Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 vs Wilson Blaze Pro 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Paddletek Tempest Pro C 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
- 76Power78
- 92Control82
- 84Spin78
- 86Forgiveness84
- 86Sweet spot84
- 84Stability80
- 80Maneuverability78
- 72Pop76
- 92Touch78
- 90Consistency84
- 68Swing weight70
- 78Twist weight76
- 46Launch angle52
- 74Plow through76
- 88Softness74
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 vs Wilson Blaze Pro 16 specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 | Wilson Blaze Pro 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $190 | $170 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.5 — better | 80.2 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 107 | 110 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 | 6.5 — better |
| Shape | standard | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16 | 16.3 |
| Face width(in) | 7.9 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 5.375 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw carbon fiber | Raw carbon fiber |
| Core material | Poly-Core II honeycomb | Polypropylene honeycomb |
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 verdict
Paddletek's control benchmark. Control 92, touch 92 and softness 88 with a 107 swing weight is the classic soft-game recipe, updated with a raw carbon face for spin 84.
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 verdict
Wilson's most competitive pickleball paddle to date. Nothing in the DNA profile is exceptional, but nothing is a weakness either — it is the definition of a balanced all-court build.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is touch: Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 scores 92 against 78 for Wilson Blaze Pro 16 — a 14-point gap. They are effectively level on power, forgiveness, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Wilson Blaze Pro 16 is $20 cheaper at $170.
Touch
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 leads by 14 points (92 vs 78).
Softness
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 leads by 14 points (88 vs 74).
Control
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 leads by 10 points (92 vs 82).
Spin
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 leads by 6 points (84 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
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 is a narrow pick at this level — consistency 90 vs 84, control 92 vs 82, stability 84 vs 80. Twist weight 6.4 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Consistency
- Control
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 is the clearer pick at this level — touch 92 vs 78, control 92 vs 82, spin 84 vs 78. At 107 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Touch
- Control
- Spin
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 is a narrow pick at this level — touch 92 vs 78, spin 84 vs 78, control 92 vs 82. Swing weight 107 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Touch
- Spin
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 88 vs 74, forgiveness 86 vs 84, twist weight 78 vs 76. Its 16 mm Poly-Core II honeycomb core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16
Take Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 if you want touch (+14), softness (+14), control (+10). Its swing weight of 107 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 review →Wilson Blaze Pro 16
Take Wilson Blaze Pro 16 if you want launch angle (+6), pop (+4). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Wilson Blaze Pro 16 review →Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 vs Wilson Blaze Pro 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 or the Wilson Blaze Pro 16?
- Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.5 vs 80.2), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — touch — Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 leads by 14 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16, at 107 kg·cm² swing weight against 110 for Wilson Blaze Pro 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 or the Wilson Blaze Pro 16?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16 measures 78 on power against 76 for Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16. That comes from a 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core swinging at 110 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 at 92 versus 82. 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?
- Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 scores 84 for spin off its Raw carbon fiber face, against 78 for the Raw carbon fiber face on Wilson Blaze Pro 16. In practice a 6-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16, with 6.5 twist weight against 6.4. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (86) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16 costs $170, $20 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?
- Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16: 16 mm Poly-Core II honeycomb core with a Raw carbon fiber face. Wilson Blaze Pro 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Raw carbon fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16, at 5.375 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 86 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Wilson Blaze Pro 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 at 7.9 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (107 vs 110) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Wilson Blaze Pro 16 to the Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 leads on touch by 14 points; everything else is within 14 points. At $190 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.
- Tempest Pro C 16 vs Black Ace LG
- Tempest Pro C 16 vs Sapphire 16
- Tempest Pro C 16 vs Atlas 16
- Tempest Pro C 16 vs R1 Pulsar
- Blaze Pro 16 vs Evoke Premier
- Blaze Pro 16 vs SLK Halo XL Control
- Blaze Pro 16 vs V7 Hybrid
- Blaze Pro 16 vs Crush Control 16
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: Paddletek Tempest Pro C 16 and Wilson Blaze Pro 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.