Engage Encore Pro EX vs Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Engage Encore Pro EX 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 Pro1 6.0 Hybrid wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, spin, control and value on Paddle DNA against the Engage Encore Pro EX, which costs $130.
Power
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
75 vs 70
Spin
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
90 vs 74
Control
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
92 vs 88
Forgiveness
89 vs 77
Hand speed
Too close to call
103 vs 105 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
$110 at IQ 80.6 vs $130 at IQ 80.9
Overall pick: Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid · $110 · IQ 80.6
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power75
- 88Control92
- 74Spin90
- 89Forgiveness77
- 90Sweet spot76
- 80Stability75
- 84Maneuverability92
- 66Pop72
- 86Touch90
- 85Consistency81
- 50Swing weight55
- 74Twist weight65
- 68Launch angle47
- 60Plow through64
- 90Softness88
Engage Encore Pro EX vs Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid 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 Pro1 6.0 Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $130 | $110 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 — better | 80.6 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 15.2 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 103 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.9 | 6.1 — better |
| Shape | standard | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 16.25 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.75 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.375 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Fiberglass composite | Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber |
| Core material | Control core | MachPro Polymer |
Engage Encore Pro EX verdict
A soft, light, extremely forgiving paddle that has quietly become the default recommendation for players over 60.
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid verdict
Engage's 15.2 mm hybrid sits between the brand's control and power lines, and at street price it undercuts every comparable raw-carbon hybrid in the database.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is launch angle: Engage Encore Pro EX scores 68 against 47 for Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid — a 21-point gap. They are effectively level on softness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid is $20 cheaper at $110.
Launch angle
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 21 points (68 vs 47).
Spin
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid leads by 16 points (90 vs 74).
Sweet spot
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 14 points (90 vs 76).
Forgiveness
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 12 points (89 vs 77).
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 Encore Pro EX
Engage Encore Pro EX is the clearer pick at this level — sweet spot 90 vs 76, forgiveness 89 vs 77, twist weight 74 vs 65. Twist weight 5.9 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid is a narrow pick at this level — spin 90 vs 74, maneuverability 92 vs 84, control 92 vs 88. At 103 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Maneuverability
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid is the clearer pick at this level — spin 90 vs 74, power 75 vs 70, maneuverability 92 vs 84. Swing weight 103 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Power
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Engage Encore Pro EX
Engage Encore Pro EX is the clearer pick at this level — forgiveness 89 vs 77, twist weight 74 vs 65, softness 90 vs 88. Its 16 mm Control core at 7.8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Engage Encore Pro EX
Take Engage Encore Pro EX if you want launch angle (+21), sweet spot (+14), forgiveness (+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 Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
Take Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid if you want spin (+16), maneuverability (+8), pop (+6). Its swing weight of 103 kg·cm² and 15.2 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid review →Engage Encore Pro EX vs Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Encore Pro EX or the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid?
- Engage Encore Pro EX carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.9 vs 80.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — launch angle — Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 21 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid, at 103 kg·cm² swing weight against 105 for Engage Encore Pro EX. 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 Pro1 6.0 Hybrid?
- Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid scores 75 for power against 70 for Engage Encore Pro EX. That comes from a 15.2 mm MachPro Polymer core swinging at 103 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid at 92 versus 88. Its 15.2 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 Pro1 6.0 Hybrid scores 90 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber face, against 74 for the Fiberglass composite face on Engage Encore Pro EX. In practice a 16-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 77). Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid actually carries the higher twist weight (6.1 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 Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid costs $110, $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?
- Engage Encore Pro EX: 16 mm Control core with a Fiberglass composite face. Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid: 15.2 mm MachPro Polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid, at 5.375 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- 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 Pro1 6.0 Hybrid 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 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 103) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid to the Engage Encore Pro EX?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Engage Encore Pro EX leads on launch angle by 21 points; everything else is within 16 points. At $130 vs $110, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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 Pro1 6.0 Hybrid vs BALLR+ 16
- Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid vs Labs Project 007 Epic 14
- Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid vs GX2 Integra XL
- Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid vs Coral Hybrid 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 Pro1 6.0 Hybrid in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Engage Encore Pro EX and Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.