Engage Encore Pro EX vs Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Engage Encore Pro EX wins this matchup for most players: it takes forgiveness, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0, which costs $230.
Power
82 vs 70
Spin
89 vs 74
Control
Too close to call
90 vs 88
Forgiveness
89 vs 84
Hand speed
105 vs 113 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$130 at IQ 80.9 vs $230 at IQ 84.4
Overall pick: Engage Encore Pro EX · $130 · IQ 80.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power82
- 88Control90
- 74Spin89
- 89Forgiveness84
- 90Sweet spot86
- 80Stability82
- 84Maneuverability76
- 66Pop76
- 86Touch88
- 85Consistency86
- 50Swing weight70
- 74Twist weight80
- 68Launch angle50
- 60Plow through80
- 90Softness80
Engage Encore Pro EX vs Engage Pursuit Ultra 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 Ultra MX 6.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $130 — better | $230 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 | 84.4 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 8.2 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 113 |
| 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 | Raw carbon fiber with Control Pro Omni grit |
| Core material | Control core | Specialized polymer honeycomb |
Engage Encore Pro EX verdict
A soft, light, extremely forgiving paddle that has quietly become the default recommendation for players over 60.
Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 verdict
Engage's most balanced Pursuit yet. The Omni grit face holds spin longer into a paddle's life than most raw carbon, which matters more than peak-day RPM numbers.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is swing weight: Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 scores 70 against 50 for Engage Encore Pro EX — a 20-point gap. They are effectively level on control, stability, touch, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Engage Encore Pro EX is $100 cheaper at $130.
Swing weight
Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 leads by 20 points (70 vs 50).
Plow through
Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 leads by 20 points (80 vs 60).
Launch angle
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 18 points (68 vs 50).
Spin
Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 leads by 15 points (89 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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.8 vs 84.3 on the weighted index). Take Engage Encore Pro EX and keep the $100.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0
Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 89 vs 74, power 82 vs 70, control 90 vs 88. At 113 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 Ultra MX 6.0
Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 is the clearer pick at this level — plow through 80 vs 60, spin 89 vs 74, power 82 vs 70. Swing weight 113 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Spin
- Power
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 — softness 90 vs 80, forgiveness 89 vs 84. Its 16 mm Control core at 7.8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Engage Encore Pro EX
Take Engage Encore Pro EX if you want launch angle (+18), softness (+10), maneuverability (+8). 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 Ultra MX 6.0
Take Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 if you want swing weight (+20), plow through (+20), spin (+15). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 review →Engage Encore Pro EX vs Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Encore Pro EX or the Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0?
- Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.4 vs 80.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 leads by 20 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Encore Pro EX, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 113 for Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0. 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 Ultra MX 6.0?
- Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 scores 82 for power against 70 for Engage Encore Pro EX. That comes from a 16 mm Specialized polymer honeycomb core swinging at 113 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 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 Ultra MX 6.0 scores 89 for spin off its Raw carbon fiber with Control Pro Omni grit face, against 74 for the Fiberglass composite face on Engage Encore Pro EX. In practice a 15-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 84). Engage Pursuit Ultra 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, $100 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 Ultra MX 6.0: 16 mm Specialized polymer honeycomb core with a Raw carbon fiber with Control Pro Omni grit face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Engage Pursuit Ultra 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 Ultra 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 Ultra 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 8.2 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 113) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Engage Encore Pro EX to the Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 leads on swing weight by 20 points; everything else is within 20 points. At $130 vs $230, 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: Engage Encore Pro EX and Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.