Proton Series One Project Black vs Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Proton Series One Project Black takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Quick answer
Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A wins this matchup for most players: it takes control and hand speed on Paddle DNA against the Proton Series One Project Black, which costs $200.
Power
Too close to call
86 vs 83
Spin
Too close to call
92 vs 90
Control
Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A
92 vs 86
Forgiveness
Too close to call
80 vs 79
Hand speed
Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A
105 vs 117 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Proton Series One Project Black
$200 at IQ 83.8 vs $220 at IQ 81.2
Overall pick: Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A · $220 · IQ 81.2
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 86Power83
- 86Control92
- 90Spin92
- 80Forgiveness79
- 82Sweet spot79
- 86Stability71
- 72Maneuverability87
- 82Pop75
- 82Touch92
- 84Consistency81
- 76Swing weight58
- 86Twist weight56
- 54Launch angle50
- 86Plow through69
- 68Softness84
Proton Series One Project Black vs Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Proton Series One Project Black | Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $200 — better | $220 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 83.8 — better | 81.2 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.15 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 117 | 105 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 7 — better | 5.8 |
| Shape | elongated | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.3 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Raw carbon fiber | Double Diamond Tough Raw Carbon Fiber |
| Core material | Thermoformed unibody with foam walls | ProPulsion Foam |
Proton Series One Project Black verdict
A thermoformed unibody built around stability. The foam walls push twist weight to the top of our scored range, which is why off-center drives still land deep.
Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A verdict
The UPA-A revision brings the Coral Pro under the new pro-tour surface limits. It is measurably tamer than the original Coral Pro, and it is the version that is tournament-legal going forward.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: Proton Series One Project Black scores 86 against 56 for Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A — a 30-point gap. They are effectively level on power, sweet spot, consistency, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Proton Series One Project Black is $20 cheaper at $200.
Twist weight
Proton Series One Project Black leads by 30 points (86 vs 56).
Swing weight
Proton Series One Project Black leads by 18 points (76 vs 58).
Plow through
Proton Series One Project Black leads by 17 points (86 vs 69).
Softness
Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A leads by 16 points (84 vs 68).
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
Proton Series One Project Black
Proton Series One Project Black is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 86 vs 56, stability 86 vs 71, sweet spot 82 vs 79. Twist weight 7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A
Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A is a narrow pick at this level — maneuverability 87 vs 72, touch 92 vs 82, control 92 vs 86. At 105 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Maneuverability
- Touch
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.4 vs 85.7 on the weighted index). Take Proton Series One Project Black and keep the $20.
- Maneuverability
- Touch
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A
Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A is a narrow pick at this level — softness 84 vs 68. Its 16 mm ProPulsion Foam core at 8.15 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Proton Series One Project Black
Take Proton Series One Project Black if you want twist weight (+30), swing weight (+18), plow through (+17). Its swing weight of 117 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Proton Series One Project Black review →Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A
Take Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A if you want softness (+16), maneuverability (+15), touch (+10). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A review →Proton Series One Project Black vs Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A FAQ
- Which is better, the Proton Series One Project Black or the Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A?
- Proton Series One Project Black carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (83.8 vs 81.2), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Proton Series One Project Black leads by 30 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 117 for Proton Series One Project Black. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Proton Series One Project Black or the Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A?
- Proton Series One Project Black scores 86 for power against 83 for Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A. That comes from a 16 mm Thermoformed unibody with foam walls core swinging at 117 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A at 92 versus 86. 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?
- Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A scores 92 for spin off its Double Diamond Tough Raw Carbon Fiber face, against 90 for the Raw carbon fiber face on Proton Series One Project Black. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Proton Series One Project Black, with the higher forgiveness score (80 vs 79). Its 7 twist weight against 5.8 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Proton Series One Project Black costs $200, $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?
- Proton Series One Project Black: 16 mm Thermoformed unibody with foam walls core with a Raw carbon fiber face. Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A: 16 mm ProPulsion Foam core with a Double Diamond Tough Raw Carbon Fiber 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?
- Proton Series One Project Black is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 80 and sweet spot 82 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A at 8.15 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 117) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A to the Proton Series One Project Black?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Proton Series One Project Black leads on twist weight by 30 points; everything else is within 18 points. At $200 vs $220, 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.
- Series One Project Black vs Series Four (Project Roadrunner)
- Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A vs Coral Pro
- Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
- Series One Project Black vs Edge 18K V2
- Series One Project Black vs Pegasus Gen 3
- Series One Project Black vs Series Two Project Flash
- Series One Project Black vs Agassi Pro 16
- Series One Project Black vs Mach 2 Forza 16
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Series One Project Black vs Agassi Pro 16
- Series One Project Black vs Mach 2 Forza 16
- Series One Project Black vs Ruby
- Series One Project Black vs R4 Pulsar
- Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A vs Coral Hybrid 16
- Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A vs BALLR+ 16
- Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
- Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A vs Hyperion C2 CFS 16
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 Proton Series One Project Black and Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Proton Series One Project Black and Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.