Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 vs Volair Mach 2 Forza 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (84.6 vs 82.6), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
90 vs 88
Spin
Too close to call
88 vs 86
Control
84 vs 80
Forgiveness
Too close to call
84 vs 84
Hand speed
Too close to call
113 vs 115 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16
$180 at IQ 82.6 vs $200 at IQ 84.6
Overall pick: Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 · $200 · IQ 84.6
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 90Power88
- 80Control84
- 86Spin88
- 84Forgiveness84
- 84Sweet spot86
- 84Stability88
- 76Maneuverability76
- 88Pop84
- 74Touch80
- 82Consistency84
- 74Swing weight76
- 80Twist weight84
- 58Launch angle56
- 84Plow through88
- 62Softness70
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 vs Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 | Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $180 — better | $200 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 82.6 | 84.6 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.1 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 113 | 115 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.6 | 6.9 — better |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw Toray T700 carbon | Raw T700 carbon |
| Core material | Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls | Foam-injected thermoformed polymer |
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 verdict
Six Zero finally built a power paddle. Pop 88 and power 90 at $180 undercut every flagship drive paddle in the database, and the DBD forgiveness DNA mostly survives the switch.
Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 verdict
Volair's second-gen Forza adds foam walls without adding swing weight past 115. Power 88 and stability 88 make it a genuine tournament option.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 scores 70 against 62 for Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 — an 8-point gap. They are effectively level on power, spin, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 is $20 cheaper at $180.
Softness
Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 leads by 8 points (70 vs 62).
Touch
Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 leads by 6 points (80 vs 74).
Control
Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 leads by 4 points (84 vs 80).
Stability
Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 leads by 4 points (88 vs 84).
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
Volair Mach 2 Forza 16
Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 is a narrow pick at this level — stability 88 vs 84, twist weight 84 vs 80, sweet spot 86 vs 84. Twist weight 6.9 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Stability
- Twist weight
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81.6 vs 83.3 on the weighted index). Take Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 and keep the $20.
- Touch
- Control
- Spin
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Volair Mach 2 Forza 16
Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 is a narrow pick at this level — touch 80 vs 74, plow through 88 vs 84, control 84 vs 80. Swing weight 115 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Touch
- Plow through
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Volair Mach 2 Forza 16
Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 70 vs 62, twist weight 84 vs 80. Its 16 mm Foam-injected thermoformed polymer core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16
Take Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 if you want pop (+4). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 review →Volair Mach 2 Forza 16
Take Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 if you want softness (+8), touch (+6), control (+4). Its swing weight of 115 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 review →Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 vs Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 or the Volair Mach 2 Forza 16?
- Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.6 vs 82.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16, at 113 kg·cm² swing weight against 115 for Volair Mach 2 Forza 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 or the Volair Mach 2 Forza 16?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 scores 90 for power against 88 for Volair Mach 2 Forza 16. That comes from a 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls core swinging at 113 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 at 84 versus 80. 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?
- Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 scores 88 for spin off its Raw T700 carbon face, against 86 for the Raw Toray T700 carbon face on Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 84 on forgiveness despite twist weights of 6.6 and 6.9.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 costs $180, $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?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face. Volair Mach 2 Forza 16: 16 mm Foam-injected thermoformed polymer core with a Raw T700 carbon 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?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 84 and sweet spot 84 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 at 8.1 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (113 vs 115) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 to the Volair Mach 2 Forza 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 leads on softness by 8 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $180 vs $200, 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.
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs Double Black Diamond Control V2
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs Vantage Power 16
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs Bantam TKO-C 14
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs Loco 16mm Elongated
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs R4 Pulsar
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs Loco 16mm Hybrid
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs Warrior Edge 14
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs CRBN-1X Power Series
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs Vantage Power 16
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs R4 Pulsar
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs AMPED Pro Air Invikta
- Mach 2 Forza 16 vs Agassi Pro 16
- Mach 2 Forza 16 vs R4 Pulsar
- Mach 2 Forza 16 vs CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
- Mach 2 Forza 16 vs Extreme Tour 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 Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 and Volair Mach 2 Forza 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 and Volair Mach 2 Forza 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.