Head Radical Elite
$79.95
About the Head Radical Elite
Balanced beginner option from HEAD.
Listed play style: balanced.
Where to buy: Amazon.
Where to buy
| Retailer | Price | Availability | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $79.95 | Check Amazon | Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Prices may vary — confirm the current price on the retailer’s site. We may earn a commission on some of these links at no extra cost to you; Amazon links do not pay us a commission.
Pickle's Take
13mm core, fiberglass face. Pop on demand without giving up the soft game. Best for bangers and tennis converts who want easy putaways.
- PickleSwaps editorial team
Pickle's 5-axis score
Based on published specs, ranked against all 320 paddles we cover. 0–10 per axis.
- Power
- 4.8 / 10
- Hand speed
- 4.1 / 10
- Forgiveness
- 9.0 / 10
- Touch
- 1.7 / 10
- Spin
- 1.4 / 10
Below the catalog median on power
Below the catalog median on hand speed
Above the catalog median on forgiveness
Bottom 13% of catalog on touch
Bottom 9% of catalog on spin
The Head Radical Elite in our database
Where it sits
| Spec | Radical Elite | Position | Compared with (our database) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 8.1 oz | heavier than 92% | 13 other 13 mm widebody paddles |
| Length | 16 in | longer than 69% (31% same) | 13 other 13 mm widebody paddles |
| Handle length | 5.25 in | longer than 62% (23% same) | 13 other 13 mm widebody paddles |
| Weight within Head | 8.1 oz | 3rd heaviest (tied) | 8 paddles from Head |
Approval record
- USA Pickleball:
- On the approved list, listed as “Head Radical Elite”. Date added on the list: Sep 17, 2021.
- UPA-A:
- No matching entry found on the approved list.
Checked: USA Pickleball Nov 3, 2026; UPA-A Oct 3, 2026. Current status only.
Closest by measured specs
Selkirk SLK Evo Power: 0.1 oz lighter, same core, same shape, similar listed price
Nettie The Classic: 0.2 oz lighter, same core, same shape, 0.25 in shorter, $10 more
Onix Evoke Premier: 0.1 oz lighter, same core, same shape, $70 more
Volair Shift WB 14mm: 0.05 oz lighter, 14 mm core (1 mm thicker), same shape, $25 more
Should you buy the Head Radical Elite?
Best for
True beginners and casual rec players; forgiving fiberglass widebody at $79.95, a start-here paddle for learning the game.
Read Pickle's full breakdown
Who should buy the Radical Elite
Buy it if you're a brand-new or casual player who wants a legitimately fine starter from a name you recognize, widely available and easy to buy. The fiberglass face plays lively and a touch poppy, the widebody is cushioned and forgiving with a big sweet spot, and at $79.95 it does the one job a first paddle needs - keep you playing while you learn. Good for tennis converts who hit drives.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you're past the beginner stage. The smooth fiberglass face grips far less than the raw carbon even $20 more buys, so spin players and improving 3.5+ players will quickly want carbon. This is a start-here paddle, not a keep-it paddle - don't over-think buying it, but don't over-stay in it.
The main tradeoff
The fiberglass face that keeps the price low and the pop lively is the same thing that limits your spin. It's a fine place to start and an easy paddle to outgrow once you want carbon's bite and a sharper spin game.
Is it worth it?
At $79.95 it's an honest, low-risk entry - a recognizable brand, wide availability, and enough paddle to learn on. Fair for what it is. Just know that about $20 more buys a raw-carbon paddle like the Ronbus R1.16 that you won't outgrow nearly as fast.
Closest alternatives
Description written June 28, 2026
