Control vs Power: 80 paddle matchups compared
The oldest trade-off in paddle buying. A thicker core holds the ball on the face longer, which lands resets and dinks shorter; mass and a stiffer build send it out faster. Every matchup below is one where the two paddles genuinely split on this axis in Paddle DNA — not marketing language.
Control
More control
Power
More power
How to choose between them
Pick control if you lose more points on unforced drives and pop-ups than you win with put-aways. Pick power if you are getting out-driven off the baseline and your soft game already lands. Below 3.5, control almost always scores more points than raw power does.
Matchups that split on this axis
In each pair below, one paddle measurably leads control and the other leads power. Strongest contrasts first.
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air vs Selkirk Luxx Control AirIn depthSelkirk Luxx Control Air leads control 94 vs 78; Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads power 92 vs 71.
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16In depthSelkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 leads control 94 vs 84; Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads power 95 vs 71.
- Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 vs Paddletek Tempest Wave V3In depthPaddletek Tempest Wave V3 leads control 92 vs 79; Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 leads power 91 vs 72.
- Selkirk Labs Project 006 vs Selkirk Luxx Control AirIn depthSelkirk Luxx Control Air leads control 94 vs 84; Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads power 92 vs 71.
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs Gearbox GX2 Integra XLIn depthGearbox GX2 Integra XL leads control 94 vs 83; Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated leads power 93 vs 73.
- Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air InviktaIn depthSelkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta leads control 95 vs 80; Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads power 88 vs 74.
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads control 93 vs 83; Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated leads power 93 vs 79.
- Six Zero Coral Pro vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16In depthSelkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 leads control 94 vs 90; Six Zero Coral Pro leads power 90 vs 71.
- Honolulu J6CR vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads control 93 vs 81; Honolulu J6CR leads power 90 vs 79.
- Six Zero Ruby vs Selkirk SLK Halo ControlIn depthSelkirk SLK Halo Control leads control 93 vs 86; Six Zero Ruby leads power 85 vs 69.
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16In depthJOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads control 96 vs 80; JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 leads power 94 vs 88.
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads control 95 vs 84; Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads power 95 vs 84.
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads control 95 vs 82; Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated leads power 92 vs 84.
- JOOLA Hyperion C2 CFS 16 vs JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16In depthJOOLA Hyperion C2 CFS 16 leads control 91 vs 84; JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16 leads power 89 vs 75.
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Gearbox Pro Power ElongatedIn depthGearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads control 89 vs 74; Gearbox Pro Power Elongated leads power 94 vs 88.
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads control 95 vs 83; Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated leads power 93 vs 84.
- Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Selkirk Labs Project 006In depthSelkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 leads control 89 vs 84; Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads power 92 vs 77.
- Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 HybridIn depthEngage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid leads control 92 vs 82; Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 leads power 85 vs 75.
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control V2In depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control V2 leads control 90 vs 80; Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 leads power 90 vs 80.
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air vs CRBN-3X Power SeriesIn depthSelkirk Luxx Control Air leads control 94 vs 90; CRBN-3X Power Series leads power 87 vs 71.
- CRBN-2X Square vs CRBN-1X Power SeriesIn depthCRBN-2X Square leads control 89 vs 80; CRBN-1X Power Series leads power 90 vs 80.
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control vs JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16In depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads control 93 vs 84; JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16 leads power 89 vs 79.
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16In depthJOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads control 96 vs 84; Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads power 95 vs 88.
- Selkirk SLK Halo Control vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0In depthSelkirk SLK Halo Control leads control 93 vs 82; Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads power 76 vs 69.
- Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 vs Electrum Model E Max V3In depthElectrum Model E Max V3 leads control 88 vs 80; Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 leads power 92 vs 82.
- Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14In depthPaddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 leads control 90 vs 79; Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 leads power 91 vs 85.
- Honolulu J2CR vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads control 93 vs 89; Honolulu J2CR leads power 92 vs 79.
- JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 vs JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads control 95 vs 84; JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16 leads power 89 vs 84.
- Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control vs Selkirk SLK Halo ControlIn depthSelkirk SLK Halo Control leads control 93 vs 88; Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control leads power 80 vs 69.
- Vatic Pro V7 Pro 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads control 93 vs 84; Vatic Pro V7 Pro 16 leads power 86 vs 79.
- Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Selkirk Luxx Control AirIn depthSelkirk Luxx Control Air leads control 94 vs 90; Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads power 82 vs 71.
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control vs Six Zero Coral ProIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads control 93 vs 90; Six Zero Coral Pro leads power 90 vs 79.
- Six Zero Quartz Control vs Six Zero RubyIn depthSix Zero Quartz Control leads control 93 vs 86; Six Zero Ruby leads power 85 vs 78.
- ProXR Signature 16 vs ProXR Signature 13In depthProXR Signature 16 leads control 91 vs 83; ProXR Signature 13 leads power 84 vs 78.
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs CRBN-3X Power SeriesIn depthCRBN-3X Power Series leads control 90 vs 84; Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads power 95 vs 87.
- Honolulu J2CR vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads control 95 vs 89; Honolulu J2CR leads power 92 vs 84.
- Gearbox Pro Power Elongated vs Gearbox CX14E Ultimate PowerIn depthGearbox CX14E Ultimate Power leads control 81 vs 74; Gearbox Pro Power Elongated leads power 94 vs 88.
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16In depthJOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads control 96 vs 88; JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 leads power 93 vs 88.
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs Selkirk OMNI 16In depthSelkirk OMNI 16 leads control 92 vs 83; Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated leads power 93 vs 89.
- Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads control 93 vs 89; Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 leads power 88 vs 79.
- Honolulu J6CR vs Vatic Pro Prism Flash V2 16In depthVatic Pro Prism Flash V2 16 leads control 86 vs 81; Honolulu J6CR leads power 90 vs 82.
- Six Zero Ruby vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads control 93 vs 86; Six Zero Ruby leads power 85 vs 79.
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar vs Ronbus Nova R1In depthRonbus R1 Pulsar leads control 92 vs 89; Ronbus Nova R1 leads power 87 vs 78.
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads control 93 vs 88; Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads power 86 vs 79.
- Vulcan V1100 16 vs ONIX Evoke PremierIn depthVulcan V1100 16 leads control 91 vs 84; ONIX Evoke Premier leads power 83 vs 78.
- Diadem Edge 18K V2 vs Diadem Warrior Edge 14In depthDiadem Edge 18K V2 leads control 86 vs 78; Diadem Warrior Edge 14 leads power 88 vs 84.
- Ronbus R3 Pulsar vs Ronbus R1 PulsarIn depthRonbus R1 Pulsar leads control 92 vs 86; Ronbus R3 Pulsar leads power 84 vs 78.
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads control 93 vs 89; CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 leads power 87 vs 79.
- Honolulu J2CR vs Six Zero Coral Hybrid 16In depthSix Zero Coral Hybrid 16 leads control 92 vs 89; Honolulu J2CR leads power 92 vs 83.
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2In depthCRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 leads control 89 vs 84; CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 leads power 93 vs 87.
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control vs CRBN-3X Power SeriesIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads control 93 vs 90; CRBN-3X Power Series leads power 87 vs 79.
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Six Zero Coral ProIn depthSix Zero Coral Pro leads control 90 vs 84; Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads power 95 vs 90.
- Six Zero Coral Pro vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads control 95 vs 90; Six Zero Coral Pro leads power 90 vs 84.
- Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads control 93 vs 88; Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) leads power 85 vs 79.
- Honolulu J6CR vs Selkirk Omni Elongated 16In depthSelkirk Omni Elongated 16 leads control 89 vs 81; Honolulu J6CR leads power 90 vs 87.
- Honolulu J6CR vs Six Zero RubyIn depthSix Zero Ruby leads control 86 vs 81; Honolulu J6CR leads power 90 vs 85.
