If you are a dedicated pickleball player, getting your own pickleball paddle is a good idea. Pickleball paddles come in all shapes and sizes and can be made from various materials.
This means that some pickleball paddles are better suited for certain play styles – so having the right pickleball paddle can improve your game.
However, you can’t just go around trying out different pickleball paddles(see also: 5 Best Pickleball Paddles At Walmart). This can make finding the right paddle for you a tricky task – which is where we come in.
Here’s a full review of the HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle so you can find out how it performs during play. This way, you can quickly work out whether or not the HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle (see also: HEAD Gravity Pickleball Paddle Review)is suitable for you. So, check out the review below!
This paddle is made by HEAD, which is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of premium sports equipment. They make sports equipment and clothing for a lot of different sports like snowboarding, dividing, and (of course) pickleball.
They cater to both popular sports and less well-known sports that require a lot of gear. So, they are one of the go-to brands for pickleball paddles.
HEAD originally started out manufacturing skis before moving into other racquet sports like tennis. Over the years, they have caught onto the pickleball trend.
HEAD took the amazing work they had already done with tennis racquets and started to transition any relevant development over into their new pickleball range. This means that today, HEAD is one of the top premium pickleball paddle manufacturers.
The high quality of their products has meant that a lot of star pickleball players like Joy Leising and Steve Deakin use their paddles during tournaments and matches.
If HEAD’s pickleball paddles are good enough for these pro players, then surely they are good enough for casual players too!
One of the ranges of HEAD pickleball paddles is their Radical line. These pickleball paddles are USAPA listed, approved for use in pickleball tournaments, and designed to include the latest modern technology when it comes to pickleball paddles.
So, if you want an up-to-date pickleball paddle (see also: Gamma 505 Pickleball Paddle Review)with all the latest design quirks and qualities, you will naturally be recommended the HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle.
HEAD Radical Elite Pickleball Paddle Specifications
Weight
8.1oz
Dimensions
15.5 x 8.25 x 1.75 inches
Paddle Thickness
15mm
Facing Material
Fiberglass
Core Material
OTC Polypropylene Honeycomb
Grip
Ergo Grip
Handle Length
5 inches
Handle Circumference
4 ¼ inches
HEAD Radical Elite Pickleball Paddle Performance
Like with all our pickleball paddle reviews, we put the HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle to the test to see how it performed during real pickleball play.
Below is our honest review of its performance in a range of different play styles! So, check it out to find how well the HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle performs in your preferred style of play.
Attack
One of the first things we noticed about the HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle was how heavy it was. This paddle weighs around 8.1 ounces, making it heavier than other pickleball paddles (see also: Is It Better To Use Lighter Or Heavier Pickleball Paddles?)that usually weigh around the 7.5-ounce mark.
This weight is important because heavier pickleball paddles usually perform the same way – with a lot of powerful hits with little effort.
Not only that but this pickleball paddle is made from fiberglass facing – which is known for being a pretty powerful material for your pickleball paddle.
Sure enough, when we put the paddle to the test, the HEAD Radical Elite proved itself to be a very powerful pickleball paddle. Swinging this paddle was easy and shots hit harder and faster without half the effort.
So, if you are an attacker who loves to play with quick, strong volleys, this paddle can indefinitely help you with that.
Defense
A common problem with heavier pickleball paddles is that they tend to struggle when it comes to playing defensively.
This is because the weight of the paddle slows down its maneuverability, restricting your movements just ever so slightly, and this can be a struggle to overcome if you are a beginner.
But, strangely enough, we didn’t really find this issue with the HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle.
This is probably due to the smooth face of the HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle.
A lot of pickleball paddles come with a textured surface to help try different spins to help throw off your opponent – but while HEAD does sometimes use this Extreme Spin Technology in their paddles, it’s not present in the HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle.
This is partially a blessing and a downside. If you like the versatility of play that a textured surface can give you, then you will miss it in this paddle. However, the loss of that texture means that the ball has longer contact with the paddle which, in turn, gives you better control over your aim.
This improved control and aim is a huge bonus for defensive players who prefer to play a clean game and let their opponents make mistakes – and lose the points!
Soft Play
Being able to control the speed of the game is a great skill to have in pickleball, and having the right pickleball paddle can have a huge influence on how well you are able to do this.
The HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle performed really well at soft play during our test. Thanks to the use of composite materials and the smooth texture of the paddle facing, we had great control over the speed of the ball.
The forgiving fiberglass facing means that this paddle has a much larger sweet spot compared to other paddles, which in turn helps players have much better control over the speed of the ball as well as where the ball lands.
Grip
Now, let’s check out the grip. The HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle uses the same ergonomic foam handle as its other models.
It’s comfortable to handle and hold, plus it’s a great material for absorbing vibrations for an even more comfortable experience.
Combined with the thicker polypropylene honeycomb core of this paddle, we found it to be one of the most stable we’ve ever put to the test.
Stability is a big bonus for a pickleball paddle as players (especially beginners) can be put off by the vibration feeling in their hands. The handle and core mean that vibrations are kept to a minimum with this paddle so you can keep better focus while you play.
Where To Buy The HEAD Radical Elite Pickleball Paddle
The first is the price. HEAD produces high-quality sports equipment – but for a premium price. This means that the HEAD Radical Elite Pickleball paddle is usually sold at a very high cost, typically around the $60 mark.
For a lot of beginners, this immediately puts them off buying this pickleball paddle as it’s pretty costly and there are other affordable options out there.
However, if you are savvy, you may be able to get the HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle for a discounted price. Third-party retailers like Amazon are known for their amazing deals and sales.
This means that if you get your timing right, you can shave off a large chunk of that price tag so you can buy your own HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle at a more agreeable price.
Secondly, because this paddle is so popular, it often falls in and out of stock. This means you may want to move fast to try and get one but that limits your ability to make use of some great deals you can get through third-party retailers.
If you still have your heart set on the HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle, then you can purchase it directly from HEAD themselves through their website, or go through a third-party retailer like Amazon. Your local sports equipment store may also have some in stock but always ring ahead to check!
Final Thoughts
So, the HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle is a popular pickleball paddle for a very good reason.
It’s a great all-rounder as it performs so well when playing attack, defensively, and even at soft play. It can be tricky to find a pickleball paddle that is so versatile and can be used with all styles of play – which is probably why so many beginners (see also: Best Pickleball Paddles For Beginners)and novices alike love using this paddle.
However, the HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle does have its downsides. This includes the lack of a textured facing which makes spinning more difficult and the fact that it does come for a hefty price. Despite this, its durability and versatility make it a popular choice with pickleball players at all levels.
We hope this review has helped you discover if the HEAD Radical Elite pickleball paddle is right for you!
Hi, I’m Michael Walter, and I am a Pickleball enthusiast. I work as a High School Physical Education Teacher, so I have an expansive knowledge of sports and its impact on physical health.
When I first took a position at my current school, one of the many things I wanted to implement in the curriculum was Pickleball.
Pickleball is a fantastic sport to keep yourself active, healthy, keep your blood pumping, and to start a good sense of competitiveness and team work.
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