11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 vs Ronbus R4 Pulsar
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Ronbus R4 Pulsar takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 92Power88
- 78Control82
- 90Spin88
- 82Forgiveness82
- 82Sweet spot84
- 84Stability86
- 74Maneuverability78
- 90Pop86
- 72Touch78
- 80Consistency84
- 76Swing weight76
- 80Twist weight80
- 60Launch angle56
- 88Plow through86
- 60Softness68
11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 vs Ronbus R4 Pulsar specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 | Ronbus R4 Pulsar |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $200 | $160 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 82.3 | 83.5 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.1 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 14 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 116 | 113 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.6 — better | 6.5 |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw carbon fiber | Raw T700 carbon |
| Core material | Thermoformed polypropylene with foam | Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls |
11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 verdict
A pure drive paddle. Power 92, pop 90 and plow-through 88 put it in the top tier for pace, and spin 90 means those drives still dip inside the baseline.
Ronbus R4 Pulsar verdict
Ronbus swings for pace with a 14 mm foam-walled build. Power 88 and pop 86 at $160 is the best price-to-punch ratio we have measured this year.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: Ronbus R4 Pulsar scores 68 against 60 for 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 — a 8-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, sweet spot, stability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Ronbus R4 Pulsar is $40 cheaper at $160.
Softness
Ronbus R4 Pulsar leads by 8 points (68 vs 60).
Touch
Ronbus R4 Pulsar leads by 6 points (78 vs 72).
Power
11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 leads by 4 points (92 vs 88).
Control
Ronbus R4 Pulsar leads by 4 points (82 vs 78).
Which one is right for your level?
Each call below re-weights the Paddle DNA traits that matter at that level, so the winner can differ from the overall pick.
Beginner
New to 3.0 — still building a consistent contact point
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81.4 vs 83.1 on the weighted index). Take Ronbus R4 Pulsar and keep the $40.
- Consistency
- Sweet spot
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81.1 vs 82.8 on the weighted index). Take Ronbus R4 Pulsar and keep the $40.
- Touch
- Control
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.6 vs 84 on the weighted index). Take Ronbus R4 Pulsar and keep the $40.
- Touch
- Maneuverability
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Ronbus R4 Pulsar
Ronbus R4 Pulsar is a narrow pick at this level — softness 68 vs 60. Its 14 mm Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls core at 8.1 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
11SIX24 Vantage Power 16
Take 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 if you want power (+4), pop (+4), launch angle (+4). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 review →Ronbus R4 Pulsar
Take Ronbus R4 Pulsar if you want softness (+8), touch (+6), control (+4). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Ronbus R4 Pulsar review →11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 vs Ronbus R4 Pulsar FAQ
- Which is better, the 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 or the Ronbus R4 Pulsar?
- Ronbus R4 Pulsar carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (83.5 vs 82.3), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Ronbus R4 Pulsar leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Ronbus R4 Pulsar, at 113 kg·cm² swing weight against 116 for 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 or the Ronbus R4 Pulsar?
- 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 measures 92 on power against 88 for Ronbus R4 Pulsar. That comes from a 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene with foam core swinging at 116 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Ronbus R4 Pulsar at 82 versus 78. Its 14 mm core holds the ball on the face slightly longer, which is what makes resets and dinks land shorter.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 scores 90 for spin off its Raw carbon fiber face, against 88 for the Raw T700 carbon face on Ronbus R4 Pulsar. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16, with 6.6 twist weight against 6.5. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (82) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Ronbus R4 Pulsar costs $160, $40 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on whether you actually use the traits it trades away — check the head-to-head DNA bars above before paying up.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene with foam core with a Raw carbon fiber face. Ronbus R4 Pulsar: 14 mm Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls core with a Raw T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 82 and sweet spot 82 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Ronbus R4 Pulsar at 8.1 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (113 vs 116) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 to the Ronbus R4 Pulsar?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Ronbus R4 Pulsar leads on softness by 8 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $200 vs $160, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Vantage Power 16 vs Black Diamond Power 16
- Vantage Power 16 vs Pro XS 16
- Vantage Power 16 vs AMPED Pro Air Invikta
- R4 Pulsar vs Black Diamond Power 16
- R4 Pulsar vs Series One Project Black
- R4 Pulsar vs Extreme Tour 16
- R4 Pulsar vs Evoke Premier Pro
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 and Ronbus R4 Pulsar. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.