Head Gravity Tour vs Head Radical Pro
Pickle's 5-axis score
Spec-grounded, quartile-ranked across the 322-paddle catalog. Diff highlighted when one paddle leads by 0.5+ points.
Reach vs. maneuverability
The Head Gravity Tour's 17mm core delivers a more forgiving sweet spot, while the Head Radical Pro's 15mm core trades a little plush feel for quicker ball speed. Head Radical Pro trades a touch of maneuverability for more reach at the line; Head Gravity Tour is easier to whip around in hand fights.
Side-by-side specs
| Spec | Head Gravity Tour | Head Radical Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 7.6–8.5 oz | 8.1–8.1 oz |
| Shape | Compact | Elongated |
| Core thickness | 17mm | 15mm |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb with FoamedCore | Polypropylene honeycomb |
| Face material | 12K carbon fiber with SpinOn texture | Fiberglass |
| Handle length | 4.9" | 5.3" |
| Price | $139.95 | $99.95 |
Weight
Shape
Core thickness
Core material
Face material
Handle length
Price
What the spec differences mean
- Weight. Head Gravity Tour is listed at 7.6–8.5 oz; Head Radical Pro at 8.1 oz. At the low end of each listed range, the Head Gravity Tour is 0.5 oz lighter. How paddle weights compare across our catalog
- Core thickness. Head Gravity Tour has a 17mm core; Head Radical Pro has a 15mm core, so the Head Gravity Tour core is 2mm thicker. What core thickness changes
- Length and width. Head Gravity Tour measures 15.75" × 8.1"; Head Radical Pro measures 16" × 7.5" (compact vs elongated). The Head Radical Pro is 0.25" longer. Paddle shapes and the size rule
- Handle length. Head Gravity Tour has a 4.9" handle; Head Radical Pro has a 5.3" handle, so the Head Radical Pro handle is 0.4" longer. What grip length changes
- Face material. Head Gravity Tour lists its face as 12K carbon fiber with SpinOn texture; Head Radical Pro lists Fiberglass. Paddle face materials explained
- Core material. Head Gravity Tour lists its core as Polypropylene honeycomb with FoamedCore; Head Radical Pro lists Polypropylene honeycomb. Paddle core materials explained
Who each paddle is for
Head Gravity Tour
Best for 3.5+ players who prioritize control and reach who play with a balanced two-handed/one-handed mix. The standard shape rewards clean contact, the 17mm core gives you a soft touch window, and the face surface keeps spin honest without overdoing it.
Playing style: control, spin
Head Radical Pro
Best for intermediate players (3.5-4.5) looking for a balanced upgrade who play with a balanced two-handed/one-handed mix. The elongated shape extends your reach at the kitchen line, the 15mm core balances pop and control, and the fiberglass face emphasizes pop over spin.
Playing style: power
Both are great. Pick by playstyle, not specs.
Pick the Head Gravity Tour if…
- ✓you prize control on resets and dinks
Pick the Head Radical Pro if…
- ✓you like reach at the kitchen line
Head Gravity Tour vs Head Radical Pro: the honest breakdown
This is a same-brand tier decision, not a close call between rivals. The $139.95 Gravity Tour is HEAD's control paddle: a 17mm honeycomb core with a foam perimeter under a textured 12K carbon face, in a compact shape with a short 4.9 inch handle. The $99.95 Radical Pro is HEAD's power paddle: a thinner 15mm honeycomb core under fiberglass, in an elongated shape with a 5.3 inch handle. Forty dollars separates them, but they are built for opposite games.
Choose the Head Gravity Tour if…
- You want the softer, more forgiving paddle: the thicker 17mm core plus HEAD's FoamedCore perimeter is designed to damp vibration and enlarge the sweet spot.
- You want long-lasting face texture for spin: the 12K carbon SpinOn surface is built to hold its grit far better than fiberglass.
- You play a control game and want a compact head that is quick at the net.
- You prefer a short 4.9 inch handle and do not hit a two-handed backhand.
