Engage Encore Pro EX vs Rally Meister Wood
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
- 70Power60
- 88Control40
- 74Spin20
- 89Forgiveness45
- 90Sweet spot40
- 80Stability70
- 84Maneuverability30
- 66Pop50
- 86Touch30
- 85Consistency45
- 50Swing weight95
- 74Twist weight50
- 68Launch angle60
- 60Plow through70
- 90Softness10
Specs
| $130 | Price | $11 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 7 mm |
| 7.8 oz | Weight | 10 oz |
| 105 | Swing weight | 120 |
| 5.9 | Twist weight | 5 |
| standard | Shape | standard |
| Fiberglass composite | Surface | Screen print over satin varnish |
| 5 in | Handle | 5.25 in |
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
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: Engage Encore Pro EX scores 90 against 10 for Rally Meister Wood — a 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 should you buy?
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
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 vs Engage Encore Pro EX FAQ
- Which is better, the Rally Meister Wood or the Engage Encore Pro EX?
- 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 Rally Meister Wood or the Engage Encore Pro EX?
- Engage Encore Pro EX measures 70 on power against 60 for Rally Meister Wood. That comes from a 16 mm Control core 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 5.9 twist weight against 5. 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 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?
- Rally Meister Wood: 7 mm Seven-ply maple wood core with a Screen print over satin varnish face. Engage Encore Pro EX: 16 mm Control core core with a Fiberglass composite 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. Engage Encore Pro EX rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable 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 $11 vs $130, 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.