Engage Encore Pro EX vs ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (84.2 vs 80.9), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
82 vs 70
Spin
84 vs 74
Control
Too close to call
88 vs 86
Forgiveness
Too close to call
89 vs 88
Hand speed
105 vs 109 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$130 at IQ 80.9 vs $150 at IQ 84.2
Overall pick: ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 · $150 · IQ 84.2
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power82
- 88Control86
- 74Spin84
- 89Forgiveness88
- 90Sweet spot88
- 80Stability84
- 84Maneuverability78
- 66Pop78
- 86Touch84
- 85Consistency86
- 50Swing weight68
- 74Twist weight82
- 68Launch angle52
- 60Plow through80
- 90Softness80
Engage Encore Pro EX vs ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 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 | ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $130 — better | $150 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 | 84.2 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 109 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.9 | 6.7 — better |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Fiberglass composite | Raw carbon fiber |
| Core material | Control core | Polypropylene honeycomb |
Engage Encore Pro EX verdict
A soft, light, extremely forgiving paddle that has quietly become the default recommendation for players over 60.
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 verdict
Onix finally ships a raw-carbon face. Forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 88 in a standard shape make it one of the safest $150 paddles on the market.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is plow through: ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 scores 80 against 60 for Engage Encore Pro EX — a 20-point gap. They are effectively level on control, sweet spot, touch, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Engage Encore Pro EX is $20 cheaper at $130.
Plow through
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 leads by 20 points (80 vs 60).
Swing weight
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 leads by 18 points (68 vs 50).
Launch angle
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 16 points (68 vs 52).
Power
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.8 vs 86 on the weighted index). Take Engage Encore Pro EX and keep the $20.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (82.1 vs 83.7 on the weighted index). Take Engage Encore Pro EX and keep the $20.
- Spin
- Power
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16
ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 is the clearer pick at this level — plow through 80 vs 60, power 82 vs 70, spin 84 vs 74. Swing weight 109 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 88. 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 (+16), softness (+10), maneuverability (+6). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Encore Pro EX review →ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16
Take ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 if you want plow through (+20), swing weight (+18), power (+12). Its swing weight of 109 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 review →Engage Encore Pro EX vs ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Encore Pro EX or the ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16?
- ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.2 vs 80.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 leads by 20 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Encore Pro EX, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 109 for ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 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 ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16?
- ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 scores 82 for power against 70 for Engage Encore Pro EX. That comes from a 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core swinging at 109 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Engage Encore Pro EX at 88 versus 86. 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?
- ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 scores 84 for spin off its Raw carbon fiber face, against 74 for the Fiberglass composite face on Engage Encore Pro EX. In practice a 10-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). ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 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, $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. ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Raw carbon fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both run a 5 in handle, short enough that either forces the bottom hand up 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. ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 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 109) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Engage Encore Pro EX to the ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16 leads on plow through by 20 points; everything else is within 18 points. At $130 vs $150, 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 ONIX Evoke Pro Carbon 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.