JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Volair Mach 1 Forza 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. 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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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 90Power86
- 93Control88
- 93Spin87
- 85Forgiveness86
- 87Sweet spot87
- 90Stability86
- 71Maneuverability75
- 85Pop82
- 90Touch85
- 92Consistency86
- 79Swing weight76
- 85Twist weight85
- 55Launch angle56
- 88Plow through82
- 84Softness84
Specs
| $280 | Price | $170 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8.3 oz | Weight | 8.1 oz |
| 118 | Swing weight | 113 |
| 6.5 | Twist weight | 6.6 |
| hybrid | Shape | hybrid |
| Raw Toray T700 carbon | Surface | Raw carbon |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.5 in |
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.
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 verdict
The Forza is the sensible hybrid: nothing extreme, everything solid. It is the paddle to hand someone moving off a big-box starter without overwhelming them.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is spin: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 scores 93 against 87 for Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 — a 6-point gap. They are effectively level on pop, swing weight, forgiveness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 is $110 cheaper at $170.
Spin
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 6 points (93 vs 87).
Consistency
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 6 points (92 vs 86).
Plow through
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 6 points (88 vs 82).
Control
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 5 points (93 vs 88).
Which one should you buy?
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 if you want spin (+6), consistency (+6), plow through (+6). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 review →Volair Mach 1 Forza 16
Take Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 if you want maneuverability (+4). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 review →JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 or the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (88.3 vs 85.3), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 6 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16, at 113 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 JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 or the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 measures 90 on power against 86 for Volair Mach 1 Forza 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 88. 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 87 for the Raw carbon face on Volair Mach 1 Forza 16. In practice a 6-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16, with 6.6 twist weight against 6.5. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (86) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 costs $170, $110 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 Perseus Pro IV 16: 16 mm Gen 4 foam-injected polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face. Volair Mach 1 Forza 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 87 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 at 8.1 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (113 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 to the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads on spin by 6 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $280 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.
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs TruFoam Genesis X
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Nova R1
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs TruFoam Genesis 3
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Pegasus Gen 3
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Loco 16mm Standard
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Nova R1
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Oni 16
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Ruby
Top alternatives to both
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Read the full reviews: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 and Volair Mach 1 Forza 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.