Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Volair Mach 2 Forza 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (85.9 vs 84.6), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
88 vs 82
Spin
Too close to call
88 vs 86
Control
90 vs 84
Forgiveness
88 vs 84
Hand speed
Too close to call
114 vs 115 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$200 at IQ 84.6 vs $220 at IQ 85.9
Overall pick: Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 · $220 · IQ 85.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 82Power88
- 90Control84
- 86Spin88
- 88Forgiveness84
- 88Sweet spot86
- 86Stability88
- 76Maneuverability76
- 74Pop84
- 90Touch80
- 90Consistency84
- 72Swing weight76
- 84Twist weight84
- 46Launch angle56
- 82Plow through88
- 86Softness70
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Volair Mach 2 Forza 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 | Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $220 | $200 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 85.9 — better | 84.6 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 114 | 115 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 | 6.9 — better |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured graphite | Raw T700 carbon |
| Core material | Control Pro Black core | Foam-injected 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.
Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 verdict
Volair's second-gen Forza adds foam walls without adding swing weight past 115. Power 88 and stability 88 make it a genuine tournament option.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 scores 86 against 70 for Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 — a 16-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, sweet spot, stability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 is $20 cheaper at $200.
Softness
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads by 16 points (86 vs 70).
Pop
Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 leads by 10 points (84 vs 74).
Touch
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads by 10 points (90 vs 80).
Launch angle
Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 leads by 10 points (56 vs 46).
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 Pursuit Pro EX 16
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 88 vs 84, consistency 90 vs 84, sweet spot 88 vs 86. Twist weight 6.8 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Consistency
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 is a narrow pick at this level — touch 90 vs 80, control 90 vs 84, forgiveness 88 vs 84. At 114 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Touch
- Control
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.4 vs 84.7 on the weighted index). Take Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 and keep the $20.
- Power
- Plow through
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 86 vs 70, forgiveness 88 vs 84. 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 (+16), touch (+10), control (+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 →Volair Mach 2 Forza 16
Take Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 if you want pop (+10), launch angle (+10), power (+6). Its swing weight of 115 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 review →Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 or the Volair Mach 2 Forza 16?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.9 vs 84.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads by 16 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16, at 114 kg·cm² swing weight against 115 for Volair Mach 2 Forza 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 Volair Mach 2 Forza 16?
- Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 scores 88 for power against 82 for Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16. That comes from a 16 mm Foam-injected thermoformed polymer core swinging at 115 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 at 90 versus 84. 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?
- Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 scores 88 for spin off its Raw T700 carbon face, against 86 for the Textured graphite face on Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 84). Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 actually carries the higher twist weight (6.9 vs 6.8), but Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 makes it back on sweet spot (88) and overall face stability.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 costs $200, $20 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. Volair Mach 2 Forza 16: 16 mm Foam-injected thermoformed polymer core with a Raw 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. Volair Mach 2 Forza 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 115) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 to the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads on softness by 16 points; everything else is within 10 points. At $220 vs $200, 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.
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- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Model E Max V3
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Pursuit MX 6.0
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Bantam ALW-C 14
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Radius CGS 16
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Quartz Hybrid 16
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Magnus 3S 16
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
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- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Pursuit MX 6.0
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs 2X TruFoam Genesis
- Mach 2 Forza 16 vs Agassi Pro 16
- Mach 2 Forza 16 vs R4 Pulsar
- Mach 2 Forza 16 vs CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
- Mach 2 Forza 16 vs Extreme Tour 16
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 Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 and Volair Mach 2 Forza 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.