Diadem Vice V2 16 vs Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (85.9 vs 84.2), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
92 vs 84
Spin
Too close to call
92 vs 90
Control
Too close to call
86 vs 85
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 84
Hand speed
108 vs 112 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Too close to call
$169 at IQ 85.9 vs $170 at IQ 84.2
Overall pick: Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm · $169 · IQ 85.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
Estimated scores: the Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm Paddle DNA is our estimate from published specs, not a sourced profile.
- 84Power92
- 86Control85
- 92Spin90
- 84Forgiveness86
- 84Sweet spot88
- 82Stability84
- 82Maneuverability80
- 80Pop90
- 84Touch83
- 86Consistency85
- 66Swing weight72
- 78Twist weight82
- 50Launch angle60
- 78Plow through83
- 78Softness78
Diadem Vice V2 16 vs Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Diadem Vice V2 16 | Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $170 | $169 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.2 | 85.9 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 108 | 112 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.5 — better | 6.4 |
| Shape | hybrid | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.3 | 16.375 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.625 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.4 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | 18K gritted carbon | T700 raw carbon fiber face |
| Core material | Thermoformed polymer honeycomb | Gen 4 full-foam EPP core with EVA foam perimeter |
Diadem Vice V2 16 verdict
Diadem's 18K weave is the grippiest face under $200. Spin 92 with a 108 swing weight is a rare pairing — you can rip topspin and still win hands battles.
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm verdict
Friday's Gen 4 full-foam Aura Pro in the hybrid shape pairs a power-focused response with a quick published 112 swing weight. The published 6.4 twist weight is moderate, so it gives up some stability on paper to heavier all-court hybrids.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is pop: Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm scores 90 against 80 for Diadem Vice V2 16 — a 10-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, forgiveness, stability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($170 vs $169) that it should not break the tie.
Pop
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm leads by 10 points (90 vs 80).
Launch angle
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm leads by 10 points (60 vs 50).
Power
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm leads by 8 points (92 vs 84).
Swing weight
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm leads by 6 points (72 vs 66).
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
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — sweet spot 88 vs 84, twist weight 82 vs 78, forgiveness 86 vs 84. Twist weight 6.4 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.6 vs 85.8 on the weighted index). Pick on handle length — 5.4 in on the Vice V2 16, 5.5 in on the Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm.
- Power
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.7 vs 86.2 on the weighted index). Pick on handle length — 5.4 in on the Vice V2 16, 5.5 in on the Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm.
- Power
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (79.6 vs 80.9 on the weighted index). Pick on handle length — 5.4 in on the Vice V2 16, 5.5 in on the Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Diadem Vice V2 16
Take Diadem Vice V2 16 if you prefer a 5.4 in handle and a 16 mm Thermoformed polymer honeycomb core — it gives up nothing measurable to Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm.
Read the Diadem Vice V2 16 review →Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
Take Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm if you want pop (+10), launch angle (+10), power (+8). Its swing weight of 112 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm review →Where to Buy
Diadem Vice V2 16
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
Diadem Vice V2 16 vs Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the Diadem Vice V2 16 or the Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm?
- Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.9 vs 84.2), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — pop — Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm leads by 10 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Diadem Vice V2 16, at 108 kg·cm² swing weight against 112 for Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Diadem Vice V2 16 or the Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm?
- Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm scores 92 for power against 84 for Diadem Vice V2 16. That comes from a 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam EPP core with EVA foam perimeter core swinging at 112 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Diadem Vice V2 16 at 86 versus 85. 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?
- Diadem Vice V2 16 scores 92 for spin off its 18K gritted carbon face, against 90 for the T700 raw carbon fiber face on Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 84). Diadem Vice V2 16 actually carries the higher twist weight (6.5 vs 6.4), but Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm makes it back on sweet spot (88) and overall face stability.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- They are within $1 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Diadem Vice V2 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer honeycomb core with an 18K gritted carbon face. Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm: 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam EPP core with EVA foam perimeter core with a T700 raw carbon fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.4 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Diadem Vice V2 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 7.9 oz, though swing weight differs (108 vs 112) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Diadem Vice V2 16 to the Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm leads on pop by 10 points; everything else is within 10 points. At $170 vs $169, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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Read the full reviews: Diadem Vice V2 16 and Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.