Touch vs Pop: 100 paddle matchups compared
Touch is feedback and dwell on soft shots; pop is immediate energy return. Soft-core builds land on one side of this line and firm, thermoformed builds on the other. These pairs sit on opposite sides.
Touch
More touch
Pop
More pop
How to choose between them
Touch decides how often your drops and resets land in the kitchen instead of floating. Pop decides how much free speed you get on counters. Dinking specialists take touch; bangers take pop.
Matchups that split on this axis
In each pair below, one paddle measurably leads touch and the other leads pop. Strongest contrasts first.
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air vs Selkirk Luxx Control AirIn depthSelkirk Luxx Control Air leads touch 95 vs 74; Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads pop 93 vs 66.
- Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 vs Paddletek Tempest Wave V3In depthPaddletek Tempest Wave V3 leads touch 91 vs 72; Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 leads pop 92 vs 68.
- Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air InviktaIn depthSelkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta leads touch 94 vs 76; Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads pop 90 vs 66.
- Selkirk Labs Project 006 vs Selkirk Luxx Control AirIn depthSelkirk Luxx Control Air leads touch 95 vs 80; Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads pop 90 vs 66.
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16In depthSelkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 leads touch 92 vs 80; Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads pop 90 vs 70.
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs Gearbox GX2 Integra XLIn depthGearbox GX2 Integra XL leads touch 92 vs 80; Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated leads pop 89 vs 70.
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Gearbox Pro Power ElongatedIn depthGearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads touch 86 vs 68; Gearbox Pro Power Elongated leads pop 95 vs 83.
- Selkirk SLK Halo Control vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0In depthSelkirk SLK Halo Control leads touch 90 vs 76; Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads pop 79 vs 64.
- JOOLA Hyperion C2 CFS 16 vs JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16In depthJOOLA Hyperion C2 CFS 16 leads touch 92 vs 82; JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16 leads pop 87 vs 70.
- CRBN CRBN-2X Square vs CRBN CRBN-1X Power SeriesIn depthCRBN CRBN-2X Square leads touch 86 vs 76; CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series leads pop 89 vs 74.
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16In depthJOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads touch 94 vs 80; Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads pop 90 vs 80.
- Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14In depthPaddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 leads touch 88 vs 72; Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 leads pop 92 vs 84.
- Vulcan V1100 16 vs ONIX Evoke PremierIn depthVulcan V1100 16 leads touch 92 vs 80; ONIX Evoke Premier leads pop 82 vs 70.
- Selkirk OMNI 16 vs Selkirk Luxx Control AirIn depthSelkirk Luxx Control Air leads touch 95 vs 90; Selkirk OMNI 16 leads pop 84 vs 66.
- Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Selkirk Labs Project 006In depthSelkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 leads touch 88 vs 80; Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads pop 90 vs 76.
- CRBN 2X Power Series vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16In depthJOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads touch 94 vs 80; CRBN 2X Power Series leads pop 88 vs 80.
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control vs JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16In depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads touch 89 vs 82; JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16 leads pop 87 vs 73.
- Six Zero Quartz Control vs Six Zero RubyIn depthSix Zero Quartz Control leads touch 92 vs 82; Six Zero Ruby leads pop 83 vs 72.
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads touch 93 vs 80; Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated leads pop 86 vs 79.
- JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 vs JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads touch 93 vs 82; JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16 leads pop 87 vs 79.
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Franklin Signature Carbon STRIn depthBabolat BALLR+ 16 leads touch 92 vs 79; Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads pop 76 vs 70.
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16In depthJOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads touch 94 vs 84; JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 leads pop 88 vs 80.
- Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control vs Selkirk SLK Halo ControlIn depthSelkirk SLK Halo Control leads touch 90 vs 86; Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control leads pop 78 vs 64.
- Rally Flare Graphite vs JOOLA Essentials 16In depthJOOLA Essentials 16 leads touch 82 vs 74; Rally Flare Graphite leads pop 86 vs 76.
- CRBN CRBN-1X vs CRBN CRBN-1X Power SeriesIn depthCRBN CRBN-1X leads touch 87 vs 76; CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series leads pop 89 vs 83.
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar vs Ronbus Nova R1In depthRonbus R1 Pulsar leads touch 90 vs 86; Ronbus Nova R1 leads pop 83 vs 70.
- Honolulu J2CR vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads touch 89 vs 86; Honolulu J2CR leads pop 87 vs 73.
- JOOLA Essentials 16 vs ONIX Z5 GraphiteIn depthJOOLA Essentials 16 leads touch 82 vs 70; ONIX Z5 Graphite leads pop 80 vs 76.
