Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 75Power71
- 94Control94
- 90Spin90
- 76Forgiveness82
- 75Sweet spot81
- 77Stability84
- 86Maneuverability97
- 70Pop70
- 92Touch92
- 82Consistency87
- 58Swing weight47
- 65Twist weight77
- 46Launch angle46
- 70Plow through59
- 90Softness90
Specs
| $120 | Price | $333 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8.3 oz | Weight | 8.2 oz |
| 105 | Swing weight | 98 |
| 6.1 | Twist weight | 6.5 |
| hybrid | Shape | standard |
| Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit | Surface | Multistrata T700 Carbon |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.6 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 Boomstik Widebody 16 verdict
The widebody Boomstik keeps BoomCore's power but spreads it across a 15.95 x 8.0 in face, which is the most forgiving version of Selkirk's flagship platform.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is twist weight: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 scores 77 against 65 for Babolat BALLR+ 16 — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on control, spin, pop, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Babolat BALLR+ 16 is $213 cheaper at $120.
Twist weight
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 leads by 12 points (77 vs 65).
Maneuverability
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 leads by 11 points (97 vs 86).
Swing weight
Babolat BALLR+ 16 leads by 11 points (58 vs 47).
Plow through
Babolat BALLR+ 16 leads by 11 points (70 vs 59).
Which one should you buy?
Babolat BALLR+ 16
Take Babolat BALLR+ 16 if you want swing weight (+11), plow through (+11), power (+4). 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 Boomstik Widebody 16
Take Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 if you want twist weight (+12), maneuverability (+11), stability (+7). Its swing weight of 98 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 review →Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Babolat BALLR+ 16 or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.1 vs 80.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16, at 98 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 Boomstik Widebody 16?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 measures 75 on power against 71 for Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16. 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 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?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 scores 90 for spin off its Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit face, against 90 for the Multistrata T700 Carbon face on Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16. In practice a 0-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16, with 6.5 twist weight against 6.1. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (82) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 costs $120, $213 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. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16: 16 mm BoomCore™ core with a Multistrata T700 Carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16, at 5.6 in of handle against 5.5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 82 and sweet spot 81 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?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 at 8.2 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (98 vs 105) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Babolat BALLR+ 16 to the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 leads on twist weight by 12 points; everything else is within 11 points. At $120 vs $333, 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 Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Labs Project 007 Epic 14
- Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Scorpeus 14
- Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Kinetic Pro Flight
- Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
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 Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.