JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Selkirk OMNI 16
All-court versatility against the flagship elongated most Omni shoppers cross-shop. Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Selkirk OMNI 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Selkirk OMNI 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (88.7 vs 88.3), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
90 vs 89
Spin
93 vs 88
Control
Too close to call
93 vs 92
Forgiveness
90 vs 85
Hand speed
115 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$249.95 at IQ 88.3 vs $280 at IQ 88.7
Overall pick: Selkirk OMNI 16 · $280 · IQ 88.7
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 90Power89
- 93Control92
- 93Spin88
- 85Forgiveness90
- 87Sweet spot91
- 90Stability90
- 71Maneuverability74
- 85Pop84
- 90Touch90
- 92Consistency91
- 79Swing weight76
- 85Twist weight89
- 55Launch angle54
- 88Plow through85
- 84Softness86
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Selkirk OMNI 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 OMNI 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $280 | $280 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 88.3 | 88.7 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.1 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 118 | 115 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.5 | 6.9 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.4 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.6 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw Toray T700 carbon | Raw carbon |
| Core material | Gen 4 foam-injected polymer | Full EVA foam core |
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 OMNI 16 verdict
Selkirk's answer to the foam era, and the most balanced paddle they have built. The OMNI refuses to specialize: power and control both sit in the top decile, which is rare and expensive.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is spin: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 scores 93 against 88 for Selkirk OMNI 16 — a 5-point gap. They are effectively level on maneuverability, swing weight, plow through, so those traits should not decide the purchase. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 is $30.05000000000001 cheaper at $249.95.
Spin
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 5 points (93 vs 88).
Forgiveness
Selkirk OMNI 16 leads by 5 points (90 vs 85).
Sweet spot
Selkirk OMNI 16 leads by 4 points (91 vs 87).
Twist weight
Selkirk OMNI 16 leads by 4 points (89 vs 85).
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
Selkirk OMNI 16
Selkirk OMNI 16 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 90 vs 85, sweet spot 91 vs 87, twist weight 89 vs 85. Twist weight 6.9 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- 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 (87.2 vs 87.3 on the weighted index). Take JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 and keep the $30.05000000000001.
- Spin
- Control
- Power
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.8 vs 88.3 on the weighted index). Take JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 and keep the $30.05000000000001.
- Spin
- Plow through
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk OMNI 16
Selkirk OMNI 16 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 90 vs 85, softness 86 vs 84, twist weight 89 vs 85. Its 16 mm Full EVA foam core at 8.1 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Forgiveness
- Softness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk OMNI 16
Take Selkirk OMNI 16 if you want forgiveness (+5), sweet spot (+4), twist weight (+4). Its swing weight of 115 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk OMNI 16 review →JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 if you want spin (+5). 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 OMNI 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk OMNI 16 or the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16?
- Selkirk OMNI 16 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 — spin — JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 5 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk OMNI 16, at 115 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 Selkirk OMNI 16 or the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 scores 90 for power against 89 for Selkirk OMNI 16. That comes from a 16 mm Gen 4 foam-injected polymer core swinging at 118 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 at 93 versus 92. 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 88 for the Raw carbon face on Selkirk OMNI 16. In practice a 5-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk OMNI 16, with the higher forgiveness score (90 vs 85). Its 6.9 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 costs $249.95, $30.05000000000001 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?
- Selkirk OMNI 16: 16 mm Full EVA foam core with a Raw 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?
- Selkirk OMNI 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 90 and sweet spot 91 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?
- Selkirk OMNI 16 at 8.1 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (115 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 to the Selkirk OMNI 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads on spin by 5 points; everything else is within 5 points. At $280 vs $249.95, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a hand speed vs plow through decision
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Read the full reviews: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 and Selkirk OMNI 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.