GAMMA Obsidian 16 vs Rally Flare Graphite
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. GAMMA Obsidian 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Quick answer
GAMMA Obsidian 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes control and forgiveness on Paddle DNA against the Rally Flare Graphite, which costs $50.
Power
Too close to call
74 vs 72
Spin
Too close to call
74 vs 72
Control
86 vs 76
Forgiveness
88 vs 84
Hand speed
Too close to call
100 vs 102 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$50 at IQ 75.7 vs $150 at IQ 80.3
Overall pick: GAMMA Obsidian 16 · $150 · IQ 80.3
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 72Power74
- 86Control76
- 74Spin72
- 88Forgiveness84
- 86Sweet spot84
- 78Stability68
- 84Maneuverability90
- 68Pop86
- 86Touch74
- 84Consistency74
- 62Swing weight46
- 72Twist weight66
- 46Launch angle68
- 68Plow through54
- 86Softness74
GAMMA Obsidian 16 vs Rally Flare Graphite specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | GAMMA Obsidian 16 | Rally Flare Graphite |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $150 | $50 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.3 — better | 75.7 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.7 | 7.5 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 11 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 102 | 100 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.2 — better | 5.8 |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 15.8 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.135 |
| Surface | Textured graphite composite | Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb | Polymer honeycomb |
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.
Rally Flare Graphite verdict
A $50 carbon-faced paddle with a thin 11 mm core: poppy, light and easy to swing. It is a starter paddle, and the thin core shows the moment you try to reset a hard drive.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is launch angle: Rally Flare Graphite scores 68 against 46 for GAMMA Obsidian 16 — a 22-point gap. They are effectively level on power, spin, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Rally Flare Graphite is $100 cheaper at $50.
Launch angle
Rally Flare Graphite leads by 22 points (68 vs 46).
Pop
Rally Flare Graphite leads by 18 points (86 vs 68).
Swing weight
GAMMA Obsidian 16 leads by 16 points (62 vs 46).
Plow through
GAMMA Obsidian 16 leads by 14 points (68 vs 54).
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
GAMMA Obsidian 16
GAMMA Obsidian 16 is the clearer pick at this level — stability 78 vs 68, consistency 84 vs 74, forgiveness 88 vs 84. Twist weight 6.2 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Stability
- Consistency
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
GAMMA Obsidian 16
GAMMA Obsidian 16 is a narrow pick at this level — control 86 vs 76, touch 86 vs 74, consistency 84 vs 74. At 102 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Touch
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
GAMMA Obsidian 16
GAMMA Obsidian 16 is a narrow pick at this level — plow through 68 vs 54, touch 86 vs 74, control 86 vs 76. Swing weight 102 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Touch
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
GAMMA Obsidian 16
GAMMA Obsidian 16 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 86 vs 74, forgiveness 88 vs 84, twist weight 72 vs 66. Its 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core at 7.7 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
GAMMA Obsidian 16
Take GAMMA Obsidian 16 if you want swing weight (+16), plow through (+14), touch (+12). Its swing weight of 102 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the GAMMA Obsidian 16 review →Rally Flare Graphite
Take Rally Flare Graphite if you want launch angle (+22), pop (+18), maneuverability (+6). Its swing weight of 100 kg·cm² and 11 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Rally Flare Graphite review →GAMMA Obsidian 16 vs Rally Flare Graphite FAQ
- Which is better, the GAMMA Obsidian 16 or the Rally Flare Graphite?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.3 vs 75.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — launch angle — Rally Flare Graphite leads by 22 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Rally Flare Graphite, at 100 kg·cm² swing weight against 102 for GAMMA Obsidian 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 Rally Flare Graphite?
- Rally Flare Graphite scores 74 for power against 72 for GAMMA Obsidian 16. That comes from an 11 mm Polymer honeycomb core swinging at 100 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16 at 86 versus 76. 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?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16 scores 74 for spin off its Textured graphite composite face, against 72 for the Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture face on Rally Flare Graphite. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 84). Its 6.2 twist weight against 5.8 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Rally Flare Graphite costs $50, $100 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. Rally Flare Graphite: 11 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Rally Flare Graphite, at 5.3 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?
- 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. Rally Flare Graphite rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Rally Flare Graphite at 7.5 oz against 7.7 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (100 vs 102) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Rally Flare Graphite to the GAMMA Obsidian 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Rally Flare Graphite leads on launch angle by 22 points; everything else is within 18 points. At $150 vs $50, 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.
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Obsidian 16 vs Radical Tour Ultra 16
- Obsidian 16 vs R1 Pulsar
- Obsidian 16 vs Tempest Wave V3
- Obsidian 16 vs Black Ace LG
- Flare Graphite vs Z5 Graphite
- Flare Graphite vs Ben Johns Signature Pro
- Flare Graphite vs SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
- Flare Graphite vs Strike 4F
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 GAMMA Obsidian 16 and Rally Flare Graphite in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: GAMMA Obsidian 16 and Rally Flare Graphite. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.