- Gearbox Pro Power Elongated vs Gearbox CX14E Ultimate PowerIn depthGearbox CX14E Ultimate Power leads touch 76 vs 68; Gearbox Pro Power Elongated leads pop 95 vs 88.
- ProXR Signature 16 vs ProXR Signature 13In depthProXR Signature 16 leads touch 92 vs 85; ProXR Signature 13 leads pop 78 vs 70.
- VERSIX Strike 4F vs Vatic Pro V7 HybridIn depthVatic Pro V7 Hybrid leads touch 81 vs 70; VERSIX Strike 4F leads pop 84 vs 80.
- Six Zero Coral Pro vs Six Zero Coral Hybrid 16In depthSix Zero Coral Hybrid 16 leads touch 92 vs 88; Six Zero Coral Pro leads pop 84 vs 75.
- Six Zero Coral Pro vs Six Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-AIn depthSix Zero Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A leads touch 92 vs 88; Six Zero Coral Pro leads pop 84 vs 75.
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads touch 89 vs 85; Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads pop 82 vs 73.
- CRBN CRBN-3X Power Series vs CRBN 2X Power SeriesIn depthCRBN CRBN-3X Power Series leads touch 88 vs 80; CRBN 2X Power Series leads pop 88 vs 84.
- Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 HybridIn depthEngage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid leads touch 90 vs 85; Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 leads pop 79 vs 72.
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16In depthJOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads touch 94 vs 90; JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads pop 85 vs 80.
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2In depthCRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 leads touch 88 vs 84; CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 leads pop 82 vs 79.
- Engage Encore Pro EX vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0Engage Encore Pro EX leads touch 86 vs 76; Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads pop 79 vs 66.
- Honolulu J6CR vs Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14Honolulu J6CR leads touch 84 vs 72; Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 leads pop 92 vs 81.
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro vs JOOLA Essentials 16Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro leads touch 92 vs 82; JOOLA Essentials 16 leads pop 76 vs 64.
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Engage Encore Pro EXEngage Encore Pro EX leads touch 86 vs 72; Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro leads pop 74 vs 66.
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air InviktaFranklin Signature 16 Composite leads touch 84 vs 76; Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads pop 90 vs 76.
- VERSIX Strike 4F vs Franklin Signature 16 CompositeFranklin Signature 16 Composite leads touch 84 vs 70; VERSIX Strike 4F leads pop 84 vs 76.
- Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 leads touch 92 vs 84; JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 leads pop 88 vs 75.
- Selkirk SLK Halo Control vs JOOLA Essentials 16Selkirk SLK Halo Control leads touch 90 vs 82; JOOLA Essentials 16 leads pop 76 vs 64.
- Rally Flare Graphite vs Franklin Signature 16 CompositeFranklin Signature 16 Composite leads touch 84 vs 74; Rally Flare Graphite leads pop 86 vs 76.
- Gearbox Pro Power Elongated vs Gearbox GX2 Power ElongatedGearbox GX2 Power Elongated leads touch 80 vs 68; Gearbox Pro Power Elongated leads pop 95 vs 89.
- ONIX Z5 Graphite vs Franklin Signature 16 CompositeFranklin Signature 16 Composite leads touch 84 vs 70; ONIX Z5 Graphite leads pop 80 vs 76.
- Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 vs JOOLA Essentials 16Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 leads touch 91 vs 82; JOOLA Essentials 16 leads pop 76 vs 68.
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Franklin Signature Carbon STRFranklin Signature Carbon STR leads touch 79 vs 76; Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads pop 90 vs 76.
- Honolulu J6CR vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air InviktaHonolulu J6CR leads touch 84 vs 76; Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads pop 90 vs 81.
- Honolulu J6CR vs Gearbox CX14E Ultimate PowerHonolulu J6CR leads touch 84 vs 76; Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power leads pop 88 vs 81.
- JOOLA Essentials 16 vs Engage Encore Pro EXEngage Encore Pro EX leads touch 86 vs 82; JOOLA Essentials 16 leads pop 76 vs 66.
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated vs Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated leads touch 80 vs 72; Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 leads pop 92 vs 86.
- Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 leads touch 92 vs 86; Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads pop 83 vs 75.
- ProXR Signature 16 vs Selkirk SLK Halo XL ControlProXR Signature 16 leads touch 92 vs 86; Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control leads pop 78 vs 70.
- Vulcan V1100 16 vs Selkirk SLK Halo XL ControlVulcan V1100 16 leads touch 92 vs 86; Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control leads pop 78 vs 70.
- Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 vs ONIX Evoke Premier ProONIX Evoke Premier Pro leads touch 78 vs 72; Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 leads pop 92 vs 84.
