HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. 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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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 74Power70
- 84Control93
- 72Spin74
- 86Forgiveness82
- 86Sweet spot80
- 80Stability76
- 82Maneuverability88
- 70Pop64
- 82Touch92
- 84Consistency88
- 66Swing weight58
- 74Twist weight62
- 48Launch angle42
- 70Plow through66
- 82Softness90
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro 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 | Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 | $150 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 79.8 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 14.3 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 100 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 — better | 6 |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 15.75 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured fiberglass composite | Textured graphite |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb | Patented Poly Core II |
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.
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro verdict
The paddle a generation of control players learned on, and still one of the quietest, most predictable graphite faces made. It will not out-hit a thermoformed paddle, but it will not surprise you either.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is twist weight: HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 scores 74 against 62 for Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($150 vs $160) that it should not break the tie.
Twist weight
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 12 points (74 vs 62).
Touch
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro leads by 10 points (92 vs 82).
Control
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro leads by 9 points (93 vs 84).
Swing weight
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 8 points (66 vs 58).
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 a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 74 vs 62, sweet spot 86 vs 80, forgiveness 86 vs 82. Twist weight 6.4 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro is a narrow pick at this level — control 93 vs 84, touch 92 vs 82, maneuverability 88 vs 82. At 100 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Touch
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro is a narrow pick at this level — touch 92 vs 82, control 93 vs 84, maneuverability 88 vs 82. Swing weight 100 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Touch
- Control
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (82.7 vs 81.6 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — standard on the Tempest Wave Pro, standard on the Radical Tour Ultra 16.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro
Take Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro if you want touch (+10), control (+9), softness (+8). Its swing weight of 100 kg·cm² and 14.3 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro review →HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
Take HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 if you want twist weight (+12), swing weight (+8), sweet spot (+6). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 review →Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro vs HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro or the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (79.8 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro, at 100 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 Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro or the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 measures 74 on power against 70 for Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro. 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?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro at 93 versus 84. Its 14.3 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?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro scores 74 for spin off its Textured graphite face, against 72 for the Textured fiberglass composite face on HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, with 6.4 twist weight against 6. 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?
- They are within $10 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro: 14.3 mm Patented Poly Core II core with a Textured graphite face. HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Textured fiberglass composite face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro, 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?
- 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. 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 100) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 to the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads on twist weight by 12 points; everything else is within 10 points. At $150 vs $160, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a control vs power decision
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Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
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- Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Signature Carbon STR
- Tempest Wave Pro vs BALLR+ 16
- Tempest Wave Pro vs Obsidian 16
- Tempest Wave Pro vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
- Tempest Wave Pro vs Coral Hybrid 16
Top alternatives to both
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Read the full reviews: HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 and Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.