Engage Encore Pro EX vs HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Engage Encore Pro EX takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power74
- 88Control84
- 74Spin72
- 89Forgiveness86
- 90Sweet spot86
- 80Stability80
- 84Maneuverability82
- 66Pop70
- 86Touch82
- 85Consistency84
- 50Swing weight66
- 74Twist weight74
- 68Launch angle48
- 60Plow through70
- 90Softness82
Engage Encore Pro EX vs HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Engage Encore Pro EX | HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $130 — better | $160 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 — better | 79.8 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 7.8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 105 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.9 | 6.4 — better |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 15.9 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4 |
| Surface | Fiberglass composite | Textured fiberglass composite |
| Core material | Control core | Polypropylene honeycomb |
Engage Encore Pro EX verdict
A soft, light, extremely forgiving paddle that has quietly become the default recommendation for players over 60.
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 verdict
A conservative, durable standard-shape paddle. Spin 72 is well behind raw carbon, but forgiveness 86 and a 105 swing weight make it one of the easier paddles here to play well immediately.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is launch angle: Engage Encore Pro EX scores 68 against 48 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 — a 20-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, spin, maneuverability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Engage Encore Pro EX is $30 cheaper at $130.
Launch angle
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 20 points (68 vs 48).
Swing weight
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 16 points (66 vs 50).
Plow through
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 10 points (70 vs 60).
Softness
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 8 points (90 vs 82).
Which one is right for your level?
Each call below re-weights the Paddle DNA traits that matter at that level, so the winner can differ from the overall pick.
Beginner
New to 3.0 — still building a consistent contact point
Engage Encore Pro EX
Engage Encore Pro EX is a narrow pick at this level — sweet spot 90 vs 86, forgiveness 89 vs 86, control 88 vs 84. Twist weight 5.9 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
- Control
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (82.1 vs 80.3 on the weighted index). Take Engage Encore Pro EX and keep the $30.
- Control
- Touch
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (75.8 vs 76.5 on the weighted index). Take Engage Encore Pro EX and keep the $30.
- Plow through
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Engage Encore Pro EX
Engage Encore Pro EX is the clearer pick at this level — softness 90 vs 82, forgiveness 89 vs 86. Its 16 mm Control core core at 7.8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Engage Encore Pro EX
Take Engage Encore Pro EX if you want launch angle (+20), softness (+8), control (+4). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Encore Pro EX review →HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
Take HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 if you want swing weight (+16), plow through (+10), power (+4). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 review →Engage Encore Pro EX vs HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Encore Pro EX or the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16?
- Engage Encore Pro EX carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.9 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — launch angle — Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 20 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Encore Pro EX, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 105 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Engage Encore Pro EX or the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 measures 74 on power against 70 for Engage Encore Pro EX. That comes from a 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core swinging at 105 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Engage Encore Pro EX at 88 versus 84. Its 16 mm core holds the ball on the face slightly longer, which is what makes resets and dinks land shorter.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- Engage Encore Pro EX scores 74 for spin off its Fiberglass composite face, against 72 for the Textured fiberglass composite face on HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, with 6.4 twist weight against 5.9. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Engage Encore Pro EX carries the higher forgiveness score (89) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Engage Encore Pro EX costs $130, $30 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on whether you actually use the traits it trades away — check the head-to-head DNA bars above before paying up.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Engage Encore Pro EX: 16 mm Control core core with a Fiberglass composite face. HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Textured fiberglass composite face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Engage Encore Pro EX, at 5 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Engage Encore Pro EX is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 89 and sweet spot 90 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Engage Encore Pro EX at 7.8 oz against 7.8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 105) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 to the Engage Encore Pro EX?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Engage Encore Pro EX leads on launch angle by 20 points; everything else is within 16 points. At $130 vs $160, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a control vs power decision
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Read the full reviews: Engage Encore Pro EX and HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.