HEAD Radical MP 2025 Tennis Racquet Review

The Head Radical MP 2025 is Head's do-everything all-court frame, the one they call The People's Racquet. A versatile, easy-to-use 98 that blends power, control, and spin, made more comfortable and forgiving this year by Auxetic 2.0, and the spinnier, friendlier of the two Radicals.

The People's Racquet

Few racquets have a nickname, and the Radical has earned its one. Andre Agassi made the line famous, and it has been a staple on tour and at every club since, because it is the frame that does everything reasonably well and nothing badly. Head calls it a racquet capable of hitting every shot, everywhere, and that versatility is why the MP remains one of the most popular models the brand makes. On tour today, it is in the hands of Taylor Fritz, Flavio Cobolli and Mattia Bellucci, among others.

The MP is the accessible heart of the line, a 98 square inch, 10.6 ounce all-rounder that a wide range of players can pick up and enjoy. For 2025, it wears a bold, asymmetrical bright orange cosmetic, and it plays a little softer and a little more forgiving than the frame before it.

What's new for 2025

The headline change is Auxetic 2.0. Head first put its Auxetic construction in the yoke of the frame, and this generation extends it into the handle as well. The effect is subtle but real: a more welcoming feel at contact, better vibration dampening, and a slightly larger, more forgiving sweet spot, most noticeable when you do not quite find the middle.

The rest of the package carries over and still does good work. Sound Grommets let the strings move more freely for a touch more power while tuning the sound and vibration at contact; Graphene sits in the frame, and a variable beam cross-section balances power, control, and spin. None of it reinvents the Radical; it just sharpens a frame that was already well-liked.

How it plays

The Radical MP plays like its reputation: a balanced, reliable all-rounder that is comfortable anywhere on the court and asks very little of you to get a good result.

Versatile everywhere

This is the MP's whole point. It is solid from the baseline, capable at the net, and steady on serve, without a glaring weakness to work around. At 10.6 ounces, it is maneuverable and easy to swing, and the medium power and flex make it a frame most players can play all day. It is the definition of a do-everything racquet.

Sam, on the Radical MP

The spinnier Radical

Of the two 2025 Radicals, the MP is the one that spins the ball more. The 16x19 pattern and the Sound Grommets let the strings work, and our testers noticed the difference against the denser-feeling Pro. Set expectations honestly, though: spin is moderate for the category rather than the headline act, so a heavy topspin player will still add their own racquet-head speed. For an all-court game, there is plenty here.

Alex, on the Radical MP

A crisp feel, softened

The Radical has always had a crisp, connected feel, the ball in and out of the string bed quickly, and the MP keeps that character. What Auxetic 2.0 does is take the edge off, adding comfort and a more welcoming response without turning the frame mushy. It is firmer and more direct than a plush comfort frame like the Gravity, which is exactly what a control-leaning all-rounder should be.

Steady on serve and at the net

The all-court label holds up in the parts of the game a spin-first frame can neglect. The MP is stable and predictable on the volley, easy to bring up to the ball for a quick reaction at the net, and dependable on serve, where the maneuverable weight lets you swing freely for placement rather than muscling it. For a player who likes to move forward and finish, that all-round steadiness is a real part of the appeal.

Strings and setup

The MP is a versatile, medium-powered frame, so the strings are about tuning its character to your game. A shaped co-poly leans into the spin and control, while a softer poly or a multifilament adds comfort and a little free power if you want the frame to do more of the work. Because it is already balanced and forgiving, it is an easy racquet to string, and it responds well to a wide range of setups.

MP or Pro?

The MP is the lighter, more maneuverable, more forgiving, and spinnier of the two, the choice for an all-court player who wants an easy, do-everything frame. If you are a stronger player who wants more mass, stability, and control and can generate your own pace, read our take on the Radical Pro. Tennis Express also offers an exclusive 18x20 version of the MP for players who want a denser, more controlled string bed, which we cover separately. Against rival all-court 98s, the MP plays in the same space as the Babolat Pure Strike 98 and the Tecnifibre TFight 300, so those are worth a hit too.

Who should swing it

The Radical MP is for all-court players who want one versatile frame that does everything well, and for improvers stepping up from a lighter, oversized or power-first racquet who want to dial in control and precision. It is maneuverable, forgiving, and comfortable, with the spin edge over the Pro, and it rarely gets in your way. That balance is why it stays one of Head's best sellers.

Tennis Express playtester, on the Radical MP

If you want more mass and stability, the last word in control, or big, easy spin and power, the MP is not built for that. Stronger players who generate their own pace will prefer the Radical Pro, and a dedicated spin player will be happier on an Extreme or a VCORE. But for a genuinely versatile, easy-to-live-with all-court frame, the People's Racquet earns the name.