Diadem Vice V2 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 84.2), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
88 vs 84
Spin
Too close to call
92 vs 92
Control
96 vs 86
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 84
Hand speed
108 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$170 at IQ 84.2 vs $300 at IQ 89.1
Overall pick: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 · $300 · IQ 89.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 84Power88
- 86Control96
- 92Spin92
- 84Forgiveness86
- 84Sweet spot88
- 82Stability90
- 82Maneuverability73
- 80Pop80
- 84Touch94
- 86Consistency93
- 66Swing weight74
- 78Twist weight88
- 50Launch angle51
- 78Plow through86
- 78Softness80
Diadem Vice V2 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Diadem Vice V2 16 | JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $170 — better | $300 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.2 | 89.1 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 108 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.5 | 6.7 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.3 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.4 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | 18K gritted carbon | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| Core material | Thermoformed polymer honeycomb | KineticFrame foam-injected polymer |
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.
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 verdict
The 2026 control flagship. The KineticFrame build stiffens the perimeter without adding face pop, so resets land shorter and drives stay predictable — at the highest price in the database.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is control: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 96 against 86 for Diadem Vice V2 16 — a 10-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, softness, launch angle, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Diadem Vice V2 16 is $130 cheaper at $170.
Control
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 10 points (96 vs 86).
Touch
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 10 points (94 vs 84).
Twist weight
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 10 points (88 vs 78).
Maneuverability
Diadem Vice V2 16 leads by 9 points (82 vs 73).
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
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 88 vs 78, stability 90 vs 82, consistency 93 vs 86. Twist weight 6.7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is a narrow pick at this level — control 96 vs 86, touch 94 vs 84, consistency 93 vs 86. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Touch
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is a narrow pick at this level — touch 94 vs 84, plow through 86 vs 78, control 96 vs 86. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Touch
- Plow through
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 88 vs 78, softness 80 vs 78, forgiveness 86 vs 84. Its 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Twist weight
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Diadem Vice V2 16
Take Diadem Vice V2 16 if you want maneuverability (+9). Its swing weight of 108 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Diadem Vice V2 16 review →JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 if you want control (+10), touch (+10), twist weight (+10). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 review →Diadem Vice V2 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Diadem Vice V2 16 or the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 84.2), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — control — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 10 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Diadem Vice V2 16, at 108 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. 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 JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 88 for power against 84 for Diadem Vice V2 16. That comes from a 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core swinging at 118 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 at 96 versus 86. 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 92 for spin.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 84). Its 6.7 twist weight against 6.5 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Diadem Vice V2 16 costs $170, $130 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?
- Diadem Vice V2 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer honeycomb core with an 18K gritted carbon face. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16: 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, 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 JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 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?
- Diadem Vice V2 16 at 7.9 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (108 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Diadem Vice V2 16 to the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads on control by 10 points; everything else is within 10 points. At $170 vs $300, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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Guides featuring these paddles
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Read the full reviews: Diadem Vice V2 16 and JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.