HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs ONIX Z5 Graphite
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. 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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Quick answer
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin, control and forgiveness on Paddle DNA against the ONIX Z5 Graphite, which costs $70.
Power
Too close to call
74 vs 73
Spin
72 vs 62
Control
84 vs 76
Forgiveness
86 vs 82
Hand speed
102 vs 105 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$70 at IQ 73.6 vs $160 at IQ 79.8
Overall pick: HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 · $160 · IQ 79.8
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 74Power73
- 84Control76
- 72Spin62
- 86Forgiveness82
- 86Sweet spot84
- 80Stability70
- 82Maneuverability88
- 70Pop80
- 82Touch70
- 84Consistency74
- 66Swing weight44
- 74Twist weight62
- 48Launch angle70
- 70Plow through56
- 82Softness74
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs ONIX Z5 Graphite 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 Z5 Graphite |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 | $70 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 — better | 73.6 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 7.8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 11 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 102 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 — better | 5.5 |
| Shape | standard | widebody |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 15.5 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 8.1 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured fiberglass composite | Graphite composite |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb | Nomex 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 Z5 Graphite verdict
The paddle that introduced a generation to pickleball. It is fast and cheap, but the thin Nomex core is loud and dated next to modern polymer builds.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is swing weight: HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 scores 66 against 44 for ONIX Z5 Graphite — a 22-point gap. They are effectively level on sweet spot, power, so those traits should not decide the purchase. ONIX Z5 Graphite is $90 cheaper at $70.
Swing weight
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 22 points (66 vs 44).
Launch angle
ONIX Z5 Graphite leads by 22 points (70 vs 48).
Plow through
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 14 points (70 vs 56).
Touch
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 12 points (82 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
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 74 vs 62, stability 80 vs 70, consistency 84 vs 74. Twist weight 6.4 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 72 vs 62, touch 82 vs 70, control 84 vs 76. At 105 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Touch
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 is the clearer pick at this level — plow through 70 vs 56, spin 72 vs 62, touch 82 vs 70. Swing weight 105 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Spin
- 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 — softness 82 vs 74, twist weight 74 vs 62, forgiveness 86 vs 82. Its 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core at 7.8 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 want swing weight (+22), plow through (+14), touch (+12). 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 Z5 Graphite
Take ONIX Z5 Graphite if you want launch angle (+22), pop (+10), maneuverability (+6). Its swing weight of 102 kg·cm² and 11 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the ONIX Z5 Graphite review →HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs ONIX Z5 Graphite FAQ
- Which is better, the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 or the ONIX Z5 Graphite?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (79.8 vs 73.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 22 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- ONIX Z5 Graphite, at 102 kg·cm² swing weight against 105 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 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 Z5 Graphite?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 scores 74 for power against 73 for ONIX Z5 Graphite. 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?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 at 84 versus 76. 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 62 for the Graphite composite face on ONIX Z5 Graphite. In practice a 10-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 82). Its 6.4 twist weight against 5.5 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- ONIX Z5 Graphite 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?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Textured fiberglass composite face. ONIX Z5 Graphite: 11 mm Nomex honeycomb core with a Graphite composite 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?
- 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. ONIX Z5 Graphite rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both are listed at 7.8 oz, though swing weight differs (105 vs 102) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the ONIX Z5 Graphite to the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads on swing weight by 22 points; everything else is within 22 points. At $160 vs $70, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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Read the full reviews: HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 and ONIX Z5 Graphite. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.