Head Radical Elite 2024

Technologies

Pros

• ✓Control Foam and the 38mm profile give you sky-high ball exit — defensive lobs from the back of the court land deep without having to whip the arm or strain the shoulder The Optimized Sweet Spot widens the racket's usable zone, so bandejas taken half a step late still come out crossed and deep instead of dying in the net Auxetic and the Soft Butt Cap filter out vibration on blocked volleys and tight wall exits, a real relief for elbow and wrist over multi-hour matches The Smart Bridge alongside the internal graphene and the Custom Frame keep the frame solid when the ball arrives high and off-centre on a smash from position 3, with no perceptible twist

Cons

• ✗The feel is medium-firm despite the foam: feedback is informative but slightly dry on off-centre impacts, so anyone chasing a plush, cushioned racket won't find it here The smooth fibreglass face bites less on a lifted vibora and extreme cortadas; the effect depends on your wrist, not the surface Limited power ceiling on the flat smash: the racket accompanies the shot capably, but you supply the final acceleration — it won't hand the hard hitter extra metres Only one weight option at 365g, no lighter variants; coming from a noticeably lighter racket, expect a genuine adjustment period for wrist handling

The Head Radical Elite 2024 targets advanced players with consolidated technique who want more performance without yet moving to a pure competition racket. Its teardrop shape shifts the sweet spot slightly upwards, striking a balance between control and power. Its 365g weight range places it in the medium-weight group, the most common among amateur players.

A teardrop shape at 365g, fibreglass face and Control Foam core: the Head Radical Elite 2024 builds every technical decision around one idea — make the ball come out easy and go exactly where you're aiming. The 38mm profile and the Optimized Sweet Spot round out a racket built for players who construct the point before they finish it.

Ball exit: the defining trait of the Head Radical Elite

If one parameter dominates this racket's behaviour, it's the core response. Control Foam returns the ball with a long, progressive release, without the sharp, immediate rebound of denser cores.

On court that translates into defensive lobs that reach the back of the court without punishing the shoulder, and low balls off the back wall that come off the glass with enough height to let you reset.

The trade-off for that ease is the ceiling: you're the one who has to supply the final acceleration on a flat smash.

What do Auxetic, Smart Bridge and the internal graphene bring?

Auxetic works at the junction between the bridge and the frame: it deforms the structure in a controlled way on impact and returns richer feedback, giving that full-contact feel on centred shots.

The Smart Bridge spreads that load out towards the sides of the heart, which pays off when the ball arrives high and off-centre on a smash from position 3 and the frame would otherwise want to twist.

The internal graphene and the Custom Frame add structural stiffness without bulking up the profile, while the Soft Butt Cap dampens the residual vibration that travels up through the grip. For anyone playing three or four hours straight, that combination matters more than any theoretical gain in power.

Control Foam and fibreglass: a medium-firm feel, not plush

Worth clearing up a common misconception: foam doesn't automatically mean soft. The feel on this padel racket is medium-firm and gives precise feedback — you know exactly where on the face the ball landed.

The fibreglass face softens the impact and widens the tolerance of your hitting plane, but it also limits bite. The finish is smooth, so extreme cut on the vibora depends on your wrist and swing path, not the surface.

Head Radical Elite 2024 specs

Shot by shot: where it shines and where you're on your own

• **Bandeja and chiquita**: home turf. The enlarged sweet spot keeps the depth even when you connect half a step late and below centre.
• **Blocked volley**: solid. The frame-and-bridge combo absorbs the opponent's heavy ball without the head opening up.
• **Wall exit**: comfortable. The ball comes off the face with a natural arc, ideal for a resetting lob.
• **Smash from position 3 and kick serve**: solid but demanding. It needs arm speed; anyone after a smash that wins the point on its own will find more explosive options elsewhere.
• **Lifted vibora**: the smooth face means you compensate with racket speed and trajectory rather than grip.

Who is the Head Radical Elite 2024 for?

It's built for advanced, all-round players who prioritise placement over raw power. Its 365g teardrop shape, Control Foam core and 38mm profile favour point construction, long defensive exchanges and precise net play over aggressive finishing.

It also suits intermediate-advanced players with technique already in place who want a forgiving racket without sacrificing feedback on contact. The pure hitter who lives for the flat smash will find the firepower a bit short.

Best partner and playing style

It works especially well on the side of the court that builds the point: the player who sends up lobs, presses with bandejas and waits for the opponent's error. If your partner is a clear finisher, this Head model lets you sustain the rally and feed them high balls to close it out.

In a pairing of two aggressive players, though, it'll be missing that extra bit of punishment from the back of the court.

Verdict: precision and comfort over punishment

The model does exactly what it promises — easy ball exit, forgiveness on off-centre hits, and no beating up your joints — without pretending to be a power racket. One weight option at 365g, one clear identity, zero ambiguity about the approach.

The downsides are clear: a limited power ceiling, a smooth face with less bite than an effects-heavy player might want, and no lighter versions available. If your game is built on placement, defence and capitalising on the opponent's mistakes, the equation works firmly in its favour.