HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
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
- 74Power76
- 84Control82
- 72Spin74
- 86Forgiveness84
- 86Sweet spot85
- 80Stability77
- 82Maneuverability82
- 70Pop79
- 82Touch76
- 84Consistency80
- 66Swing weight52
- 74Twist weight70
- 48Launch angle64
- 70Plow through64
- 82Softness82
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 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 | Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 | $80 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 — better | 78.4 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 7.8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 106 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 — better | 5.9 |
| Shape | standard | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured fiberglass composite | Fiberglass composite |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb | Rev-Core polymer |
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.
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 verdict
A genuinely balanced sub-$100 paddle. Nothing about it is elite, but nothing is a liability either, which is rare at this price.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is launch angle: Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 scores 64 against 48 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 — a 16-point gap. They are effectively level on stability, power, control, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 is $80 cheaper at $80.
Launch angle
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads by 16 points (64 vs 48).
Swing weight
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 14 points (66 vs 52).
Pop
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads by 9 points (79 vs 70).
Touch
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 6 points (82 vs 76).
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 70, consistency 84 vs 80, forgiveness 86 vs 84. 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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (80.3 vs 79.1 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 and keep the $80.
- Touch
- Control
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (76.5 vs 75.1 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 and keep the $80.
- Plow through
- 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 80.4 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 and keep the $80.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
Take HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 if you want swing weight (+14), touch (+6), plow through (+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 →Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
Take Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 if you want launch angle (+16), pop (+9). Its swing weight of 106 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 review →HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 FAQ
- Which is better, the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 or the Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (79.8 vs 78.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — launch angle — Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads by 16 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 106 for Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0. 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 Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0?
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 measures 76 on power against 74 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. That comes from a 16 mm Rev-Core polymer core swinging at 106 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 at 84 versus 82. 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?
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 scores 74 for spin off its Fiberglass composite 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 5.9. 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?
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 costs $80, $80 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. Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0: 16 mm Rev-Core polymer core with a Fiberglass composite face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, at 5 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. Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 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 7.8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 106) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 to the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads on launch angle by 16 points; everything else is within 14 points. At $160 vs $80, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a touch vs pop decision
Browse every head-to-head that splits on the same trade-off:
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
- SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs Signature Carbon STR
- SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs Prism Flash
- SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs Essentials 16
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 Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.