Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Babolat BALLR+ 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Babolat BALLR+ 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (80.9 vs 80.6), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
75 vs 75
Spin
Too close to call
90 vs 90
Control
Too close to call
94 vs 92
Forgiveness
Too close to call
77 vs 76
Hand speed
Too close to call
103 vs 105 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Too close to call
$110 at IQ 80.6 vs $120 at IQ 80.9
Overall pick: Babolat BALLR+ 16 · $120 · IQ 80.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 75Power75
- 94Control92
- 90Spin90
- 76Forgiveness77
- 75Sweet spot76
- 77Stability75
- 86Maneuverability92
- 70Pop72
- 92Touch90
- 82Consistency81
- 58Swing weight55
- 65Twist weight65
- 46Launch angle47
- 70Plow through64
- 90Softness88
Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Babolat BALLR+ 16 | Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $120 | $110 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 — better | 80.6 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 15.2 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 103 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 | 6.1 |
| Shape | hybrid | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.2 | 16.25 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.75 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.375 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit | Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber |
| Core material | X5™ Polypropylene Honeycomb | MachPro Polymer |
Babolat BALLR+ 16 verdict
Babolat brings its RPM tennis grit to pickleball on a 16 mm hybrid. The face texture is the story — it spins like a raw carbon paddle without the chalky wear pattern.
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid verdict
Engage's 15.2 mm hybrid sits between the brand's control and power lines, and at street price it undercuts every comparable raw-carbon hybrid in the database.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is maneuverability: Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid scores 92 against 86 for Babolat BALLR+ 16 — a 6-point gap. They are effectively level on swing weight, control, stability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($120 vs $110) that it should not break the tie.
Maneuverability
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid leads by 6 points (92 vs 86).
Plow through
Babolat BALLR+ 16 leads by 6 points (70 vs 64).
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 (76.5 vs 76.4 on the weighted index). Pick on handle length — 5.5 in on the BALLR+ 16, 5.375 in on the Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid.
- Stability
- Consistency
- Control
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.8 vs 86.3 on the weighted index). Pick on handle length — 5.5 in on the BALLR+ 16, 5.375 in on the Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid.
- Maneuverability
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.9 vs 83 on the weighted index). Pick on handle length — 5.5 in on the BALLR+ 16, 5.375 in on the Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid.
- Plow through
- Touch
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81.6 vs 80.8 on the weighted index). Pick on handle length — 5.5 in on the BALLR+ 16, 5.375 in on the Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Babolat BALLR+ 16
Take Babolat BALLR+ 16 if you want plow through (+6). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Babolat BALLR+ 16 review →Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
Take Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid if you want maneuverability (+6). Its swing weight of 103 kg·cm² and 15.2 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid review →Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid FAQ
- Which is better, the Babolat BALLR+ 16 or the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.9 vs 80.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — maneuverability — Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid leads by 6 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid, at 103 kg·cm² swing weight against 105 for Babolat BALLR+ 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Babolat BALLR+ 16 or the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 75 for power.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 at 94 versus 92. Its 16 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 90 for spin.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid, with the higher forgiveness score (77 vs 76). Twist weight is identical at 6.1, so the gap comes from sweet-spot size and face stability rather than resistance to twisting.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- They are within $10 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16: 16 mm X5™ Polypropylene Honeycomb core with a Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit face. Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid: 15.2 mm MachPro Polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.375 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Babolat BALLR+ 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 77 and sweet spot 76 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Babolat BALLR+ 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid at 8 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (103 vs 105) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid to the Babolat BALLR+ 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid leads on maneuverability by 6 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $120 vs $110, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Babolat BALLR+ 16 and Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Babolat BALLR+ 16 and Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.