Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 80.9), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
88 vs 75
Spin
Too close to call
92 vs 90
Control
Too close to call
96 vs 94
Forgiveness
86 vs 76
Hand speed
105 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$120 at IQ 80.9 vs $300 at IQ 89.1
Overall pick: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 · $300 · IQ 89.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 75Power88
- 94Control96
- 90Spin92
- 76Forgiveness86
- 75Sweet spot88
- 77Stability90
- 86Maneuverability73
- 70Pop80
- 92Touch94
- 82Consistency93
- 58Swing weight74
- 65Twist weight88
- 46Launch angle51
- 70Plow through86
- 90Softness80
Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Babolat BALLR+ 16 | JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $120 — better | $300 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 | 89.1 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 | 6.7 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.2 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| Core material | X5™ Polypropylene Honeycomb | KineticFrame foam-injected 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.
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 verdict
The 2026 control flagship. The KineticFrame build stiffens the perimeter without adding face pop, so resets land shorter and drives stay predictable — at the highest price in the database.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 88 against 65 for Babolat BALLR+ 16 — a 23-point gap. They are effectively level on control, spin, touch, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Babolat BALLR+ 16 is $180 cheaper at $120.
Twist weight
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 23 points (88 vs 65).
Swing weight
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 16 points (74 vs 58).
Plow through
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 16 points (86 vs 70).
Power
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 13 points (88 vs 75).
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
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 88 vs 65, sweet spot 88 vs 75, forgiveness 86 vs 76. Twist weight 6.7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is a narrow pick at this level — power 88 vs 75, forgiveness 86 vs 76, consistency 93 vs 82. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Power
- Forgiveness
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is a narrow pick at this level — power 88 vs 75, plow through 86 vs 70, spin 92 vs 90. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Power
- Plow through
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81.6 vs 83.1 on the weighted index). Take Babolat BALLR+ 16 and keep the $180.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Babolat BALLR+ 16
Take Babolat BALLR+ 16 if you want maneuverability (+13), softness (+10). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Babolat BALLR+ 16 review →JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 if you want twist weight (+23), swing weight (+16), plow through (+16). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 review →Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Babolat BALLR+ 16 or the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 80.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 23 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for JOOLA Perseus Pro V 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 JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 88 for power against 75 for Babolat BALLR+ 16. That comes from a 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core swinging at 118 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 at 96 versus 94. 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 92 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon face, against 90 for the Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit face on Babolat BALLR+ 16. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 76). Its 6.7 twist weight against 6.1 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 costs $120, $180 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?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16: 16 mm X5™ Polypropylene Honeycomb core with a Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit face. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16: 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both run a 5.5 in handle, long enough that neither forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 88 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both are listed at 8.3 oz, though swing weight differs (105 vs 118) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Babolat BALLR+ 16 to the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads on twist weight by 23 points; everything else is within 16 points. At $120 vs $300, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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Read the full reviews: Babolat BALLR+ 16 and JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.