JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Paddletek Tempest Wave V3
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 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 V 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, spin and control on Paddle DNA against the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3, which costs $150.
Power
88 vs 72
Spin
92 vs 80
Control
96 vs 92
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 86
Hand speed
110 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$150 at IQ 82.9 vs $300 at IQ 89.1
Overall pick: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 · $300 · IQ 89.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 88Power72
- 96Control92
- 92Spin80
- 86Forgiveness86
- 88Sweet spot87
- 90Stability82
- 73Maneuverability81
- 80Pop68
- 94Touch91
- 93Consistency89
- 74Swing weight56
- 88Twist weight76
- 51Launch angle58
- 86Plow through66
- 80Softness88
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 | Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $300 | $150 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 89.1 — better | 82.9 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 118 | 110 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.7 — better | 6.1 |
| Shape | hybrid | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw Toray T700 carbon | Textured carbon |
| Core material | KineticFrame foam-injected polymer | Tempest control core |
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 verdict
The 2026 control flagship. The KineticFrame build stiffens the perimeter without adding face pop, so resets land shorter and drives stay predictable — at the highest price in the database.
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 verdict
The reference control paddle for players who do not want the weight of a 20 mm build. Touch scores trail only the Luxx.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is plow through: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 86 against 66 for Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 — a 20-point gap. They are effectively level on touch, sweet spot, forgiveness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 is $150 cheaper at $150.
Plow through
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 20 points (86 vs 66).
Swing weight
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 18 points (74 vs 56).
Power
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 16 points (88 vs 72).
Spin
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 12 points (92 vs 80).
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
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 88 vs 76, stability 90 vs 82, consistency 93 vs 89. Twist weight 6.7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 92 vs 80, power 88 vs 72, control 96 vs 92. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Power
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the clearer pick at this level — power 88 vs 72, plow through 86 vs 66, spin 92 vs 80. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Power
- Plow through
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 88 vs 80. Its 16 mm Tempest control core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 if you want plow through (+20), swing weight (+18), power (+16). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 review →Paddletek Tempest Wave V3
Take Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 if you want maneuverability (+8), softness (+8), launch angle (+7). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 review →JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 FAQ
- Which is better, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 or the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 82.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 20 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave V3, at 110 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 or the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 88 for power against 72 for Paddletek Tempest Wave V3. That comes from a 16 mm KineticFrame 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 V 16 at 96 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 V 16 scores 92 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon face, against 80 for the Textured carbon face on Paddletek Tempest Wave V3. In practice a 12-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 86 on forgiveness despite twist weights of 6.7 and 6.1.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 costs $150, $150 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 V 16: 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face. Paddletek Tempest Wave V3: 16 mm Tempest control core with a Textured carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 at 7.9 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (110 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 to the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads on plow through by 20 points; everything else is within 18 points. At $300 vs $150, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 and Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 and Paddletek Tempest Wave V3. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.