Head Radical S 2021 Racquet Review

Groundstrokes - Score: 81

Our playtesters found the Radical S 2021 to be very maneuverable at the baseline, providing great access to spin and depth. Since she enjoyed the previous model of the racquet, Brittany was eager to see how this version compared. She described, "I had high expectations for this Graphene 360+ version because I actually preferred the S over the MP in the previous generation of Radicals, even though the MP is more in my spec range. As expected, this update is easy to use and easy to swing, and I thought the sweetspot was very forgiving. I also found easy power and depth when trading groundstrokes with my opponent. Because the racquet was so whippy, I was able to create the spin I needed with just a flick of my wrist. This access to spin was crucial since it was very easy to overhit with the Radical S, and the spin brought my groundstrokes down inside the baseline. I would say the racquet felt a bit more stable than the specs indicate, but it is on the lighter side. I was looking for a little more mass behind my ball at times."

Tiffani was also excited to get her hands on this update. She said, "I enjoyed the previous version of this Radical S quite a bit, and this updated version felt good too. When I first started playing with this racquet, I hit it with Lynx Tour string installed. While I like this co-poly string (it felt really nice in the Radical MP 2021), the string felt too firm for the Radical S 2021. I used Velocity MLT in subsequent testing sessions, and I liked this racquet much more with the softer multifilament. The softer string opened up the sweetspot and improved comfort. With the string situation settled, I could enjoy how quickly the racquet swung and the easy depth and pace it provided. Even with a larger head size than I typically play with, this racquet offered enough control to keep me in those longer points I tend to play. I wasn't getting the same sort of plow through I get with heavier racquets, but I was able to hit with depth and accuracy to get my opponent moving around the court."

Like Tiffani, Chris found he needed to adjust the strings to really dial in his game. He said, "The Radical S 2021 felt super fast and easy to maneuver from the baseline. My first hit with the racquet was with a co-poly string installed, and I didn't find the groove. On my next outing, I hit with Head's Velocity MLT multifilament, and the racquet felt much, much better. The racquet felt crisp and lively enough to give me solid access to both depth and pace. I was able to easily brush the ball for spin since the racquet is so light and fast."

Mark needed a bit of an adjustment period with the Radical S due to its light weight. He said, "From the very first forehand baseline feed, I could tell that the Radical S 2021 is both light and head light, requiring me to make adjustments for the next 20 or so groundstrokes. I learned to enjoy its comfortable and nimble feel, along with the easy access to topspin or slice, after several baseline exchanges. The shot I was most challenged by was the inside-out forehand, especially if I was trying to go cross court from a down-the-line shot. Other than that one shot, this racquet was definitely a plus for my groundstroke game."

Volleys - Score: 79

With its maneuverable weight, the Radical S 2021 felt quick up at net. Chris appreciated the feel for his volleys. He said, "I liked the way the Velocity MLT string opened up the sweetspot and combined with the Radical S 2021 frame to provide a plush and responsive feel at impact. I strongly recommend using a multi or natural gut string when hitting with a sub-11-ounce strung racquet such as this beacause the response is usually markedly improved. I was placing my volleys well with the Radical S 2021. The racquet felt best on punch volleys. Some added tip speed replaced the weight I was missing from the heavier racquets that I prefer. My touch volleys required a little more tightness and tension at the handle than ideal to help keep the racquet stable."

Brittany also thought that she might want to add a little more weight to the racquet. She explained, "This Radical S feels nice and quick up at net. I could easily get the racquet into position to hit a volley. I did have to be mindful to really punch the ball and give it a little extra oomph. Otherwise, I noticed my volleys floating a little bit. However, I was impressed with my success on half volleys, and I made a couple of good plays up at net. Similar to groundstrokes, I did find some instability, especially when I was reaching for a volley or had a hard-hit passing shot hit right at me."