Choose the Head Radical Pro if…
- You want to spend the least: at $99.95 it is forty dollars cheaper.
- You want raw power: the thinner 15mm core and fiberglass face are the more powerful, poppier combination, and HEAD markets it on power.
- You want an elongated head for reach and leverage on drives.
- You want a 5.3 inch handle with room for a two-handed backhand.
These two sit at different points in HEAD's own lineup, and almost every spec reflects that. The Gravity Tour pairs a 17mm polypropylene honeycomb core with a foam perimeter and a 12K carbon fiber face carrying HEAD's SpinOn texture, in a compact shape with a 4.9 inch handle. The Radical Pro runs a 15mm polypropylene honeycomb core under a fiberglass face, in an elongated shape with a 5.3 inch handle. Thicker core plus carbon face plus compact head is the classic control recipe; thinner core plus fiberglass plus elongated head is the classic power one.
The face material is the difference that matters most over time. Reviewers describe the Gravity Tour's 12K carbon surface as highly textured and built for rigidity and longevity, and carbon faces hold their texture, and therefore their spin, far longer than fiberglass does. Fiberglass gives the Radical Pro more pop off the face, which is exactly what HEAD is selling, but it is the material more prone to losing grit with use. If spin consistency across a season matters to you, that alone can decide this.
There is also a comfort argument. HEAD's FoamedCore construction wraps the honeycomb in foam to reduce vibration and shock through the hand and arm, and reviewers connect the thicker 17mm core to a large, soft sweet spot and better resistance to core compression over time. The Radical Pro's 15mm core does not have that cushion. Players managing elbow or wrist discomfort should weigh the Gravity Tour's forty dollar premium against that, because it is buying something specific rather than just a nicer face.
Frequently asked questions
Is the HEAD Gravity Tour or the Radical Pro better for beginners?
The Gravity Tour, if the budget allows it. Its 17mm core with HEAD's FoamedCore perimeter is designed to damp vibration and widen the sweet spot, which is what makes off-center hits forgiving while you are still finding the middle of the face. The Radical Pro is a genuinely good paddle at $99.95, but its thinner 15mm core and elongated shape reward cleaner contact, and its power is easier to use once your control is established.
Which one has better spin?
The Gravity Tour, and the gap widens with use. Its face is 12K carbon fiber with HEAD's SpinOn texture, which reviewers describe as highly textured and built for long-lasting rigidity. The Radical Pro uses a fiberglass face with HEAD's Extreme Spin Texture, which generates spin when new but is the material more prone to wearing smooth over time. If you want spin that holds up across a season, the Gravity Tour is the stronger pick.
Why is the Radical Pro cheaper if it is the more powerful paddle?
Because power is the cheaper property to build. The Radical Pro reaches it with a thinner 15mm core and a fiberglass face, both less expensive than the Gravity Tour's 17mm core, foam perimeter and 12K carbon surface. The forty dollar difference is buying control, damping and face durability, not raw output. At $99.95 the Radical Pro is not a compromised paddle, it is a differently prioritized one.
Do these two have different handle lengths?
Yes, and it is a real difference. The Gravity Tour has a short 4.9 inch handle in a compact head, which is quick at the net but leaves little room for a second hand. The Radical Pro has a 5.3 inch handle on an elongated head. If you hit a two-handed backhand, the Radical Pro is the more comfortable of the two.
Related comparisons
- Head Radical Elite vs Vatic Pro Prism V7 16mm — HEAD's value tier against a sub-$150 raw-carbon paddle.
Sources
- HEAD Gravity Tour 2025 Pickleball Paddle — Pickleball Central
- Head Gravity Tour Pickleball Paddle Review — Go PickleBalling
- Head Radical Pro Pickleball Paddle Review — The Pickleball Source
- Head Radical Pro Pickleball Paddle Review — The Pickleball Paddles
Specs and prices from our catalog. Construction and feel claims are attributed to the reviewers cited above; we do not run first-party playtests. Last updated 2026-08-07.
More matchups with the Head Gravity Tour
More matchups with the Head Radical Pro
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