HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs ProKennex Black Ace LG
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. ProKennex Black Ace LG takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
ProKennex Black Ace LG edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (83.1 vs 79.8), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
74 vs 74
Spin
82 vs 72
Control
88 vs 84
Forgiveness
Too close to call
88 vs 86
Hand speed
105 vs 109 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$160 at IQ 79.8 vs $200 at IQ 83.1
Overall pick: ProKennex Black Ace LG · $200 · IQ 83.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 74Power74
- 84Control88
- 72Spin82
- 86Forgiveness88
- 86Sweet spot86
- 80Stability82
- 82Maneuverability78
- 70Pop70
- 82Touch90
- 84Consistency88
- 66Swing weight70
- 74Twist weight78
- 48Launch angle48
- 70Plow through76
- 82Softness92
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs ProKennex Black Ace LG 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 | ProKennex Black Ace LG |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 — better | $200 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 83.1 — 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 | 6.4 |
| Shape | standard | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 16.3 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured fiberglass composite | Textured carbon |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb | Kinetic core with damping chambers |
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.
ProKennex Black Ace LG verdict
The most arm-friendly build in the database. Softness 92 comes from ProKennex's Kinetic damping, and it is the one paddle we recommend without hesitation for players managing tendon pain.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is spin: ProKennex Black Ace LG scores 82 against 72 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 — a 10-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, stability, power, so those traits should not decide the purchase. HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 is $40 cheaper at $160.
Spin
ProKennex Black Ace LG leads by 10 points (82 vs 72).
Softness
ProKennex Black Ace LG leads by 10 points (92 vs 82).
Touch
ProKennex Black Ace LG leads by 8 points (90 vs 82).
Plow through
ProKennex Black Ace LG leads by 6 points (76 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
ProKennex Black Ace LG
ProKennex Black Ace LG is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 78 vs 74, consistency 88 vs 84, forgiveness 88 vs 86. Twist weight 6.4 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Consistency
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
ProKennex Black Ace LG
ProKennex Black Ace LG is a narrow pick at this level — spin 82 vs 72, touch 90 vs 82, control 88 vs 84. At 109 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Touch
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
ProKennex Black Ace LG
ProKennex Black Ace LG is a narrow pick at this level — spin 82 vs 72, touch 90 vs 82, plow through 76 vs 70. Swing weight 109 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Touch
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
ProKennex Black Ace LG
ProKennex Black Ace LG is the clearer pick at this level — softness 92 vs 82, twist weight 78 vs 74, forgiveness 88 vs 86. Its 16 mm Kinetic core with damping chambers core at 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 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 →ProKennex Black Ace LG
Take ProKennex Black Ace LG if you want spin (+10), softness (+10), touch (+8). Its swing weight of 109 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the ProKennex Black Ace LG review →HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs ProKennex Black Ace LG FAQ
- Which is better, the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 or the ProKennex Black Ace LG?
- ProKennex Black Ace LG carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (83.1 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — ProKennex Black Ace LG leads by 10 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 109 for ProKennex Black Ace LG. 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 ProKennex Black Ace LG?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 74 for power.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- ProKennex Black Ace LG at 88 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?
- ProKennex Black Ace LG scores 82 for spin off its Textured carbon face, against 72 for the Textured fiberglass composite face on HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. In practice a 10-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- ProKennex Black Ace LG, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 86). Twist weight is identical at 6.4, so the gap comes from sweet-spot size and face stability rather than resistance to twisting.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 costs $160, $40 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. ProKennex Black Ace LG: 16 mm Kinetic core with damping chambers core with a Textured carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- ProKennex Black Ace LG, at 5.5 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which ProKennex Black Ace LG avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- ProKennex Black Ace LG is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 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 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 ProKennex Black Ace LG?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. ProKennex Black Ace LG leads on spin by 10 points; everything else is within 10 points. At $160 vs $200, 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
- Black Ace LG vs Kinetic Pro Flight
- Black Ace LG vs Obsidian 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
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
- Black Ace LG vs Tempest Pro C 16
- Black Ace LG vs Vision CGS 16
- Black Ace LG vs Quartz Hybrid 16
- Black Ace LG vs Double Black Diamond Control V2
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 ProKennex Black Ace LG in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 and ProKennex Black Ace LG. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.