Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 vs Wilson Blaze Pro 16
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
- 80Power78
- 88Control82
- 86Spin78
- 86Forgiveness84
- 86Sweet spot84
- 84Stability80
- 80Maneuverability78
- 76Pop76
- 86Touch78
- 86Consistency84
- 70Swing weight70
- 80Twist weight76
- 50Launch angle52
- 78Plow through76
- 80Softness74
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 vs Wilson Blaze Pro 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 | Wilson Blaze Pro 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 — better | $170 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.1 — better | 80.2 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8 |
| 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 | 6.5 |
| Shape | hybrid | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.2 | 16.3 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.3 | 5.375 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw T700 carbon | Raw carbon fiber |
| Core material | Thermoformed polypropylene honeycomb | Polypropylene 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.
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 verdict
Wilson's most competitive pickleball paddle to date. Nothing in the DNA profile is exceptional, but nothing is a weakness either — it is the definition of a balanced all-court build.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is spin: Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 scores 86 against 78 for Wilson Blaze Pro 16 — a 8-point gap. They are effectively level on power, forgiveness, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($160 vs $170) that it should not break the tie.
Spin
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads by 8 points (86 vs 78).
Touch
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads by 8 points (86 vs 78).
Control
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads by 6 points (88 vs 82).
Softness
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 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
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 is a narrow pick at this level — stability 84 vs 80, twist weight 80 vs 76, forgiveness 86 vs 84. Twist weight 6.6 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Stability
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 86 vs 78, control 88 vs 82, touch 86 vs 78. At 110 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Control
- Touch
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 — spin 86 vs 78, touch 86 vs 78, control 88 vs 82. Swing weight 110 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Touch
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 80 vs 74, twist weight 80 vs 76, forgiveness 86 vs 84. Its 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene honeycomb core at 8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16
Take Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 if you want spin (+8), touch (+8), control (+6). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 review →Wilson Blaze Pro 16
Take Wilson Blaze Pro 16 if you prefer a elongated face and a 5.375 in handle — it gives up nothing measurable to Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16.
Read the Wilson Blaze Pro 16 review →Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 vs Wilson Blaze Pro 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 or the Wilson Blaze Pro 16?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.1 vs 80.2), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16, at 110 kg·cm² swing weight against 110 for Wilson Blaze Pro 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 Wilson Blaze Pro 16?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 measures 80 on power against 78 for Wilson Blaze Pro 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?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 at 88 versus 82. 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 78 for the Raw carbon fiber face on Wilson Blaze Pro 16. In practice a 8-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16, with 6.6 twist weight against 6.5. 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?
- 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. Wilson Blaze Pro 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Raw carbon fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16, at 5.375 in of handle against 5.3 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?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 at 8 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (110 vs 110) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Wilson Blaze Pro 16 to the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads on spin by 8 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $160 vs $170, 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
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 Wilson Blaze Pro 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.