JOOLA Essentials 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. JOOLA Essentials 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
- 74Power77
- 89Control89
- 78Spin90
- 91Forgiveness77
- 92Sweet spot75
- 79Stability84
- 84Maneuverability92
- 76Pop76
- 82Touch88
- 86Consistency83
- 46Swing weight50
- 71Twist weight74
- 66Launch angle49
- 62Plow through64
- 88Softness85
Specs
| $89 | Price | $130 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 14 mm |
| 7.9 oz | Weight | 8.4 oz |
| 108 | Swing weight | 100 |
| 5.8 | Twist weight | 6.4 |
| standard | Shape | standard |
| Textured fiberglass | Surface | Florek Carbon Face with InfiniGrit |
| 5 in | Handle | 5.25 in |
JOOLA Essentials 16 verdict
The widest measured sweet spot in our sub-$100 test group. Mishits off the top third still clear the net, which is exactly what a new player needs while their contact point is inconsistent.
Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 verdict
A titanium mesh layer under the Florek carbon face gives the 007 Epic a firmer, louder response than the rest of the Labs line, and it sells for a third of Boomstik money.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is sweet spot: JOOLA Essentials 16 scores 92 against 75 for Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 — a 17-point gap. They are effectively level on power, consistency, twist weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. JOOLA Essentials 16 is $41 cheaper at $89.
Sweet spot
JOOLA Essentials 16 leads by 17 points (92 vs 75).
Launch angle
JOOLA Essentials 16 leads by 17 points (66 vs 49).
Forgiveness
JOOLA Essentials 16 leads by 14 points (91 vs 77).
Spin
Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 leads by 12 points (90 vs 78).
Which one should you buy?
JOOLA Essentials 16
Take JOOLA Essentials 16 if you want sweet spot (+17), launch angle (+17), forgiveness (+14). Its swing weight of 108 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Essentials 16 review →Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14
Take Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 if you want spin (+12), maneuverability (+8), touch (+6). Its swing weight of 100 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 review →JOOLA Essentials 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 FAQ
- Which is better, the JOOLA Essentials 16 or the Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14?
- JOOLA Essentials 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (82.2 vs 82), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — sweet spot — JOOLA Essentials 16 leads by 17 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14, at 100 kg·cm² swing weight against 108 for JOOLA Essentials 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the JOOLA Essentials 16 or the Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14?
- Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 measures 77 on power against 74 for JOOLA Essentials 16. That comes from a 14 mm Polypropylene Honeycomb with Patent Pending Titanium Mesh Layer System core swinging at 100 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Essentials 16 at 89 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?
- Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 scores 90 for spin off its Florek Carbon Face with InfiniGrit face, against 78 for the Textured fiberglass face on JOOLA Essentials 16. In practice a 12-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14, with 6.4 twist weight against 5.8. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and JOOLA Essentials 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (91) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- JOOLA Essentials 16 costs $89, $41 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?
- JOOLA Essentials 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Textured fiberglass face. Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14: 14 mm Polypropylene Honeycomb with Patent Pending Titanium Mesh Layer System core with a Florek Carbon Face with InfiniGrit face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14, at 5.25 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- JOOLA Essentials 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 91 and sweet spot 92 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- JOOLA Essentials 16 at 7.9 oz against 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (108 vs 100) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 to the JOOLA Essentials 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Essentials 16 leads on sweet spot by 17 points; everything else is within 17 points. At $89 vs $130, 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.
- Essentials 16 vs Encore Pro EX
- Essentials 16 vs Prism Flash
- Essentials 16 vs Signature Carbon STR
- Essentials 16 vs Kinetic Pro Flight
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Scorpeus 14
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs BALLR+ 16
Top alternatives to both
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Read the full reviews: JOOLA Essentials 16 and Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.