The Wilson Blade 98 and the Head Radical MP are two of the most popular 98in head size tennis rackets sold by Wilson and Head.
The Blade 98 is endorsed by a number of different ATP/WTA tennis players including Stefanos Tsitsipas, Simona Halep, and Emma Raducanu, while the Radical MP is endorsed by Jannik Sinner and Bianca Andreescu.
This article will look at the specs of these tennis rackets so you can see how they compare to each other.
Wilson Blade 98 vs Head Radical MP Comparison
For this comparison, I will be looking at the 16×19 versions of the Wilson Blade 98 V8 and the Head Radical MP (2023).
Racket Specs
Main Differences: The Blade 98 has a heavier strung weight (320g vs 318g), a lower swing weight (317 vs 323), a more head light balance (5pts HL vs 4pts HL), a lower frame stiffness rating (61 vs 65), and a thinner beam width (21 mm vs 20mm / 23mm / 21mm).
Similarities: Both rackets have the same head size (98in), racket length (27in), and string pattern (16×19).
| Specs: | Blade 98 | Radical MP |
|---|---|---|
| Version: | V8 | 2023 |
| Design: |  |  |
| Head Size: | 98in | 98in |
| Length: | 27in | 27in |
| Strung Weight: | 320g (11.3oz) | 318g (11.2oz) |
| Swingweight: | 317 | 323 |
| Balance Point: | 5 Pts HL | 4 pts HL |
| Frame Stiffness: | 61 | 65 |
| Power: | Low | Low to Medium |
| Beam Width: | 21.0 mm | 20mm / 23mm / 21mm |
| Colors: | Green and Black | Orange and Black |
| String Pattern: | 16×19 | 16×19 |
| Grip Type: | Wilson Pro Performance | Head Hydrosorb Pro |
Head Size and Racket Length
Both rackets have a 98in head size and a 27in length.
Strung Weight, Swing Weight, and Balance
The Blade 98 (320g) has a slightly heavier strung weight when compared with the Radical MP (318g) but the difference is very small.
However, the Blade 98 (317g) has a lower swing weight than the Radical MP (323g) so the Blade 98 will be more manoeuvrable than the Radical MP (especially at the net).
One of the reasons why the Blade 98 has a lower swing weight than the Radical MP is because the Blade 98 (5 pts HL) has a more head light balance than the Radical MP (4 pts HL).
Stiffness Rating
The Radical MP (65) has a higher stiffness rating than the Blade 98 (61) which means the Blade 98 should be the more arm friendly tennis racket.
Beam Width
The Blade 98 has a thinner beam width than the Radical MP so you should get more control from the Blade 98 but more power from the Radical MP.
String Pattern
Both rackets have a 16×19 string pattern which is a good string pattern to use if you want some help adding some top spin to your shots.
Availability
As both of these tennis rackets are very popular, you will have no trouble finding them on online shops such as Tennis Warehouse, and Tennis-Point.
Recommendations
I wouldn’t recommend either of these two rackets to beginner players as they are too heavy and have relatively small sweet spots so as a beginner you will struggle to play well with these tennis rackets.
Instead, I would recommend going with a lighter tennis racket like a Wilson Clash 100 or a Babolat Pure Drive as they are both more beginner friendly rackets.
If you are at the intermediate to advanced level, then using one of these rackets makes a lot more sense as at this level you should have developed a full swing and have good technique on your groundstrokes.
My recommendation for intermediate to advanced players would be to go with the Wilson Blade 98 as it has a lower swing weight, a lower stiffness rating, and a more head light balance.
However, if you struggle with getting power on your shots then the Head Radical MP may be the better option for you as the Blade 98 is a low-powered tennis racket.