HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid 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
- 74Power82
- 84Control85
- 72Spin89
- 86Forgiveness83
- 86Sweet spot84
- 80Stability83
- 82Maneuverability78
- 70Pop80
- 82Touch81
- 84Consistency84
- 66Swing weight66
- 74Twist weight80
- 48Launch angle57
- 70Plow through74
- 82Softness79
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid 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 V7 Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 | $99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 82.9 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 8.1 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 113 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 — better | 6.3 |
| Shape | standard | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 16.2 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.7 |
| 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 V7 Hybrid verdict
Thermoformed construction at a mid-tier price. It gives up very little to paddles at twice the cost and is the value pick of the 2026 releases.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is spin: Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid scores 89 against 72 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 — a 17-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, stability, softness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid is $61 cheaper at $99.
Spin
Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid leads by 17 points (89 vs 72).
Pop
Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid leads by 10 points (80 vs 70).
Launch angle
Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid leads by 9 points (57 vs 48).
Power
Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid 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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (82.8 vs 83.1 on the weighted index). Take Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid and keep the $61.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Control
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid
Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid is a narrow pick at this level — spin 89 vs 72, power 82 vs 74, control 85 vs 84. At 113 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 V7 Hybrid
Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid is the clearer pick at this level — spin 89 vs 72, power 82 vs 74, plow through 74 vs 70. Swing weight 113 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Power
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81.6 vs 80.3 on the weighted index). Take Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid and keep the $61.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
Take HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 if you want maneuverability (+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 →Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid
Take Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid if you want spin (+17), pop (+10), launch angle (+9). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid review →HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid FAQ
- Which is better, the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 or the Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid?
- Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (82.9 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid leads by 17 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 113 for Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid. 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 V7 Hybrid?
- Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid measures 82 on power against 74 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. That comes from a 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core swinging at 113 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid at 85 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 V7 Hybrid 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?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, with 6.4 twist weight against 6.3. 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?
- Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid 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 V7 Hybrid: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid, 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?
- 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. Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid 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 8.1 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 113) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 to the Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid 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
- V7 Hybrid vs SLK Halo XL Control
- V7 Hybrid vs Evoke Premier
- V7 Hybrid vs Ruby
- V7 Hybrid 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 V7 Hybrid. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.