HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Wilson Blaze Pro 16
The big-brand retail matchup for players who want warranty support and in-store availability. Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Wilson Blaze 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
- 74Power78
- 84Control82
- 72Spin78
- 86Forgiveness84
- 86Sweet spot84
- 80Stability80
- 82Maneuverability78
- 70Pop76
- 82Touch78
- 84Consistency84
- 66Swing weight70
- 74Twist weight76
- 48Launch angle52
- 70Plow through76
- 82Softness74
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Wilson Blaze 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 | Wilson Blaze Pro 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 — better | $170 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 80.2 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 110 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 | 6.5 — better |
| Shape | standard | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 16.3 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.375 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured fiberglass composite | Raw carbon fiber |
| 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.
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 verdict
Wilson's most competitive pickleball paddle to date. Nothing in the DNA profile is exceptional, but nothing is a weakness either — it is the definition of a balanced all-court build.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 scores 82 against 74 for Wilson Blaze Pro 16 — a 8-point gap. They are effectively level on control, forgiveness, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($170 vs $160) that it should not break the tie.
Softness
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 8 points (82 vs 74).
Spin
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 leads by 6 points (78 vs 72).
Pop
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 leads by 6 points (76 vs 70).
Plow through
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 leads by 6 points (76 vs 70).
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 vs 82.8 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — elongated on the Blaze Pro 16, standard on the Radical Tour Ultra 16.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Control
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (80 vs 80.3 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — elongated on the Blaze Pro 16, standard on the Radical Tour Ultra 16.
- Maneuverability
- Touch
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (78.2 vs 76.5 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — elongated on the Blaze Pro 16, standard on the Radical Tour Ultra 16.
- Spin
- Plow through
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 82 vs 74, forgiveness 86 vs 84. Its 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core at 7.8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Wilson Blaze Pro 16
Take Wilson Blaze Pro 16 if you want spin (+6), pop (+6), plow through (+6). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Wilson Blaze Pro 16 review →HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16
Take HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 if you want softness (+8), maneuverability (+4), touch (+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 →Wilson Blaze Pro 16 vs HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Wilson Blaze Pro 16 or the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.2 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 110 for Wilson Blaze Pro 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Wilson Blaze Pro 16 or the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16 measures 78 on power against 74 for HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. That comes from a 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core swinging at 110 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?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16 scores 78 for spin off its Raw carbon fiber face, against 72 for the Textured fiberglass composite face on HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16. In practice a 6-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16, with 6.5 twist weight against 6.4. 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?
- They are within $10 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Raw carbon fiber face. HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Textured fiberglass composite face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16, at 5.375 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. Wilson Blaze 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 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 110) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 to the Wilson Blaze Pro 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads on softness by 8 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $170 vs $160, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a hand speed vs plow through decision
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- Blaze Pro 16 vs V7 Hybrid
- Blaze Pro 16 vs Edge 18K V2
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Read the full reviews: HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 and Wilson Blaze Pro 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.