Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 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
- 75Power77
- 94Control89
- 90Spin90
- 76Forgiveness77
- 75Sweet spot75
- 77Stability84
- 86Maneuverability92
- 70Pop76
- 92Touch88
- 82Consistency83
- 58Swing weight50
- 65Twist weight74
- 46Launch angle49
- 70Plow through64
- 90Softness85
Specs
| $120 | Price | $130 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 14 mm |
| 8.3 oz | Weight | 8.4 oz |
| 105 | Swing weight | 100 |
| 6.1 | Twist weight | 6.4 |
| hybrid | Shape | standard |
| Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit | Surface | Florek Carbon Face with InfiniGrit |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.25 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.
Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 verdict
A titanium mesh layer under the Florek carbon face gives the 007 Epic a firmer, louder response than the rest of the Labs line, and it sells for a third of Boomstik money.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is twist weight: Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 scores 74 against 65 for Babolat BALLR+ 16 — a 9-point gap. They are effectively level on launch angle, power, forgiveness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($120 vs $130) that it should not break the tie.
Twist weight
Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 leads by 9 points (74 vs 65).
Swing weight
Babolat BALLR+ 16 leads by 8 points (58 vs 50).
Stability
Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 leads by 7 points (84 vs 77).
Maneuverability
Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 leads by 6 points (92 vs 86).
Which one should you buy?
Babolat BALLR+ 16
Take Babolat BALLR+ 16 if you want swing weight (+8), plow through (+6), control (+5). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Babolat BALLR+ 16 review →Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14
Take Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 if you want twist weight (+9), stability (+7), maneuverability (+6). Its swing weight of 100 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 review →Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 FAQ
- Which is better, the Babolat BALLR+ 16 or the Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14?
- Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (82 vs 80.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 leads by 9 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14, at 100 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 Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14?
- Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 measures 77 on power against 75 for Babolat BALLR+ 16. That comes from a 14 mm Polypropylene Honeycomb with Patent Pending Titanium Mesh Layer System core swinging at 100 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 at 94 versus 89. 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 Florek Carbon Face with InfiniGrit face on Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14. In practice a 0-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14, with 6.4 twist weight against 6.1. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 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. Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14: 14 mm Polypropylene Honeycomb with Patent Pending Titanium Mesh Layer System core with a Florek Carbon Face with InfiniGrit face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.25 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?
- Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 77 and sweet spot 75 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 at 8.3 oz against 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 100) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Babolat BALLR+ 16 to the Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 leads on twist weight by 9 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $120 vs $130, 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.
- BALLR+ 16 vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
- BALLR+ 16 vs Hyperion C2 CFS 16
- BALLR+ 16 vs GX2 Integra XL
- BALLR+ 16 vs Coral Hybrid 16
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Scorpeus 14
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16
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Read the full reviews: Babolat BALLR+ 16 and Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.