Round-up review: our score and verdict are based on published specs and reviews from across the web, not our own play-testing yet.
Built on Head’s long-running mould and updated for 2025 with its Auxetic 2.0 dampening now in the handle as well as the yoke. It suits intermediate to advanced control and all-court players, and it’s marketed by Head as a control alternative to frames like Wilson’s Blade 98.
How it plays
This is a trustworthy, predictable control frame that rewards good technique with precise placement rather than handing out free pace. The Auxetic 2.0 update softens the feel and slightly enlarges the sweet spot compared with the previous generation, without changing the racket’s fundamental character. It’s also highly customisable for players who like to adjust weight and balance.
What reviewers agree and disagree on
There’s agreement this is a dependable, technique-rewarding frame rather than a forgiving one, so it doesn’t offer much free power or spin, and players moving up from a more forgiving racket will need to generate their own pace. Some purists note that the added dampening takes away a little of the old Radical’s crisper feedback, though most see the trade-off as worthwhile for comfort.
Specs
- Head size: 98 in²
- Strung weight: 318 g
- Balance: 33 cm, 4 points head light
- Swingweight: 323
- Stiffness (RA): 66
- String pattern: 16 mains / 19 crosses
- Length: 27 in
Verdict
A dependable control frame for players who already know how to construct a point. Not the racket to reach for if you want the game handed to you.
Price when we checked (30 September 2026): £169.99 at All Things Tennis. Prices change, so check before you buy.