Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Six Zero Quartz Control
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Six Zero Quartz 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
- 75Power78
- 94Control93
- 90Spin90
- 76Forgiveness91
- 75Sweet spot92
- 77Stability90
- 86Maneuverability82
- 70Pop72
- 92Touch92
- 82Consistency91
- 58Swing weight68
- 65Twist weight90
- 46Launch angle50
- 70Plow through72
- 90Softness89
Specs
| $120 | Price | $190 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8.3 oz | Weight | 7.9 oz |
| 105 | Swing weight | 108 |
| 6.1 | Twist weight | 7.2 |
| hybrid | Shape | standard |
| Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit | Surface | Raw carbon friction |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.25 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 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
Measured on the same 15-trait test, 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 should you buy?
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
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 vs Babolat BALLR+ 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Six Zero Quartz Control or the Babolat BALLR+ 16?
- 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 Six Zero Quartz Control or the Babolat BALLR+ 16?
- Six Zero Quartz Control measures 78 on 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?
- Six Zero Quartz Control scores 90 for spin off its Raw carbon friction 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 Quartz Control, with 7.2 twist weight against 6.1. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Six Zero Quartz Control carries the higher forgiveness score (91) as a result.
- 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?
- Six Zero Quartz Control: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw carbon friction 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 5.25 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. Six Zero Quartz Control rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable 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 $190 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
- Quartz Control vs Magnus 3S 16
- Quartz Control vs Double Black Diamond Control
- Quartz Control vs Pursuit MX 6.0
- Quartz Control vs Bantam ALW-C 14
Top alternatives to both
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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.