Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm 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.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate of specialty retailers, we may earn from qualifying purchases — full disclosure.
Quick answer
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, which costs $300.
Power
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
92 vs 88
Spin
Too close to call
92 vs 90
Control
96 vs 85
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 86
Hand speed
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
112 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
$169 at IQ 85.9 vs $300 at IQ 89.1
Overall pick: Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm · $169 · IQ 85.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
Estimated scores: the Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm Paddle DNA is our estimate from published specs, not a sourced profile.
- 92Power88
- 85Control96
- 90Spin92
- 86Forgiveness86
- 88Sweet spot88
- 84Stability90
- 80Maneuverability73
- 90Pop80
- 83Touch94
- 85Consistency93
- 72Swing weight74
- 82Twist weight88
- 60Launch angle51
- 83Plow through86
- 78Softness80
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm 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 | Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm | JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $169 — better | $300 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 85.9 | 89.1 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 112 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 | 6.7 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.375 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.625 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | T700 raw carbon fiber face | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| Core material | Gen 4 full-foam EPP core with EVA foam perimeter | KineticFrame foam-injected polymer |
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm verdict
Friday's Gen 4 full-foam Aura Pro in the hybrid shape pairs a power-focused response with a quick published 112 swing weight. The published 6.4 twist weight is moderate, so it gives up some stability on paper to heavier all-court hybrids.
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 control: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 96 against 85 for Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm — an 11-point gap. They are effectively level on plow through, spin, swing weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm is $131 cheaper at $169.
Control
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 11 points (96 vs 85).
Touch
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 11 points (94 vs 83).
Pop
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm leads by 10 points (90 vs 80).
Launch angle
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm leads by 9 points (60 vs 51).
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
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is a narrow pick at this level — consistency 93 vs 85, stability 90 vs 84, twist weight 88 vs 82. Twist weight 6.7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Consistency
- Stability
- Twist weight
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 85, touch 94 vs 83, consistency 93 vs 85. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Touch
- Consistency
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 — touch 94 vs 83, control 96 vs 85, plow through 86 vs 83. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Touch
- Control
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 80 vs 78, twist weight 88 vs 82. Its 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
Take Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm if you want pop (+10), launch angle (+9), maneuverability (+7). Its swing weight of 112 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm review →JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 if you want control (+11), touch (+11), consistency (+8). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 review →Where to Buy
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm 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 — control — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 11 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm, 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 Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm or the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm scores 92 for power against 88 for JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. That comes from a 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam EPP core with EVA foam perimeter core swinging at 112 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 at 96 versus 85. 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 T700 raw carbon fiber face on Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 86 on forgiveness despite twist weights of 6.4 and 6.7.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm costs $169, $131 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?
- Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm: 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam EPP core with EVA foam perimeter core with a T700 raw 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?
- 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Forgiveness (86) and sweet spot (88) are identical, so a developing player can start on either — decide on price and handle feel.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm at 7.9 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 Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm to the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads on control by 11 points; everything else is within 11 points. At $169 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.
- Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm vs Coral Pro
- 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 Series Four (Project Roadrunner)
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Perseus Pro V 14
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Coral Pro
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm vs Q2 Elongated 16mm
- Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm vs Loco 2 Hybrid 16mm
- Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm vs Spitfire Elongated 16mm
- Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm vs Jade Elongated 16mm
- 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 Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm and JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm and JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.