Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro vs Wilson Blaze Pro 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Wilson Blaze Pro 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro wins this matchup for most players: it takes control, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Wilson Blaze Pro 16, which costs $170.
Power
78 vs 70
Spin
78 vs 74
Control
93 vs 82
Forgiveness
Too close to call
84 vs 82
Hand speed
100 vs 110 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$150 at IQ 79.8 vs $170 at IQ 80.2
Overall pick: Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro · $150 · IQ 79.8
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power78
- 93Control82
- 74Spin78
- 82Forgiveness84
- 80Sweet spot84
- 76Stability80
- 88Maneuverability78
- 64Pop76
- 92Touch78
- 88Consistency84
- 58Swing weight70
- 62Twist weight76
- 42Launch angle52
- 66Plow through76
- 90Softness74
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro vs Wilson Blaze Pro 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro | Wilson Blaze Pro 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $150 — better | $170 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 80.2 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14.3 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 100 | 110 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6 | 6.5 — better |
| Shape | standard | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 15.75 | 16.3 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 5.375 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured graphite | Raw carbon fiber |
| Core material | Patented Poly Core II | Polypropylene honeycomb |
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro verdict
The paddle a generation of control players learned on, and still one of the quietest, most predictable graphite faces made. It will not out-hit a thermoformed paddle, but it will not surprise you either.
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
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro scores 90 against 74 for Wilson Blaze Pro 16 — a 16-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro is $20 cheaper at $150.
Softness
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro leads by 16 points (90 vs 74).
Touch
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro leads by 14 points (92 vs 78).
Twist weight
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 leads by 14 points (76 vs 62).
Pop
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 leads by 12 points (76 vs 64).
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
Wilson Blaze Pro 16
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 76 vs 62, sweet spot 84 vs 80, stability 80 vs 76. Twist weight 6.5 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Sweet spot
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro is a narrow pick at this level — control 93 vs 82, touch 92 vs 78, maneuverability 88 vs 78. At 100 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Touch
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (79 vs 78.2 on the weighted index). Take Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro and keep the $20.
- Touch
- Control
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro is the clearer pick at this level — softness 90 vs 74. Its 14.3 mm Patented Poly Core II core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro
Take Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro if you want softness (+16), touch (+14), control (+11). Its swing weight of 100 kg·cm² and 14.3 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro review →Wilson Blaze Pro 16
Take Wilson Blaze Pro 16 if you want twist weight (+14), pop (+12), swing weight (+12). 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 Wave Pro vs Wilson Blaze Pro 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro or the Wilson Blaze Pro 16?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.2 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro leads by 16 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro, at 100 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 Wave Pro or the Wilson Blaze Pro 16?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16 scores 78 for power against 70 for Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro. 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 Wave Pro at 93 versus 82. Its 14.3 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?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16 scores 78 for spin off its Raw carbon fiber face, against 74 for the Textured graphite face on Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro. In practice a 4-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16, with the higher forgiveness score (84 vs 82). Its 6.5 twist weight against 6 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro costs $150, $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 Wave Pro: 14.3 mm Patented Poly Core II core with a Textured graphite 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?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 84 and sweet spot 84 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro at 7.9 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (100 vs 110) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro to the Wilson Blaze Pro 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro leads on softness by 16 points; everything else is within 14 points. At $150 vs $170, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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Read the full reviews: Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro and Wilson Blaze Pro 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.