Comments: I bought two of there's. Felt a little head heavy so I first tried silicone in the handle. Since they moved most of the weight to the bottom and the hoop, silicone made the racquet feel sluggish. Very unusual as I nearly always add some silicone to my racquets of choice. Anyway, I removed the silicone and added only 3 grams of lead at the top of the handle on the pallet. The racquet took on a more traditional balance and feel. The lead at this location adds stability and plow without making the racquet feel like a club. I also strung it with Yonex Poly Tour Air. What beautiful feel the racquet has now. The head has become more whippy with massive top spin and spectacular on volleys. The Head Graphene XT Radical Pro is a fantastic stick with amazing power and control.
From: Chas, 4/21/19

Comments: Thought I would provide an update from my last post from 7/16. At the time I owned this racket and a Babalot Pure Aero. I have since ditched the Babalot. I gave it to my wife as an extra racket, who uses a Pure Drive as her primary racket. I bought another Graphene XT Radical Pro (when the price dropped $40). I can't say enough good things about this racket. Probably my favorite attribute about this racket is my ability to place serves with it. First serve or kick serve, I can target serves on a dime with it. But, it is great in all areas, returns, volleys, you name it. After two years, I can't see myself using any other racket. I have switched from Head Hawk Touch 17 to Volkl Cyclone 17 at 54lbs. I feel like the latter just gives me a little more spin and control.
From: Ron, 12/30/17

Comments: I used the Radical racquet for more than 10 years. I did try a few in-between but still shifted back to the Radical. Since I thought the XT and non-XT Graphene are quite the same one, I didnt buy one until 3 weeks ago I bought a almost new pre-owned one. After playing with the XT, I sold my 2 Radical Graphene Pros, I love the XT. The power is easier (more modern feel I think), spin and control are around the same but the power is better. However, one thing that bothers me is the grip size. I used to buy grip 3 and place 1 overgrip; but the grip 3 + 1 overgrip on the XT is too large. I dont understand why the size is so different and for XT pro, I will need grip 2 + 1 overgrip only.
From: Anonymous, 10/22/17

Comments: I was impressed from the very first moment a started to hit the balls with this racquet. It brought to me consistent shots, especially on serve, plus it was easy to handle. A nice design and most important: feels really comfortable. Just vanished any arm pains I used to have. Strung with 50 lbs Black Venom strings.
From: Jose, 10/22/17

Comments: Great racquet. Controllable power on groundstrokes, good spin, very maneuverable at net. Not nearly as dampened as something like the speed pro but much more plush than a pure drive or pure aero. I put a leather grip on mine to bring the static weight up to 12oz and the balance from 6 pts HL to 8 or 9 pts HL. It has great plow through. I tend to hit flat on both wings, and I really notice the plow through abilities of this racquet on both my slice and normal topspin backhand. I've strung it with tourna big hitter black 7 17g @53lbs, and the Wilson Spin Effects hybrid with poly in the mains at 52 lbs and multi in the crosses at 55 lbs. The full bed of poly is great if you can restring your racquets every 2-4 weeks, but I prefer the slightly softer feel of a hybrid. Definitely planning on purchasing another one of these sticks soon.
From: Andrew, 7/31/17

Comments: Here's an update to my previous review: I smashed my first XT Radical Pro in a fit of passion (that shows how much I love the game). Ended up getting a previous generation Graphene Radical Pro and really didnt like it at all. Repurchased the XT Radical Pro and am really enjoying it. it is much quicker than the previous generation, but still retains a solid feel. I am stringing it with RIP control at about 55 lbs. The combo has been a good compromise for me. Poly in this frame eventually wrecked my arm, which is why I had to teach the previous frame a lesson by smashing it. Provided you can get by without poly or with a hybrid, this frame really brings some unique things to the table. Good power and forgiveness, but a little more weight and solidity than a typical tweener. Probably the easiest "Pro" racquet to use in Head's line.
From: N8, 4/3/17

