Diadem Vice V2 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
Six Zero Quartz Control edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (88 vs 84.2), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
84 vs 78
Spin
Too close to call
92 vs 90
Control
93 vs 86
Forgiveness
91 vs 84
Hand speed
Too close to call
108 vs 108 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$170 at IQ 84.2 vs $190 at IQ 88
Overall pick: Six Zero Quartz Control · $190 · IQ 88
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 84Power78
- 86Control93
- 92Spin90
- 84Forgiveness91
- 84Sweet spot92
- 82Stability90
- 82Maneuverability82
- 80Pop72
- 84Touch92
- 86Consistency91
- 66Swing weight68
- 78Twist weight90
- 50Launch angle50
- 78Plow through72
- 78Softness89
Diadem Vice V2 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 | Diadem Vice V2 16 | Six Zero Quartz Control |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $170 — better | $190 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.2 | 88 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 108 | 108 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.5 | 7.2 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16.3 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.4 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | 18K gritted carbon | Raw carbon friction |
| Core material | Thermoformed polymer honeycomb | Thermoformed 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.
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 78 for Diadem Vice V2 16 — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, swing weight, maneuverability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Diadem Vice V2 16 is $20 cheaper at $170.
Twist weight
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 12 points (90 vs 78).
Softness
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 11 points (89 vs 78).
Sweet spot
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 8 points (92 vs 84).
Stability
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 8 points (90 vs 82).
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 84, twist weight 90 vs 78, forgiveness 91 vs 84. 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 — control 93 vs 86, touch 92 vs 84, forgiveness 91 vs 84. At 108 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Touch
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.7 vs 84.2 on the weighted index). Take Diadem Vice V2 16 and keep the $20.
- Power
- Plow through
- Spin
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 — softness 89 vs 78, twist weight 90 vs 78, forgiveness 91 vs 84. Its 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Diadem Vice V2 16
Take Diadem Vice V2 16 if you want pop (+8), power (+6), plow through (+6). Its swing weight of 108 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Diadem Vice V2 16 review →Six Zero Quartz Control
Take Six Zero Quartz Control if you want twist weight (+12), softness (+11), sweet spot (+8). Its swing weight of 108 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Six Zero Quartz Control review →Diadem Vice V2 16 vs Six Zero Quartz Control FAQ
- Which is better, the Diadem Vice V2 16 or the Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Six Zero Quartz Control carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (88 vs 84.2), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both swing at 108 kg·cm², and 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 Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Diadem Vice V2 16 scores 84 for power against 78 for Six Zero Quartz Control. That comes from a 16 mm Thermoformed polymer honeycomb core swinging at 108 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Six Zero Quartz Control at 93 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?
- Diadem Vice V2 16 scores 92 for spin off its 18K gritted carbon face, against 90 for the Raw carbon friction face on Six Zero Quartz Control. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Six Zero Quartz Control, with the higher forgiveness score (91 vs 84). Its 7.2 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, $20 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. Six Zero Quartz Control: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw carbon friction face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Diadem Vice V2 16, at 5.4 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- 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. 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 with the same 108 kg·cm² swing weight.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Diadem Vice V2 16 to the Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Six Zero Quartz Control leads on twist weight by 12 points; everything else is within 11 points. At $170 vs $190, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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- Quartz Control vs Vision CGS 16
- Quartz Control vs Tempest Pro C 16
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Read the full reviews: Diadem Vice V2 16 and Six Zero Quartz Control. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.