Engage Encore Pro EX vs Engage Pursuit MX 6.0
Engage's premium spin platform versus its softer all-court paddle. Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Quick answer
Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (85.2 vs 80.9), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
78 vs 70
Spin
86 vs 74
Control
Too close to call
91 vs 88
Forgiveness
Too close to call
89 vs 88
Hand speed
105 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$130 at IQ 80.9 vs $220 at IQ 85.2
Overall pick: Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 · $220 · IQ 85.2
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power78
- 88Control91
- 74Spin86
- 89Forgiveness88
- 90Sweet spot88
- 80Stability86
- 84Maneuverability72
- 66Pop71
- 86Touch90
- 85Consistency89
- 50Swing weight74
- 74Twist weight85
- 68Launch angle53
- 60Plow through79
- 90Softness89
Engage Encore Pro EX vs Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Engage Encore Pro EX | Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $130 — better | $220 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 | 85.2 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.9 | 6.5 — better |
| Shape | standard | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Fiberglass composite | Specialized carbon |
| Core material | Control core | Control Pro core |
Engage Encore Pro EX verdict
A soft, light, extremely forgiving paddle that has quietly become the default recommendation for players over 60.
Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 verdict
Engage's dwell-time engineering is real: the ball sits on the face long enough to shape shots that other elongated paddles simply cannot.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is swing weight: Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 scores 74 against 50 for Engage Encore Pro EX — a 24-point gap. They are effectively level on control, sweet spot, forgiveness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Engage Encore Pro EX is $90 cheaper at $130.
Swing weight
Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 leads by 24 points (74 vs 50).
Plow through
Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 leads by 19 points (79 vs 60).
Launch angle
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 15 points (68 vs 53).
Spin
Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 leads by 12 points (86 vs 74).
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
Engage Pursuit MX 6.0
Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 85 vs 74, stability 86 vs 80, consistency 89 vs 85. Twist weight 6.5 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Engage Pursuit MX 6.0
Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 86 vs 74, power 78 vs 70, control 91 vs 88. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Power
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Engage Pursuit MX 6.0
Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 is the clearer pick at this level — plow through 79 vs 60, spin 86 vs 74, power 78 vs 70. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Spin
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (88 vs 86.8 on the weighted index). Take Engage Encore Pro EX and keep the $90.
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Engage Pursuit MX 6.0
Take Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 if you want swing weight (+24), plow through (+19), spin (+12). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 review →Engage Encore Pro EX
Take Engage Encore Pro EX if you want launch angle (+15), maneuverability (+12). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Encore Pro EX review →Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 vs Engage Encore Pro EX FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 or the Engage Encore Pro EX?
- Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.2 vs 80.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 leads by 24 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Encore Pro EX, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for Engage Pursuit MX 6.0. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 or the Engage Encore Pro EX?
- Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 scores 78 for power against 70 for Engage Encore Pro EX. That comes from a 16 mm Control Pro core swinging at 118 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 at 91 versus 88. 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?
- Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 scores 86 for spin off its Specialized carbon face, against 74 for the Fiberglass composite face on Engage Encore Pro EX. In practice a 12-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Engage Encore Pro EX, with the higher forgiveness score (89 vs 88). Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 actually carries the higher twist weight (6.5 vs 5.9), but Engage Encore Pro EX makes it back on sweet spot (90) and overall face stability.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Engage Encore Pro EX costs $130, $90 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?
- Engage Pursuit MX 6.0: 16 mm Control Pro core with a Specialized carbon face. Engage Encore Pro EX: 16 mm Control core with a Fiberglass composite face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Engage Pursuit MX 6.0, at 5.5 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Engage Encore Pro EX is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 89 and sweet spot 90 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Engage Encore Pro EX at 7.8 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Engage Encore Pro EX to the Engage Pursuit MX 6.0?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 leads on swing weight by 24 points; everything else is within 19 points. At $220 vs $130, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a hand speed vs plow through decision
Browse every head-to-head that splits on the same trade-off:
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Encore Pro EX vs Essentials 16
- Encore Pro EX vs Kinetic Pro Flight
- Encore Pro EX vs Prism Flash
- Encore Pro EX vs Tempest Wave V3
- Pursuit MX 6.0 vs Pursuit Pro EX 16
- Pursuit MX 6.0 vs Double Black Diamond Control V2
- Pursuit MX 6.0 vs Model E Max V3
- Pursuit MX 6.0 vs Radius CGS 16
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Engage Encore Pro EX and Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Engage Encore Pro EX and Engage Pursuit MX 6.0. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.