GAMMA Obsidian 16 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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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 72Power88
- 86Control96
- 74Spin92
- 88Forgiveness86
- 86Sweet spot88
- 78Stability90
- 84Maneuverability73
- 68Pop80
- 86Touch94
- 84Consistency93
- 62Swing weight74
- 72Twist weight88
- 46Launch angle51
- 68Plow through86
- 86Softness80
GAMMA Obsidian 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | GAMMA Obsidian 16 | JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $150 — better | $300 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.3 | 89.1 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.7 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 102 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.2 | 6.7 — better |
| Shape | standard | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 15.8 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured graphite composite | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb | KineticFrame foam-injected polymer |
GAMMA Obsidian 16 verdict
The softest paddle in this group and one of the lightest-swinging. Softness 86 plus a 102 swing weight is a recipe for confident dinks — provided you accept a low power ceiling.
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 spin: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 92 against 74 for GAMMA Obsidian 16 — a 18-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. GAMMA Obsidian 16 is $150 cheaper at $150.
Spin
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 18 points (92 vs 74).
Plow through
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 18 points (86 vs 68).
Power
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 16 points (88 vs 72).
Twist weight
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 16 points (88 vs 72).
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 the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 88 vs 72, stability 90 vs 78, consistency 93 vs 84. Twist weight 6.7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 92 vs 74, power 88 vs 72, control 96 vs 86. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Power
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 92 vs 74, power 88 vs 72, plow through 86 vs 68. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Power
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84 vs 83.1 on the weighted index). Take GAMMA Obsidian 16 and keep the $150.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
GAMMA Obsidian 16
Take GAMMA Obsidian 16 if you want maneuverability (+11), softness (+6). Its swing weight of 102 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the GAMMA Obsidian 16 review →JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 if you want spin (+18), plow through (+18), power (+16). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 review →GAMMA Obsidian 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the GAMMA Obsidian 16 or the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 80.3), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 18 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16, at 102 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 GAMMA Obsidian 16 or the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 measures 88 on power against 72 for GAMMA Obsidian 16. 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 86. 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 74 for the Textured graphite composite face on GAMMA Obsidian 16. In practice a 18-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, with 6.7 twist weight against 6.2. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and GAMMA Obsidian 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (88) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16 costs $150, $150 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?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Textured graphite composite 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 86 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?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16 at 7.7 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (102 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the GAMMA Obsidian 16 to the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads on spin by 18 points; everything else is within 18 points. At $150 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.
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- Obsidian 16 vs Tempest Wave V3
- Obsidian 16 vs Encore Pro EX
- 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.
Read the full reviews: GAMMA Obsidian 16 and JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.