Forgiveness vs Power: 59 paddle matchups compared
Forgiveness comes from a wide, stable face that still produces a playable ball off-center; power comes from mass behind the ball. Elongated, head-heavy builds win the second and lose the first. These matchups put the two philosophies directly against each other.
Forgiveness
More forgiving
Power
More powerful
How to choose between them
If your contact point is still moving around, forgiveness wins more points than power does — a mishit that stays in play beats a put-away you hit twice a game. Once your contact is repeatable, the trade flips.
Matchups that split on this axis
In each pair below, one paddle measurably leads forgiveness and the other leads power. Strongest contrasts first.
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air vs Selkirk Luxx Control AirIn depthSelkirk Luxx Control Air leads forgiveness 87 vs 71; Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads power 92 vs 71.
- Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 vs Paddletek Tempest Wave V3In depthPaddletek Tempest Wave V3 leads forgiveness 86 vs 72; Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 leads power 91 vs 72.
- Selkirk Labs Project 006 vs Selkirk Luxx Control AirIn depthSelkirk Luxx Control Air leads forgiveness 87 vs 80; Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads power 92 vs 71.
- CRBN CRBN-2X Square vs CRBN CRBN-1X Power SeriesIn depthCRBN CRBN-2X Square leads forgiveness 89 vs 73; CRBN 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 forgiveness 90 vs 74; JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16 leads power 89 vs 79.
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Gearbox Pro Power ElongatedIn depthGearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads forgiveness 86 vs 66; Gearbox Pro Power Elongated leads power 94 vs 88.
- Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14In depthPaddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 leads forgiveness 88 vs 72; Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 leads power 91 vs 85.
- JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 vs Selkirk Luxx Control AirIn depthSelkirk Luxx Control Air leads forgiveness 87 vs 82; JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads power 84 vs 71.
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs Franklin Signature Carbon STRIn depthFranklin Signature Carbon STR leads forgiveness 85 vs 72; Franklin Signature 16 Composite leads power 81 vs 76.
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2In depthCRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 leads forgiveness 89 vs 78; CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 leads power 93 vs 87.
- Six Zero Quartz Control vs Six Zero RubyIn depthSix Zero Quartz Control leads forgiveness 91 vs 81; Six Zero Ruby leads power 85 vs 78.
- Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 HybridIn depthEngage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid leads forgiveness 77 vs 70; Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 leads power 85 vs 75.
- Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control vs Selkirk SLK Halo ControlIn depthSelkirk SLK Halo Control leads forgiveness 88 vs 84; Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control leads power 80 vs 69.
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads forgiveness 82 vs 76; Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated leads power 92 vs 84.
- Gearbox Pro Power Elongated vs Gearbox CX14E Ultimate PowerIn depthGearbox CX14E Ultimate Power leads forgiveness 74 vs 66; Gearbox Pro Power Elongated leads power 94 vs 88.
- CRBN CRBN-3X Power Series vs CRBN 2X Power SeriesIn depthCRBN CRBN-3X Power Series leads forgiveness 89 vs 78; CRBN 2X Power Series leads power 90 vs 87.
- JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 vs JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads forgiveness 82 vs 74; JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16 leads power 89 vs 84.
- JOOLA Scorpeus 14 vs JOOLA Perseus 14In depthJOOLA Scorpeus 14 leads forgiveness 79 vs 72; JOOLA Perseus 14 leads power 80 vs 74.
- Selkirk SLK Halo Control vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0In depthSelkirk SLK Halo Control leads forgiveness 88 vs 84; Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads power 76 vs 69.
- ProXR Signature 16 vs ProXR Signature 13In depthProXR Signature 16 leads forgiveness 75 vs 70; ProXR Signature 13 leads power 84 vs 78.
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads forgiveness 90 vs 86; Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads power 86 vs 79.
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated vs Bread & Butter Loco 16mm HybridIn depthBread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid leads forgiveness 83 vs 76; Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated leads power 92 vs 89.
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16In depthJOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads forgiveness 86 vs 82; JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 leads power 93 vs 88.
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3In depthCRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 leads forgiveness 89 vs 84; CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 leads power 90 vs 87.
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads forgiveness 90 vs 87; Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 leads power 84 vs 79.
- Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 vs Engage Pursuit MX 6.0In depthEngage Pursuit MX 6.0 leads forgiveness 88 vs 84; Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 leads power 82 vs 78.
- Gearbox CX14H Ultimate Power vs Gearbox CX14E Ultimate PowerIn depthGearbox CX14E Ultimate Power leads forgiveness 74 vs 70; Gearbox CX14H Ultimate Power leads power 92 vs 88.
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Franklin Signature 16 CompositeFranklin Ben Johns Signature Pro leads forgiveness 84 vs 72; Franklin Signature 16 Composite leads power 81 vs 70.
- VERSIX Strike 4F vs Franklin Signature 16 CompositeVERSIX Strike 4F leads forgiveness 80 vs 72; Franklin Signature 16 Composite leads power 81 vs 66.
