THE LIGHT STUFF:
Head Graphene XT
Radical Lite

New to the Radical line and replacing the REV Pro, the Lite is just that—a sub-10 oz., easy-swinging frame that’s lively and highly playable. The racquet possesses a generous, comfortable sweet spot that rewards medium-paced swings with a manageable level of power. The lack of mass does rob some shots of plow through, but serves still have good pop and spin, and the breezy handling gets the racquet in front of just about any passing shot. The price for such impressive maneuverability is some stability issues when dealing with incoming pace and off-center hits—and the feedback in these instances can be a little buzzy.

But overall, the weight in the racquet head gives the Radical Lite surprising sturdiness. “I think it’s frames like this one where Head’s Graphene technology really shines,” is how one impressed tester put it. Juniors transitioning up to their first full-size performance frame and older doubles players looking for a quicker stick would be wise to give the Radical Lite a look. According to one tester, “For the weight, it’s one of the best racquets I’ve ever played with.”

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