Walk into any local pro shop and you’ll see it. The bright orange and silver frame. The bold branding. The "Radical" logo. If you’re a fan of American tennis, you probably think you’re looking at the exact Taylor Fritz tennis racket he used to blast his way to the 2024 US Open final or his massive wins in early 2026.
But you'd be wrong.
📖 Related: Ja Morant Height and Weight: Why the Numbers Don't Tell the Whole Story
Basically, what Taylor Fritz holds in his hand is a "paintjob." It’s a specialized, discontinued frame designed over a decade ago, dressed up to look like the latest Head Radical MP sitting on the shelf at your local Dick's Sporting Goods. It's one of the worst-kept secrets in professional tennis, yet it still catches most club players off guard. Honestly, if you tried to play with Fritz's actual setup, your elbow might just quit on you by the second set.
The pro stock secret: What Fritz actually hits
While the marketing says he uses the current HEAD Radical MP (Auxetic 2.0), Fritz is actually a loyalist to a classic. He uses a pro stock frame known internally at Head as the TGT 260.3.
For the gear nerds, that code refers to the HEAD YouTek IG Radical MP mold. This racket originally hit the market back in 2012. Think about that for a second. In an era where tech companies want you to upgrade your phone every twelve months, the best American male player is using technology from the year "Call Me Maybe" was the number one song on the charts.
Why? Because at that level, feel is everything. The IG Radical is famously "plush." It uses Innegra fibers which give it a dampened, flexible feel that modern, stiffer rackets often lack.
Breaking down the specs
If you look at the "retail" Radical MP versus what Taylor actually swings, the differences are pretty wild.
The retail version you buy is built for the masses. It’s got a 16x19 string pattern—meaning more space between the strings to help you generate easy spin. Fritz, on the other hand, uses a 18x20 string pattern. It’s much tighter. This gives him "surgical" control. When you’re hitting a 100 mph forehand, you don't necessarily want the "trampoline effect" of a wide-open string pattern. You want the ball to go exactly where you aim it, and that's what the 18x20 provides.
His racket is also customized to the gram. Off-the-shelf rackets have a "swingweight" (how heavy it feels when you actually swing it) that's relatively low to help average players move the head through the air. Fritz’s frame has lead tape hidden under the bumper guard and silicone injected into the handle. This adds "plow-through." It means when a guy like Carlos Alcaraz hits a heavy ball at him, Taylor's racket doesn't twist in his hand. It just punches back.
The weird hybrid string setup
If the racket itself is old-school, his string setup is where things get really specific. Most people who buy a "pro" racket just throw some polyester in there and call it a day. Fritz goes for a hybrid, but he does it the "wrong" way—at least according to traditional logic.
He typically runs Head Hawk (Polyester) in the mains and Babolat VS Touch (Natural Gut) in the crosses.
Most people put the gut in the mains for power and the poly in the crosses for control. By flipping it, Taylor gets the durability and "bite" of the polyester strings on the vertical mains, while the natural gut on the horizontals softens the feel just enough so his arm doesn't fall off.
Tension and the 2026 Season
Lately, his tension has been a talking point. He’s known to string around 53 to 55 lbs. That’s relatively high for a modern pro, many of whom have dropped down into the 40s to get more "free" power. But because Taylor is a big guy with massive natural power, he uses that high tension like a governor on a car engine. It keeps his shots from flying long.
During the early 2026 swing, including his commitments at the Delray Beach Open, he’s been sticking to this formula. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? Even with some reported "cranky knee" issues after his deep run in Turin at the end of 2025, his racket setup has remained the one constant in his game.
Should you buy the Taylor Fritz tennis racket?
Here is the part where I give you the reality check.
Buying the retail HEAD Radical MP is actually a great move for about 80% of players. It’s one of the most versatile "all-court" rackets ever made. It’s light enough for an intermediate player to swing comfortably but stable enough that you won't outgrow it as you get better.
But don't buy it because you think you're getting Taylor’s spec. You aren't.
If you actually tried to play with a 13-ounce, 18x20, low-flex pro stock frame, you’d probably struggle to get the ball past the service line. Pros like Fritz have the timing and the leg strength to "manhandle" a heavy, dead frame. We don't.
What to look for instead
If you really want the Fritz "vibe" without the shoulder surgery, here is the move:
- Buy the standard Radical MP.
- Add a leather grip. Fritz uses a Tourna leather grip. It makes the handle edges feel sharper, which helps you feel exactly how the racket is oriented in your hand.
- Use a Tourna Grip overgrip (the light blue one). It’s the only one Taylor uses. It’s dry and gets "grippier" the more you sweat.
- Try a hybrid string job. You don’t need the $60 natural gut; you can use a high-quality multifilament in the crosses for a similar feel.
Final insights for your game
The obsession with the Taylor Fritz tennis racket usually stems from wanting that "big serve, big forehand" lifestyle. But the gear is only 5% of the equation.
The real lesson from Taylor's gear is consistency. He’s used essentially the same mold for nearly 15 years. He knows exactly how it’s going to react in the heat of a fifth set at the Australian Open.
If you want to improve, stop switching rackets every time a new "colorway" comes out. Find a frame that feels decent, customize the weight slightly if you need more stability, and then leave it alone. Mastery comes from knowing your tool, not from buying the newest one.
Next time you see that orange Radical on TV, remember: it’s a beautiful tribute to a modern pro, but underneath the paint, there's a 2012 classic doing the heavy lifting.