Head Graphene Touch Radical Pro Racket Review
| Groundstrokes | 81 |
| Volleys | 76 |
| Serves | 79 |
| Returns | 80 |
| Power | 88 |
| Control | 71 |
| Maneuverability | 80 |
| Stability | 83 |
| Comfort | 79 |
| Touch/Feel | 68 |
| Topspin | 84 |
| Slice | 79 |
Loaded with power and spin, the Head Graphene Touch Radical Pro will be a rock solid racket for intermediate to advanced players who like to control the court. With the addition of Graphene Touch, this update had more of a muted feel and comfortable response, which translated into a large, powerful sweetspot from all areas of the court for the TW playtesters. Off the ground, our team was rewarded with ample spin and the ability to play offensive tennis, yet they noted a lack in consistency and precision. At net, the racket remained solid and stable, but our team missed some touch and feel when crafting volleys. However, ample plough through and an open string pattern proved to be a lethal combination for big serves and returns, and our team started off points in an offensive fashion. All things considered, this Radical Pro will reward players who prefer power over control and aggressive hitters who don't mind opting for larger targets when pulling the trigger.
Upsides
- Big power and spin
- Solid feel
Downsides
- Erratic stringbed
Bottom Line
This racket has a very dampened feel and delivers awesome power and spin for big hitting tennis, although the response can be erratic.
Ability
Intermediate to Advanced Level
Groundstrokes - Score: 81 / 100
Big power and easy spin were the standout features for our team when using the Graphene Touch Radical Pro from the baseline. Our team has come to expect such a response from the Radical Pro, and compared to the previous version, it felt like the mass was distributed differently, resulting in more spin and power but less control. The power was very impressive as well as the feel and stability at contact, but we did note the downside to be a lack of control and precision. This was great when our team was looking to be aggressive with big targets, but it was harder when they were pressed to thread the needle.
Volleys - Score: 76 / 100
For the most part, our team found the Graphene Touch Radical Pro to play stable at the net, but they all agreed there was a lack of feel and touch. Our team seemed to agree it became frustrating in pressure situations, but they appreciated how they could command the net with aggressive volleys when playing offensively. One playtester, Chris, noted, "Obviously, putting the ball away with power was not an issue with this racket! But I didn't feel as accurate as I did with the previous version."
Serves - Score: 79 / 100
Aggressive servers who could get the Graphene Touch Radical Pro moving were rewarded with power, spin and plough. But again, accuracy was a bit sacrificed on this shot as well. Chris said, "I ended up serving to big, safe targets and taking some speed off to be more consistent." While Michelle mentioned, "I could ramp up the pace and be aggressive with first serves. I found satisfying amounts of power. I also got the ball moving well on kick and slice serves."
Serve Returns - Score: 80 / 100
With all the right tools to be a solid returning racket, the Graphene Touch Radical Pro aided our team offensively and defensively as they could redirect pace easily. It felt very solid there was a stable response on block returns; plus our playtesters found easy access to depth. "The solid response held up well to big serving, yet the racket also felt fast and easy to manoeuvre."
Overall - Score: 78 / 100
Dislikes:
Chris - "I found it tough to control my serves, and it was easy to overhit approach shots."
Michelle - "I wish this racket had a bit more control built in. Also, I would have enjoyed a bit more predictability from the stringbed."
Troy - "The Graphene Touch technology made this racket have a very muted response. I had a hard time dealing in my targets on a consistent basis. I was second guessing myself when trying to play offensive."
Sean - "I just didn't know what to expect when the ball came off the strings "—" this unpredictability was very frustrating in competitive scenarios. I'm also not a big fan of the dampening system "I prefer more feedback."
Comparing it to other rackets they've used, our testers said:
Chris - "Having playtested the last two iterations, I can safely say that anyone who loved playing with those rackets will be a fan of this update. While I still prefer the Ai 100, this update has many of the same characteristics -- the combination of power and control, the spin potential and the feel. Other rackets that are similar to the EZONE 100 (300g) are the Prince Textreme Tour 100P, the Babolat Pure Aero and the Volkl V-Sense 8 300g."
Michelle - "The EZONE 100 (300g) is nearly identical to the previous models but with a stiffer feel (especially toward the tip). It also feels like the power potential has been kicked up a notch."
Troy - "The two differences that stand out to me from the two previous EZONE 100s are the feel at impact and the swing through the air. Even though the swingweight of the EZONE 100 (300g) measure lower than the Ai and DR models, it just feels more substantial to me at contact with the ball. The feel was also stiffer higher up in the stringbed compared to the Ai and DR models. I got used to the EZONE 100 (300g) after about five hours of hitting and found myself liking it more and more as I played with it, but I would still pick the EZONE DR 100+ as my favorite EZONE 100 racket."
Sean - "For me, the EZONE Xi 100 felt stiffer, and because it has a more open 16x18 pattern and a slightly lower overall weight and swing weight, it didn't feel as stable or as predictable as the EZONE 100 (300g). The EZONE Ai 100 featured a plusher and more predictable feel relative to the Xi 100. The DR 100 was very close to the overall weight and balance of its predecessor, but it did feel firmer, more muted and slightly livelier to me. As far as other rackets that compete for the same sort of player's attention, there certainly are more than a few. In the latest Babolat Pure Drive review Chris described the Pure Drive as being a great 1-2 shot frame. I feel the same way about the EZONE 100 (300g). I loved it on both my serve and my forehand. You also have to consider the VCORE SV 100, the Head Instinct MP and Speed MP, the Babolat Pure Aero and the Wilson Ultra 100 Countervail. They all have a similar combination of specs."
Playtester Profiles:
Chris: 4.5 all-court player currently using the Tecnifibre TFlash 300 PS. Chris uses a full-western forehand grip, has a fast swing style and hits a one-handed backhand.
Troy: 5.0 lefty all-court player with a full Western Forehand and a two-handed backhand. Troy currently plays with a Wilson Blade 98 18x20.
Michelle: Open level baseline player with a semi-western forehand and a two handed backhand. She currently plays with the Wilson Pro Staff RF97 Autograph.
Sean: Open level counterpuncher with a semi-western forehand and a two-handed backhand. Sean currently uses a Wilson Blade 98 18x20 (2015).
Likes:
Chris - "Awesome power and easy access to spin. The racket felt solid yet also felt fast and easy to whip around."
Michelle - "Loved the feel at contact and enjoyed the power levels. It's just a fun racket to swing, and one of those rackets that I wanted to hit with for hour after hour because the feel at contact was a rewarding one."
Troy - "Good stability and plough through. I liked the easy depth on my volleys and big power on flat first serves."
Sean - "I enjoyed how comfortable this racket felt; the whole thing felt like one big sweetspot. Once I stopped treating it like a traditional Radical, it was much easier to play with. Oh, and I'm a fan of the cosmetic."