Proton Series One Project Black vs Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 86Power84
- 86Control90
- 90Spin89
- 80Forgiveness87
- 82Sweet spot87
- 86Stability84
- 72Maneuverability80
- 82Pop80
- 82Touch88
- 84Consistency88
- 76Swing weight68
- 86Twist weight82
- 54Launch angle55
- 86Plow through76
- 68Softness84
Proton Series One Project Black vs Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Proton Series One Project Black | Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $200 | $99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 83.8 | 85.8 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 117 | 107 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 7 — better | 6.5 |
| Shape | elongated | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.3 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.6 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw carbon fiber | Raw T700 carbon |
| Core material | Thermoformed unibody with foam walls | Thermoformed polymer |
Proton Series One Project Black verdict
A thermoformed unibody built around stability. The foam walls push twist weight to the top of our measured range, which is why off-center drives still land deep.
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 verdict
The $99 paddle that keeps embarrassing $200 ones. The V-Sol Pro will not out-drive the foam flagships, but on control, spin and consistency it is genuinely competitive.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 scores 84 against 68 for Proton Series One Project Black — a 16-point gap. They are effectively level on power, stability, pop, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 is $101 cheaper at $99.
Softness
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 leads by 16 points (84 vs 68).
Plow through
Proton Series One Project Black leads by 10 points (86 vs 76).
Maneuverability
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 leads by 8 points (80 vs 72).
Swing weight
Proton Series One Project Black leads by 8 points (76 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
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 87 vs 80, sweet spot 87 vs 82, consistency 88 vs 84. Twist weight 6.5 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 is a narrow pick at this level — maneuverability 80 vs 72, forgiveness 87 vs 80, touch 88 vs 82. At 107 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Maneuverability
- Forgiveness
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.4 vs 84.6 on the weighted index). Take Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 and keep the $101.
- Touch
- Maneuverability
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 84 vs 68, forgiveness 87 vs 80. Its 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Proton Series One Project Black
Take Proton Series One Project Black if you want plow through (+10), swing weight (+8), twist weight (+4). Its swing weight of 117 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Proton Series One Project Black review →Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16
Take Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 if you want softness (+16), maneuverability (+8), forgiveness (+7). Its swing weight of 107 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 review →Proton Series One Project Black vs Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Proton Series One Project Black or the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16?
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.8 vs 83.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 leads by 16 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16, at 107 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 Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16?
- Proton Series One Project Black measures 86 on power against 84 for Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16. 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?
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 at 90 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?
- Proton Series One Project Black scores 90 for spin off its Raw carbon fiber face, against 89 for the Raw T700 carbon face on Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16. In practice a 1-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Proton Series One Project Black, with 7 twist weight against 6.5. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (87) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 costs $99, $101 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. Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Proton Series One Project Black, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.3 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Proton Series One Project Black avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 87 and sweet spot 87 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Proton Series One Project Black rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 at 7.9 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (107 vs 117) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Proton Series One Project Black to the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 leads on softness by 16 points; everything else is within 10 points. At $200 vs $99, 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.
- Series One Project Black vs Ruby
- Series One Project Black vs Oni 16
- Series One Project Black vs Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
- Series One Project Black vs 2X Power Series
- V-Sol Pro 16 vs Bantam ALW-C 14
- V-Sol Pro 16 vs SLK Halo XL Control
- V-Sol Pro 16 vs Magnus 3S 16
- V-Sol Pro 16 vs Series Four (Project Roadrunner)
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: Proton Series One Project Black and Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.