Engage Encore Pro EX vs Rally Meister Wood
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Engage Encore Pro EX 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 power, spin, control, forgiveness and hand speed on Paddle DNA against the Rally Meister Wood, which costs $11.
Power
70 vs 60
Spin
74 vs 20
Control
88 vs 40
Forgiveness
89 vs 45
Hand speed
105 vs 120 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$11 at IQ 44.2 vs $130 at IQ 80.9
Overall pick: Engage Encore Pro EX · $130 · IQ 80.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power60
- 88Control40
- 74Spin20
- 89Forgiveness45
- 90Sweet spot40
- 80Stability70
- 84Maneuverability30
- 66Pop50
- 86Touch30
- 85Consistency45
- 50Swing weight95
- 74Twist weight50
- 68Launch angle60
- 60Plow through70
- 90Softness10
Engage Encore Pro EX vs Rally Meister Wood specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Engage Encore Pro EX | Rally Meister Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $130 | $11 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 — better | 44.2 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 10 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 7 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 120 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.9 — better | 5 |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 15.5 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Fiberglass composite | Screen print over satin varnish |
| Core material | Control core | Seven-ply maple wood |
Engage Encore Pro EX verdict
A soft, light, extremely forgiving paddle that has quietly become the default recommendation for players over 60.
Rally Meister Wood verdict
A seven-ply maple paddle that exists for one reason: equipping a group for under $15 a head. It is heavy, harsh and spinless, and it is still the best wood paddle sold.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: Engage Encore Pro EX scores 90 against 10 for Rally Meister Wood — an 80-point gap. Rally Meister Wood is $119 cheaper at $11.
Softness
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 80 points (90 vs 10).
Touch
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 56 points (86 vs 30).
Spin
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 54 points (74 vs 20).
Maneuverability
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 54 points (84 vs 30).
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
Engage Encore Pro EX
Engage Encore Pro EX is the clearer pick at this level — sweet spot 90 vs 40, forgiveness 89 vs 45, consistency 85 vs 45. Twist weight 5.9 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Engage Encore Pro EX
Engage Encore Pro EX is the clearer pick at this level — spin 74 vs 20, maneuverability 84 vs 30, control 88 vs 40. At 105 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Maneuverability
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Engage Encore Pro EX
Engage Encore Pro EX is the clearer pick at this level — spin 74 vs 20, touch 86 vs 30, maneuverability 84 vs 30. Swing weight 105 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Touch
- Maneuverability
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 10, forgiveness 89 vs 45, twist weight 74 vs 50. Its 16 mm Control core at 7.8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Engage Encore Pro EX
Take Engage Encore Pro EX if you want softness (+80), touch (+56), spin (+54). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Encore Pro EX review →Rally Meister Wood
Take Rally Meister Wood if you want swing weight (+45), plow through (+10). Its swing weight of 120 kg·cm² and 7 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Rally Meister Wood review →Engage Encore Pro EX vs Rally Meister Wood FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Encore Pro EX or the Rally Meister Wood?
- Engage Encore Pro EX carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.9 vs 44.2), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 80 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Encore Pro EX, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 120 for Rally Meister Wood. 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 Rally Meister Wood?
- Engage Encore Pro EX scores 70 for power against 60 for Rally Meister Wood. That comes from a 16 mm Control core swinging at 105 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Engage Encore Pro EX at 88 versus 40. 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 20 for the Screen print over satin varnish face on Rally Meister Wood. In practice a 54-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 45). Its 5.9 twist weight against 5 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Rally Meister Wood costs $11, $119 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. Rally Meister Wood: 7 mm Seven-ply maple wood core with a Screen print over satin varnish face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Rally Meister Wood, 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. Rally Meister Wood 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 10 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 120) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Rally Meister Wood to the Engage Encore Pro EX?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Engage Encore Pro EX leads on softness by 80 points; everything else is within 56 points. At $130 vs $11, 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 Rally Meister Wood. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.