Davis Cup hero Andy Murray's new racket is the Head Graphene XT Radical Pro. The racket offers more power than its predecessor, but remains a great all-rounder!
Brand: Head Model: Graphene XT Radical Pro Blade size: 98 sq/inch Weight: 310 gr Balance: 31.5 cm Stringing pattern: 16/19 Length: 27 inch RA: 67 The Head Graphene XT Radical Pro is the successor to the Graphene Radical Pro. Graphene XT should provide more stability and maneuverability. This second generation Graphene is even stronger and lighter, allowing Head to move even more weight from the heart of the racket to the top and to the grip. The extra weight to the top of the racket should provide more stability in the blade on off-center hits. This should be noticeable on the return, for example. The extra weight that has been moved to the other end (the grip) of the racket in turn provides extra maneuverability.
The Head Graphene XT Radical Pro is the heaviest racket from the new Radical line with 310 grams unstrung. However, the racket does not feel as heavy as the weight suggests. This is due to the 31.5 cm head-light balance in combination with the polarization of the weight by the Graphene XT material. This makes the racket very easy to maneuver, both from the baseline and at the net. The racket brings even more power than its predecessor, but loses some control. With the Graphene Radical Pro this was more balanced.
The increase in power also gives the racket a slightly stiffer feel, a big difference compared to all Radicals before the addition of the Graphene and Graphene XT material. The increase in power does make the new series more accessible to a wider audience. The sweet spot of the Head Graphene XT Radical Pro feels a bit smaller, off-center hits die a bit faster. This makes the racket slightly less forgiving than, for example, the Yonex EZONE DR 98 , a racket with similar specifications. This racket is best used with a not too tightly strung polyester string or with a hybrid string setup (polyester lengthwise and a multifilament or gut string widthwise). The Head Graphene XT Radical Pro performs well across the entire court: baseline, net and service, so it is a true all-courter, but is therefore slightly more power-oriented compared to its predecessor.