HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs JOOLA Vision CGS 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. JOOLA Vision CGS 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 74Power78
- 84Control90
- 72Spin88
- 86Forgiveness88
- 86Sweet spot88
- 80Stability84
- 82Maneuverability82
- 70Pop74
- 82Touch88
- 84Consistency90
- 66Swing weight66
- 74Twist weight80
- 48Launch angle48
- 70Plow through76
- 82Softness84
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs JOOLA Vision CGS 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 Vision CGS 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 — better | $180 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 85.3 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 107 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 | 6.6 — better |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured fiberglass composite | Carbon grit surface |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb | Propulsion 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 Vision CGS 16 verdict
The friendliest paddle JOOLA sells. Standard shape, 107 swing weight and forgiveness 88 make it the natural first premium paddle for a 3.0 player.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is spin: JOOLA Vision CGS 16 scores 88 against 72 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 — a 16-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, sweet spot, softness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 is $20 cheaper at $160.
Spin
JOOLA Vision CGS 16 leads by 16 points (88 vs 72).
Control
JOOLA Vision CGS 16 leads by 6 points (90 vs 84).
Touch
JOOLA Vision CGS 16 leads by 6 points (88 vs 82).
Consistency
JOOLA Vision CGS 16 leads by 6 points (90 vs 84).
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 Vision CGS 16
JOOLA Vision CGS 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 80 vs 74, consistency 90 vs 84, stability 84 vs 80. Twist weight 6.6 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Consistency
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
JOOLA Vision CGS 16
JOOLA Vision CGS 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 88 vs 72, control 90 vs 84, touch 88 vs 82. At 107 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Control
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
JOOLA Vision CGS 16
JOOLA Vision CGS 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 88 vs 72, plow through 76 vs 70, touch 88 vs 82. Swing weight 107 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Plow through
- Touch
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
JOOLA Vision CGS 16
JOOLA Vision CGS 16 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 84 vs 82, twist weight 80 vs 74, forgiveness 88 vs 86. Its 16 mm Propulsion polymer core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
Take HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 if you prefer a standard face and a 5 in handle — it gives up nothing measurable to JOOLA Vision CGS 16.
Read the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 review →JOOLA Vision CGS 16
Take JOOLA Vision CGS 16 if you want spin (+16), control (+6), touch (+6). Its swing weight of 107 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Vision CGS 16 review →HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs JOOLA Vision CGS 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 or the JOOLA Vision CGS 16?
- JOOLA Vision CGS 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.3 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — JOOLA Vision CGS 16 leads by 16 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 107 for JOOLA Vision CGS 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 Vision CGS 16?
- JOOLA Vision CGS 16 measures 78 on power against 74 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. That comes from a 16 mm Propulsion polymer core swinging at 107 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Vision CGS 16 at 90 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 Vision CGS 16 scores 88 for spin off its Carbon grit surface face, against 72 for the Textured fiberglass composite face on HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. In practice a 16-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- JOOLA Vision CGS 16, with 6.6 twist weight against 6.4. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and JOOLA Vision CGS 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (88) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 costs $160, $20 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 Vision CGS 16: 16 mm Propulsion polymer core with a Carbon grit surface face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- JOOLA Vision CGS 16, at 5.25 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 Vision CGS 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. JOOLA Vision CGS 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 107) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 to the JOOLA Vision CGS 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Vision CGS 16 leads on spin by 16 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $160 vs $180, 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 Atlas 16
- Vision CGS 16 vs Atlas 16
- Vision CGS 16 vs Double Black Diamond Control V2
- Vision CGS 16 vs Sapphire 16
- Vision CGS 16 vs Radius CGS 16
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 Vision CGS 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.