Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid vs Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin, control and hand speed on Paddle DNA against the Franklin Signature Carbon STR, which costs $110.
Power
Too close to call
76 vs 75
Spin
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
90 vs 80
Control
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
92 vs 83
Forgiveness
85 vs 77
Hand speed
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
103 vs 110 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Too close to call
$110 at IQ 80.6 vs $110 at IQ 79.8
Overall pick: Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid · $110 · IQ 80.6
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 75Power76
- 92Control83
- 90Spin80
- 77Forgiveness85
- 76Sweet spot86
- 75Stability78
- 92Maneuverability82
- 72Pop76
- 90Touch79
- 81Consistency81
- 55Swing weight54
- 65Twist weight72
- 47Launch angle63
- 64Plow through64
- 88Softness82
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid vs Franklin Signature Carbon STR specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid | Franklin Signature Carbon STR |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $110 | $110 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.6 — better | 79.8 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 15.2 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 103 | 110 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 — better | 6 |
| Shape | hybrid | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16.25 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.75 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.375 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber | Raw carbon |
| Core material | MachPro Polymer | Polymer honeycomb |
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid verdict
Engage's 15.2 mm hybrid sits between the brand's control and power lines, and at street price it undercuts every comparable raw-carbon hybrid in the database.
Franklin Signature Carbon STR verdict
Franklin's most credible performance paddle to date. It will not win a spin shootout, but the balance and build quality are honest for the money.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is launch angle: Franklin Signature Carbon STR scores 63 against 47 for Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid — a 16-point gap. They are effectively level on stability, power, swing weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Both sell for $110, so price cannot break the tie.
Launch angle
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 16 points (63 vs 47).
Touch
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid leads by 11 points (90 vs 79).
Spin
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid leads by 10 points (90 vs 80).
Sweet spot
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 10 points (86 vs 76).
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
Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Franklin Signature Carbon STR is the clearer pick at this level — sweet spot 86 vs 76, forgiveness 85 vs 77, twist weight 72 vs 65. Twist weight 6 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid is the clearer pick at this level — spin 90 vs 80, maneuverability 92 vs 82, control 92 vs 83. At 103 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Maneuverability
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid is the clearer pick at this level — spin 90 vs 80, touch 90 vs 79, maneuverability 92 vs 82. Swing weight 103 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Touch
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (80.8 vs 81 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — hybrid on the Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid, standard on the Signature Carbon STR.
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
Take Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid if you want touch (+11), spin (+10), maneuverability (+10). Its swing weight of 103 kg·cm² and 15.2 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid review →Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Take Franklin Signature Carbon STR if you want launch angle (+16), sweet spot (+10), forgiveness (+8). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Signature Carbon STR review →Where to Buy
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid vs Franklin Signature Carbon STR FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid or the Franklin Signature Carbon STR?
- Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.6 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — launch angle — Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 16 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid, at 103 kg·cm² swing weight against 110 for Franklin Signature Carbon STR. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid or the Franklin Signature Carbon STR?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR scores 76 for power against 75 for Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid. That comes from a 16 mm Polymer honeycomb core swinging at 110 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid at 92 versus 83. Its 15.2 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 Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid scores 90 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber face, against 80 for the Raw carbon face on Franklin Signature Carbon STR. In practice a 10-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR, with the higher forgiveness score (85 vs 77). Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid actually carries the higher twist weight (6.1 vs 6), but Franklin Signature Carbon STR makes it back on sweet spot (86) and overall face stability.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Both list at $110. Too close to call — neither has an advantage here.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid: 15.2 mm MachPro Polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber face. Franklin Signature Carbon STR: 16 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Raw carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid, at 5.375 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?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 85 and sweet spot 86 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid 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 oz, though swing weight differs (103 vs 110) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Franklin Signature Carbon STR to the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads on launch angle by 16 points; everything else is within 11 points. At $110 vs $110, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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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 Pro1 6.0 Hybrid and Franklin Signature Carbon STR in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid and Franklin Signature Carbon STR. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.