JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
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.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate of specialty retailers, we may earn from qualifying purchases — full disclosure.
Quick answer
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, which costs $300.
Power
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
93 vs 88
Spin
Too close to call
92 vs 90
Control
96 vs 84
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 85
Hand speed
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
114 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
$249.99 at IQ 85.1 vs $300 at IQ 89.1
Overall pick: RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm · $249.99 · IQ 85.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
Estimated scores: the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm Paddle DNA is our estimate from published specs, not a sourced profile.
- 88Power93
- 96Control84
- 92Spin90
- 86Forgiveness85
- 88Sweet spot87
- 90Stability84
- 73Maneuverability76
- 80Pop91
- 94Touch80
- 93Consistency85
- 74Swing weight76
- 88Twist weight80
- 51Launch angle62
- 86Plow through85
- 80Softness70
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm 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 | RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $300 | $249.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 89.1 — better | 85.1 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 7.8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 118 | 114 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.7 — better | 6.1 |
| Shape | hybrid | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Raw Toray T700 carbon | Carbon fiber surface |
| Core material | KineticFrame foam-injected polymer | Gen 4 full-foam 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.
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm verdict
RPM's Gen 4 full-foam Q2 trades the Friction Pro's honeycomb feel for a firmer, more powerful response. The published 114 swing weight is lighter than most elongated power paddles, while the 6.1 twist weight is on the low side for the shape.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is touch: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 94 against 80 for RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm — a 14-point gap. They are effectively level on maneuverability, spin, swing weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm is $50.00999999999999 cheaper at $249.99.
Touch
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 14 points (94 vs 80).
Control
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 12 points (96 vs 84).
Pop
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 11 points (91 vs 80).
Launch angle
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 11 points (62 vs 51).
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 80, consistency 93 vs 85, stability 90 vs 84. Twist weight 6.7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Consistency
- Stability
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 — control 96 vs 84, touch 94 vs 80, consistency 93 vs 85. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Touch
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is a narrow pick at this level — touch 94 vs 80, control 96 vs 84, spin 92 vs 90. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Touch
- Control
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 80 vs 70, twist weight 88 vs 80, forgiveness 86 vs 85. Its 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 if you want touch (+14), control (+12), softness (+10). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 review →RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
Take RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm if you want pop (+11), launch angle (+11), power (+5). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm review →Where to Buy
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 or the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 85.1), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — touch — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 14 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm, at 114 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 RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm scores 93 for power against 88 for JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. That comes from a 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam core swinging at 114 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 at 96 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 V 16 scores 92 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon face, against 90 for the Carbon fiber surface on RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 85). Its 6.7 twist weight against 6.1 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm costs $249.99, $50.00999999999999 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. RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm: 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam core with a Carbon fiber surface.
- 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?
- 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. RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm at 7.8 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (114 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm to the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads on touch by 14 points; everything else is within 12 points. At $300 vs $249.99, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Perseus Pro IV 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Hyperion Pro V 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs 2X Power Series
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Series Four (Project Roadrunner)
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Perseus Pro V 14
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Coral Pro
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Prism Flash
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
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Mach 2 Forza 16
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs R4 Pulsar
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Spitfire Elongated 16mm
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 and RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 and RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.