Racquet Review: Head Radical Pro 2025

• Price: $279
• Head Size: 98 sq. in.
• Length: 27 in.
• Weight: 11.7 oz.
• Balance: 6 pts. HL
• Swingweight: 329
• RA Rating: 65
• Beam Width: 20 mm / 21.5 mm / 21 mm
• String Pattern: 16x19

What’s New

The Radical Pro received a modest update. The primary tweak is the addition of Auxetic 2.0, which expands the carbon fiber construction into added parts of the frame. Along with the yoke piece, it now occupies space at the end of the handle. It helps improve the response at contact, most notably on off-center hits. Other than that, an eye-catching cosmetic is the only other notable change.

What Works

The new Radical line certainly looks the part. With its uber-orange colorway, the racquet’s appearance is far from subtle. However, other than its exterior, there’s nothing really edgy or extreme about the Radical, especially the Pro model. It’s a predictable and accurate racquet without a lot of flash, and long-time users wouldn’t have it any other way.

At 315g unstrung and a nearly 330 swingweight, the Pro possesses the heft and stability that advanced players crave. It stands up well to a bigger ball and is rock-solid at impact. The sweet spot is fairly contained and doesn’t provide a great of inherent power when finding it, but an aggressive swing with sound mechanics produces shots with ample pace and depth. The firm layup offers a bit of help on off-center contact, and has the ball in and out of the strings quickly at its intended target.

The weight provided a ton of stability, and once the stick was in motion, it could really push the ball around. Tester Comment

To that end, a pretty tight 16x19 string pattern affords dependable directional control. Combined with the tempered power level, it bolsters confidence to go after big serves and ground strokes and direct them toward tight windows. The racquet is the epitome of a straight-shooter—if you miss the shot, the error almost always feels user-generated.

The launch off the string bed is lower and doesn’t spit out topspin as naturally as some competing 98s. However, it’s quite nimble for its weight, so you can compensate somewhat with added racquet head acceleration. A springy kick serve is gettable, but it requires a loose wrist and plenty of snap up and through contact. Flatter shots and knifing slice backhands are more routine to produce and penetrate well through the court.

This playability is a near carbon copy of the outgoing model. The biggest difference is a slightly plusher, dampened feel courtesy of the additional Auxetic construction in the yoke and handle. It still has a firm, connected feel with plenty of feedback, but now arguably has a bit more pleasing and supple response.

Which benefits execution on touch and specialty shots. Being so predictable, you know just how much lift and spin to use on lobs and rollers. The firmness makes punching volleys very point-and-shoot, but there’s just enough give to hit softer drops and angles with consistency. Head promotes the Radical as being highly versatile ("Every shot. Everywhere.” is the tagline) and it certainly delivers on those all-court capabilities.

What Needs Work

Being a Pro model, it’s intended for an accomplished audience and not the friendliest frame around. The sweet spot is exacting and it takes a fast, full cut to get the ball moving. It’s not necessarily a knock—many high-level players appreciate such playability—but there are other comparable options that bring more help to the court.

The racquet’s stiffer layup and crisper feel are primarily responsible for its modern appeal over more classic players frames. This latest does push the needle slightly towards a softer response, especially when compared to the earlier Graphene models. However, several testers still wish it had a bit more flex.

Opinions run hot and cold on the paint job. Some embrace the wow factor; others find it more appropriate for directing traffic on an airport runway. It won’t matter in terms of performance, but you do have to really like orange.

It has the plow through and drive close to a pure players frame, but in a slightly more powerful and forgiving package. Tester Comment

Bottom Line

More evolution than revolution, the new Head Radical Pro continues to be a straightforward all-around performer for topnotch competitors.