Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 vs Paddletek Tempest Wave V3
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes power and spin on Paddle DNA against the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3, which costs $150.
Power
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16
80 vs 72
Spin
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16
86 vs 80
Control
92 vs 88
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 86
Hand speed
Too close to call
110 vs 110 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Too close to call
$150 at IQ 82.9 vs $160 at IQ 84.1
Overall pick: Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 · $160 · IQ 84.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 80Power72
- 88Control92
- 86Spin80
- 86Forgiveness86
- 86Sweet spot87
- 84Stability82
- 80Maneuverability81
- 76Pop68
- 86Touch91
- 86Consistency89
- 70Swing weight56
- 80Twist weight76
- 50Launch angle58
- 78Plow through66
- 80Softness88
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 vs Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 specs
Every 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 Wave V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 | $150 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.1 — better | 82.9 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 110 | 110 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.6 — better | 6.1 |
| 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 | Textured carbon |
| Core material | Thermoformed polypropylene honeycomb | Tempest control core |
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 Wave V3 verdict
The reference control paddle for players who do not want the weight of a 20 mm build. Touch scores trail only the Luxx.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is swing weight: Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 scores 70 against 56 for Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 — a 14-point gap. They are effectively level on consistency, stability, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($160 vs $150) that it should not break the tie.
Swing weight
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads by 14 points (70 vs 56).
Plow through
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads by 12 points (78 vs 66).
Power
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads by 8 points (80 vs 72).
Pop
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads by 8 points (76 vs 68).
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 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — hybrid on the Crush Control 16, standard on the Tempest Wave V3.
- Consistency
- Control
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.5 vs 84.2 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — hybrid on the Crush Control 16, standard on the Tempest Wave V3.
- Spin
- Power
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 is a narrow pick at this level — plow through 78 vs 66, power 80 vs 72, spin 86 vs 80. Swing weight 110 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Power
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 88 vs 80. Its 16 mm Tempest control 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 swing weight (+14), plow through (+12), power (+8). 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 Wave V3
Take Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 if you want launch angle (+8), softness (+8), touch (+5). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 review →Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 vs Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 FAQ
- Which is better, the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 or the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.1 vs 82.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads by 14 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both swing at 110 kg·cm², and 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 Wave V3?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 scores 80 for power against 72 for Paddletek Tempest Wave V3. 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 Wave V3 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 80 for the Textured carbon face on Paddletek Tempest Wave V3. In practice a 6-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- 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 6.6 and 6.1.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- They are within $10 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- 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 Wave V3: 16 mm Tempest control core with a Textured carbon 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. Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 at 7.9 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight is identical at 110 kg·cm², so they will feel the same mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 to the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads on swing weight by 14 points; everything else is within 12 points. At $160 vs $150, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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- Tempest Wave V3 vs Black Ace LG
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Guides featuring these paddles
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Read the full reviews: Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 and Paddletek Tempest Wave V3. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.