Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control 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
- 75Power79
- 94Control93
- 90Spin90
- 76Forgiveness90
- 75Sweet spot91
- 77Stability92
- 86Maneuverability70
- 70Pop73
- 92Touch89
- 82Consistency91
- 58Swing weight78
- 65Twist weight93
- 46Launch angle54
- 70Plow through82
- 90Softness84
Specs
| $120 | Price | $170 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8.3 oz | Weight | 8.3 oz |
| 105 | Swing weight | 117 |
| 6.1 | Twist weight | 7 |
| hybrid | Shape | widebody |
| Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit | Surface | Raw T700 carbon |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.2 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.
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control verdict
The best stability-to-price ratio in the database. Twist weight is near CRBN levels for sixty dollars less.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is twist weight: Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control scores 93 against 65 for Babolat BALLR+ 16 — a 28-point gap. They are effectively level on pop, touch, control, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Babolat BALLR+ 16 is $50 cheaper at $120.
Twist weight
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads by 28 points (93 vs 65).
Swing weight
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads by 20 points (78 vs 58).
Sweet spot
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads by 16 points (91 vs 75).
Maneuverability
Babolat BALLR+ 16 leads by 16 points (86 vs 70).
Which one should you buy?
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control
Take Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control if you want twist weight (+28), swing weight (+20), sweet spot (+16). Its swing weight of 117 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control review →Babolat BALLR+ 16
Take Babolat BALLR+ 16 if you want maneuverability (+16), 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 Double Black Diamond Control vs Babolat BALLR+ 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control or the Babolat BALLR+ 16?
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.7 vs 80.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads by 28 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 117 for Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control or the Babolat BALLR+ 16?
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control measures 79 on power against 75 for Babolat BALLR+ 16. That comes from a 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core swinging at 117 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 at 94 versus 93. 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 Double Black Diamond Control scores 90 for spin off its Raw T700 carbon face, against 90 for the Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit face on Babolat BALLR+ 16. In practice a 0-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control, with 7 twist weight against 6.1. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control carries the higher forgiveness score (90) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 costs $120, $50 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?
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw T700 carbon face. Babolat BALLR+ 16: 16 mm X5™ Polypropylene Honeycomb core with a Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.2 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?
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 90 and sweet spot 91 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control at 8.3 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (117 vs 105) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Babolat BALLR+ 16 to the Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads on twist weight by 28 points; everything else is within 20 points. At $170 vs $120, 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
- Double Black Diamond Control vs CRBN-2X Square
- Double Black Diamond Control vs TruFoam Genesis 2
- Double Black Diamond Control vs OMNI 16
- Double Black Diamond Control vs Pursuit MX 6.0
Top alternatives to both
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Read the full reviews: Babolat BALLR+ 16 and Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.