Engage Encore Pro EX vs Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (85.9 vs 80.9), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
82 vs 70
Spin
86 vs 74
Control
Too close to call
90 vs 88
Forgiveness
Too close to call
89 vs 88
Hand speed
105 vs 114 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$130 at IQ 80.9 vs $220 at IQ 85.9
Overall pick: Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 · $220 · IQ 85.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power82
- 88Control90
- 74Spin86
- 89Forgiveness88
- 90Sweet spot88
- 80Stability86
- 84Maneuverability76
- 66Pop74
- 86Touch90
- 85Consistency90
- 50Swing weight72
- 74Twist weight84
- 68Launch angle46
- 60Plow through82
- 90Softness86
Engage Encore Pro EX vs Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 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 Pro EX 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $130 — better | $220 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 | 85.9 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 114 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.9 | 6.8 — better |
| Shape | standard | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Fiberglass composite | Textured graphite |
| Core material | Control core | Control Pro Black 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 Pro EX 16 verdict
Engage's soft-core philosophy taken to its logical end. Launch angle 46 is the lowest in the database — the ball simply does not pop up off resets.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is swing weight: Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 scores 72 against 50 for Engage Encore Pro EX — a 22-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 Pro EX 16 leads by 22 points (72 vs 50).
Launch angle
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 22 points (68 vs 46).
Plow through
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads by 22 points (82 vs 60).
Power
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 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
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 84 vs 74, stability 86 vs 80, consistency 90 vs 85. Twist weight 6.8 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 Pro EX 16
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 86 vs 74, power 82 vs 70, touch 90 vs 86. At 114 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Power
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 is the clearer pick at this level — plow through 82 vs 60, power 82 vs 70, spin 86 vs 74. Swing weight 114 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Power
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.8 vs 86.2 on the weighted index). Take Engage Encore Pro EX and keep the $90.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Engage Encore Pro EX
Take Engage Encore Pro EX if you want launch angle (+22), maneuverability (+8), softness (+4). 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 Pro EX 16
Take Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 if you want swing weight (+22), plow through (+22), power (+12). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 review →Engage Encore Pro EX vs Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Encore Pro EX or the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.9 vs 80.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads by 22 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Encore Pro EX, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 114 for Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Engage Encore Pro EX or the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 scores 82 for power against 70 for Engage Encore Pro EX. That comes from a 16 mm Control Pro Black core swinging at 114 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 at 90 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 Pro EX 16 scores 86 for spin off its Textured graphite 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 Pro EX 16 actually carries the higher twist weight (6.8 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 Encore Pro EX: 16 mm Control core with a Fiberglass composite face. Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16: 16 mm Control Pro Black core with a Textured graphite face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16, 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 Pro EX 16 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 Pro EX 16 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 114) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Engage Encore Pro EX to the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads on swing weight by 22 points; everything else is within 22 points. At $130 vs $220, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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Read the full reviews: Engage Encore Pro EX and Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.