HEAD Radical Racquet Review (Pro and MP, Auxetic 2.0)

The new HEAD Radical 2025 racquets are out and this is our HEAD Radical racquet review. We have been testing the HEAD Radical Auxetic 2.0 Pro and MP racquets.

Introduction

The HEAD Radical is one of the most iconic racquet lines on the market. Ever since Andre Agassi made it famous with his swashbuckling tennis and radical tennis fashion, the Radical has been a staple on tour and among club players.

There are loads of HEAD Radical players on the ATP tour, using different versions and generations of the Radical. Taylor Fritz, Matteo Arnaldi (was recently seen playing with a HEAD Speed, though) Flavio Cobolli, Mattia Bellucci, Zhizhen Zhang and more. You can click on the names to find out more about the player and the racquet they use.

The HEAD Radical 2025 comes with Auxetic 2.0 technology, now also adding the layup construction in the handle and not only the yoke like with Auxetic 1.0. The idea is to optimize the feel and you do get a sensation of improved comfort and vibration dampening with Auxetic 2.0 tech.

There are more than two Radical racquets being released for 2025. You will also find the lighter Team and Elite models in the line-up. You can see the different models on the Tennis Warehouse page. The racquets will also be available at Tennis Warehouse Europe (use the code TNERD10 for 10% off) and Tennis Only. Any purchase of any product using our links will send us a small commission.

Let’s get into the main models for most players, the HEAD Radical Pro and HEAD Radical MP.

HEAD Radical MP Review (2025, Auxetic 2.0)

I used the HEAD Radical MP 2023 (Aux 1.0) for six months or so as my tournament match weapon. It had a great combination of control and feel, but with some added power and spin potential compared to my old Prestige MP from 2019, which is too challenging to generate pop on the ball with.

The Radical MP is still a control racquet, though. Competing with frames like the Wilson Blade 98 16/19, the Babolat Pure Strike 98, Dunlop CX 200, Solinco Whiteout 305 and Yonex Percept 97. You can’t expect to get loads of help with spin and power, although it does give you a bit more than the Prestige.

When I picked up the HEAD Radical MP 2025, I felt right at home. Sure, it does not give the power of some modern 98 sq inch racquets like the Yonex Ezone 98 or Babolat Pure Aero 98, but I feel more in control and can swing faster without fear of hitting long. Sometimes, when playing with more powerful racquets, I feel like I need to adjust my game too much, but this is dependent on your style and technique and level of play, of course.

The main change to this racquet is the Auxetic 2.0 layup technology, which creates a slightly more dampened and comfortable feel. The sweet spot feels slightly larger and the racquet is a tad more forgiving than the Radical 2023.

Video Review of the HEAD Radical 2025

Let’s have a look at the specifications.

Specifications

Playability and performance

I felt right at home with the Radical MP 2025 from the first strike of the ball. The feel at impact is slightly refined, but otherwise, many things are the same. You can fault HEAD for not being innovative with their racquet updates of late (the HEAD Gravity Tour 98 excluded), but I can also understand that they don’t want to fix what ain’t broken.

The Radical MP 2023 was one of my favorite racquets in recent years, and this is a seamless transition. If you liked the predecessor but thought it was a little uncomfortable, this could be an interesting update because the Aux 2.0 tech does seem to limit vibrations well.

But besides that, the performance and playability of the new Radical is VERY similar. This has been the story with most HEAD updates of late. In most cases, they seem like minor layup updates and subtle improvements and then it might not make sense for you to purchase new racquets if you are already happy with the version you are using. However, if you do decide to upgrade to the new model, the transition should be seamless.

I have been in two minds whether I like the 2025 more or less than the 2023 version of the Radical MP. But I did play them side by side the other day and felt like the new one is slightly easier to use and more pleasant when you don’t hit the center of the string bed. So the 2025 it is. Another solid upgrade by HEAD.

When it comes to comparing this racquet versus other control frames in this category, like the Blade 98 and Pure Strike 98, it is mainly a matter of what feel you prefer. The Strike is stiffer and more powerful, but I don’t quite get the confidence I like with that racquet, personally. The Blade 98 is quite similar in what it delivers to the ball compared to the Radical, so for me that is a 50/50. Either racquet is a great choice for a player searching for control. I think the Radical is easier to play with than the Percept 97 and more dependable than the CX 200 from Dunlop.

