Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Babolat BALLR+ 16 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
- 75Power75
- 94Control92
- 90Spin90
- 76Forgiveness77
- 75Sweet spot76
- 77Stability75
- 86Maneuverability92
- 70Pop72
- 92Touch90
- 82Consistency81
- 58Swing weight55
- 65Twist weight65
- 46Launch angle47
- 70Plow through64
- 90Softness88
Specs
| $120 | Price | $110 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 15.2 mm |
| 8.3 oz | Weight | 8 oz |
| 105 | Swing weight | 103 |
| 6.1 | Twist weight | 6.1 |
| hybrid | Shape | hybrid |
| Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit | Surface | Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.375 in |
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
Measured on the same 15-trait test, 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 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?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 measures 75 on power against 75 for Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid. That comes from a 16 mm X5™ Polypropylene Honeycomb core swinging at 105 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- 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?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 scores 90 for spin off its Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit face, against 90 for the Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber face on Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid. In practice a 0-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16, with 6.1 twist weight against 6.1. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid carries the higher forgiveness score (77) as a result.
- 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 unstable 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.
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid vs Labs Project 007 Epic 14
- Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid vs GX2 Integra XL
- Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid vs Coral Hybrid 16
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
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.