Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control
Engage's spin-first build against the power benchmark buyers cross-shop it with. Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin and value on Paddle DNA against the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16, which costs $220.
Power
Too close to call
82 vs 79
Spin
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control
90 vs 86
Control
Too close to call
93 vs 90
Forgiveness
Too close to call
90 vs 88
Hand speed
114 vs 117 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control
$170 at IQ 87.7 vs $220 at IQ 85.9
Overall pick: Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control · $170 · IQ 87.7
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 82Power79
- 90Control93
- 86Spin90
- 88Forgiveness90
- 88Sweet spot91
- 86Stability92
- 76Maneuverability70
- 74Pop73
- 90Touch89
- 90Consistency91
- 72Swing weight78
- 84Twist weight93
- 46Launch angle54
- 82Plow through82
- 86Softness84
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control 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 | Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $220 | $170 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 85.9 | 87.7 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 114 | 117 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 | 7 — better |
| Shape | elongated | widebody |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.4 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.2 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured graphite | Raw T700 carbon |
| Core material | Control Pro Black core | Thermoformed 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.
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control verdict
The best stability-to-price ratio in the database. Twist weight is near CRBN levels for sixty dollars less.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control scores 93 against 84 for Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 — a 9-point gap. They are effectively level on power, control, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control is $50 cheaper at $170.
Twist weight
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads by 9 points (93 vs 84).
Launch angle
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads by 8 points (54 vs 46).
Stability
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads by 6 points (92 vs 86).
Maneuverability
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads by 6 points (76 vs 70).
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
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control
Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 93 vs 84, stability 92 vs 86, sweet spot 91 vs 88. Twist weight 7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.6 vs 85.6 on the weighted index). Take Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control and keep the $50.
- Maneuverability
- Power
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.4 vs 84.1 on the weighted index). Take Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control and keep the $50.
- Maneuverability
- Power
- Touch
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.2 vs 87.3 on the weighted index). Take Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control and keep the $50.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16
Take Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 if you want maneuverability (+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 →Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control
Take Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control if you want twist weight (+9), launch angle (+8), stability (+6). Its swing weight of 117 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control review →Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 or the Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control?
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.7 vs 85.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads by 9 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16, at 114 kg·cm² swing weight against 117 for Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control. 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 Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 scores 82 for power against 79 for Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control. That comes from a 16 mm Control Pro Black core swinging at 114 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control at 93 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?
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control scores 90 for spin off its Raw T700 carbon face, against 86 for the Textured graphite face on Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16. In practice a 4-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control, with the higher forgiveness score (90 vs 88). Its 7 twist weight against 6.8 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control costs $170, $50 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. Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.2 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 90 and sweet spot 91 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Engage Pursuit Pro EX 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 117) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 to the Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads on twist weight by 9 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $220 vs $170, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a control vs power decision
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Read the full reviews: Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 and Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.