I purchased a Head Radical Elite pickleball paddle so I could play with it myself and give this first-person, hands-on review.
Head is known for their tennis rackets, but it may surprise you to know that they also have great options in the pickleball world. In our Head Radical Elite pickleball paddle review, we will cover the pros and cons of the Radical Elite paddle .
In this review, we will give you all of the details on this paddle, but I will also give you my personal review on this paddle, which I have used extensively at my local pickleball court this summer.
And spoiler alert: if you are looking for a new paddle, the Radical Elite is a winner.
Head Radical Elite Pickleball Paddle Review: Quick Overview
The Head Radical Elite pickleball paddle is another great paddle in the Head family.
With its thicker OTC honeycomb core, the Radical Elite gives you excellent control on shots near the net and consistent ball-placement response on all your other shots.
It’s hard to miss the sweet spot on this thing–though I still manage to miss it quite frequently, but that’s more a reflection of my game than the paddle.
But be aware: in gaining extra control with this paddle, you will give up a little juice in the power category.
While the core doesn’t give you any jump, the paddle has tons of swing-ability with its lightweight construction and smooth fiberglass surface.
It’s a versatile piece of gear.
But you shouldn’t expect much spin off the smooth paddle face. I’ve been able to get some decent backspin and sidespin, but nothing compared to spins that can come off grittier paddle faces.
What We Like:
- Large sweet spot
- Softer feel for better control
- Great tennis-style grip
- Nice color and design
- Great price for the value
What We Don’t Like
- Less spinability
- Decent power but left us wanting more
- We cover each pro and con in more detail down below.
If you are new to the game of pickleball and want more information on what to look for in a pickleball paddle, check out our Ultimate Beginners Guide to Pickleball.
Paddle Specifications
- Core: Power Core (OTC Honeycomb)
- Engineered Surface: Smooth fiberglass
- Weight: 8.1 oz (230 grams)
- Length: 16 inch (408 mm)
- Paddle Width: 7 7/8 inches
- Thickness: 15mm
- Grip Size: 4 1/8 inches
- Handle Length: 5 inches
- Grip Type: Head Ergo grip
Head Radical Elite Pickleball Paddle: Personal Review
How I got the paddle?
I bought my Head Radical Elite pickleball paddle at a local sports store.
My kids wanted to go play pickleball on my off day, but we had only two paddles with us at the time.
So we stopped into a Dunham’s Sporting Goods down the road, and I picked up the Head Radical Elite over several other options.
My first-hand experience with the Head Radical Elite
Once we got to the court, one of the first things I noticed about the Radical Elite was the size of the sweet spot and the soft touch that the paddle offered.
My son was was hitting a lot of spin shots, but I was still able to strike the ball near the core of the paddle consistently because the sweet spot was so big.
There was so much room for error (and trust me, I need it).
About a half hour into playing, I already felt like I had a great feel for the Radical Elite.
It has almost perfect playability.
I could place the ball where I wanted to and knew it would respond consistently.
It’s also a fairly light weight paddle.
As mentioned above, I couldn’t get much spin off the paddle face. This wasn’t a shock.
But I was surprised that it didn’t offer a lot of pop.
I’m a hard hitter, at times, and the Radical Elite did not have the response I expected when I swung with force.
In one of my early games with the paddle, I played my brother-in-law who is a very good athlete. He can get to the net quickly.
I tried hitting drive shots with more velocity to keep him back in the court, but I couldn’t get enough juice to force him to stay.
Despite the fact the paddle has solid heft, I wish it had a little more power.
But I’m willing to give up a little power for control.
Paddle Highlights and Features
Larger Sweet Spot
The dynamic power shape of the Head Radical Elite pickleball paddle is the crown jewel of this paddle.
It’s larger sweet spot gives you a very forgiving paddle face–meaning it’s easier to make solid and consistent contact.
The sweet spot extends very close to the top of the paddle.
You’ll see your accuracy and control soar with the Radical Elite.
For a beginner player or early intermediate player, the massive sweet spot can make a huge difference.
Great Control and Softer Feel
The Head Radical Elite Pickleball Paddle not only offers a larger sweet spot, but also gives players great control on their shots.
You can trust this paddle will give you consistent placement wherever you want your shot to go in the court.
And it also has great touch around the net so you can dink at your own pace.
It has a softer feel than some other paddles due to its fiberglass face material and thicker OTC Honeycomb core.
Core of the Paddle: Show me the power?
The polypropylene honeycomb core is an amazing part of the Head Radical Elite pickleball paddle.
It’s predictable. It’s durable. It reduces vibration.
And the ball feels good coming off of it.
