Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, spin and control on Paddle DNA against the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16, which costs $220.
Power
88 vs 82
Spin
92 vs 86
Control
96 vs 90
Forgiveness
Too close to call
88 vs 86
Hand speed
114 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$220 at IQ 85.9 vs $300 at IQ 89.1
Overall pick: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 · $300 · IQ 89.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 82Power88
- 90Control96
- 86Spin92
- 88Forgiveness86
- 88Sweet spot88
- 86Stability90
- 76Maneuverability73
- 74Pop80
- 90Touch94
- 90Consistency93
- 72Swing weight74
- 84Twist weight88
- 46Launch angle51
- 82Plow through86
- 86Softness80
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 | JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $220 — better | $300 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 85.9 | 89.1 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 114 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 — better | 6.7 |
| Shape | elongated | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.4 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured graphite | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| Core material | Control Pro Black core | KineticFrame foam-injected polymer |
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 verdict
Engage's soft-core philosophy taken to its logical end. Launch angle 46 is the lowest in the database — the ball simply does not pop up off resets.
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 verdict
The 2026 control flagship. The KineticFrame build stiffens the perimeter without adding face pop, so resets land shorter and drives stay predictable — at the highest price in the database.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is power: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 88 against 82 for Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 — a 6-point gap. They are effectively level on maneuverability, consistency, forgiveness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 is $80 cheaper at $220.
Power
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 6 points (88 vs 82).
Control
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 6 points (96 vs 90).
Spin
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 6 points (92 vs 86).
Pop
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 6 points (80 vs 74).
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 (87.5 vs 89.2 on the weighted index). Take Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 and keep the $80.
- Stability
- Twist weight
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is a narrow pick at this level — control 96 vs 90, spin 92 vs 86, power 88 vs 82. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Spin
- Power
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is a narrow pick at this level — power 88 vs 82, spin 92 vs 86, control 96 vs 90. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Power
- Spin
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 86 vs 80, forgiveness 88 vs 86. Its 16 mm Control Pro Black core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16
Take Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 if you want softness (+6). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 review →JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 if you want power (+6), control (+6), spin (+6). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 review →Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 or the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 85.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — power — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 6 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16, at 114 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 or the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 88 for power against 82 for Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16. That comes from a 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core swinging at 118 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 at 96 versus 90. 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 92 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon face, against 86 for the Textured graphite face on Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16. In practice a 6-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 86). Its 6.8 twist weight against 6.7 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 costs $220, $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?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16: 16 mm Control Pro Black core with a Textured graphite face. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16: 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both run a 5.5 in handle, long enough that neither forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both are listed at 8.3 oz, though swing weight differs (114 vs 118) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 to the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads on power by 6 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $220 vs $300, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Double Black Diamond Control
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Perseus Pro IV 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Hyperion Pro V 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs 2X Power Series
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Perseus Pro V 14
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Coral Pro
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Prism Flash
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Double Black Diamond Control V2
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs LUXX Control Air Invikta
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Pursuit MX 6.0
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs 2X TruFoam Genesis
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Perseus CFS 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Perseus Pro IV 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs CRBN-3X Power Series
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 and JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 and JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.