Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. 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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Quick answer
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (87.7 vs 80.9), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control
79 vs 75
Spin
Too close to call
90 vs 90
Control
Too close to call
94 vs 93
Forgiveness
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control
90 vs 76
Hand speed
105 vs 117 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$120 at IQ 80.9 vs $170 at IQ 87.7
Overall pick: Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control · $170 · IQ 87.7
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
Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control 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 Double Black Diamond Control |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $120 — better | $170 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 | 87.7 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 117 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 | 7 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | widebody |
| Face length(in) | 16.2 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.2 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit | Raw T700 carbon |
| Core material | X5™ Polypropylene Honeycomb | Thermoformed 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.
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
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, 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 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
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 93 vs 65, sweet spot 91 vs 75, forgiveness 90 vs 76. Twist weight 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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.8 vs 85.6 on the weighted index). Take Babolat BALLR+ 16 and keep the $50.
- Maneuverability
- Touch
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.9 vs 84.1 on the weighted index). Take Babolat BALLR+ 16 and keep the $50.
- Plow through
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 93 vs 65, forgiveness 90 vs 76. Its 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
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
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 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control FAQ
- Which is better, the Babolat BALLR+ 16 or the Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control?
- 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 Babolat BALLR+ 16 or the Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control?
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control scores 79 for 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 90 for spin.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control, with the higher forgiveness score (90 vs 76). Its 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, $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?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16: 16 mm X5™ Polypropylene Honeycomb core with a Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit face. Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw T700 carbon 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. 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 117) and that 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 $120 vs $170, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a stability vs maneuverability decision
Browse every head-to-head that splits on the same trade-off:
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Guides featuring these paddles
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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.