Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 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
- 81Power74
- 83Control84
- 68Spin72
- 72Forgiveness86
- 70Sweet spot86
- 67Stability80
- 80Maneuverability82
- 76Pop70
- 84Touch82
- 74Consistency84
- 66Swing weight66
- 50Twist weight74
- 52Launch angle48
- 75Plow through70
- 86Softness82
Franklin Signature 16 Composite 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 | Franklin Signature 16 Composite | HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $70 — better | $160 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 73.5 | 79.8 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.1 | 7.8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 110 | 105 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.6 | 6.4 — better |
| Shape | elongated | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 15.9 |
| Face width(in) | 7.3 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.6 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.5 | 4 |
| Surface | Composite/Fiberglass | Textured fiberglass composite |
| Core material | Polypropylene | Polypropylene honeycomb |
Franklin Signature 16 Composite verdict
A fiberglass-faced elongated paddle at a rec-league price. Composite faces give up spin to carbon, but they hand back free pop that beginners actually benefit from.
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 twist weight: HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 scores 74 against 50 for Franklin Signature 16 Composite — a 24-point gap. They are effectively level on maneuverability, touch, control, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Franklin Signature 16 Composite is $90 cheaper at $70.
Twist weight
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 24 points (74 vs 50).
Sweet spot
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 16 points (86 vs 70).
Forgiveness
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 14 points (86 vs 72).
Stability
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 13 points (80 vs 67).
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
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 is the clearer pick at this level — sweet spot 86 vs 70, twist weight 74 vs 50, forgiveness 86 vs 72. Twist weight 6.4 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 86 vs 72, consistency 84 vs 74, spin 72 vs 68. At 105 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Forgiveness
- Consistency
- Spin
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (77.9 vs 76.5 on the weighted index). Take Franklin Signature 16 Composite and keep the $90.
- Power
- Plow through
- Touch
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 74 vs 50, forgiveness 86 vs 72. Its 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core at 7.8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Franklin Signature 16 Composite
Take Franklin Signature 16 Composite if you want power (+7), pop (+6), plow through (+5). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Signature 16 Composite review →HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
Take HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 if you want twist weight (+24), sweet spot (+16), forgiveness (+14). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 review →Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Franklin Signature 16 Composite or the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (79.8 vs 73.5), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 24 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 110 for Franklin Signature 16 Composite. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Franklin Signature 16 Composite or the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite measures 81 on power against 74 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. That comes from a 16 mm Polypropylene core swinging at 110 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 at 84 versus 83. 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?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 scores 72 for spin off its Textured fiberglass composite face, against 68 for the Composite/Fiberglass face on Franklin Signature 16 Composite. In practice a 4-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 5.6. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (86) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite costs $70, $90 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?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite: 16 mm Polypropylene core with a Composite/Fiberglass 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?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite, at 5.6 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Franklin Signature 16 Composite avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 86 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Franklin Signature 16 Composite rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 at 7.8 oz against 8.1 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 110) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Franklin Signature 16 Composite to the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads on twist weight by 24 points; everything else is within 16 points. At $70 vs $160, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a spin vs pop decision
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