HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Ronbus R1 Pulsar
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Ronbus R1 Pulsar takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Ronbus R1 Pulsar wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, spin, control and value on Paddle DNA against the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, which costs $160.
Power
78 vs 74
Spin
88 vs 72
Control
92 vs 84
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 84
Hand speed
Too close to call
104 vs 105 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$120 at IQ 83.5 vs $160 at IQ 79.8
Overall pick: Ronbus R1 Pulsar · $120 · IQ 83.5
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 74Power78
- 84Control92
- 72Spin88
- 86Forgiveness84
- 86Sweet spot84
- 80Stability80
- 82Maneuverability84
- 70Pop70
- 82Touch90
- 84Consistency86
- 66Swing weight62
- 74Twist weight74
- 48Launch angle46
- 70Plow through72
- 82Softness84
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Ronbus R1 Pulsar 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 | Ronbus R1 Pulsar |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 | $120 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 83.5 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 104 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 — better | 6.1 |
| Shape | standard | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured fiberglass composite | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| 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.
Ronbus R1 Pulsar verdict
The value benchmark for an elongated control paddle. It gives up thermoformed power, but the swing weight is low enough that fast hands stay fast into the third game.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is spin: Ronbus R1 Pulsar scores 88 against 72 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 — a 16-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, sweet spot, maneuverability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Ronbus R1 Pulsar is $40 cheaper at $120.
Spin
Ronbus R1 Pulsar leads by 16 points (88 vs 72).
Control
Ronbus R1 Pulsar leads by 8 points (92 vs 84).
Touch
Ronbus R1 Pulsar leads by 8 points (90 vs 82).
Power
Ronbus R1 Pulsar leads by 4 points (78 vs 74).
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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (82.8 vs 82.8 on the weighted index). Take Ronbus R1 Pulsar and keep the $40.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Ronbus R1 Pulsar
Ronbus R1 Pulsar is the clearer pick at this level — spin 88 vs 72, control 92 vs 84, touch 90 vs 82. At 104 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Control
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Ronbus R1 Pulsar
Ronbus R1 Pulsar is the clearer pick at this level — spin 88 vs 72, touch 90 vs 82, control 92 vs 84. Swing weight 104 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Touch
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81.6 vs 82.2 on the weighted index). Take Ronbus R1 Pulsar and keep the $40.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
Take HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 if you want swing weight (+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 →Ronbus R1 Pulsar
Take Ronbus R1 Pulsar if you want spin (+16), control (+8), touch (+8). Its swing weight of 104 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Ronbus R1 Pulsar review →HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Ronbus R1 Pulsar FAQ
- Which is better, the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 or the Ronbus R1 Pulsar?
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (83.5 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — Ronbus R1 Pulsar leads by 16 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar, at 104 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 Ronbus R1 Pulsar?
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar scores 78 for power against 74 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. That comes from a 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core swinging at 104 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar at 92 versus 84.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar scores 88 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon face, against 72 for the Textured fiberglass composite face on HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. In practice a 16-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 84). Its 6.4 twist weight against 6.1 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar costs $120, $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. Ronbus R1 Pulsar: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar, 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 Ronbus R1 Pulsar avoids.
- 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. Ronbus R1 Pulsar 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 7.9 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 104) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 to the Ronbus R1 Pulsar?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Ronbus R1 Pulsar leads on spin by 16 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $160 vs $120, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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- R1 Pulsar vs Tempest Pro C 16
- R1 Pulsar vs Sapphire 16
- R1 Pulsar vs Quartz Hybrid 16
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Guides featuring these paddles
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Read the full reviews: HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 and Ronbus R1 Pulsar. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.