Summary

If I were to play with a control racquet instead of the Aero 98 that I have been using for the last few months, this would be it. I feel very much at home with the Radical MP, and there are many things to like here and few things to dislike. For most players it would make sense to string it with a slightly livelier string to open up some more depth and spin potential. I liked it best with Toroline O-Toro Spin or Tru Pro Pure Rush but can also see it work well with Solinco Mach-10, for example. I tried adding a little weight to increase the power level, but in the end I enjoyed it better with the 322 strung swing weight, which allows me to swing it faster.

Again, this is a control racquet. You won’t get extra help on shots like the serve. But the stability is better than you might expect; it offers a pleasant feel (although some racquet purists might become nostalgic about older Radicals, like the Candycane or the IG), and you can do everything with it. Truly a versatile weapon. I know most players rave about the Gravity Tour 98 with its higher launch angle, but I am still a Radical guy.

HEAD Radical Pro Review (2025, Aux 2.0)

I always struggled a bit with the HEAD Radical Pro since it become a 98 sq inch racquet. You might remember the IG Radical Pro, which was a fantastic racquet but with its 95 sq inch head size, was quite demanding to use. However, there are many fans of the Graphene Radical Pro, the first generation, which is in pro stock code speak is the 307 mold. This frame had a higher stiffness and many pros you see on the tour still use the Graphene 307 mold.

However, the Radical Pro 352 mold is also widespread (351 is the MP mold, while 352 is the thinner Pro mold). The Pro is surely made for advanced players with its higher static weight, higher swing weight and thinner beam profile. You need to be a quite strong player to maximize the potential of the Radical Pro. And that DNA has not changed with the Aux 2.0 layup upgrade. However, I did enjoy the feel more of this Radical Pro than the previous edition and in my experience it was slightly more forgiving than the 2023.

Specifications

The most important elements to note compared to the Radical MP, is the higher swing weight, 310 gram unstrung weight (10 grams higher than the MP), the 21.5 mm midsection beam profile compared to 23 mm for the MP. The Pro will appeal to stronger players who prefer thinner beams and can generate more power through excellent technique.

Playability and performance

The Radical Pro is a more demanding stick than the MP, but it delivers better control and moves faster through the air. It is aptly named “Pro”.

However, you don’t have to be a Pro to appreciate this racquet. I brought it along for a Tennisnerd testing event we did in Switzerland at the beginning of the year and players of all levels really enjoyed the experience of playing with the Radical Pro. We had almost all new intermediate-advanced racquet models from Q1 2025 at the event and the Radical seemed to have a stronger impact on the players than racquets like the new Babolat Pure Drive 2025 or the Yonex Ezone 2025, which should be more popular based on data.

I think the inclusion of Auxetic 2.0 tech had a good impact on the Radical Pro. This one plays with a slightly larger sweet spot than the predecessor and I think that is important, because in my opinion, the 2023 Radical Pro was a little too demanding for my taste. The latest iteration of the Radical Pro is more forgiving, but still not an easy racquet to play with.

However, if you like a little more heft on your racquets and more of an “old-school” head-light balance, the Pro might be the one for you. I still prefer the added pop and faster swinging experience of the MP, but this was the most user-friendly Pro in a while and I enjoyed playing with it.

When I play against stronger players, the Radicals are difficult to generate power with, but they do help you find your spots and allow you plenty of confidence for swinging out and “playing your game”. The Pro and the MP are not far apart in playability and feel, but most intermediates do well to stick with the MP, while most advanced players will prefer the Pro. The MP has more room for customization in terms of weight and balance and swing weight, but, on the other hand, the Pro might just be right for you, out-of-the-box.

In short, you get more power from the MP and more precision from the Pro. Stability is a little better on the Pro, thanks to the higher swing weight and static weight.

Summary

This is not a ground-breaking update from HEAD. The main thing is the layup change, which creates a more comfortable and dampened feel but also expands the sweet spots a tad on both racquets. Some might dislike the addition of more dampening, but it did strike me as an okay trade-off for the increase in playability. It depends on how much of a racquet feel purist you are. If you just want a versatile control racquet with decent comfort, you can do a lot worse than these Radical racquets.

Although I am getting slightly bored by these subtle updates from HEAD, I remain a Radical fan. The neon orange cosmetic grows on you in person and seems to catch eyeballs when you are around different tennis clubs. For some, it will be an instant deal-breaker. For others, it will be a feather in the cap. But, in HEAD’s defense, this line is supposed to be orange and “radical”.

Two nice and versatile control racquets that I could happily take into a tournament. If you need help with depth and spin, there are plenty of other racquets to consider, but if you value the ability to move the ball around and hit your spots with confidence, consider going Radical.

Have you tried the new Radical racquets? Let us know what you think in the comments.

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