Comments: I had a hard time adjusting to this stick. I am not use to using a racquet with almost an even balance. I did switch out the synthetic grip for a leather grip and I found it to help weight the tail a bit more which felt better. I live at 6,000 feet and therefore am used to stringing my sticks a bit tighter. I put in ALU at 56 lbs. Balls were flying out from the baseline and my two handed backhand was feeling jammed. I could not find the sweet spot with this thing. Only thing that felt half way decent with this set up was my volleys. Overall, the racquet felt like hollow tin and extremely stiff. I broke those strings after a week and replaced them with Solinco Hyper G at 52 lbs. Wow! I have never played so good and felt so confident in my strokes. I can't believe how sensitive this thing is to strings. Normally I can make do with whatever is in there but this combo feels amazing. Spin potential was there, on par with the Aero Pro, stability was there, on par with RF97 and depth on the groundstrokes was amazing. The flat grip was hard to get use to and gave me hand cramps for a little bit but once you are use to it, it feels great and this racquet overall, with the right string set up is amazingly solid feeling. Only knock on it is that touch shots are hard to hit and soften the hards, I think because this is so stiff. Very modern feeling. Worth a demo for advanced players. Much, much better than the MPA in my opinion -- unsure how that became a best seller, maybe because it is endorsed by so many touring pros. I will be curious to try this with the Graphene Touch technology that will be here later this year. I played with the Instinct and Speed Touch and they feel a bit softer, so it could be a great update for the Radical Line. I am a 5.0 player and full time teaching pro.
From: Evan, 1/17

Comments: I really liked this racquet. I found really good plow through on my one handed backhand. It's really stable but a little unforigiving when you hit outside the sweetspot. Control was something that also stood out. I felt that if you shortened your swing it would give you the response you would hope for. I also liked my second serve with this because even though it took off a little spin it was much easier to aim and direct my kick serve. I felt it became much better when I put a softer poly at 53 pounds. Great raqcuet.
From: David, 1/17

Comments: I played and tested so many different racquets and I have to say that this is one of the best I ever played. The racquet is super stable, has a huge sweetspot (bigger than the sweetspot of the Wilson Blade 98 I played before), a lot of power (maybe a bit too much) and agood control. So I totally disagree with TW's feedbacks on this racquet. I think it is a good update to the Head Graphene Radical Pro (predecessor) which had a extremely good feedback from TW. I do not understand why the raqcuet was rated so badly.
From: Maze, 12/16

Comments: It's a glass cannon. The power level is over 9000 and definitely higher than the Blade 98, especially when you hit the ball in the sweetspot. There's definitely a huge sweetspot, but off center hits are very unforgiving. Unlike the blade 98 where off center shots can still be controlled. I fully understand what "crisp feel" means because this racquet definitely has a "crisp feel" when hitting at the baseline. As for me, it's too difficult to tame so I will be returning it.
From: Arton, 11/16

Comments: I have played with the Graphene XT Radical Pro for almost a year now, and the racquet still has excellent feel, very good balance, and pinpoint precision as well as good power. I'm a 4.5 player and this racquet has almost never let me down. Very crisp, very nice swing motion, and good spin on the frame.
From: Edward, 11/16

Comments: I currently have played with Graphene Radical Pro for the last year. Moved to this to get back to something a little bit more traditional in weight. Played with Babolat Pure Drive, but ultimately consistency would suffer and the lighter weight made it difficult for me to feel and time my swing -- great when timing was good and bad when timing was off. Grew up playing heavy traditional racquets like Wilson 6.0, etc. so I like smaller sweetspots, better feel, and can generate my own power. The Graphene Radical Pro is a great blend of traditional and modern day frame. Has some nice added pop and great spin. Decided to give the XT a try and my impression is that it took a time or two out to get used to the heavier swing weight, especially on serves and serve returns. Now that I'm used to it returns have really improved and serve is coming along. I find the XT doesn't play quite as stiff as the non-XT. I don't get quite as much spin or power as the non-XT, but the same spin and power is available, but you have to tap into it. I actually prefer this because I can use the added swing weight to generate the extra pace and spin when I want it with the XT. I'm more consistent with the XT and the response is more predictable. The sweetspot on the XT is slightly smaller, but again I don't mind because it's big enough for me to handle and keeps me aware of when I'm getting sloppy with instant feedback when it's not a perfect hit. I don't like huge sweetspots like the Babolat because you have to hit something really bad before you realize you're getting away from the center and by then you're way off. Mishits still have decent power and spin. The non-XT version is a great racquet, but I do feel the XT version was a little harshly criticized by the TW reviewers. The XT is an improvement in that it moves slighty more towards a more traditional frame. It seems like they were put off by the smaller sweetspot and Heads decision, in my opinion, to move slightly more in the direction of control rather than power. I've been stringing with Solinco HyperG Heaven 16g at 48 lbs. I'm a 4.5/5.0 player and love playing from the baseline yet this racquet also is great on volleys and touch shots as well. I highly recommend if you're a baseliner looking for a blend of modern and traditional racquet that has good controllable power and spin. I'll be looking to pick up another one to match this. Might still hang onto the non-XT if I feel I need slightly quicker swinging racket with a touch more pop on a particular day.
From: Matt, 10/16

