Head Radical Tour EX

What it is

The Head Radical Tour EX, Head's mid-tier pickleball paddle, graphite face, 13mm polymer core, 8.0 oz. Listed on Amazon to HK around about HK$1,020 before shipping. It's a tennis-brand crossover product that's been in market for several years without significant updates.

How it plays

Graphite face and a 13mm core is dated tech in 2026. Spin lags raw-carbon competitors by a meaningful margin. The thin core feels harsh on long sessions, vibration travels through the handle more than 16mm polymer or foam-core paddles. Power is mid-pack, control is mid-pack, durability is fine. There's no real standout characteristic.

The selling point is the Head badge and the familiar racquet-brand feel for tennis converts. The grip shape, the balance, the build quality, all of it feels like a Head racquet, which is exactly what some ex-tennis players want. If you played tennis with a Head Radical and want a pickleball paddle that feels related, this is the closest match.

Who should actually buy this

Very narrow target: tennis converts who specifically want a Head-branded paddle for the brand-familiar feel and don't care about the spec gap to current pickleball-native paddles. Buyers should also check the 2026 Radical Tour 15 update, newer model, 15mm core, USAPA-eligible.

Bottom line

Low priority. A Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro at half the price will outperform this on every objective measure (spin, sweet spot, power, current tech). The only legitimate reason to buy is brand loyalty. If you want a tennis-brand pickleball paddle and the brand part matters more than the performance gap, this works. If you're cross-shopping on specs, skip it.