Tiffani agreed with Brittany. She added, "As expected, maneuverability was the highlight at net. The Radical S was easy to get into position for reflex volleys. For the most part, this racquet's solid feel at net impressed me, but if I was jammed or stretched out, the Radical S showed its light static weight. There were a couple of instances when it felt like the ball hit the strings and just pushed the racquet back. I also needed to be sure to stick my volleys or they would land short and sit up on me."

The Radical S felt fast and easy to use for Mark up at net. He said, "Typically, if a racquet is light enough for me to swing from the baseline over extended periods of time, it is light enough for me not to have any maneuverability excuses at net. That said, I had no issues getting the new Graphene 360+ Radical S into position for any shot inside the service line, and I'm happy to report that there was a high degree of comfort, along with sufficient stability."

Serves - Score: 79

The Radical S 2021's great access to spin and maneuverability allowed our playtesters to maximize their serve potential. Tiffani found herself generating impressive pace on her serves without breaking a sweat. She explained, "I love a racquet that swings quickly overhead like this Radical S. This meant I could serve without getting tired. My favorite serve to hit with this racquet was my flat serve. I may not have been hitting heavy serves, but I could get good pace on the ball. The decent control levels also let me move the ball around the box successfully."

Brittany really put the Radical S through its paces when it came to serving. She said, "I tested the Radical S to the max on serves, hitting a variety of shots to see what best suited the racquet. Because it was easy to get the racquet up and over my head, it was no surprise that the flat first serve was the most successful. I could execute some nice slice out wide on the deuce side, but it was a little up and down. When it came to kick second serves, I was able to access that topspin. However, the serves were not kicking up as much I would have liked and ended up sitting in my opponent's strike zone."

Mark needed to make some adjustments to get the most out of his serves with this racquet. He said, "Like my forehand and backhand, my serve did require that extra time to gain confidence. Although you cannot get that 'heavy-racquet effect' serving with a 10.4-ounce racquet, the more I tested this racquet, the better I served. I learned to use more wrist snap and racquet head speed. Overall, the serve became my favorite shot to hit with the Radical S 2021."

Chris tapped into the Radical S 2021's spin potential on serves. He said, "I was able to find a solid groove hitting medium-paced, spin-loaded serves with the Radical S. I had lots of fun hitting an off-pace slice serve wide on the deuce side that either went for an ace or pulled my opponent so far off court I had an open court to attack on my next shot. I would either add some weight to this racquet or string it very low to get some added juice on flat first serves."

Returns - Score: 77

On returns, our playtesters found great maneuverability from the Radical S 2021, but it did get pushed around at times. Mark explained, "Return of serve was the one shot where I did feel more vulnerable to big pace and spin on the ball with the Radical S in my hands. If it were a medium-paced serve, I had zero stability issues hitting the return."

Brittany enjoyed the way the racquet moved through the air on returns. She said, "The Radical S continued to impress in the maneuverability department when returning serves. At the beginning of the playtest I was a bit early on some of my returns because of how quickly the racquet swung through the air. I had to dial back and wait an extra split second to get my timing right. I could really swing out on returns, but I had to make sure I added spin to keep the ball in the court. Against first serves, the racquet was twisting in my hand at times, but it wasn't something that I didn't expect."

Tiffani had similar thoughts. She added, "The quick swing was again a benefit when starting the point off on returns. I could get a full swing in when I wanted to be more offensive with my returns. This Radical S also felt more stable than I would expect from a racquet with its specs. I thought the response was comfortable with Velocity MLT string installed."

For the most part, Chris liked this racquet on returns as well. He said, "The Radical S came through contact very quickly on returns. I was able to take a pretty solid cut at the ball, which resulted in good pace and spin. I was very happy with the comfort level of the racquet, and I also felt connected to the ball. My block returns required a bit more punch to them to redirect heavy incoming pace, but overall I thought the Radical S 2021 felt comfortable in every returning situation."

Overall - Score: 83