Comments: I tested this frame about four hours and I'm going to buy it now. I'm a 4.0 player, played regularly with the Blade 98 18x20, Yonex Ai98, and tested many other frames in the last two years hoping to find one I would feel completely home with. I found it now. I don't know how it is possible to state this racquet has a small sweetspot, it's huge. This is as solid as heavier racquets, the feel is crisp but super solid (unlike for example the Ai98), it has a lot of power, you don't have to accelerate the swing too much but together with power it comes with excellent control and feel. I'm very confused about the TW review. This is the best frame I've tried.
From: Emanuele, 10/16

Comments: Have been using the Pure Aero which is a very solid racquet. I'm a 4.5-5.0 player, mostly doubles. Looking to try and change my game up some, hit heavier balls, less mass, more angles. So far this one has allowed me to do that. I strung it with the suggested gut on the mains, and ALU Power 16L on the crosses and it feels good. Not sure how long the gut will last right now, but my balls were heavy and dropping right into the court after net guys felt the were going long. Got the angles I was looking for, easier to hit the volleys and drops. Will write a followup, but if anyone has a suggestion on something other than the gut for more jump on the ball, I'm all ears.
From: Sean, 8/16

Comments: I have been using this racquet for about six months now. I love this racquet. It plays much more nimble than the swing weight would suggest. You can generate great swing speed and add to that the higher swing weight, you can crush balls into the open court. I find the directional control very good. It is great on serves and handles returns with no problems. My favorite though are volleys and half volleys. This stick really shines at the net. Its very maneuverable and rock solid. The one knock would be off center shots are bit brassy, but it's a 98 square inch player's racquet, so what would you expect? I demo'd a bunch of racquets. In the end it came down to this and the Babalot Pure Aero. I liked the power and forgiveness of the Pure Aero, but I kept coming back to this one. Glad I did, it plays great. Most of my play is doubles, but I play singles about 1/4 of the time. I have since bought a Pure Aero also (actually the heavier tour version). My thinking was I would use the Pure Aero Tour in singles and this one in doubles. After two months of playing with both racquets, I usually start my singles match with the Pure Aero Tour, but if I get behind, I put it away and pickup the Radical. The touch and feel I get with it allows me to play a more versatile game, come to net and pressure my opponent. I may one day play singles with just the PAT, but for now, this is my go to racquet. I play with Head Hawk Touch 17 strung at 54 lbs.
From: Ron, 7/16

Comments: After developing persistent wrist pain from playing with my trusty RF97 for a couple years, I decided to shop around. My aging body can no longer handle the beast I suppose. After demoing 10+ racquets in a similar spec range, I am so happy to have found this racquet. It initially felt a bit stiffer than RF97 but after stringing it with hybrid (gut main/poly cross) it feels just right! I am getting even more topspin on my forehand than I did with RF97. My backhand has more depth and my serve has improved considerably. The only customization I made was leather grip. Overall, very solid offering from Head. For a guy who stubbornly played exclusively with Wilson prostaff lines for over a decade, it was surprisingly easy transition.
From: Jon, 5/16

