Category Archives: Weight

Head Radical MP 2023

You have seen the pretty pictures; now see the specs of this new Radical series!

We are starting our property review with the Head Radical MP 2023.  The MP version will probably be the most popular due to the very lovely weight and “player” style head size of 98 inches!

Head Radical MP 2023

The Auxetic component should contribute to a comfortable but aggressive racquet.

As you look at the following specifications you may notice the addition of some “numbers”, specifically “beam width”.  

We have been taking this number for many years but now believe it is time to expose it to you, the readers.  

Briefly, the beam height-to-width ratio contributes to in-plane stiffness which is important for consistent string bed stiffness (SBS).

ManufacturerHead
Racquet ModelHead Radical MP 2023
Reference Tension55
String
MonoGut ZX Pro
Machine UsedTrue Tension Professional
Static
String Bed Stiffness - RDC53.0 Units
String Bed Stiffness -FlexFour64.9 pounds
String Bed Stiffness - SBS51.8 pounds
String Bed Stiffness - ERT35 Kg/Cm
Racquet Flex, RDC65 - After stringing
Racquet Flex, FlexFour44.5
Racquet - In Plane Stiffness379.7 lbs/Inch
Weight, Grams326
Weight, Ounces11.50
Balance, mm333
Balance, Inch13.11
Length, Cm68.57
Length, Inch27.00
Head Width9.63
Head Length12.79
Head Area, cm2623.0
Head Area, Sq. Inch96.7
Beam Height @ Grip, mm21.0
Beam Height @ Mid, mm22.5
Beam Height @ Tip20.5
Beam Width @ Grip, mm12.5
Beam Width @ Throat, mm11.5
Beam Width @ Mid, mm12.8
Beam Width @ Tip, mm12.8
Number of Main Strings16
Number of Cross Strings19
Ratio Cross/Mains.634
Main String Grid7.18
Cross String Grid9.44
Density (% of head filled with string)69.6%
Average Cross String Space.494
Average Main String Space.449
Dynamic
Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT35
Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in195.76
First Moment, Nm.841
Polar Moment347
Torsional Stability16
Swing Weight, Kg/cm2331
Swing Weight, Ounces11.68
Swing Weight Calculated361.5
Power, RDC52
Control, RDC49
Manueverability, RDC66
Power, Calculated 2101.4
Head Points3.15
Head Weight, %48.5%
Center of Percussion21.1
Dwell Time, ms8.74
Efective Stiffness - lbs29.2
K, Lb/In169.87
Recoil Weight156.44
Twist Weight226.48
End Weight 126.0
Tip Weight 197.7
9 O'Clock105.1
3 O'Clock104.7
Butt Cap115.6
COF, Main.416
COF, Cross.388

Let’s Compare

We publish many racquet reviews that include comprehensive data to be used to speed up the selection process for players looking to review racquets and possibly demo them.

We thought it might be fun to do a little comparison of racquets in a simple format and we are starting with this one!

When considering racquets there is one “weight” that outweighs them all and that is swing weight!  Swing weight is also described as inertia which is, in our discussions,  the term used to describe the momentum of a tennis racquet.  Once it gets going it does not want to stop which equals power (sort of F=MA)

compare

We will be adding groups of three (3) racquets whenever possible and when new racquets are introduced.

Weight is your friend!

 

 

Head Prestige Pro 2021

This years Head Prestige Pro is last years Prestige MP.  This name change was made to synchronize all the 18×20 string patterns as the “Pro” model…I think!

So, what’s in a name?  A thin beam, heavy (sort of), 18×20 pattern, players racquet, that’s what!  The Prestige Pro also includes the new Auxetic material and construction for a refined feel.

For some reason Head Prestige racquets have been called “stiff” by some and this is certainly not the case and never has been.   This racquet is not stiff! As with any racquet the string selection can have a huge effect on “stiffness” so take a look at the effective stiffness!

I believe this is going to be a “control freaks” racquet!  This racquet could also be a baseliners dream come true.  The weight will drive through the ball and the swing weight will allow for some last nano-second stroke adjustments.

Take at look at the data below then go to the Prestige 2021 Comparative Data post to see all the models in one place.

A baseliners dream!

