HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Vatic Pro Atlas 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Vatic Pro Atlas 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
- 74Power78
- 84Control88
- 72Spin86
- 86Forgiveness90
- 86Sweet spot90
- 80Stability84
- 82Maneuverability82
- 70Pop74
- 82Touch86
- 84Consistency88
- 66Swing weight66
- 74Twist weight80
- 48Launch angle48
- 70Plow through74
- 82Softness82
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Vatic Pro Atlas 16 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 | Vatic Pro Atlas 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 | $110 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 84.8 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 106 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 | 6.7 — better |
| Shape | standard | widebody |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 15.9 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 8.1 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Textured fiberglass composite | Raw 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.
Vatic Pro Atlas 16 verdict
The most forgiving paddle Vatic has shipped and still under $120. Sweet spot 90 and forgiveness 90 in an 8.1 in widebody is the profile most improving players actually need.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is spin: Vatic Pro Atlas 16 scores 86 against 72 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 — a 14-point gap. They are effectively level on maneuverability, swing weight, launch angle, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Vatic Pro Atlas 16 is $50 cheaper at $110.
Spin
Vatic Pro Atlas 16 leads by 14 points (86 vs 72).
Twist weight
Vatic Pro Atlas 16 leads by 6 points (80 vs 74).
Power
Vatic Pro Atlas 16 leads by 4 points (78 vs 74).
Control
Vatic Pro Atlas 16 leads by 4 points (88 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
Vatic Pro Atlas 16
Vatic Pro Atlas 16 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 90 vs 86, sweet spot 90 vs 86, twist weight 80 vs 74. Twist weight 6.7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Vatic Pro Atlas 16
Vatic Pro Atlas 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 86 vs 72, control 88 vs 84, forgiveness 90 vs 86. At 106 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Control
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Vatic Pro Atlas 16
Vatic Pro Atlas 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 86 vs 72, power 78 vs 74, plow through 74 vs 70. Swing weight 106 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Power
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Vatic Pro Atlas 16
Vatic Pro Atlas 16 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 90 vs 86, twist weight 80 vs 74. Its 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
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 — it gives up nothing measurable to Vatic Pro Atlas 16.
Read the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 review →Vatic Pro Atlas 16
Take Vatic Pro Atlas 16 if you want spin (+14), twist weight (+6), power (+4). Its swing weight of 106 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Vatic Pro Atlas 16 review →HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Vatic Pro Atlas 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 or the Vatic Pro Atlas 16?
- Vatic Pro Atlas 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.8 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — Vatic Pro Atlas 16 leads by 14 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 106 for Vatic Pro Atlas 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 Vatic Pro Atlas 16?
- Vatic Pro Atlas 16 measures 78 on power against 74 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. That comes from a 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core swinging at 106 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Vatic Pro Atlas 16 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?
- Vatic Pro Atlas 16 scores 86 for spin off its Raw T700 carbon face, against 72 for the Textured fiberglass composite face on HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. In practice a 14-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Vatic Pro Atlas 16, with 6.7 twist weight against 6.4. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Vatic Pro Atlas 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (90) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Vatic Pro Atlas 16 costs $110, $50 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. Vatic Pro Atlas 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Raw T700 carbon 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?
- Vatic Pro Atlas 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 90 and sweet spot 90 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Vatic Pro Atlas 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 106) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 to the Vatic Pro Atlas 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Vatic Pro Atlas 16 leads on spin by 14 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $160 vs $110, 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
- Atlas 16 vs Vision CGS 16
- Atlas 16 vs Radius CGS 16
- Atlas 16 vs Ruby Hybrid 16
- Atlas 16 vs Crush Control 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 Vatic Pro Atlas 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.