Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 vs Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Paddletek Tempest Pro C 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
- 80Power76
- 88Control92
- 86Spin84
- 86Forgiveness86
- 86Sweet spot86
- 84Stability84
- 80Maneuverability80
- 76Pop72
- 86Touch92
- 86Consistency90
- 70Swing weight68
- 80Twist weight78
- 50Launch angle46
- 78Plow through74
- 80Softness88
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 vs Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 | Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 — better | $190 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.1 | 84.5 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 110 | 107 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.6 — better | 6.4 |
| Shape | hybrid | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16.2 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.3 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw T700 carbon | Raw carbon fiber |
| Core material | Thermoformed polypropylene honeycomb | Poly-Core II honeycomb |
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 verdict
Holbrook's first genuinely competitive control paddle. The hybrid shape and 110 swing weight make it an easy switch from a standard build without losing kitchen-line speed.
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 verdict
Paddletek's control benchmark. Control 92, touch 92 and softness 88 with a 107 swing weight is the classic soft-game recipe, updated with a raw carbon face for spin 84.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 scores 88 against 80 for Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 — a 8-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, swing weight, twist weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 is $30 cheaper at $160.
Softness
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 leads by 8 points (88 vs 80).
Touch
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 leads by 6 points (92 vs 86).
Power
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads by 4 points (80 vs 76).
Control
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 leads by 4 points (92 vs 88).
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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.9 vs 85.5 on the weighted index). Take Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 and keep the $30.
- Consistency
- Control
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.5 vs 85.5 on the weighted index). Take Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 and keep the $30.
- Touch
- Control
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (82.9 vs 82.5 on the weighted index). Take Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 and keep the $30.
- Power
- Plow through
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 88 vs 80. Its 16 mm Poly-Core II honeycomb core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16
Take Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 if you want power (+4), pop (+4), launch angle (+4). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 review →Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16
Take Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 if you want softness (+8), touch (+6), control (+4). Its swing weight of 107 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 review →Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 vs Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 or the Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16?
- Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.5 vs 84.1), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16, at 107 kg·cm² swing weight against 110 for Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 or the Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 measures 80 on power against 76 for Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16. That comes from a 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene honeycomb core swinging at 110 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 at 92 versus 88. 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?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 scores 86 for spin off its Raw T700 carbon face, against 84 for the Raw carbon fiber face on Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16, with 6.6 twist weight against 6.4. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (86) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 costs $160, $30 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?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene honeycomb core with a Raw T700 carbon face. Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16: 16 mm Poly-Core II honeycomb core with a Raw carbon fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16, at 5.3 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 86 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 at 7.9 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (107 vs 110) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 to the Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 leads on softness by 8 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $160 vs $190, 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.
- Crush Control 16 vs Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0
- Crush Control 16 vs SLK Halo XL Control
- Crush Control 16 vs Double Black Diamond Control V2
- Crush Control 16 vs R3 Pulsar
- Tempest Pro C 16 vs Black Ace LG
- Tempest Pro C 16 vs Sapphire 16
- Tempest Pro C 16 vs Atlas 16
- Tempest Pro C 16 vs R1 Pulsar
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 and Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.