HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes power and spin on Paddle DNA against the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, which costs $160.
Power
82 vs 74
Spin
84 vs 72
Control
Too close to call
86 vs 84
Forgiveness
Too close to call
88 vs 86
Hand speed
105 vs 109 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Too close to call
$150 at IQ 84.2 vs $160 at IQ 79.8
Overall pick: ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 · $150 · IQ 84.2
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 74Power82
- 84Control86
- 72Spin84
- 86Forgiveness88
- 86Sweet spot88
- 80Stability84
- 82Maneuverability78
- 70Pop78
- 82Touch84
- 84Consistency86
- 66Swing weight68
- 74Twist weight82
- 48Launch angle52
- 70Plow through80
- 82Softness80
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 | ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 | $150 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 84.2 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 109 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 | 6.7 — better |
| 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 | Raw carbon fiber |
| 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.
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 verdict
Onix finally ships a raw-carbon face. Forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 88 in a standard shape make it one of the safest $150 paddles on the market.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is spin: ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 scores 84 against 72 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on control, forgiveness, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($160 vs $150) that it should not break the tie.
Spin
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 leads by 12 points (84 vs 72).
Plow through
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 leads by 10 points (80 vs 70).
Power
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 leads by 8 points (82 vs 74).
Pop
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 leads by 8 points (78 vs 70).
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
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 82 vs 74, stability 84 vs 80, forgiveness 88 vs 86. Twist weight 6.7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 84 vs 72, power 82 vs 74, control 86 vs 84. At 109 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Power
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 84 vs 72, power 82 vs 74, plow through 80 vs 70. Swing weight 109 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 82.5 on the weighted index). Pick on static weight — 7.8 oz on the Radical Tour Ultra 16, 8 oz on the Evoke Pro Carbon 16.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
Take HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 if you want maneuverability (+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 →ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16
Take ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 if you want spin (+12), plow through (+10), power (+8). Its swing weight of 109 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 review →HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 or the ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16?
- ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.2 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 109 for ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 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 ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16?
- ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 scores 82 for power against 74 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. That comes from a 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core swinging at 109 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 at 86 versus 84.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 scores 84 for spin off its Raw carbon fiber face, against 72 for the Textured fiberglass composite face on HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. In practice a 12-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 86). Its 6.7 twist weight against 6.4 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- They are within $10 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Textured fiberglass composite face. ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Raw carbon fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both run a 5 in handle, short enough that either forces the bottom hand up onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 at 7.8 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 109) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 to the ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 leads on spin by 12 points; everything else is within 10 points. At $160 vs $150, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
- Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Obsidian 16
- Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Blaze Pro 16
- Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Encore Pro EX
- Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
- Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Signature Carbon STR
- Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Tempest Wave Pro
- Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Evoke Premier
- Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Essentials 16
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
- Evoke Pro Carbon 16 vs Ruby Hybrid 16
- Evoke Pro Carbon 16 vs R3 Pulsar
- Evoke Pro Carbon 16 vs Crush Control 16
- Evoke Pro Carbon 16 vs Prism Flash V2 16
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 and ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 and ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.