JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Rally Flare Graphite
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 88Power74
- 96Control76
- 92Spin72
- 86Forgiveness84
- 88Sweet spot84
- 90Stability68
- 73Maneuverability90
- 80Pop86
- 94Touch74
- 93Consistency74
- 74Swing weight46
- 88Twist weight66
- 51Launch angle68
- 86Plow through54
- 80Softness74
Specs
| $300 | Price | $50 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 11 mm |
| 8.3 oz | Weight | 7.5 oz |
| 118 | Swing weight | 100 |
| 6.7 | Twist weight | 5.8 |
| hybrid | Shape | standard |
| Raw Toray T700 carbon | Surface | Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.3 in |
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.
Rally Flare Graphite verdict
A $50 carbon-faced paddle with a thin 11 mm core: poppy, light and easy to swing. It is a starter paddle, and the thin core shows the moment you try to reset a hard drive.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is plow through: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 86 against 54 for Rally Flare Graphite — a 32-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Rally Flare Graphite is $250 cheaper at $50.
Plow through
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 32 points (86 vs 54).
Swing weight
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 28 points (74 vs 46).
Stability
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 22 points (90 vs 68).
Twist weight
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 22 points (88 vs 66).
Which one should you buy?
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 if you want plow through (+32), swing weight (+28), stability (+22). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 review →Rally Flare Graphite
Take Rally Flare Graphite if you want maneuverability (+17), launch angle (+17), pop (+6). Its swing weight of 100 kg·cm² and 11 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Rally Flare Graphite review →JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Rally Flare Graphite FAQ
- Which is better, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 or the Rally Flare Graphite?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 75.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 32 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Rally Flare Graphite, at 100 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 Rally Flare Graphite?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 measures 88 on power against 74 for Rally Flare Graphite. 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 76. 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 72 for the Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture face on Rally Flare Graphite. In practice a 20-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, with 6.7 twist weight against 5.8. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (86) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Rally Flare Graphite costs $50, $250 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. Rally Flare Graphite: 11 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.3 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. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Rally Flare Graphite at 7.5 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (100 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Rally Flare Graphite 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 32 points; everything else is within 28 points. At $300 vs $50, 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 V 16 vs Perseus CFS 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Perseus Pro IV 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs CRBN-3X Power Series
- Flare Graphite vs Z5 Graphite
- Flare Graphite vs Ben Johns Signature Pro
- Flare Graphite vs SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
- Flare Graphite vs Strike 4F
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 and Rally Flare Graphite. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.