JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Selkirk Vanguard Power Air
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 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 78.4), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
92 vs 88
Spin
92 vs 88
Control
96 vs 78
Forgiveness
86 vs 71
Hand speed
114 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$250 at IQ 78.4 vs $300 at IQ 89.1
Overall pick: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 · $300 · IQ 89.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 88Power92
- 96Control78
- 92Spin88
- 86Forgiveness71
- 88Sweet spot73
- 90Stability76
- 73Maneuverability79
- 80Pop93
- 94Touch74
- 93Consistency79
- 74Swing weight68
- 88Twist weight62
- 51Launch angle61
- 86Plow through84
- 80Softness58
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Selkirk Vanguard Power Air 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 | Selkirk Vanguard Power Air |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $300 | $250 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 89.1 — better | 78.4 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 14 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 118 | 114 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.7 — better | 5.6 |
| Shape | hybrid | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.4 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw Toray T700 carbon | Quadcarbon face |
| Core material | KineticFrame foam-injected polymer | X5 polypropylene |
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.
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air verdict
Explosive acceleration and crisp feedback for players who create their own control. The air-dynamic throat cuts drag noticeably on fast swings.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 88 against 62 for Selkirk Vanguard Power Air — a 26-point gap. They are effectively level on plow through, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk Vanguard Power Air is $50 cheaper at $250.
Twist weight
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 26 points (88 vs 62).
Softness
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 22 points (80 vs 58).
Touch
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 20 points (94 vs 74).
Control
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 18 points (96 vs 78).
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 the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 88 vs 62, forgiveness 86 vs 71, sweet spot 88 vs 73. Twist weight 6.7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the clearer pick at this level — control 96 vs 78, touch 94 vs 74, forgiveness 86 vs 71. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Touch
- Forgiveness
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 — touch 94 vs 74, control 96 vs 78, spin 92 vs 88. 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 58, twist weight 88 vs 62, forgiveness 86 vs 71. 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 twist weight (+26), softness (+22), touch (+20). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 review →Selkirk Vanguard Power Air
Take Selkirk Vanguard Power Air if you want pop (+13), launch angle (+10), maneuverability (+6). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air review →JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Selkirk Vanguard Power Air FAQ
- Which is better, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 or the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 78.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 26 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air, 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 Selkirk Vanguard Power Air?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air scores 92 for power against 88 for JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. That comes from a 14 mm X5 polypropylene 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 78. 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 88 for the Quadcarbon face on Selkirk Vanguard Power Air. In practice a 4-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 71). Its 6.7 twist weight against 5.6 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air costs $250, $50 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. Selkirk Vanguard Power Air: 14 mm X5 polypropylene core with a Quadcarbon 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?
- 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. Selkirk Vanguard Power Air rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air at 7.9 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 Selkirk Vanguard Power Air to the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads on twist weight by 26 points; everything else is within 22 points. At $300 vs $250, 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 Selkirk Vanguard Power Air in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 and Selkirk Vanguard Power Air. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.