Honolulu J2CR vs JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
The direct-to-consumer challenger against JOOLA's flagship at roughly double the price. Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Honolulu J2CR takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Quick answer
Honolulu J2CR wins this matchup for most players: it takes forgiveness, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16, which costs $249.95.
Power
Too close to call
92 vs 90
Spin
Too close to call
93 vs 93
Control
93 vs 89
Forgiveness
90 vs 85
Hand speed
112 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$230 at IQ 88.7 vs $249.95 at IQ 88.3
Overall pick: Honolulu J2CR · $230 · IQ 88.7
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 92Power90
- 89Control93
- 93Spin93
- 90Forgiveness85
- 90Sweet spot87
- 89Stability90
- 78Maneuverability71
- 87Pop85
- 86Touch90
- 89Consistency92
- 74Swing weight79
- 88Twist weight85
- 56Launch angle55
- 86Plow through88
- 82Softness84
Honolulu J2CR vs JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Honolulu J2CR | JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $230 — better | $280 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 88.7 — better | 88.3 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 112 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 — better | 6.5 |
| Shape | hybrid | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.3 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Blue Grit textured carbon | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| Core material | Full foam core | Gen 4 foam-injected polymer |
Honolulu J2CR verdict
The foam paddle with no obvious hole. Elite power and forgiveness in a hybrid shape that still moves at the kitchen, on a Blue Grit face that holds its spin numbers far longer than most textured surfaces.
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 verdict
JOOLA's foam-era flagship. It keeps the Perseus hybrid footprint but adds perimeter foam, so drives leave hotter without the control numbers collapsing.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is maneuverability: Honolulu J2CR scores 78 against 71 for JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 — a 7-point gap. They are effectively level on sweet spot, consistency, twist weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Honolulu J2CR is $19.94999999999999 cheaper at $230.
Maneuverability
Honolulu J2CR leads by 7 points (78 vs 71).
Forgiveness
Honolulu J2CR leads by 5 points (90 vs 85).
Swing weight
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 5 points (79 vs 74).
Control
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 4 points (93 vs 89).
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 (89.3 vs 87.9 on the weighted index). Take Honolulu J2CR and keep the $19.94999999999999.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (87.9 vs 87.3 on the weighted index). Take Honolulu J2CR and keep the $19.94999999999999.
- Maneuverability
- Forgiveness
- Power
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (88.1 vs 88.3 on the weighted index). Take Honolulu J2CR and keep the $19.94999999999999.
- Touch
- Control
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.3 vs 84.5 on the weighted index). Take Honolulu J2CR and keep the $19.94999999999999.
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Honolulu J2CR
Take Honolulu J2CR if you want maneuverability (+7), forgiveness (+5). Its swing weight of 112 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Honolulu J2CR review →JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 if you want swing weight (+5), control (+4), touch (+4). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 review →Honolulu J2CR vs JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Honolulu J2CR or the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16?
- Honolulu J2CR carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (88.7 vs 88.3), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — maneuverability — Honolulu J2CR leads by 7 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Honolulu J2CR, at 112 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Honolulu J2CR or the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16?
- Honolulu J2CR scores 92 for power against 90 for JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16. That comes from a 16 mm Full foam core swinging at 112 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 at 93 versus 89. 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 93 for spin.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Honolulu J2CR, with the higher forgiveness score (90 vs 85). Its 6.8 twist weight against 6.5 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Honolulu J2CR costs $230, $19.94999999999999 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?
- Honolulu J2CR: 16 mm Full foam core with a Blue Grit textured carbon face. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16: 16 mm Gen 4 foam-injected polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both run a 5.5 in handle, long enough that neither forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Honolulu J2CR is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 90 and sweet spot 90 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Honolulu J2CR at 8 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (112 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 to the Honolulu J2CR?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Honolulu J2CR leads on maneuverability by 7 points; everything else is within 5 points. At $230 vs $249.95, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- J2CR vs Coral Pro
- J2CR vs CRBN-3X Power Series
- J2CR vs Infinity Ruby 16
- J2CR vs Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs CRBN-1X
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Coral Pro
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs OMNI 16
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Honolulu J2CR and JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Honolulu J2CR and JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.