HEAD paddles are considered to be some of the best pickleball paddles in the market. In fact, they have 18 pickleball paddles in their lineup, including 6 HEAD Gravity paddles, 8 HEAD Extreme paddles, and 4 Radical paddles.
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Best HEAD Pickleball Paddles
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
HEAD Radical ProIntermediate Players
| Amazon |
HEAD Extreme EliteBest All-Around
| Amazon |
HEAD Radical TourAdvanced Players
| Amazon |
HEAD Radical Tour Pickleball Paddle
SPECS
- Surface: Graphite / Carbon
- Core: 3.5″
- Weight: 7.9 oz
- Length: 16″
- Width: 7 7/8″
- Grip: 4 1/8″, 3 7/8″
Pros
- The graphite surface is very responsive
- Good spin characteristics
- The core absorbs vibration well
- The light weight makes the paddle easy to swing
Cons
- The focus on power comes at the expense of less control
- Not ideal for beginners
Paddle At A Glance
HEAD’s Radical Tour Graphite Pickleball Paddle is one of the best paddles for higher-level play thanks to its aerodynamic design and clever features.
Your swings will feel more fluid due to the tapered shape and the added spin texture on the graphite surface will give you a better feel and control.
The comfort grip features a vibration-dampening material for increased stability when playing.
A cushioned feel is provided by the smaller grip size without being overly heavy.
Behind the HEAD logo is a pixelated background that adds additional character.
Paddle Surface & Core
The Radical Tour Graphite Pickleball Paddle is a long, sturdy paddle that provides you with incredible speed and control.
The additional surface texture makes it simple to add spin, allowing for precise placement with each strike.
Hitting
You’ll be impressed by how quickly the ball reacts when leaving the graphite face. With the large, 16″ paddle face, it’s ideal for covering a large area of the court, allowing you to reach balls that are farther away.
Fit & Look
The Radical Tour Graphite Paddle weighs 7.9 oz. on average and has a handle length of 5 inches, which is a little bit longer than many paddles. You now have more room to reposition your grip as well as use double-handed backhands.
HEAD Extreme Tour Pickleball Paddle
Specs:
- Surface: Graphite / Carbon
- Core: 3.5″ (polymer core)
- Weight: 7.6 oz
- Length: 16″
- Width: 7 7/8″
- Grip: 4 1/8″
Pros
- The graphite surface is very responsive
- Good spin characteristics
- The core absorbs vibration well
- The light weight makes the paddle easy to swing
Cons
- The focus on power comes at the expense of less control
- Not ideal for beginners
Paddle At A Glance
For a paddle in this price range, the HEAD Extreme Tour is a fantastic piece of equipment, crafted with premium materials and cutting-edge technology, making it a superb option for competitive players.
Paddle Surface & Core
The honeycomb polycore material offers a respectable level of power and control, while the graphite face is incredibly resilient.
It induces plenty of spin for players who are looking for that little bit of extra finesse around the kitchen.
If you play in a warmer environment, the comfort grasp system makes sure that you have a secure grip on the paddle, perfect for sweaty hands to maintain control.
Hitting
While the HEAD Extreme Tour is classified as a middleweight paddle, Head’s Extreme Tour produces such excellent grips that frequently their “heavier” paddles still feel wonderful in the hand.
Additionally, this is a fantastic choice if you’re a stronger player who likes to keep the rallies going. With its control stabilizer technology (CST) and carbon fiber (graphite) striking surface, this paddle offers great stability and a crisp feel that will help you keep your shots on target.
Fit & Look
With a standard shape and a total length of 16″, you get increased accuracy and a large sweet spot with the HEAD Extreme Tour.
The grip size of 4 1/4″ and handle length of 5″ provides plenty of room for those with larger hands to adjust their grip comfortably and use two hands on backhand strokes.
HEAD Extreme Elite Pickleball Paddle
Specs:
- Surface: composite
- Core: 7/16″ (polymer core)
- Weight: 7.8 oz
- Length: 16″
- Width: 7 7/8″
- Grip: 4 1/8″
Pros
- The fiberglass hitting surface is responsive
- Good control
- Extremely comfortable, soft grip
- Provides good reach close to the ground
Cons
- The face lacks texture which can affect its spin qualities
- The face is a little small
Paddle At A Glance
Recreational players and newcomers should consider the Head Extreme Elite as it is a more affordable option for players of all skill levels.
Paddle Surface & Core
The Head Extreme Elite fiberglass paddle face with an optimized tubular core provides a great mix of power and control. This is great for players who enjoy baseline rallies as well as those who like to play around the kitchen.
The surface is optimized for feel rather than spin, providing a great compromise between power and control.
Hitting
While the Head Extreme Elite Pickleball Paddle’s dimensions are comparable to those of the HEAD Xtreme Pro, it has a distinctively different design.
The paddle’s striking, unique diamond shape, helps avoid contact with the ground, making it easier to reach balls closer to the feet.
Players enjoy the reach this paddle provides, making it a great choice for singles games.
Fit & Look
The ergo grip is extremely comfortable and helps cushion the hand from vibration, more so than the Extreme Pro.
