Rally Flare Graphite vs Six Zero Quartz Control
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Six Zero Quartz Control 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 Quartz Control wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, spin, control and forgiveness on Paddle DNA against the Rally Flare Graphite, which costs $50.
Power
78 vs 74
Spin
90 vs 72
Control
93 vs 76
Forgiveness
91 vs 84
Hand speed
100 vs 108 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$50 at IQ 75.7 vs $190 at IQ 88
Overall pick: Six Zero Quartz Control · $190 · IQ 88
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 74Power78
- 76Control93
- 72Spin90
- 84Forgiveness91
- 84Sweet spot92
- 68Stability90
- 90Maneuverability82
- 86Pop72
- 74Touch92
- 74Consistency91
- 46Swing weight68
- 66Twist weight90
- 68Launch angle50
- 54Plow through72
- 74Softness89
Rally Flare Graphite vs Six Zero Quartz Control specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Rally Flare Graphite | Six Zero Quartz Control |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $50 — better | $190 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 75.7 | 88 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.5 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 11 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 100 | 108 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.8 | 7.2 — better |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.8 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.3 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.135 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture | Raw carbon friction |
| Core material | Polymer honeycomb | Thermoformed polymer |
Rally Flare Graphite verdict
A $50 carbon-faced paddle with a thin 11 mm core: poppy, light and easy to swing. It is a starter paddle, and the thin core shows the moment you try to reset a hard drive.
Six Zero Quartz Control verdict
A control build in the Double Black Diamond tradition, only lighter and quicker. Twist weight and sweet spot are the standouts; power is deliberately mid-pack.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: Six Zero Quartz Control scores 90 against 66 for Rally Flare Graphite — a 24-point gap. Rally Flare Graphite is $140 cheaper at $50.
Twist weight
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 24 points (90 vs 66).
Stability
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 22 points (90 vs 68).
Swing weight
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 22 points (68 vs 46).
Spin
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 18 points (90 vs 72).
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
Six Zero Quartz Control
Six Zero Quartz Control is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 90 vs 66, stability 90 vs 68, consistency 91 vs 74. Twist weight 7.2 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Six Zero Quartz Control
Six Zero Quartz Control is the clearer pick at this level — spin 90 vs 72, control 93 vs 76, touch 92 vs 74. At 108 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Control
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Six Zero Quartz Control
Six Zero Quartz Control is the clearer pick at this level — spin 90 vs 72, plow through 72 vs 54, touch 92 vs 74. Swing weight 108 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Plow through
- Touch
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Six Zero Quartz Control
Six Zero Quartz Control is the clearer pick at this level — softness 89 vs 74, twist weight 90 vs 66, forgiveness 91 vs 84. Its 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Rally Flare Graphite
Take Rally Flare Graphite if you want launch angle (+18), pop (+14), maneuverability (+8). Its swing weight of 100 kg·cm² and 11 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Rally Flare Graphite review →Six Zero Quartz Control
Take Six Zero Quartz Control if you want twist weight (+24), stability (+22), swing weight (+22). Its swing weight of 108 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Six Zero Quartz Control review →Rally Flare Graphite vs Six Zero Quartz Control FAQ
- Which is better, the Rally Flare Graphite or the Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Six Zero Quartz Control carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (88 vs 75.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 24 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Rally Flare Graphite, at 100 kg·cm² swing weight against 108 for Six Zero Quartz Control. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Rally Flare Graphite or the Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Six Zero Quartz Control scores 78 for power against 74 for Rally Flare Graphite. That comes from a 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core swinging at 108 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Six Zero Quartz Control at 93 versus 76. 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 Quartz Control scores 90 for spin off its Raw carbon friction face, against 72 for the Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture face on Rally Flare Graphite. In practice an 18-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Six Zero Quartz Control, with the higher forgiveness score (91 vs 84). Its 7.2 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?
- Rally Flare Graphite costs $50, $140 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?
- Rally Flare Graphite: 11 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture face. Six Zero Quartz Control: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw carbon friction face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Rally Flare Graphite, at 5.3 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?
- Six Zero Quartz Control is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 91 and sweet spot 92 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Rally Flare Graphite rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Rally Flare Graphite at 7.5 oz against 7.9 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (100 vs 108) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Rally Flare Graphite to the Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Six Zero Quartz Control leads on twist weight by 24 points; everything else is within 22 points. At $50 vs $190, 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.
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Flare Graphite vs Z5 Graphite
- Flare Graphite vs Ben Johns Signature Pro
- Flare Graphite vs SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
- Flare Graphite vs Strike 4F
- Quartz Control vs Radius CGS 16
- Quartz Control vs Sapphire 16
- Quartz Control vs Vision CGS 16
- Quartz Control vs Tempest Pro C 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 Rally Flare Graphite and Six Zero Quartz Control in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Rally Flare Graphite and Six Zero Quartz Control. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.