Comments: Here is my updated review: I played with this racquet for the entire spring USTA season (I'm a 3.5 and play up in 4.0). I ditched the synthetic gut, it's only good for 1 to 2 matches before it gets unmanageable. Strung with Head Sonic Pro 17 or Sonic Pro Edge at 52 lbs. It is uncomfortable at first, but once the strings settle it is plenty comfortable. The racquet really shines from the baseline -- the weight and balance make it perfect for groundstrokes off both wings (I have a 2HBH). I win a lot of points just crushing neutral deep balls into the corners, catching my opponents off guard with the pace and spin. It is excellent at the net as well, it is very stable against pace compared to its lighter MP Speed and Radical siblings. If I could change one thing about the frame it would be to make it more comfortable. However, adding comfort to a frame always has the tradeoff of creating a more disconnected feeling. This racquet lets me know exactly where my shots are going, No surprises. It's the first racquet I have used that I could just pick up and start using and it felt "right" from the beginning, No adjustment needed. I also tried the XT MPA version of the Radical and felt this one was hands-down the better frame, not sure how the MPA ended up being a "best seller." Also, I don't think this one deserves the somewhat harsh review it received here. If anything, to me, it is better than the previous Graphene version.
From: N8, 5/16

Comments: This is the best stick from HEAD in the Graphene XT line. I would love to see this one with a 62 RA and a SW of 330 again though. Also the feel of the odlder versions is better in my opinion too. This is more a hollow crsiper feeling, not necessarily bad but I like the Innegra feel better.
From: Phill, 3/16

Comments: The weight and balance of this racquet is right in my wheelhouse (as they say). Not as demanding as the Speed Pro, but more control than the MPA versions of the Radical and Speed. Says it is a 98, but it is just as forgiving as the 100 square inch racquets I have used. I am using a 17 g synthetic gut at 55 lbs, pleasantly surprised by this frame.
From: N8, 3/16

Comments: I am also perplexed by TW's feedbacks on this racquet. This year I bought my first HEAD Radical racquet -- the Graphene XT Radical Pro. I strung it with Luxilon Savage 52 lbs, and it is amazingly powerful and stable. This racquet is like the light version of Wilson RF 97 Autograph, which now I think is the best racquet I have ever played. Graphene XT Radical Pro has become my second choice, and I really appreciate HEAD's efforts for making such a powerful weapon.
From: Scottie, 2/16

Comments: This is a great racquet, but i think that head should make the Head Radical Pro with the following aspects: Strung Weight: 328; Head size: 100 square inches; Stiffness: 64-66; swingweight: 321; Beam: 22.5; string pattern: 16x19; power level: low-medium.
From: Piero, 2/16

Comments: This iteration of the HEAD Prestige is phenomenal. Its flexible stability and plow through are second to none. A smart piece of high-tech engineering. Strung at as low as 46 lbs with Babolat Hybrid RPM Blast + VS. A true player's racquet.
From: Daniel, 2/16

Comments: From the new Graphene XT line of racquets this is the best one. Not as good as the YT IG line when it comes to feel, but still good. I found this one play a lot smoother than the Prestige Pro. All in all a good stick. Will stick to my YT IG Radical Pro though.
From: Scott, 2/16

Comments: I am a 5.0 player and I use the Prestige MP and the Pro Kennex MP Heritage (see my review on that). This is not the exact racquet that Andy Murray uses. To me this is a really good racquet for a 4.0 and 4.5 players but it can be easily customized and become a player's stick.
From: Fernando, 12/15
Note from TW: This is the racquet endorsed by Andy Murray. Unfortunately, we can't be sure of the exact specs of the racquet Murray is using.

Comments: I am perplexed by TW's feedback on this stick? The new Radical Graphene XT is crazy good! It has mad power, good control and a super slick new paint job. I own the new Pure Drive and Pure Aero and to me, this racquet is better than either of those racquets by a mile!
From: Mike, 11/15 Note from TW: Glad you are enjoying the update to the Radical Pro. We just preferred the previous version a bit better than the update, but agree it is a good racquet! Sometimes there are new racquets we don't love but are still a great option for other players! :)

Comments: As advertised, this one has power and control. The swing weight helps create depth, pop and penetrating serves. All in all, a great upgrade.
From: Paul, 11/15

Comments: The YT IG Radical Pro is still the better racquet in my opinion. This is too stiff for my liking. A 62 flex rating and a plusher feel would be better for my liking. Haven't been a fan of Graphene.
From: Phil, 11/15