HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 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
- 74Power88
- 84Control96
- 72Spin92
- 86Forgiveness86
- 86Sweet spot88
- 80Stability90
- 82Maneuverability73
- 70Pop80
- 82Touch94
- 84Consistency93
- 66Swing weight74
- 74Twist weight88
- 48Launch angle51
- 70Plow through86
- 82Softness80
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 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 Perseus Pro V 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 — better | $300 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 89.1 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 | 6.7 — better |
| Shape | standard | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured fiberglass composite | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb | KineticFrame foam-injected polymer |
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 Perseus Pro V 16 verdict
The 2026 control flagship. The KineticFrame build stiffens the perimeter without adding face pop, so resets land shorter and drives stay predictable — at the highest price in the database.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is spin: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 92 against 72 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 — a 20-point gap. They are effectively level on launch angle, sweet spot, softness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 is $140 cheaper at $160.
Spin
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 20 points (92 vs 72).
Plow through
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 16 points (86 vs 70).
Power
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 14 points (88 vs 74).
Twist weight
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 14 points (88 vs 74).
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 Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 88 vs 74, stability 90 vs 80, consistency 93 vs 84. Twist weight 6.7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 92 vs 72, control 96 vs 84, power 88 vs 74. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Control
- Power
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 92 vs 72, power 88 vs 74, plow through 86 vs 70. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Power
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81.6 vs 83.1 on the weighted index). Take HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 and keep the $140.
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
Take HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 if you want maneuverability (+9). 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 Perseus Pro V 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 if you want spin (+20), plow through (+16), power (+14). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 review →HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 or the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 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 118 for JOOLA Perseus Pro V 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 Perseus Pro V 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 measures 88 on power against 74 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. That comes from a 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core swinging at 118 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 at 96 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 Perseus Pro V 16 scores 92 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon face, against 72 for the Textured fiberglass composite face on HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. In practice a 20-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, with 6.7 twist weight against 6.4. 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?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 costs $160, $140 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 Perseus Pro V 16: 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 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. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 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 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 to the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads on spin by 20 points; everything else is within 16 points. At $160 vs $300, 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
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Perseus CFS 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Perseus Pro IV 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs CRBN-3X Power Series
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 Perseus Pro V 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.