- JOOLA Scorpeus 14 vs JOOLA Perseus 14In depthJOOLA Scorpeus 14 leads control 89 vs 86; JOOLA Perseus 14 leads power 80 vs 74.
- CRBN-3X Power Series vs CRBN 2X Power SeriesIn depthCRBN-3X Power Series leads control 90 vs 84; CRBN 2X Power Series leads power 90 vs 87.
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Honolulu J6CRIn depthCRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads control 87 vs 81; Honolulu J6CR leads power 90 vs 87.
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control V2In depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control V2 leads control 90 vs 87; Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard leads power 86 vs 80.
- Selkirk OMNI 16 vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads control 95 vs 92; Selkirk OMNI 16 leads power 89 vs 84.
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads control 93 vs 90; Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 leads power 84 vs 79.
- JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 vs CRBN-3X Power SeriesIn depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads control 95 vs 90; CRBN-3X Power Series leads power 87 vs 84.
- Gearbox CX14H Ultimate Power vs Gearbox CX14E Ultimate PowerIn depthGearbox CX14E Ultimate Power leads control 81 vs 78; Gearbox CX14H Ultimate Power leads power 92 vs 88.
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated vs Bread & Butter Loco 16mm HybridIn depthBread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid leads control 85 vs 82; Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated leads power 92 vs 89.
- Honolulu J2CR vs Selkirk OMNI 16In depthSelkirk OMNI 16 leads control 92 vs 89; Honolulu J2CR leads power 92 vs 89.
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads control 93 vs 90; Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads power 82 vs 79.
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads control 87 vs 80; JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 leads power 94 vs 87.
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro vs HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro leads control 93 vs 84; HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads power 74 vs 70.
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs ONIX Evoke PremierONIX Evoke Premier leads control 84 vs 80; Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads power 88 vs 83.
- Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Engage Pursuit MX 6.0Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta leads control 95 vs 91; Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 leads power 78 vs 74.
- Engage Encore Pro EX vs HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16Engage Encore Pro EX leads control 88 vs 84; HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads power 74 vs 70.
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro vs JOOLA Essentials 16Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro leads control 93 vs 89; JOOLA Essentials 16 leads power 74 vs 70.
- Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 leads control 89 vs 84; Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads power 90 vs 87.
- Gearbox Pro Power Elongated vs Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 leads control 79 vs 74; Gearbox Pro Power Elongated leads power 94 vs 91.
- Ronbus R4 Pulsar vs Six Zero RubySix Zero Ruby leads control 86 vs 82; Ronbus R4 Pulsar leads power 88 vs 85.
- ONIX Evoke Premier Pro vs Diadem Warrior Edge 14ONIX Evoke Premier Pro leads control 82 vs 78; Diadem Warrior Edge 14 leads power 88 vs 85.
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 leads control 87 vs 84; CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 leads power 93 vs 90.
- Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Vatic Pro V7 HybridVatic Pro V7 Hybrid leads control 85 vs 82; Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 leads power 85 vs 82.
- JOOLA Perseus 14 vs Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 leads control 89 vs 86; JOOLA Perseus 14 leads power 80 vs 77.
Control vs Power FAQ
- Is a control or power pickleball paddle better?
- Neither in the abstract. Control paddles hold the ball on the face longer, which makes resets, dinks and third-shot drops land shorter and more predictably. Power paddles return energy faster, which helps on drives and put-aways but shrinks your margin on soft shots. Most players under 4.0 score more points with control.
- Does a thicker core mean more control?
- Usually. A 16 mm core deforms more on contact and holds the ball a fraction longer, which raises control and touch and lowers pop. A 14 mm version of the same paddle returns the ball faster. Comparing the two thicknesses of one model is the cleanest way to see the trade in isolation.
- Can a paddle have both control and power?
- Partly. Adding mass toward the head raises power without giving up dwell time, but it also raises swing weight, so you pay for it with hand speed at the kitchen. What a paddle cannot do is be at the top of both the control and pop scales at once.