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Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16

Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. 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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Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7

Engage

Pursuit Pro MX 12.7

77$80
Full review →
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16

JOOLA

Perseus Pro V 16

89$300
Full review →

Paddle DNA head-to-head

  • 85Power88
  • 82Control96
  • 90Spin92
  • 70Forgiveness86
  • 68Sweet spot88
  • 73Stability90
  • 76Maneuverability73
  • 79Pop80
  • 85Touch94
  • 75Consistency93
  • 69Swing weight74
  • 59Twist weight88
  • 51Launch angle51
  • 79Plow through86
  • 82Softness80

Specs

Specification comparison
$80Price$300
12.7 mmCore16 mm
8.25 ozWeight8.3 oz
112Swing weight118
5.9Twist weight6.7
elongatedShapehybrid
Raw Toray T700 Carbon FiberSurfaceRaw Toray T700 carbon
5.75 inHandle5.5 in

Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 verdict

A thin 12.7 mm elongated build with a soft Control Pro core — an unusual pairing that produces quick hands and a low launch instead of the usual thin-core pop.

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

Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is twist weight: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 88 against 59 for Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 — a 29-point gap. They are effectively level on power, maneuverability, spin, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 is $220 cheaper at $80.

  • Twist weight

    JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 29 points (88 vs 59).

  • Sweet spot

    JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 20 points (88 vs 68).

  • Consistency

    JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 18 points (93 vs 75).

  • Stability

    JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 17 points (90 vs 73).

Which one should you buy?

Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7

Take Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 if you prefer a elongated face and a 5.75 in handle — it gives up nothing measurable to JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16.

Read the Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 review →

JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16

Take JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 if you want twist weight (+29), sweet spot (+20), consistency (+18). 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 MX 12.7 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 FAQ

Which is better, the Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 or the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 77), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 29 points.
Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7, at 112 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 MX 12.7 or the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 measures 88 on power against 85 for Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7. 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 82. 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 90 for the Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber face on Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, with 6.7 twist weight against 5.9. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (86) as a result.
Is the price difference worth it?
Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 costs $80, $220 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 MX 12.7: 12.7 mm Control Pro Black Polymer Core core with a Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber 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?
Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7, at 5.75 in of handle against 5.5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 avoids.
Which one is better for beginners?
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 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 unstable before that.
Which is lighter in the hand?
Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 at 8.25 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (112 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
Is it worth upgrading from the Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 to the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads on twist weight by 29 points; everything else is within 20 points. At $80 vs $300, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.

Also worth comparing

Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.

Top alternatives to both

Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.

Read the full reviews: Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 and JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.