and the multi will give you the comfort and feel.

[@oneshadeoff9440]

@@MPTennis I'm beginner and slowly uprising to intermediate.

[@fingersm]

Razor code at lower tension is such a great string

[@fingersm]

I am surprised that most people dont like the Pro. Most prefer the MP but inhave always thought the Pros are so much better and feel great

[@MPTennis]

The MPs probably work for a bigger audience of players

[@bonnynadeau3765]

So happy you’re loving your new racket

[@micah2237]

that slice @2:58 is freakin sick

[@WaltKurtz68]

Smoke coming off of the poor ball 😉😅

[@markmoore5981]

So based on the specs, you are playing with a Balolat Rafa Origin then? What a beast - definitely not for everyone. That is a LOT of weight! (Rafa Origin is: Strung Weight:11.9oz / 337g • Balance: 13.38in / 33.99cm / 1 pts HL • Swingweight: 371 • Stiffness: 70)

[@MPTennis]

My swingweight was 340.8 when TennCom put the initial customization together. I have taken off a bit of weight at 12 and using a lighter string now so it is probably less than the original custom specs. I can't measure weights here, since I don't have the tools, but I feel it wouldn't be like the numbers you shared. See measurements at 3:55

[@markmoore5981]

@@MPTennis The specs above are for the Rafa Origin. That is the beefiest stock racquet I know. Next would be the Wilson Pro Staff 97 RF Autograph at 12.6 ounces/357 grams, perhaps? The Yonex Percept 97H and the Head Prestige Classic 2.0 2023 are also a hefty 12.2+oz / 349g. I think your Radical is right there with these.

[@Official.tadiwa]

Not you having heavier specs than the atp and wta pros 😭💀

[@BillyWander-k4m]

Courtesy of Beckett who looks like he’s going to pass out in a 10 point tie break

[@tomk5238]

That's not true tho. Most pros use a swingweight 340+

[@Official.tadiwa]

@@tomk5238 they dont they used to but not anymore due to wrist injuries you can actually look at the stats the only people with heavy frames are serena venus and nadal

[@Miltonidejr]

Tension?

[@MPTennis]

50 for me.

[@WaltKurtz68]

that's 22.68 kg metric

[@YehShano]

What grip size do you use mate? I’ve been told by a pro stringer that most pros use grip 2(41/4) which is quite small especially considering most pros are 6’+…more whippy for spin with the smaller grip but I’d assume they have the 41/4 to allow for adding weight with tape/leather grip which would make it bigger

[@mteca5093]

If i get strings for free i would admit to it

[@MPTennis]

At the time of this video I never got free strings, unless it was through my school. Toroline gave me some sets to demo/ review on the channel which I did. A few sets don't last a year or very long and garner an official string sponsor. However, I do really like their Super Toro and hope I can work something out with them in 2024.