Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Vulcan V1100 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Babolat BALLR+ 16 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 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (80.9 vs 79.7), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
78 vs 75
Spin
Too close to call
90 vs 90
Control
Too close to call
94 vs 91
Forgiveness
Too close to call
76 vs 75
Hand speed
105 vs 113 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$70 at IQ 79.7 vs $120 at IQ 80.9
Overall pick: Babolat BALLR+ 16 · $120 · IQ 80.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 75Power78
- 94Control91
- 90Spin90
- 76Forgiveness75
- 75Sweet spot73
- 77Stability76
- 86Maneuverability73
- 70Pop70
- 92Touch92
- 82Consistency81
- 58Swing weight71
- 65Twist weight62
- 46Launch angle46
- 70Plow through82
- 90Softness90
Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Vulcan V1100 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Babolat BALLR+ 16 | Vulcan V1100 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $120 | $70 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 — better | 79.7 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.4 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 113 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 — better | 6 |
| Shape | hybrid | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.2 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit | T700 Raw Carbon Surface |
| Core material | X5™ Polypropylene Honeycomb | Polypropylene Honeycomb |
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.
Vulcan V1100 16 verdict
A T700 raw-carbon elongated paddle that sells for about a quarter of its MSRP. On sourced specs it competes with paddles at triple the street price.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is maneuverability: Babolat BALLR+ 16 scores 86 against 73 for Vulcan V1100 16 — a 13-point gap. They are effectively level on power, control, twist weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Vulcan V1100 16 is $50 cheaper at $70.
Maneuverability
Babolat BALLR+ 16 leads by 13 points (86 vs 73).
Swing weight
Vulcan V1100 16 leads by 13 points (71 vs 58).
Plow through
Vulcan V1100 16 leads by 12 points (82 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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (76.5 vs 74.8 on the weighted index). Take Vulcan V1100 16 and keep the $50.
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Babolat BALLR+ 16
Babolat BALLR+ 16 is a narrow pick at this level — maneuverability 86 vs 73, control 94 vs 91, forgiveness 76 vs 75. At 105 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Maneuverability
- Control
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.9 vs 84.5 on the weighted index). Take Vulcan V1100 16 and keep the $50.
- Plow through
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81.6 vs 80.8 on the weighted index). Take Vulcan V1100 16 and keep the $50.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Babolat BALLR+ 16
Take Babolat BALLR+ 16 if you want maneuverability (+13). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Babolat BALLR+ 16 review →Vulcan V1100 16
Take Vulcan V1100 16 if you want swing weight (+13), plow through (+12). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Vulcan V1100 16 review →Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Vulcan V1100 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Babolat BALLR+ 16 or the Vulcan V1100 16?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.9 vs 79.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — maneuverability — Babolat BALLR+ 16 leads by 13 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 113 for Vulcan V1100 16. 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 Vulcan V1100 16?
- Vulcan V1100 16 scores 78 for power against 75 for Babolat BALLR+ 16. That comes from a 16 mm Polypropylene Honeycomb core swinging at 113 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 at 94 versus 91. 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?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16, with the higher forgiveness score (76 vs 75). Its 6.1 twist weight against 6 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Vulcan V1100 16 costs $70, $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. Vulcan V1100 16: 16 mm Polypropylene Honeycomb core with a T700 Raw Carbon Surface.
- 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?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 76 and sweet spot 75 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Vulcan V1100 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 at 8.3 oz against 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 113) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Vulcan V1100 16 to the Babolat BALLR+ 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Babolat BALLR+ 16 leads on maneuverability by 13 points; everything else is within 13 points. At $120 vs $70, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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- BALLR+ 16 vs GX2 Integra XL
- BALLR+ 16 vs Coral Hybrid 16
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Babolat BALLR+ 16 and Vulcan V1100 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Babolat BALLR+ 16 and Vulcan V1100 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.