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I have been playing recently with my Head extreme radical elite pickleball paddle recently, so I thought it was the right time to write an in depth review of the paddle.
Firstly, this paddle is currently not on the best Black Friday pickleball paddle deals for 2024.
Secondly, I am pickleball paddle fanatic, so I have bought so many pickleball paddles I’ve lost count. That said, my favorite beginner and intermediate paddle under $50 is currently a PBVMURTG Pickleball Paddle!
So, while I am not perfect in my reviews, I believe that I can spot a good pickleball paddle when I see one.
And, the Head Radical Elite didn’t match my expectations, and I’ll explain why later. At the end of this article, I will also provide some alternatives, and full reviews.
Specifications
Here’s the specifications of this pickleball paddle:
Materials: Honeycomb
- Thickness: 11mm
- Weight: 7.8 Ounces
- Length: 16 1/6 inches
- Width: 7 7/8 inches
The manufacturer brags about the diamond head shape for tighter sweet spot and increased control, an economic grip for shape and comfort, honeycomb carbon fiver, and synthetic hydrosorb grip material, which I have no idea what that means.
Honestly, this paddle had the same feeling to me as my Onix Z5 graphite pickleball paddle, which I will cover in a review later.
Unboxing Experience
I like to geek out about the unboxing experience of paddles. For example, I appreciated Niupipo paddle’s box and carrying case with information on the box about the paddle.
This was not the same for the Head Radical Extreme Elite paddle.
I take all my unboxing photos, but what’s puzzling is that I did not take any pictures of my paddle experience here, which means I believe that this paddle just came in a plastic bag after purchasing from Amazon.
What I Liked
I liked the pop when I used this paddle, and I had a few nice shots on the line when playing with this paddle this week.
As the Head Elite paddle is 7.8 ounces, and is considered a midweight paddle, I did like the combination of power and control. That said, I didn’t feel it was enough.
What I Didn’t Like
I thought this was really underwhelming in terms of control. With a plastic frame, the paddle just didn’t feel like it had the grip of other paddles.
I thought that the weight of the paddle did not provide as much power as I would have liked, and I didn’t really have a chance to check the spin of the paddle.
Alternatives
My favorite alternatives to the JoJo Lemon paddle are the following paddles. Thankfully, each of these have a discount code that can help reduce your total purchase price.
1. PBVMURTG Pickleball Paddle
I recently discovered the PBVMURTG pickleball paddle, which is a carbon fiber paddle priced at just under $50 on Amazon. It has a crazy brand name, but let’s talk about it.
It caught my attention because it looks similar to the JoJoLemon paddle I reviewed before, but that one costs about $100. Despite the odd name, I think this paddle offers incredible value, making it the best option under $50.
What really surprised me was the unboxing. For such a low price, the paddle came in a proper box along with a cover, carbon fiber cleaner, and grip tape—extras you don’t usually see at this price. On the court, the paddle performed well, offering good control, spin, and power.
Though the sweet spot is smaller, and it felt a bit stiff compared to higher-end paddles, it still held up nicely. For under $35, the PBVMURTG is a fantastic deal.
Also, please note that the link below helps support this website and allows me to write unbiased reviews as I get approximately $1.31 if you purchase this paddle through the link.That said, please do not feel like you have to use it!
2. Core Reaction Pro Pickleball Paddle
I absolutely love the Core Reaction Pro Pickleball paddle. Check out my full review. This paddle provided such a good combination of control and spin that it really elevated my game. It also didn’t diminish on the power, which I definitely appreciate.
Core Reaction also provides a 20% discount code (bepickleballer), which can really reduce your purchase price, which equates to over a $37 discount off of the total price!
3. Volair Mach 2 Forza
The Volair Mach 2 Forza is my favorite overall paddle right now. It’s a bit on the pricier side, but I could not believe how well this paddle performed. Check out my full review.
When I received the Volair Mach 2 Forza paddle, it felt like Christmas with its beautiful packaging and thoughtful extras. The unboxing was impressive, but the real highlight was the playability. I went 4-0 with this paddle, thanks to its perfect balance of control, spin, and power.
Whether it’s drop shots or spin serves, the paddle delivered on all fronts. I love how it combines everything I need in a paddle, and with the $17.99 discount (code: bepickleballer), it’s an even better deal for intermediate players like me.
3. Vatic Pro Prism Flash 16mm
I have tested many beginner and intermediate paddles. From my testing, I believe the best beginner paddle is the Vatic Pro Prism Flash. The paddle has a carbon fiber face that provides both control and power. I own two of these paddles (the 14mm for power, and the 16mm for control), and both are solid paddles.
The paddle retails for $99.99, but with the code: bepickleballer, you can get the paddle for $89.99. The paddle also comes with a nice cover, so for $20 more than the Head Radical Elite, I love this paddle
Where To Buy the Head Radical Elite?
I found that you can buy the head radical elite pickleball paddle either on Amazon on JustPaddles.
I have been really loving JustPaddles though recently with the ability to stack a JustPaddles promo code on used/blemished paddles. Who doesn’t love discount stacking?
Voila.
Conclusion
I am looking forward to playing with this paddle some more to give it another shot, but I would put this in the realm of a beginner paddle as it just doesn’t have the features like my six zero pickleball or Ben John’s Joola pickleball paddle.