Engage Encore Pro EX vs JOOLA Magnus 3S 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (87.6 vs 80.9), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
83 vs 70
Spin
92 vs 74
Control
Too close to call
90 vs 88
Forgiveness
Too close to call
89 vs 89
Hand speed
105 vs 110 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$130 at IQ 80.9 vs $230 at IQ 87.6
Overall pick: JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 · $230 · IQ 87.6
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power83
- 88Control90
- 74Spin92
- 89Forgiveness89
- 90Sweet spot91
- 80Stability88
- 84Maneuverability80
- 66Pop78
- 86Touch89
- 85Consistency90
- 50Swing weight71
- 74Twist weight88
- 68Launch angle57
- 60Plow through76
- 90Softness83
Engage Encore Pro EX vs JOOLA Magnus 3S 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 | JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $130 — better | $230 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 | 87.6 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 110 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.9 | 7 — better |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Fiberglass composite | Raw carbon friction |
| Core material | Control core | Propulsion polymer |
Engage Encore Pro EX verdict
A soft, light, extremely forgiving paddle that has quietly become the default recommendation for players over 60.
JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 verdict
The widebody in the JOOLA range. Sweet spot and twist weight are the story here — it is the easiest premium JOOLA to hit clean, and hands battles are noticeably quicker.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is swing weight: JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 scores 71 against 50 for Engage Encore Pro EX — a 21-point gap. They are effectively level on touch, control, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Engage Encore Pro EX is $100 cheaper at $130.
Swing weight
JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 leads by 21 points (71 vs 50).
Spin
JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 leads by 18 points (92 vs 74).
Plow through
JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 leads by 16 points (76 vs 60).
Twist weight
JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 leads by 14 points (88 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
JOOLA Magnus 3S 16
JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 88 vs 74, stability 88 vs 80, consistency 90 vs 85. Twist weight 7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
JOOLA Magnus 3S 16
JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 92 vs 74, power 83 vs 70, consistency 90 vs 85. At 110 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Power
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
JOOLA Magnus 3S 16
JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 92 vs 74, power 83 vs 70, plow through 76 vs 60. Swing weight 110 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Power
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.8 vs 85.5 on the weighted index). Take Engage Encore Pro EX and keep the $100.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Engage Encore Pro EX
Take Engage Encore Pro EX if you want launch angle (+11), softness (+7), maneuverability (+4). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Encore Pro EX review →JOOLA Magnus 3S 16
Take JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 if you want swing weight (+21), spin (+18), plow through (+16). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 review →Engage Encore Pro EX vs JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Encore Pro EX or the JOOLA Magnus 3S 16?
- JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.6 vs 80.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 leads by 21 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Encore Pro EX, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 110 for JOOLA Magnus 3S 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 JOOLA Magnus 3S 16?
- JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 scores 83 for power against 70 for Engage Encore Pro EX. That comes from a 16 mm Propulsion polymer core swinging at 110 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Magnus 3S 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?
- JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 scores 92 for spin off its Raw carbon friction face, against 74 for the Fiberglass composite face on Engage Encore Pro EX. In practice an 18-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 89 on forgiveness despite twist weights of 5.9 and 7.
- 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. JOOLA Magnus 3S 16: 16 mm Propulsion polymer core with a Raw carbon friction face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- JOOLA Magnus 3S 16, at 5.25 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. JOOLA Magnus 3S 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 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 110) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Engage Encore Pro EX to the JOOLA Magnus 3S 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Magnus 3S 16 leads on swing weight by 21 points; everything else is within 18 points. At $130 vs $230, 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 JOOLA Magnus 3S 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.