HEAD is one of the most loved pickleball brands on the market today, used by pro pickleball players like Steve Deakin, David Seckel, and Will Willson. And we've compiled the top HEAD pickleball paddles for you here. For a more in-depth review of the different HEAD models, see our breakdowns below.
The HEAD Extreme Series
You can easily spot the HEAD Extreme series paddles thanks to their unique diamond shape. This shape design makes them a tad more aerodynamic, and they’ll have a smaller sweet spot and softer edges than other paddles.
HEAD Extreme Elite Pickleball Paddle
The HEAD Extreme Elite is built to be an entry-level paddle for new pickleball players.
It has a fiberglass face which helps generate more power with less effort. And it's got a moderate weight, making it easier to swing. This is ideal for new players who are just building up their muscles.
The Extreme Elite's face texture is on the smoother side, so it's not the most ideal paddle for spin shots. This is fine because newer players typically won't focus on spinning the ball anyway.
Playing experience with the HEAD Extreme Elite
Thanks to the lighter weight, the Extreme Elite doesn't have as much plow-through power as some of the heavier models But for a new player, it's great around the net because of the speedy maneuverability. And since you won't just plow through every shot, you'll have better control over your dinks.
Who is the HEAD Extreme Elite for?
The Extreme Elite is ideal for entry-level players who want a little more control (compared to the Radical models), but still enough power to get the ball over the net.
HEAD Extreme Pro Pickleball Paddle
The HEAD Extreme Pro is a slight step up from the Elite, the main difference being its textured surface.
Once you've got a little experience on the court, and you're ready to start mastering your spin shots, this is exactly what the Extreme Pro is designed for.
Who is the HEAD Extreme Pro for?
The Extreme Pro is meant for beginner-to-intermediates who are looking for a little more control and spin on their shots.
HEAD Extreme Tour Lite Pickleball Paddle
The HEAD Extreme Tour Lite is the lightest paddle in the Extreme lineup.
Unlike the Elite and Pro paddles, the Tour Lite has a graphite hitting surface which gives you even better control. This also means you'll have to generate more of your own power.
Who is the HEAD Extreme Tour Lite for?
The Extreme Tour Lite is designed for more experienced players looking for better control.
HEAD Extreme Tour Max Pickleball Paddle
The HEAD Extreme Tour Max is essentially a more powerful version of the Extreme Tour. This is partly because the Tour Max is the heaviest of the Extreme models. This gives the paddle a solid plow-through feel.
And the Tour Max has a blended fiberglass-and-graphite facing material, which gives you a nice combo of control and power.
Generally, a heavier paddle is going to sacrifice speed. However, even though the Tour Max is a heavy paddle, thanks to the Extreme models' aerodynamic diamond shape, you don't really lose any maneuverability.
Who is the HEAD Extreme Tour Max for?
The Extreme Tour Max is for more experienced players who still want that extra power from their paddle.
The HEAD Radical Series
The HEAD Radical Series all have a more standard shape, and they're generally more geared toward power.
The HEAD Radical Elite Pickleball Paddle
The HEAD Radical Elite is an intermediate paddle with an elongated face and moderate-to-heavy weight. The Radical Elite has a graphite and carbon fiber face which gives you a little more touch and a little less power. This paddle has an elongated face so you'll have better reach, and more leverage, giving you a little more power.
Who is the HEAD Radical Elite for?
The HEAD Radical Elite is ideal for intermediate players, especially for playing doubles.
HEAD Radical Pro Pickleball Paddle
The HEAD Radical Pro is a step up in power from the Radical Elite. It's got fiberglass facing, which gives a little extra pop on your shots, though it has less touch. This means you can hit harder but have a little less control over how and where you hit the ball.
Who is the HEAD Radical Pro for?
The HEAD Radical Pro is great for intermediate players who want a tad more power behind their shots. If you play more singles pickleball, and therefore have to cover more ground, you’ll appreciate the extra boost the Radical Pro gives you.
HEAD Radical XL Pickleball Paddle
The HEAD Radical XL is an elongated paddle (17 inches), and is the lightest of the Radical series. It's got a graphite face, which is going to lend a bit more to touch and provide a little less power.
Who is the HEAD Radical XL for?
The Radical XL is ideal for players who need extra reach.
This gives you a nice extra edge for singles play. It's also great for players who need a little more snap on their shots. This is because you’re hitting the ball further from your body and therefore with more leverage
One possible downside is that you won't have as much maneuverability. The XL can tend to feel heavier in your hand, even if the weight is the same as a shorter paddle because the end of it is further away from you. Just something to note.
Gravity series
The HEAD Gravity series paddles have a wider design than the Radical & Extreme series paddles.
They’re also a little thicker, which will give you a little more absorption, and therefore control. This is good for your soft game -- dinks, etc. They've got shorter handles, which allows you to get closer to groundstrokes without tagging the floor. But if you’re at the net volleying, switching form forehand to backhand back-n-forth can be a tad challenging.
HEAD Gravity Pickleball Paddle
The HEAD Gravity is a wide, thick, heavy (8.1oz) paddle. This paddle gives you great control over your shots, making it an amazing paddle for your soft game. And it's got a very grippy texture, which lets you easily put a ton of spin on the ball. And while you usually think of control paddles as having less power, the HEAD Gravity actually has great power, but for a different reason.
Because of how dense the paddle is, the power comes from the momentum of plowing through the ball. This is something you wouldn't get with a lighter, thinner paddle.
What's it like playing with the HEAD Gravity?
One of the first things you'll notice playing with the Gravity is how stable it feels in your hand. It also feels balanced, not head heavy like some other paddles.
Another thing you’ll notice playing with the Gravity is that even when the ball hits the outer edges, thanks to the paddle's density, you’ll still have enough power to send the ball back across the net.
Who is the HEAD Gravity for?
The Gravity is ideal for more experienced players who are mainly focused on control, especially on offense.
HEAD Gravity Lite Pickleball Paddle
The HEAD Gravity Lite is the lightest of the Gravity series at 7.6 ounces. The Gravity Lite is more of a defensive-style paddle. It gives you good control, plus the lighter weight gives you good maneuverability when defending shots around the net.
Playing experience with the HEAD Gravity Lite
The Gravity Lite feels a little less stable in your hand, compared to the regular Gravity, which is to be expected.
Who is the HEAD Gravity Lite for?
The Gravity Lite is a little better as a defensive paddle than the Gravity, which is geared a little more towards offense.
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