HEAD Extreme Pro Pickleball Paddle
Specs:
- Surface: graphite/carbon
- Core: 7/16″ (polymer core)
- Weight: 7.8 oz
- Length: 16″
- Width: 7 7/8″
- Grip: 4 1/8″
Pros
- Very easy to move around the court
- Lightweight
- Excellent grip
- Great price
Cons
- Not ideal for beginners
- Can take a while to get used to
Paddle At A Glance
The HEAD Extreme Pro is great if you’re looking for the ideal mix of control and power.
It’s a mid-weight paddle with a unique diamond-shaped design that helps the user control the paddle, especially when attacking balls close to the ground.
Paddle Surface & Core
For the best dinking performance, the comfort grip system dampens vibrations, and the extreme spin surface improves ball bite, for more precision.
Hitting
Using the HEAD Extreme Pro allows you to regulate the amount of force you apply to your swing.
It will take some time to become familiar with the paddle, but once you do, you’ll be able to move with it in such a way that you can predict where the ball will land even before you strike it.
Fit & Look
In order to create a spin-centric paddle, the HEAD Extreme Pro combines a textured face with a polymer core. The grip is 5″ long which is great for those players wanting a medium grip.
HEAD Radical Pro Pickleball Paddle
Specs:
- Surface: graphite/carbon
- Core: 7/16″ (polymer core)
- Weight: 7.8 oz
- Length: 16″
- Width: 7 7/8″
- Grip: 4 1/8″
- Handle Length: 5″
Pros
- Excellent dynamic power
- Good reach
- Sturdy design
- Robust bumper guard
Cons
- Beginner paddle, not suitable for more experienced players
- Could do with more spin
Paddle At A Glance
For many beginners and those making the switch from tennis, the HEAD Radical Pro is a terrific place to start.
Paddle Surface & Core
The paddle is well-balanced, and not at all top-heavy. It has outstanding power and control thanks to the composite face material.
The paddle’s core is made of polypropylene, which makes it extremely lightweight and provides good cushioning.
Hitting
The HEAD Radical Pro has an outstanding sweet spot, with little to no dead areas. The grip is well-designed, making the paddle easy to handle.
Fit & Look
The paddle has a standard shape and is 16 inches in length. This gives excellent reach and with the 7 7/8 inches width, is perfect for newcomers to the game.
The grip is the standard 4 1/4 inches with a handle length of 5 inches.
Overall, for beginner to intermediate pickleball players looking for a paddle that they won’t outgrow too quickly but also won’t break the bank, the HEAD Radical Pro is a great option.
HEAD Radical Elite Pickleball Paddle
Specs
- Surface: Fiberglass
- Core: 3/5″ (polymer core)
- Weight: 8.1 oz
- Length: 16″
- Width: 7 7/8″
- Grip: 4 1/8″, 3 7/8″
- Handle Length: 5″
Pros
- Resistant to wear and tear
- Excellent feel
- Reduced vibration
- Lightweight and easy to maneuver
Cons
- Price
- Could do with a little more spin
Paddle At A Glance
The HEAD Radical Elite boasts a thicker polymer honeycomb core and a smooth fiberglass surface for exceptional power and playability, making it ideal for a variety of players.
Paddle Surface & Core
The composite hitting surface and polymer core provide a reliable balance of power, comfort, and control.
The polypropylene honeycomb core’s optimized tubular construction improves the ball’s feel and sound on contact.
The HEAD Radical Elite paddle is ideal for players who attack the non-volley line, mix up power shots from the baseline, with controlled, finessed shots close to the net.
Hitting
For players who prefer to play with more finesse than power, this is the ideal paddle.
The extreme spin texture on the hitting surface makes it simple to add spin to dinks and smashes.
Fit & Look
The HEAD Radical Elite is ideal for a wide variety of players and has the dynamic power shape for a larger sweet spot and a thicker OTC honeycomb core for excellent playability.
The standard-sized grip is well-balanced and allows for great control.
HEAD Gravity Pickleball Paddle
Specs:
- Surface: Hybrid (carbon fiber, graphite)
- Core: 3/5″ (polymer core)
- Weight: 8.1 oz
- Length: 15 3/4″
- Width: 8 1/10″
- Grip: 4 1/8″
- Handle Length: 5″
Pros
- Lightweight
- Powerful
- Great sweet spot
- Excellent control paddle
Cons
- Short handle
- Not suitable for beginners
Paddle At A Glance
When it comes to the HEAD Gravity paddle, power is everything. The paddle also offers one of the widest sweet spots available, making accurate play a breeze for the more experienced player.
Paddle Surface & Core
The surface combines composite and graphite materials for balanced control and power, with a triaxial design that gives every shot a bit more spin.
The HEAD Gravity paddle is suitable for intermediate players, as it takes some getting used to before you can benefit from its mix of power and control.
Hitting
Soft touches, dinks, and deep shots are all possible, but this paddle is designed for power.
While it does provide decent spin characteristics, this is not its forte.
Fit & Look
The medium-sized grip with a 4-1/2” handle length offers a unique handle stabilizer that improves its strength and stability.
The grip comes with an EVA material which is inlaid, providing a soft and comfortable feel.
Does HEAD make good pickleball paddles?
Yes, HEAD makes good pickleball paddles and has 18 paddles in their line-up. HEAD is well known for the quality of their pickleball paddles and for providing a range of paddles that will suit beginners, intermediate and advanced players.
What are HEAD pickleball paddles made of?
HEAD manufactures pickleball paddles that have a polymer core. Some of the paddles they make have a fiberglass surface and others have a carbon graphite surface.