Engage Encore Pro EX vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, spin and control on Paddle DNA against the Engage Encore Pro EX, which costs $130.
Power
88 vs 70
Spin
92 vs 74
Control
96 vs 88
Forgiveness
Too close to call
89 vs 86
Hand speed
105 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$130 at IQ 80.9 vs $300 at IQ 89.1
Overall pick: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 · $300 · IQ 89.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power88
- 88Control96
- 74Spin92
- 89Forgiveness86
- 90Sweet spot88
- 80Stability90
- 84Maneuverability73
- 66Pop80
- 86Touch94
- 85Consistency93
- 50Swing weight74
- 74Twist weight88
- 68Launch angle51
- 60Plow through86
- 90Softness80
Engage Encore Pro EX vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 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 Perseus Pro V 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $130 — better | $300 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 | 89.1 — 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 | 6.7 — better |
| Shape | standard | hybrid |
| 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 Toray T700 carbon |
| Core material | Control core | KineticFrame foam-injected polymer |
Engage Encore Pro EX verdict
A soft, light, extremely forgiving paddle that has quietly become the default recommendation for players over 60.
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 verdict
The 2026 control flagship. The KineticFrame build stiffens the perimeter without adding face pop, so resets land shorter and drives stay predictable — at the highest price in the database.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is plow through: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 86 against 60 for Engage Encore Pro EX — a 26-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Engage Encore Pro EX is $170 cheaper at $130.
Plow through
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 26 points (86 vs 60).
Swing weight
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 24 points (74 vs 50).
Power
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 18 points (88 vs 70).
Spin
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 18 points (92 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 Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 88 vs 74, stability 90 vs 80, consistency 93 vs 85. Twist weight 6.7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 92 vs 74, power 88 vs 70, control 96 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
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the clearer pick at this level — plow through 86 vs 60, power 88 vs 70, spin 92 vs 74. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Power
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Engage Encore Pro EX
Engage Encore Pro EX is a narrow pick at this level — softness 90 vs 80, forgiveness 89 vs 86. 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 (+17), maneuverability (+11), softness (+10). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Encore Pro EX review →JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 if you want plow through (+26), swing weight (+24), power (+18). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 review →Engage Encore Pro EX vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Encore Pro EX or the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 80.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 26 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Encore Pro EX, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for JOOLA Perseus Pro V 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 Perseus Pro V 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 88 for power against 70 for Engage Encore Pro EX. That comes from a 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core swinging at 118 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 at 96 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 Perseus Pro V 16 scores 92 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon 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?
- Engage Encore Pro EX, with the higher forgiveness score (89 vs 86). JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 actually carries the higher twist weight (6.7 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, $170 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 Perseus Pro V 16: 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 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 JOOLA Perseus Pro V 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. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 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 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Engage Encore Pro EX to the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads on plow through by 26 points; everything else is within 24 points. At $130 vs $300, 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 JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.