Two HEAD racquets, two different promises. The Speed MP Legend is a modern tour frame with a soft, connected feel and a premium finish. The Graphene XT Radical MP is an older platform that still delivers real control at a price most club players can justify. Both reward players who swing with intent. They just reward different games.
This guide compares the two head to head: head size, weight, feel, spin, and price. By the end you will know which frame fits the way you actually play, not the way you plan to play someday.
The short answer
Pick the HEAD Speed MP Legend if you want a fast, forgiving 100 square inch frame with modern feel and you are willing to pay for it. Pick the HEAD Graphene XT Radical MP if you want a tighter 98 square inch control frame and you care about value. The Legend flatters a wider range of swings. The Radical rewards a cleaner one.
What the Speed MP Legend brings
The Legend is a limited edition of the Speed MP 2024, the frame Novak Djokovic endorses. It shares the same engineering: a 100 square inch head, a 16x19 string pattern, and HEAD's Auxetic 2.0 construction, which softens impact while keeping feedback sharp. The Legend edition adds a see-through carbon cosmetic under a clear lacquer finish. Same racquet underneath, different look.
On court, the Speed MP platform is quick through the air and stable through contact. It is built for players who take the ball early and move first. The 100 square inch head gives you margin when your contact point drifts, and the open pattern lifts the ball with easy depth. It is the more forgiving frame of the two by a clear margin.
Grip sizes run U10 through U40, and Legend editions sell through fast. If the Legend is gone in your size, the Speed MP 2026 is the current generation of the same platform.
What the Graphene XT Radical MP brings
The Radical MP comes from HEAD's Graphene XT era. The technology moves weight out of the shaft and into the head and handle, so the frame swings fast without feeling hollow. HEAD built this platform for intermediate to advanced players who swing with purpose on every ball, and it still holds up.
The numbers tell the story. A 98 square inch head, 11.0 ounces strung, 6 points head light, a 320 swingweight, and a 16x19 pattern on a tapered 20/23/21 millimeter beam. That combination gives you a firm, direct response and a target you can trust. Aggressive swings find the court. Blocked returns stay short of the baseline unless you commit to the swing.
The trade is honesty. A 98 square inch head with a firm layup does not hide late preparation or lazy footwork. If your contact is clean, the Radical feels precise. If it is not, the frame tells you.
Head size and forgiveness: 100 vs 98
Two square inches sounds small. It plays bigger than it sounds. The Speed's 100 square inch head enlarges the sweet zone and keeps mishits in play, which matters late in a third set when your legs slow down. The Radical's 98 square inch head tightens the target and rewards players who hit the middle of the strings on purpose.
There is also a flex difference you can feel. The Speed platform with Auxetic 2.0 plays softer and more muted at contact. The Radical, with a stiffness rating of 65, gives a firmer, crisper strike. Neither is wrong. Softer feel protects the arm and smooths out off-center hits. Firmer feel gives cleaner feedback on where the ball met the strings.
Weight, balance, and swing speed
Both frames sit in the same weight class, around 11 ounces strung, which is the range where most strong club players live. The Radical's 6 points head light balance keeps the tip moving fast in quick exchanges, and its 320 swingweight is manageable for anyone with developed strokes. The Speed MP carries similar mass with a slightly more forgiving layout, so it asks less of you on defense.
If you grind from the baseline and take full cuts, both work. If you come forward and need the racquet to react at net, both stay quick in hand. The difference shows on stretched, late, and defensive balls, where the Speed's larger head bails you out more often.
Spin and string pattern
Both frames run a 16x19 pattern, so neither is starved for spin. The Radical's tapered beam loads the strings and builds topspin that carries rally depth. The Speed's open pattern on the bigger head produces easy launch and heavy net clearance. Players who hit flatter will appreciate the Radical's lower, more controlled flight. Players who live on topspin margin will get more free spin from the Speed.
Price and value
This is where the decision gets simple for a lot of players. The Graphene XT Radical MP runs 99 dollars. The Speed MP Legend runs 169 dollars, and the current Speed MP 2026 runs 259 dollars. That gap buys the newer construction, the softer feel, and the bigger head. It does not buy a better racquet for every player.
A 99 dollar frame with these specs is a serious value. If your budget covers strings, a backup frame, and lessons, the Radical leaves room for all three. If you want the newest platform in your hand and the price is not the deciding factor, the Speed is worth what it costs.
Which racquet fits your game
Choose the Speed MP Legend if you want modern feel, more forgiveness, and easier depth, or if you are an aggressive baseliner who takes the ball early and wants the frame Djokovic's line is built on. Choose the Graphene XT Radical MP if your strokes are already reliable, you value precision over margin, and you want tour-level control without a tour-level price.
Still deciding between platforms or grip sizes? Browse the full tennis racquet collection to compare frames side by side, or see everything court-ready in our tennis collection.
Frequently asked questions
Is the HEAD Speed MP Legend the same as the Speed MP 2024? Yes, underneath the paint. The Legend shares the Speed MP 2024 engineering, including Auxetic 2.0 construction. The difference is the limited see-through carbon cosmetic with a clear lacquer finish.
Is the Graphene XT Radical MP good for intermediate players? Yes. HEAD built it for intermediate to advanced players. The 98 square inch head and head light balance suit developed strokes. Newer players who need more forgiveness should look at a 100 square inch frame like the Speed MP instead.
What is the difference between a 98 and 100 square inch head? The 100 gives a larger sweet zone and more margin on off-center hits. The 98 gives a tighter target and more precision for players who find the middle of the strings consistently.
How much do these HEAD racquets cost? The Graphene XT Radical MP runs 99 dollars. The Speed MP Legend runs 169 dollars. The current Speed MP 2026 runs 259 dollars. Prices reflect our current listings and can change with availability.
Which racquet is better for spin? Both use a 16x19 pattern. The Speed produces easier launch and heavier net clearance from its larger head. The Radical produces a lower, more controlled topspin flight from its tapered beam. Flatter hitters tend to prefer the Radical.
The frame should match the player you are on your average day, not your best one. Pick yours from the tennis racquet collection.