HEAD Extreme Tour 16 vs Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. HEAD Extreme Tour 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
- 84Power90
- 84Control80
- 86Spin86
- 86Forgiveness84
- 86Sweet spot84
- 86Stability84
- 76Maneuverability76
- 82Pop88
- 80Touch74
- 84Consistency82
- 74Swing weight74
- 82Twist weight80
- 54Launch angle58
- 84Plow through84
- 76Softness62
HEAD Extreme Tour 16 vs Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | HEAD Extreme Tour 16 | Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $180 | $180 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 83.7 — better | 82.6 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.2 | 8.1 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 113 | 113 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.6 | 6.6 |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.4 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.4 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured carbon fiber | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| Core material | Comfort polymer honeycomb | Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls |
HEAD Extreme Tour 16 verdict
HEAD's most balanced pickleball build yet. Nothing spikes, but nothing drops below 74 either — a dependable tournament paddle for players who dislike surprises.
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 verdict
Six Zero finally built a power paddle. Pop 88 and power 90 at $180 undercut every flagship drive paddle in the database, and the DBD forgiveness DNA mostly survives the switch.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: HEAD Extreme Tour 16 scores 76 against 62 for Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 — a 14-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, sweet spot, stability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($180 vs $180) that it should not break the tie.
Softness
HEAD Extreme Tour 16 leads by 14 points (76 vs 62).
Power
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 leads by 6 points (90 vs 84).
Pop
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 leads by 6 points (88 vs 82).
Touch
HEAD Extreme Tour 16 leads by 6 points (80 vs 74).
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
HEAD Extreme Tour 16
HEAD Extreme Tour 16 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 86 vs 84, sweet spot 86 vs 84, stability 86 vs 84. Twist weight 6.6 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (82.7 vs 81.6 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — elongated on the Extreme Tour 16, elongated on the Black Diamond Power 16.
- Touch
- Control
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (82.8 vs 82.5 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — elongated on the Extreme Tour 16, elongated on the Black Diamond Power 16.
- Touch
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
HEAD Extreme Tour 16
HEAD Extreme Tour 16 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 76 vs 62, forgiveness 86 vs 84, twist weight 82 vs 80. Its 16 mm Comfort polymer honeycomb core at 8.2 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
HEAD Extreme Tour 16
Take HEAD Extreme Tour 16 if you want softness (+14), touch (+6), control (+4). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the HEAD Extreme Tour 16 review →Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16
Take Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 if you want power (+6), pop (+6), launch angle (+4). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 review →HEAD Extreme Tour 16 vs Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the HEAD Extreme Tour 16 or the Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16?
- HEAD Extreme Tour 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (83.7 vs 82.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — HEAD Extreme Tour 16 leads by 14 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- HEAD Extreme Tour 16, at 113 kg·cm² swing weight against 113 for Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the HEAD Extreme Tour 16 or the Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 measures 90 on power against 84 for HEAD Extreme Tour 16. That comes from a 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls core swinging at 113 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- HEAD Extreme Tour 16 at 84 versus 80. 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?
- HEAD Extreme Tour 16 scores 86 for spin off its Textured carbon fiber face, against 86 for the Raw Toray T700 carbon face on Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16. In practice a 0-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- HEAD Extreme Tour 16, with 6.6 twist weight against 6.6. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and HEAD Extreme Tour 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (86) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- They are within $0 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- HEAD Extreme Tour 16: 16 mm Comfort polymer honeycomb core with a Textured carbon fiber face. Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.4 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- HEAD Extreme Tour 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 86 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 at 8.1 oz against 8.2 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (113 vs 113) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 to the HEAD Extreme Tour 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. HEAD Extreme Tour 16 leads on softness by 14 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $180 vs $180, 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.
- Extreme Tour 16 vs R3 Pulsar
- Extreme Tour 16 vs Mod TA-15 3S 16
- Extreme Tour 16 vs Ruby
- Extreme Tour 16 vs Mach 1 Forza 16
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs Vantage Power 16
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs R4 Pulsar
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs AMPED Pro Air Invikta
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs Evoke Premier Pro
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: HEAD Extreme Tour 16 and Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.