ManufacturerHead
Racquet ModelHead Prestige Pro 2021
Reference Tension52 lbs - 23.6 kg
String
Head Reflex MLT 17
Machine UsedTrue Tension Professional
Static
ASPS, RDC53.0
ASPS, FlexFour62.5
Racquet Flex, RDC58 - After stringing
Racquet Flex, FlexFour36.0
Racquet - In Plane Stiffness326.1 lbs/Inch
Weight, Grams342
Weight, Ounces12.06

Balance, mm318
Balance, Inch12.52
Length, Cm68.6
Length, Inch27.008
Head Width9.48
Head Length13.06
Head Area, cm2627.4
Head Area, Sq. Inch97.2
Number of Main Strings18
Number of Cross Strings20
Ratio Cross/Mains.653
Main String Grid7.56
Cross String Grid10.24
Density (% of head filled with string).791
Average Cross String Space.513
Average Main String Space.417
Dynamic
Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT35
Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in195.76
First Moment, Nm.832
Polar Moment333
Torsional Stability15
Swing Weight, Kg/cm2318
Swing Weight, Ounces11.22
Swing Weight Calculated345.8
Power, RDC45
Control, RDC56
Manueverability, RDC75
Power, Calculated 1811.5
Head Points7.87
Head Weight, %46.4%
Center of Percussion20.7
Dwell Time, ms8.74
Efective Stiffness - lbs27.7
K, Lb/In169.87
Recoil Weight157.84
Twist Weight230.87
End Weight 143.2
Tip Weight 198.9
9 O'Clock102.8
3 O'Clock100.3
Butt Cap140.3

Head Prestige 2021 Series Comparative Data

Jumping back and forth between reviews and data is not fun nor is it efficient so we have been posting comparative data. Now all the important stuff is in one place.

All of the data is based on a “play ready” racquet.  That means an overgrip and vibration damper, and unless otherwise noted…string!

As you are looking at the data try to determine which numbers mean the most to you and how you could use them.  For example, the Pro has an overall weight of 342 with a swing weight 318.  How does that compare to the MP?

Keep in mind that weight and swing weight can increased but not easily decreased.  No, making the racquet more “head light” statically does not reduce the swing weight as recorded on testing devices that grab the racquet 10cm from the end!  That is why static balance (CG) should not be used as a performance metric.

Click here to see the data!

 

 

And now for something completely different!

It is not often we get to do something completely different but this is that time!

Everyone loves to see what the very latest racquets are going to look like and how they will play but what about taking a look back, not forward!

This racquet review is going way back!  I am not sure when this racquet was made but suffice it to say it was a while ago.  I will guess that it is over sixty (60) years old.

Well, OK!  What is it?

It is a Wright & Ditson Olympic!

Wright & Ditson Olympic

This is a beautiful 68 square inch wooden racquet.  The wooden grip pallet is wrapped with a very wide piece of perforated leather, not the slender leather used today.

The racquet has no butt cap.  Or didn’t have a butt cap but now it does.

Pay particular attention to the weight of this racquet, and the stiffness!

Many of the current racquets will be in the 315-gram range with an RDC flex of 55+.

When we received it the condition was not great but it was straight and worth renovating.  We all know how beautiful some wooden racquets can be so let’s get to the specifications.

ManufacturerWright & Ditson
Racquet ModelWright & Ditson Olympic
Reference Tension45lbs/20.4kg
String
Head Synthethic 17
Machine UsedTrue Tension Professional
Static
ASPS, RDC36
ASPS, FlexFour50
Racquet Flex, RDC12 - After stringing
Racquet Flex, FlexFour27.0
Racquet - In Plane Stiffness500.0 lbs/Inch
Weight, Grams401.0
Weight, Ounces14.14
Balance, mm307
Balance, Inch12.09
Length, Cm68.6
Length, Inch27.008
Head Width8.13
Head Length10.8
Head Area, cm2444.6
Head Area, Sq. Inch68.9
Number of Main Strings18
Number of Cross Strings20
Ratio Cross/Mains.677
Main String Grid7.00
Cross String Grid8.30
Density (% of head filled with string).843
Average Cross String Space.415
Average Main String Space.389
Dynamic
Dynamic Tension, Kp, ERT30
Dynamic Tension, Lbs/in167.8
First Moment, Nm.932
Polar Moment368
Torsional Stability9
Swing Weight, Kg/cm2359
Swing Weight, Ounces12.66
Swing Weight Calculated377.9
Power, RDC0
Control, RDC100
Manueverability, RDC47
Power, Calculated 296.9
Head Points11.02
Head Weight, %44.9%
Center of Percussion21.0
Dwell Time, ms10.6
Efective Stiffness - lbs9.0
K, Lb/In115.4
Recoil Weight189.8
Twist Weight203.8
End Weight 174.9
Tip Weight 225.0
9 O'Clock115.9
3 O'Clock115.0
Butt Cap168.9