HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Paddletek Tempest Wave V3
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 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
- 74Power72
- 84Control92
- 72Spin80
- 86Forgiveness86
- 86Sweet spot87
- 80Stability82
- 82Maneuverability81
- 70Pop68
- 82Touch91
- 84Consistency89
- 66Swing weight56
- 74Twist weight76
- 48Launch angle58
- 70Plow through66
- 82Softness88
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 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 V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 | $150 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 82.9 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 110 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 — better | 6.1 |
| 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 | Textured carbon |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb | Tempest control core |
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 V3 verdict
The reference control paddle for players who do not want the weight of a 20 mm build. Touch scores trail only the Luxx.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is swing weight: HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 scores 66 against 56 for Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 — a 10-point gap. They are effectively level on power, stability, pop, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($160 vs $150) that it should not break the tie.
Swing weight
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 10 points (66 vs 56).
Launch angle
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 leads by 10 points (58 vs 48).
Touch
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 leads by 9 points (91 vs 82).
Control
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 leads by 8 points (92 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
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 is a narrow pick at this level — consistency 89 vs 84, control 92 vs 84, stability 82 vs 80. Twist weight 6.1 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Consistency
- Control
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 is a narrow pick at this level — control 92 vs 84, spin 80 vs 72, touch 91 vs 82. At 110 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Spin
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 80 vs 72, touch 91 vs 82, control 92 vs 84. Swing weight 110 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Touch
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 88 vs 82, twist weight 76 vs 74. Its 16 mm Tempest control core core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
Take HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 if you want swing weight (+10), plow through (+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 →Paddletek Tempest Wave V3
Take Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 if you want launch angle (+10), touch (+9), control (+8). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 review →HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 FAQ
- Which is better, the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 or the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (82.9 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 10 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 110 for Paddletek Tempest Wave V3. 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 Paddletek Tempest Wave V3?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 measures 74 on power against 72 for Paddletek Tempest Wave V3. 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 V3 at 92 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?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 scores 80 for spin off its Textured carbon face, against 72 for the Textured fiberglass composite face on HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. In practice a 8-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, with 6.4 twist weight against 6.1. 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?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Textured fiberglass composite face. Paddletek Tempest Wave V3: 16 mm Tempest control core core with a Textured carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave V3, 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 110) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 to the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads on swing weight by 10 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.
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
- Tempest Wave V3 vs SLK Halo Control
- Tempest Wave V3 vs Kinetic Pro Flight
- Tempest Wave V3 vs Obsidian 16
- Tempest Wave V3 vs R1 Pulsar
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 Paddletek Tempest Wave V3. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.