Have you heard of midplus tennis racquet before? What exactly is this?
As we have mentioned in other articles, the advent of materials like graphite and carbon fibre has enabled manufacturers to produce racquets of shapes and designs that were undreamt of during the era of wooden frames.
They have experimented with many different sizes of racquet head, but the most popular type with players at present is the midplus tennis racquet.
In this article, we will define the term ‘midplus tennis racquet’, consider some of its advantages and disadvantages, and look at one or two of the better options on the market.
What Is A Midplus Racquet?
Modern racquets are normally described by one of three categories which refer to the area of the head.
- A midsize racquet will have a head somewhere in the range 85-97 square inches, or 550-625 square centimetres;
- a midplus racquet will feature a head size of 98-105 square inches, or 630-680 square centimetres; and
- an oversize racquet will typically measure 106-135 square inches, or 685-870 square centimetres.
The majority of racquets in use today tend to be somewhere in the midplus range.
Advantages Of A Midplus Racquet
Midplus racquets are often preferred to midsize alternatives due to the fact that they offer more power and a larger sweetspot.
The additional power comes from the fact that the strings are longer than those in smaller headed racquets, giving them more opportunity to stretch and provide the fabled ‘trampoline effect’.
The larger sweetspot is almost inevitable in a bigger head, as everything is scaled up, and enables the racquet to be more forgiving of off-centre hits.
Disadvantages Of A Midplus Racquet
Advanced players will not necessarily need additional power or a larger sweetspot, as their technique allows them to develop greater racquet head speed and accuracy than club players.
Instead, they will look for high levels of control and manoeuvrability. Larger midplus racquets can be tricky to manoeuvre quickly, and will provide more power than advanced players need, at the expense of the control they crave.
Head Microgel Radical Midplus Tennis Racquet
The Head Radical became famous as the model of racquet used by the legendary Andre Agassi. Technology has moved on a little since Andre’s day, and the racquet is now billed as the ‘Microgel Radical’.
Head claim that this enhances the racquet’s solid, comfortable feel by allowing the head to compress when a ball is struck, with the impact load being evenly distributed around the frame.
The Radical Midplus has a 98 square-inch head, which puts it at the lower end of the midplus range, offering the combination of control and manoeuvrability that is likely to appeal to advanced players. It is not especially powerful for a midplus, but this will not be an issue for the players at whom it is aimed.
The Radical Midplus offers a solid feel combined with comfort and precision, and is definitely worth a try for serious players looking for a midplus frame.
Head MicroGel Radical vs Ti S6
Club players may also be interested in Head’s Ti S6, which is an oversize racquet producing plenty of power from a slightly larger, more flexible frame.
The Ti S6 has a 115 square-inch head and its swingweight is a few per cent lower than that of the Radical. The Ti S6 makes it easy to generate power, and has the large sweetspot that would be expected in a racquet with such a substantial head.
If, therefore, you are a club player who struggles to generate power due to a lack of technique or strength, or indeed simply a beginner, and you want a racquet that is not too heavy and very forgiving, you may well want to try the Ti S6.
If, however, you seek control and manoeuvrability, allied with comfort and stability, you will prefer the smaller midplus Radical.
Advanced players will, almost without exception, choose the Radical from these two options.
Why Do Pros Prefer Midplus Rackets?
In essence, they like the idea of the added power and forgiveness offered by a midplus frame, but they do not want to give up too much control and manoeuvrability. It has become very fashionable to use a racquet at the smaller end of the midplus range, and any professional who moved substantially away from this would be seen as taking a huge risk.
Summary
- Midplus tennis racquets are the most popular size today with both professionals and recreational players.
- Midplus racquets have a head size in the range 98-105 square inches.
- Midplus racquets offer more power and a larger sweetspot than midsize frames.
- At the larger end of the midplus range there can be problems with control and manoeuvrability.
- The Head Microgel Radical Midplus is a popular option for many advanced and club players.
- The Radical is far more appropriate for serious players than the Head Ti S6, which is larger and more powerful, at the expense of control and manoeuvrability.
Do you prefer a midplus, or do you like to stand out from the crowd by playing something else?
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