Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (81.2 vs 80.9), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A
83 vs 75
Spin
Too close to call
92 vs 90
Control
Too close to call
94 vs 92
Forgiveness
Too close to call
79 vs 76
Hand speed
Too close to call
105 vs 105 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$120 at IQ 80.9 vs $220 at IQ 81.2
Overall pick: Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A · $220 · IQ 81.2
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 75Power83
- 94Control92
- 90Spin92
- 76Forgiveness79
- 75Sweet spot79
- 77Stability71
- 86Maneuverability87
- 70Pop75
- 92Touch92
- 82Consistency81
- 58Swing weight58
- 65Twist weight56
- 46Launch angle50
- 70Plow through69
- 90Softness84
Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Babolat BALLR+ 16 | Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $120 — better | $220 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 | 81.2 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.15 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 105 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 — better | 5.8 |
| Shape | hybrid | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.2 | 16.3 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit | Double Diamond Tough Raw Carbon Fiber |
| Core material | X5™ Polypropylene Honeycomb | ProPulsion Foam |
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.
Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A verdict
The UPA-A revision brings the Coral Pro under the new pro-tour surface limits. It is measurably tamer than the original Coral Pro, and it is the version that is tournament-legal going forward.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: Babolat BALLR+ 16 scores 65 against 56 for Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A — a 9-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, control, spin, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Babolat BALLR+ 16 is $100 cheaper at $120.
Twist weight
Babolat BALLR+ 16 leads by 9 points (65 vs 56).
Power
Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A leads by 8 points (83 vs 75).
Stability
Babolat BALLR+ 16 leads by 6 points (77 vs 71).
Softness
Babolat BALLR+ 16 leads by 6 points (90 vs 84).
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 75.5 on the weighted index). Take Babolat BALLR+ 16 and keep the $100.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.8 vs 87.3 on the weighted index). Take Babolat BALLR+ 16 and keep the $100.
- Power
- Forgiveness
- Spin
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.9 vs 85.7 on the weighted index). Take Babolat BALLR+ 16 and keep the $100.
- Power
- Spin
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Babolat BALLR+ 16
Babolat BALLR+ 16 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 90 vs 84, twist weight 65 vs 56. Its 16 mm X5™ Polypropylene Honeycomb core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Babolat BALLR+ 16
Take Babolat BALLR+ 16 if you want twist weight (+9), stability (+6), softness (+6). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Babolat BALLR+ 16 review →Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A
Take Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A if you want power (+8), pop (+5), sweet spot (+4). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A review →Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A FAQ
- Which is better, the Babolat BALLR+ 16 or the Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A?
- Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (81.2 vs 80.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Babolat BALLR+ 16 leads by 9 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both swing at 105 kg·cm², and swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Babolat BALLR+ 16 or the Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A?
- Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A scores 83 for power against 75 for Babolat BALLR+ 16. That comes from a 16 mm ProPulsion Foam 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?
- Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A scores 92 for spin off its Double Diamond Tough Raw Carbon Fiber 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?
- Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A, with the higher forgiveness score (79 vs 76). Babolat BALLR+ 16 actually carries the higher twist weight (6.1 vs 5.8), but Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A makes it back on sweet spot (79) and overall face stability.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 costs $120, $100 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. Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A: 16 mm ProPulsion Foam core with a Double Diamond Tough Raw Carbon Fiber 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?
- Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 79 and sweet spot 79 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?
- Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A at 8.15 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight is identical at 105 kg·cm², so they will feel the same mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Babolat BALLR+ 16 to the Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Babolat BALLR+ 16 leads on twist weight by 9 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $120 vs $220, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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