HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, spin and value on Paddle DNA against the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, which costs $160.
Power
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
88 vs 74
Spin
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
88 vs 72
Control
Too close to call
86 vs 84
Forgiveness
Too close to call
89 vs 86
Hand speed
Too close to call
105 vs 107 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
$109.99 at IQ 87.4 vs $160 at IQ 79.8
Overall pick: Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm · $109.99 · IQ 87.4
Paddle DNA head-to-head
Estimated scores: the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm Paddle DNA is our estimate from published specs, not a sourced profile.
- 74Power88
- 84Control86
- 72Spin88
- 86Forgiveness89
- 86Sweet spot90
- 80Stability89
- 82Maneuverability86
- 70Pop88
- 82Touch85
- 84Consistency87
- 66Swing weight65
- 74Twist weight87
- 48Launch angle59
- 70Plow through81
- 82Softness80
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm 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 | Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 | $109.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 87.4 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 107 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 | 7.4 — better |
| Shape | standard | widebody |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Textured fiberglass composite | QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb | Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) |
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.
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm verdict
The 16 × 8-inch Standard/Widebody offers a broader face and lower manufacturer-listed swingweight than the Elongated. Choose its geometry for compact handling and off-center coverage; choose Elongated for extra reach. Estimated Paddle DNA is not a measured power, control or spin result.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is pop: Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 against 70 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 — an 18-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, touch, consistency, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is $50.010000000000005 cheaper at $109.99.
Pop
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 18 points (88 vs 70).
Spin
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 16 points (88 vs 72).
Power
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 14 points (88 vs 74).
Twist weight
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 13 points (87 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
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 87 vs 74, stability 89 vs 80, sweet spot 90 vs 86. Twist weight 7.4 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is the clearer pick at this level — spin 88 vs 72, power 88 vs 74, maneuverability 86 vs 82. At 107 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Power
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is the clearer pick at this level — spin 88 vs 72, power 88 vs 74, plow through 81 vs 70. Swing weight 107 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Power
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 87 vs 74, forgiveness 89 vs 86. Its 16 mm Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
Take HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 if you prefer a standard face and a 5 in handle and a 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core — it gives up nothing measurable to Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm.
Read the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 review →Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm if you want pop (+18), spin (+16), power (+14). Its swing weight of 107 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm review →Where to Buy
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.4 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — pop — Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 18 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 107 for Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm. 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 Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 for power against 74 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. That comes from a 16 mm Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) core swinging at 107 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm at 86 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?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 for spin off its QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano 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?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm, with the higher forgiveness score (89 vs 86). Its 7.4 twist weight against 6.4 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm costs $109.99, $50.010000000000005 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. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm: 16 mm Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) core with a QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm, at 5.3 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?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 89 and sweet spot 90 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 7.9 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 107) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 to the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads on pop by 18 points; everything else is within 16 points. At $160 vs $109.99, 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
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Spitfire Elongated 16mm
- 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
- Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Evoke Premier
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
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs J2CR
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Loco 16mm Standard
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Tenon
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 Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 and Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.