JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin and control on Paddle DNA against the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16, which costs $280.
Power
Too close to call
90 vs 90
Spin
93 vs 86
Control
93 vs 84
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 85
Hand speed
Too close to call
118 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Too close to call
$280 at IQ 88.3 vs $280 at IQ 85.2
Overall pick: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 · $280 · IQ 88.3
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 90Power90
- 93Control84
- 93Spin86
- 85Forgiveness86
- 87Sweet spot88
- 90Stability90
- 71Maneuverability72
- 85Pop86
- 90Touch78
- 92Consistency84
- 79Swing weight80
- 85Twist weight88
- 55Launch angle58
- 88Plow through90
- 84Softness70
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 | Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $280 | $280 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 88.3 — better | 85.2 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.4 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 118 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.5 | 7 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw Toray T700 carbon | Raw carbon fiber |
| Core material | Gen 4 foam-injected polymer | Foam-injected polymer |
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.
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 verdict
A Labs release built for plow-through. Twist weight 88 and stability 90 are among the highest pairings in the database — it simply does not twist on off-center hits.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 scores 84 against 70 for Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 — a 14-point gap. They are effectively level on twist weight, launch angle, plow through, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Both sell for $280, so price cannot break the tie.
Softness
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 14 points (84 vs 70).
Touch
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 12 points (90 vs 78).
Control
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 9 points (93 vs 84).
Consistency
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 8 points (92 vs 84).
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 (87.9 vs 86.9 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — hybrid on the Perseus Pro IV 16, elongated on the Labs 008 Project 16.
- Consistency
- Control
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 is a narrow pick at this level — control 93 vs 84, touch 90 vs 78, spin 93 vs 86. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Touch
- Spin
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 is a narrow pick at this level — touch 90 vs 78, spin 93 vs 86, control 93 vs 84. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Touch
- Spin
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 84 vs 70. Its 16 mm Gen 4 foam-injected polymer core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 if you want softness (+14), touch (+12), control (+9). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 review →Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16
Take Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 if you prefer an elongated face and a 16 mm Foam-injected polymer core — it gives up nothing measurable to JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16.
Read the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 review →JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 or the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (88.3 vs 85.2), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 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 118 kg·cm², and swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 or the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 90 for power.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 at 93 versus 84. 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 scores 93 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon face, against 86 for the Raw carbon fiber face on Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16. In practice a 7-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 85). Its 7 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?
- Both list at $280. Too close to call — neither has an advantage here.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16: 16 mm Gen 4 foam-injected polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face. Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16: 16 mm Foam-injected polymer core with a Raw carbon fiber 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?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 88 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 at 8.3 oz against 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight is identical at 118 kg·cm², so they will feel the same mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 to the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads on softness by 14 points; everything else is within 12 points. At $280 vs $280, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
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- Labs 008 Project 16 vs 1X TruFoam Power
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- Labs 008 Project 16 vs Mach 2 Forza 16
- Labs 008 Project 16 vs Ultré Power 2
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 and Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 and Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.