Engage Encore Pro EX vs VERSIX Strike 4F
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 and forgiveness on Paddle DNA against the VERSIX Strike 4F, which costs $15.
Power
70 vs 66
Spin
74 vs 52
Control
88 vs 72
Forgiveness
89 vs 80
Hand speed
96 vs 105 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$15 at IQ 69.7 vs $130 at IQ 80.9
Overall pick: Engage Encore Pro EX · $130 · IQ 80.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power66
- 88Control72
- 74Spin52
- 89Forgiveness80
- 90Sweet spot78
- 80Stability62
- 84Maneuverability94
- 66Pop84
- 86Touch70
- 85Consistency70
- 50Swing weight40
- 74Twist weight60
- 68Launch angle72
- 60Plow through48
- 90Softness72
Engage Encore Pro EX vs VERSIX Strike 4F specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Engage Encore Pro EX | VERSIX Strike 4F |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $130 | $15 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 — better | 69.7 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 7.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 10 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 96 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.9 — better | 5.4 |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 15.4 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.75 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.1 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Fiberglass composite | Glass fiber composite |
| 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.
VERSIX Strike 4F verdict
At $15 this is a loaner-bin paddle done properly: light, poppy and durable enough for a season of open play. Nobody should keep playing with it once they can consistently dink.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is spin: Engage Encore Pro EX scores 74 against 52 for VERSIX Strike 4F — a 22-point gap. VERSIX Strike 4F is $115 cheaper at $15.
Spin
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 22 points (74 vs 52).
Stability
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 18 points (80 vs 62).
Pop
VERSIX Strike 4F leads by 18 points (84 vs 66).
Softness
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 18 points (90 vs 72).
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 78, stability 80 vs 62, consistency 85 vs 70. Twist weight 5.9 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Stability
- 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 52, control 88 vs 72, touch 86 vs 70. At 105 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Control
- Touch
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 52, touch 86 vs 70, plow through 60 vs 48. Swing weight 105 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Touch
- Plow through
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 72, twist weight 74 vs 60, forgiveness 89 vs 80. Its 16 mm Control core at 7.8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Engage Encore Pro EX
Take Engage Encore Pro EX if you want spin (+22), stability (+18), softness (+18). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Encore Pro EX review →VERSIX Strike 4F
Take VERSIX Strike 4F if you want pop (+18), maneuverability (+10), launch angle (+4). Its swing weight of 96 kg·cm² and 10 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the VERSIX Strike 4F review →Engage Encore Pro EX vs VERSIX Strike 4F FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Encore Pro EX or the VERSIX Strike 4F?
- Engage Encore Pro EX carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.9 vs 69.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 22 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- VERSIX Strike 4F, at 96 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 Engage Encore Pro EX or the VERSIX Strike 4F?
- Engage Encore Pro EX scores 70 for power against 66 for VERSIX Strike 4F. 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 72. 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 52 for the Glass fiber composite face on VERSIX Strike 4F. In practice a 22-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 80). Its 5.9 twist weight against 5.4 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- VERSIX Strike 4F costs $15, $115 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. VERSIX Strike 4F: 10 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Glass fiber composite face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- VERSIX Strike 4F, at 5.1 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. VERSIX Strike 4F rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- VERSIX Strike 4F at 7.3 oz against 7.8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (96 vs 105) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the VERSIX Strike 4F to the Engage Encore Pro EX?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Engage Encore Pro EX leads on spin by 22 points; everything else is within 18 points. At $130 vs $15, 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 VERSIX Strike 4F. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.