HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 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
- 74Power84
- 84Control90
- 72Spin89
- 86Forgiveness87
- 86Sweet spot87
- 80Stability84
- 82Maneuverability80
- 70Pop80
- 82Touch88
- 84Consistency88
- 66Swing weight68
- 74Twist weight82
- 48Launch angle55
- 70Plow through76
- 82Softness84
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 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 V-Sol Pro 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 | $99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 85.8 — 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 | 6.5 — better |
| Shape | standard | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 16.3 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.6 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured fiberglass composite | Raw T700 carbon |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb | Thermoformed 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.
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 verdict
The $99 paddle that keeps embarrassing $200 ones. The V-Sol Pro will not out-drive the foam flagships, but on control, spin and consistency it is genuinely competitive.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is spin: Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 scores 89 against 72 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 — a 17-point gap. They are effectively level on maneuverability, swing weight, softness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 is $61 cheaper at $99.
Spin
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 leads by 17 points (89 vs 72).
Power
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 leads by 10 points (84 vs 74).
Pop
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 leads by 10 points (80 vs 70).
Twist weight
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 leads by 8 points (82 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
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 82 vs 74, stability 84 vs 80, consistency 88 vs 84. Twist weight 6.5 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 89 vs 72, power 84 vs 74, control 90 vs 84. At 107 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Power
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 89 vs 72, power 84 vs 74, plow through 76 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
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 82 vs 74, softness 84 vs 82, forgiveness 87 vs 86. Its 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Twist weight
- Softness
- 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 — it gives up nothing measurable to Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16.
Read the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 review →Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16
Take Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 if you want spin (+17), power (+10), pop (+10). Its swing weight of 107 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 review →HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 or the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16?
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.8 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 leads by 17 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 107 for Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 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 V-Sol Pro 16?
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 measures 84 on power against 74 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. That comes from a 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core swinging at 107 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 at 90 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 V-Sol Pro 16 scores 89 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 17-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16, with 6.5 twist weight against 6.4. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (87) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 costs $99, $61 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 V-Sol Pro 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16, 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?
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 87 and sweet spot 87 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 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 107) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 to the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 leads on spin by 17 points; everything else is within 10 points. At $160 vs $99, 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
- Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Signature Carbon STR
- V-Sol Pro 16 vs Bantam ALW-C 14
- V-Sol Pro 16 vs SLK Halo XL Control
- V-Sol Pro 16 vs Magnus 3S 16
- V-Sol Pro 16 vs Series Four (Project Roadrunner)
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 V-Sol Pro 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.