Engage Encore Pro EX vs Rally Flare Graphite
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Engage Encore Pro EX takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power74
- 88Control76
- 74Spin72
- 89Forgiveness84
- 90Sweet spot84
- 80Stability68
- 84Maneuverability90
- 66Pop86
- 86Touch74
- 85Consistency74
- 50Swing weight46
- 74Twist weight66
- 68Launch angle68
- 60Plow through54
- 90Softness74
Specs
| $130 | Price | $50 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 11 mm |
| 7.8 oz | Weight | 7.5 oz |
| 105 | Swing weight | 100 |
| 5.9 | Twist weight | 5.8 |
| standard | Shape | standard |
| Fiberglass composite | Surface | Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture |
| 5 in | Handle | 5.3 in |
Engage Encore Pro EX verdict
A soft, light, extremely forgiving paddle that has quietly become the default recommendation for players over 60.
Rally Flare Graphite verdict
A $50 carbon-faced paddle with a thin 11 mm core: poppy, light and easy to swing. It is a starter paddle, and the thin core shows the moment you try to reset a hard drive.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is pop: Rally Flare Graphite scores 86 against 66 for Engage Encore Pro EX — a 20-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, launch angle, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Rally Flare Graphite is $80 cheaper at $50.
Pop
Rally Flare Graphite leads by 20 points (86 vs 66).
Softness
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 16 points (90 vs 74).
Control
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 12 points (88 vs 76).
Stability
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 12 points (80 vs 68).
Which one should you buy?
Rally Flare Graphite
Take Rally Flare Graphite if you want pop (+20), maneuverability (+6), power (+4). Its swing weight of 100 kg·cm² and 11 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Rally Flare Graphite review →Engage Encore Pro EX
Take Engage Encore Pro EX if you want softness (+16), control (+12), stability (+12). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Encore Pro EX review →Rally Flare Graphite vs Engage Encore Pro EX FAQ
- Which is better, the Rally Flare Graphite or the Engage Encore Pro EX?
- Engage Encore Pro EX carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.9 vs 75.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — pop — Rally Flare Graphite leads by 20 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Rally Flare Graphite, at 100 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 Rally Flare Graphite or the Engage Encore Pro EX?
- Rally Flare Graphite measures 74 on power against 70 for Engage Encore Pro EX. That comes from a 11 mm Polymer honeycomb core swinging at 100 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Engage Encore Pro EX at 88 versus 76. 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 Encore Pro EX scores 74 for spin off its Fiberglass composite face, against 72 for the Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture face on Rally Flare Graphite. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Engage Encore Pro EX, with 5.9 twist weight against 5.8. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Engage Encore Pro EX carries the higher forgiveness score (89) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Rally Flare Graphite costs $50, $80 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?
- Rally Flare Graphite: 11 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture face. Engage Encore Pro EX: 16 mm Control core core with a Fiberglass composite face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Rally Flare Graphite, at 5.3 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. Rally Flare Graphite rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Rally Flare Graphite at 7.5 oz against 7.8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (100 vs 105) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Rally Flare Graphite to the Engage Encore Pro EX?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Rally Flare Graphite leads on pop by 20 points; everything else is within 16 points. At $50 vs $130, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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Top alternatives to both
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Read the full reviews: Engage Encore Pro EX and Rally Flare Graphite. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.