HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs JOOLA Essentials 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. JOOLA Essentials 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
- 74Power74
- 84Control89
- 72Spin78
- 86Forgiveness91
- 86Sweet spot92
- 80Stability79
- 82Maneuverability84
- 70Pop76
- 82Touch82
- 84Consistency86
- 66Swing weight46
- 74Twist weight71
- 48Launch angle66
- 70Plow through62
- 82Softness88
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs JOOLA Essentials 16 specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 | JOOLA Essentials 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 | $89 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 82.2 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 108 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 — better | 5.8 |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured fiberglass composite | Textured fiberglass |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb | Polypropylene honeycomb |
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.
JOOLA Essentials 16 verdict
The widest measured sweet spot in our sub-$100 test group. Mishits off the top third still clear the net, which is exactly what a new player needs while their contact point is inconsistent.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is swing weight: HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 scores 66 against 46 for JOOLA Essentials 16 — a 20-point gap. They are effectively level on twist weight, maneuverability, consistency, so those traits should not decide the purchase. JOOLA Essentials 16 is $71 cheaper at $89.
Swing weight
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 20 points (66 vs 46).
Launch angle
JOOLA Essentials 16 leads by 18 points (66 vs 48).
Plow through
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 8 points (70 vs 62).
Spin
JOOLA Essentials 16 leads by 6 points (78 vs 72).
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
JOOLA Essentials 16
JOOLA Essentials 16 is a narrow pick at this level — sweet spot 92 vs 86, forgiveness 91 vs 86, control 89 vs 84. Twist weight 5.8 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
- Control
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
JOOLA Essentials 16
JOOLA Essentials 16 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 78 vs 72, control 89 vs 84, forgiveness 91 vs 86. At 108 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Control
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (76.5 vs 77.3 on the weighted index). Take JOOLA Essentials 16 and keep the $71.
- Spin
- Control
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
JOOLA Essentials 16
JOOLA Essentials 16 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 88 vs 82, forgiveness 91 vs 86. Its 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
Take HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 if you want swing weight (+20), plow through (+8). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 review →JOOLA Essentials 16
Take JOOLA Essentials 16 if you want launch angle (+18), spin (+6), sweet spot (+6). Its swing weight of 108 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Essentials 16 review →HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs JOOLA Essentials 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 or the JOOLA Essentials 16?
- JOOLA Essentials 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (82.2 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 20 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 108 for JOOLA Essentials 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 or the JOOLA Essentials 16?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 measures 74 on power against 74 for JOOLA Essentials 16. 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?
- JOOLA Essentials 16 at 89 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?
- JOOLA Essentials 16 scores 78 for spin off its Textured fiberglass face, against 72 for the Textured fiberglass composite face on HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. In practice a 6-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, with 6.4 twist weight against 5.8. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and JOOLA Essentials 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (91) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- JOOLA Essentials 16 costs $89, $71 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?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Textured fiberglass composite face. JOOLA Essentials 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Textured fiberglass face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, 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?
- JOOLA Essentials 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 91 and sweet spot 92 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?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 at 7.8 oz against 7.9 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 108) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 to the JOOLA Essentials 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads on swing weight by 20 points; everything else is within 18 points. At $160 vs $89, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Obsidian 16
- Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs R1 Pulsar
- Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Blaze Pro 16
- Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Signature Carbon STR
- Essentials 16 vs Encore Pro EX
- Essentials 16 vs Prism Flash
- Essentials 16 vs Signature Carbon STR
- Essentials 16 vs Kinetic Pro Flight
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 and JOOLA Essentials 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.