- Rally Flare Graphite vs Franklin Signature 16 CompositeRally Flare Graphite leads forgiveness 84 vs 72; Franklin Signature 16 Composite leads power 81 vs 74.
- ProXR Signature 13 vs Selkirk SLK Halo XL ControlSelkirk SLK Halo XL Control leads forgiveness 84 vs 70; ProXR Signature 13 leads power 84 vs 80.
- ONIX Z5 Graphite vs Franklin Signature 16 CompositeONIX Z5 Graphite leads forgiveness 82 vs 72; Franklin Signature 16 Composite leads power 81 vs 73.
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs Franklin Signature 16 CompositeSelkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads forgiveness 84 vs 72; Franklin Signature 16 Composite leads power 81 vs 76.
- Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Vatic Pro V7 HybridVatic Pro V7 Hybrid leads forgiveness 83 vs 70; Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 leads power 85 vs 82.
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads forgiveness 84 vs 72; Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 leads power 91 vs 88.
- ONIX Evoke Premier vs Gearbox CX14E Ultimate PowerONIX Evoke Premier leads forgiveness 84 vs 74; Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power leads power 88 vs 83.
- Six Zero Coral Hybrid 16 vs Six Zero Quartz ControlSix Zero Quartz Control leads forgiveness 91 vs 82; Six Zero Coral Hybrid 16 leads power 83 vs 78.
- Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 vs ONIX Evoke Premier ProONIX Evoke Premier Pro leads forgiveness 80 vs 72; Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 leads power 91 vs 85.
- CRBN CRBN-2X Square vs CRBN CRBN-1XCRBN CRBN-2X Square leads forgiveness 89 vs 86; CRBN CRBN-1X leads power 89 vs 80.
- Engage Encore Pro EX vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0Engage Encore Pro EX leads forgiveness 89 vs 84; Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads power 76 vs 70.
- Six Zero Sapphire 16 vs Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-ASix Zero Sapphire 16 leads forgiveness 86 vs 79; Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A leads power 83 vs 80.
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air InviktaSelkirk Luxx Control Air leads forgiveness 87 vs 80; Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta leads power 74 vs 71.
- Honolulu J6CR vs ONIX Evoke PremierONIX Evoke Premier leads forgiveness 84 vs 81; Honolulu J6CR leads power 90 vs 83.
- JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads forgiveness 86 vs 82; JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 leads power 93 vs 88.
- JOOLA Radius CGS 16 vs Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0JOOLA Radius CGS 16 leads forgiveness 90 vs 84; Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 leads power 82 vs 79.
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 leads forgiveness 84 vs 78; CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 leads power 93 vs 90.
- ONIX Evoke Premier Pro vs Gearbox CX14E Ultimate PowerONIX Evoke Premier Pro leads forgiveness 80 vs 74; Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power leads power 88 vs 85.
- Vatic Pro Prism Flash vs JOOLA Scorpeus 14Vatic Pro Prism Flash leads forgiveness 85 vs 79; JOOLA Scorpeus 14 leads power 74 vs 71.
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs JOOLA Perseus 14Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 leads forgiveness 77 vs 72; JOOLA Perseus 14 leads power 80 vs 76.
- Gearbox Pro Power Elongated vs Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 leads forgiveness 72 vs 66; Gearbox Pro Power Elongated leads power 94 vs 91.
- Six Zero Sapphire 16 vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16Six Zero Sapphire 16 leads forgiveness 86 vs 82; JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads power 84 vs 80.
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard vs Bread & Butter Loco 16mm HybridBread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard leads forgiveness 88 vs 83; Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid leads power 89 vs 86.
- JOOLA Perseus 14 vs Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 leads forgiveness 77 vs 72; JOOLA Perseus 14 leads power 80 vs 77.
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 leads forgiveness 89 vs 85; JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads power 90 vs 87.
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis X vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 leads forgiveness 89 vs 86; CRBN TruFoam Genesis X leads power 91 vs 87.
- Six Zero Sapphire 16 vs Six Zero Coral Hybrid 16Six Zero Sapphire 16 leads forgiveness 86 vs 82; Six Zero Coral Hybrid 16 leads power 83 vs 80.
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 vs Vatic Pro Oni 16Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 leads forgiveness 87 vs 84; Vatic Pro Oni 16 leads power 88 vs 84.
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Bread & Butter Loco 16mm HybridVolair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads forgiveness 86 vs 83; Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid leads power 89 vs 86.
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air vs JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16 leads forgiveness 74 vs 71; Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads power 92 vs 89.
Forgiveness vs Power FAQ
- What makes a pickleball paddle forgiving?
- Twist weight, mostly. It measures how much the face rotates when you miss the middle. Higher twist weight plus a larger effective sweet spot means an off-center ball still comes off with usable pace and direction.
- Are elongated paddles less forgiving?
- Generally yes. An elongated shape moves mass away from the centre axis and narrows the face, so the sweet spot is smaller and mishits twist more. You get reach and leverage in return.