Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 vs ProKennex Black Ace LG
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. 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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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 80Power74
- 88Control88
- 86Spin82
- 86Forgiveness88
- 86Sweet spot86
- 84Stability82
- 80Maneuverability78
- 76Pop70
- 86Touch90
- 86Consistency88
- 70Swing weight70
- 80Twist weight78
- 50Launch angle48
- 78Plow through76
- 80Softness92
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 vs ProKennex Black Ace LG 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 | ProKennex Black Ace LG |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 — better | $200 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.1 — better | 83.1 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 110 | 109 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.6 — better | 6.4 |
| Shape | hybrid | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.2 | 16.3 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.3 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw T700 carbon | Textured carbon |
| Core material | Thermoformed polypropylene honeycomb | Kinetic core with damping chambers |
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.
ProKennex Black Ace LG verdict
The most arm-friendly build in the database. Softness 92 comes from ProKennex's Kinetic damping, and it is the one paddle we recommend without hesitation for players managing tendon pain.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: ProKennex Black Ace LG scores 92 against 80 for Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, stability, maneuverability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 is $40 cheaper at $160.
Softness
ProKennex Black Ace LG leads by 12 points (92 vs 80).
Power
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads by 6 points (80 vs 74).
Pop
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads by 6 points (76 vs 70).
Spin
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads by 4 points (86 vs 82).
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 85.1 on the weighted index). Take Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 and keep the $40.
- Forgiveness
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.5 vs 83.7 on the weighted index). Take Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 and keep the $40.
- Power
- Spin
- Maneuverability
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 — power 80 vs 74, spin 86 vs 82, plow through 78 vs 76. Swing weight 110 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Power
- Spin
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
ProKennex Black Ace LG
ProKennex Black Ace LG is the clearer pick at this level — softness 92 vs 80, forgiveness 88 vs 86. Its 16 mm Kinetic core with damping chambers core at 8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16
Take Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 if you want power (+6), pop (+6), spin (+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 →ProKennex Black Ace LG
Take ProKennex Black Ace LG if you want softness (+12), touch (+4). Its swing weight of 109 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the ProKennex Black Ace LG review →Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 vs ProKennex Black Ace LG FAQ
- Which is better, the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 or the ProKennex Black Ace LG?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.1 vs 83.1), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — ProKennex Black Ace LG leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- ProKennex Black Ace LG, at 109 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 ProKennex Black Ace LG?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 measures 80 on power against 74 for ProKennex Black Ace LG. 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?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 at 88 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 82 for the Textured carbon face on ProKennex Black Ace LG. In practice a 4-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 ProKennex Black Ace LG carries the higher forgiveness score (88) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 costs $160, $40 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. ProKennex Black Ace LG: 16 mm Kinetic core with damping chambers core with a Textured carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- ProKennex Black Ace LG, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.3 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which ProKennex Black Ace LG avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- ProKennex Black Ace LG is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 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?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 at 8 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (110 vs 109) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the ProKennex Black Ace LG to the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. ProKennex Black Ace LG leads on softness by 12 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $160 vs $200, 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
- Black Ace LG vs Tempest Pro C 16
- Black Ace LG vs Double Black Diamond Control V2
- Black Ace LG vs Atlas 16
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 ProKennex Black Ace LG. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.