You can get great touch around the kitchen, and everywhere on the court for that matter, with the thicker core.
But despite the paddle having an extended power core – new to the paddle – and additional thickness, it actually lacked a little in power. We’d give it a 6 out of 10 in pop off the paddle.
That’s not bad.
But there are times in a game where I wanted to snap my fingers like Thanos and crush the soul of the other player with one swing of the paddle.
But the core of the paddle didn’t have the ultimate power I needed.
Ergonomic Grip
Most Head pickleball paddles come with the comfort grip system.
The Head Radical Elite comes with the Ergo grip – Head’s unique ergonomic foam handle.
The ergonomic handle on the Radical Elite felt amazing in my hand the first time I picked it up off the shelf.
And I can play for hours without having any wrist or hand discomfort.
If you are a tennis player jumping into the pickleball world, the Head pickleball paddle grip will make you feel like you are holding a tennis racket.
I love the Ergo grip for this very reason.
And if you are coming from a tennis background, like me, you will love the feel as well.
The Head grip is also longer than some others paddles–allowing it to fit well in larger hands as well as smaller ones.
If you have smaller hands, you may want to look for pickleball paddles with shorter handles.
Hitting Surface: Losing some spin
The hitting surface of the Radical Elite paddle is made from smooth fiberglass.
This allows for better control, but you lose the ability to create significant spin with the smooth surface.
Paddles with more texture on their surface would give you greater spin on your cut shots.
Does it have an elongated body?
The Radical Elite composite paddle is 16 inches in length so it does not have an elongated body.
That is a standard head size.
Most elongated paddles are 17″ or longer.
Color & Design
If you enjoy playing with a flashy paddle, the Head Radical Elite pickleball paddle has a great design and aesthetic.
It looks good–really good!
With a new radical color scheme (orange & black) as well as the Head logo curves, the paddle catches the eye on the pickleball court.
The new look and new cosmetics are striking.
Comparison with Other Head Paddles
When it comes to the best Head pickleball paddles, the Radical Series should be high on your list in the pickleball paddle market.
The Radical models include the Head Radical Tour (graphite surface), Head Radical Pro, and the Radical Elite.
You’ve already read about the Radical Elite’s top-quality control and large sweet spot.
But how does it stack up against other Head models?
The Gravity Series of paddles are lightweight, like the Radical Elite, but the Gravity paddles feature more grit on the paddle face, allowing you to spin the ball with more rotation.
If you are spin player, the Gravity pickleball paddles are a great option. Professional players such as Eric Lange and Steve Deakin use the Gravity paddle.
The Extreme Series–which includes paddles like the the Extreme Tour (used by Sarah Ansboury), Extreme Elite, and Extreme Pro–have a carbon fiber paddle face that provides great control.
And they come in varying weight ranges so you can purchase a heavier paddle for great power to hit to large areas of the court.
Price Comparisons
The retail price for the Gravity paddles are well over $100.
And most Extreme paddles are between $80 and $100, though the Extreme Elite is less.
The Radical Elite is less expensive than most, often priced between $60 and $70.
For a reasonable price, the Head Radical Elite sets itself apart among new pickleball paddles.
Head Radical Elite Pickleball Paddle Review: Best Head Pickleball Paddle for Beginners
The Head Radical Elite is a top-notch pickleball paddle under $100.
With its superior control and touch, the Radical Elite is perfect for control players who use finesse and precision.
It is also a great choice for beginning and early intermediate players who are still getting the feel of a pickleball paddle.
The huge sweet spot covers over a multitude of ball-striking mistakes during early levels of play.
For advanced players who are not control players, or a more competitive player, you should look for a paddle with extra power and grit on the paddle face for spin.
If you are beginner, you won’t be putting a lot of spin on the ball, and control should be a higher priority at your early skill level.
In that case, the Head Radical Elite pickleball paddle is an optimal choice for a wide range of players who are starting out.
Would you recommend this paddle?
Is the Radical Elite the right pickleball paddle for you?
We would definitely recommend the Head Radical Elite pickleball paddle for beginner and intermediate players looking for a large sweet spot for a good price.
Even though its smooth surface struggles to produce spin, it is a high-quality, durable paddle that offers control and consistency.
Overall, the Head Radical Elite is one of the best pickleball paddles in the lower price range, offering great playability.
For value, you can’t do much better than the Elite paddle, which has one of the lowest prices (unless, of course, you can find a good paddle for free).
It is a high quality choice.
In fact, it is such a good quality paddle that I still use it regularly at the court.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. And for every product recommended, we have researched and/or used the product. Our ultimate goal is to help you get better.