Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Six Zero Quartz Control
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Six Zero Quartz Control takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Babolat BALLR+ 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Six Zero Quartz Control, which costs $190.
Power
Too close to call
78 vs 75
Spin
Too close to call
90 vs 90
Control
Too close to call
94 vs 93
Forgiveness
91 vs 76
Hand speed
105 vs 108 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$120 at IQ 80.9 vs $190 at IQ 88
Overall pick: Babolat BALLR+ 16 · $120 · IQ 80.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 75Power78
- 94Control93
- 90Spin90
- 76Forgiveness91
- 75Sweet spot92
- 77Stability90
- 86Maneuverability82
- 70Pop72
- 92Touch92
- 82Consistency91
- 58Swing weight68
- 65Twist weight90
- 46Launch angle50
- 70Plow through72
- 90Softness89
Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Six Zero Quartz 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 Quartz Control |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $120 — better | $190 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 | 88 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 108 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 | 7.2 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16.2 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit | Raw carbon friction |
| 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 Quartz Control verdict
A control build in the Double Black Diamond tradition, only lighter and quicker. Twist weight and sweet spot are the standouts; power is deliberately mid-pack.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: Six Zero Quartz Control scores 90 against 65 for Babolat BALLR+ 16 — a 25-point gap. They are effectively level on power, pop, plow through, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Babolat BALLR+ 16 is $70 cheaper at $120.
Twist weight
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 25 points (90 vs 65).
Sweet spot
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 17 points (92 vs 75).
Forgiveness
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 15 points (91 vs 76).
Stability
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 13 points (90 vs 77).
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 Quartz Control
Six Zero Quartz Control is the clearer pick at this level — sweet spot 92 vs 75, twist weight 90 vs 65, forgiveness 91 vs 76. Twist weight 7.2 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Six Zero Quartz Control
Six Zero Quartz Control is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 91 vs 76, consistency 91 vs 82, power 78 vs 75. At 108 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Forgiveness
- Consistency
- Power
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.9 vs 84.2 on the weighted index). Take Babolat BALLR+ 16 and keep the $70.
- Power
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Six Zero Quartz Control
Six Zero Quartz Control is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 90 vs 65, forgiveness 91 vs 76. Its 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core at 7.9 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 (+4). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Babolat BALLR+ 16 review →Six Zero Quartz Control
Take Six Zero Quartz Control if you want twist weight (+25), sweet spot (+17), forgiveness (+15). Its swing weight of 108 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Six Zero Quartz Control review →Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Six Zero Quartz Control FAQ
- Which is better, the Babolat BALLR+ 16 or the Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Six Zero Quartz Control carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (88 vs 80.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 25 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 108 for Six Zero Quartz 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 Quartz Control?
- Six Zero Quartz Control scores 78 for power against 75 for Babolat BALLR+ 16. That comes from a 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core swinging at 108 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 Quartz Control, with the higher forgiveness score (91 vs 76). Its 7.2 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, $70 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 Quartz Control: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw carbon friction 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?
- Six Zero Quartz Control is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 91 and sweet spot 92 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 Quartz Control at 7.9 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (108 vs 105) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Babolat BALLR+ 16 to the Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Six Zero Quartz Control leads on twist weight by 25 points; everything else is within 17 points. At $120 vs $190, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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- Quartz Control vs Tempest Pro C 16
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Read the full reviews: Babolat BALLR+ 16 and Six Zero Quartz Control. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.