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air vs JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16JOOLA Hyperion CFS 16 leads touch 82 vs 74; Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads pop 93 vs 87.
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air vs ProKennex Kinetic Pro FlightSelkirk Luxx Control Air leads touch 95 vs 90; ProKennex Kinetic Pro Flight leads pop 74 vs 66.
- Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 leads touch 92 vs 88; Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 leads pop 84 vs 75.
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air vs Bread & Butter Loco 16mm ElongatedBread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated leads touch 80 vs 74; Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads pop 93 vs 86.
- CRBN CRBN-1X vs CRBN 2X Power SeriesCRBN CRBN-1X leads touch 87 vs 80; CRBN 2X Power Series leads pop 88 vs 83.
- 11SIX24 Ultré Power 2 vs CRBN CRBN-1XCRBN CRBN-1X leads touch 87 vs 82; 11SIX24 Ultré Power 2 leads pop 90 vs 83.
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 leads touch 84 vs 80; Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads pop 90 vs 82.
- CRBN 2X Power Series vs Six Zero Coral ProSix Zero Coral Pro leads touch 88 vs 80; CRBN 2X Power Series leads pop 88 vs 84.
- Selkirk Labs Project 006 vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 leads touch 84 vs 80; Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads pop 90 vs 82.
- Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs ProKennex Kinetic Pro FlightSelkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta leads touch 94 vs 90; ProKennex Kinetic Pro Flight leads pop 74 vs 66.
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs ONIX Evoke PremierONIX Evoke Premier leads touch 80 vs 76; Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads pop 90 vs 82.
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 vs Proton Series One Project BlackJOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 leads touch 88 vs 82; Proton Series One Project Black leads pop 82 vs 76.
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis X vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 leads touch 88 vs 85; CRBN TruFoam Genesis X leads pop 87 vs 79.
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 leads touch 86 vs 82; RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads pop 88 vs 81.
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 vs Vatic Pro Oni 16Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 leads touch 88 vs 82; Vatic Pro Oni 16 leads pop 85 vs 80.
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 leads touch 84 vs 80; Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated leads pop 89 vs 82.
- Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid vs JOOLA Perseus 14JOOLA Perseus 14 leads touch 88 vs 81; Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid leads pop 80 vs 76.
- Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power vs Bread & Butter Loco 16mm HybridBread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid leads touch 83 vs 76; Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power leads pop 88 vs 84.
- CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series vs 11SIX24 Pegasus Gen 311SIX24 Pegasus Gen 3 leads touch 84 vs 76; CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series leads pop 89 vs 86.
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs Franklin Signature 16 CompositeFranklin Signature 16 Composite leads touch 84 vs 76; Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads pop 79 vs 76.
- VERSIX Strike 4F vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads touch 76 vs 70; VERSIX Strike 4F leads pop 84 vs 79.
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Six Zero Coral ProSix Zero Coral Pro leads touch 88 vs 82; RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads pop 88 vs 84.
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs Selkirk Vanguard Power AirGearbox GX2 Power Elongated leads touch 80 vs 74; Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads pop 93 vs 89.
- Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs JOOLA Hyperion C2 CFS 16JOOLA Hyperion C2 CFS 16 leads touch 92 vs 88; Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 leads pop 76 vs 70.
- ONIX Evoke Premier vs Gearbox CX14E Ultimate PowerONIX Evoke Premier leads touch 80 vs 76; Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power leads pop 88 vs 82.
- JOOLA Scorpeus 14 vs JOOLA Hyperion C2 CFS 16JOOLA Hyperion C2 CFS 16 leads touch 92 vs 88; JOOLA Scorpeus 14 leads pop 76 vs 70.
- Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 vs CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam BarrageSelkirk Omni Elongated 16 leads touch 92 vs 88; CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads pop 81 vs 75.
- ProXR Signature 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14ProXR Signature 16 leads touch 92 vs 88; Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 leads pop 76 vs 70.
- Vulcan V1100 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14Vulcan V1100 16 leads touch 92 vs 88; Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 leads pop 76 vs 70.
- ProXR Signature 13 vs Vatic Pro Oni 16ProXR Signature 13 leads touch 85 vs 82; Vatic Pro Oni 16 leads pop 85 vs 78.
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs ONIX Evoke PremierFranklin Signature 16 Composite leads touch 84 vs 80; ONIX Evoke Premier leads pop 82 vs 76.
- Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air InviktaSelkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta leads touch 94 vs 90; Engage Pursuit MX 6.0 leads pop 71 vs 66.
- CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis XCRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads touch 88 vs 85; CRBN TruFoam Genesis X leads pop 87 vs 81.
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air vs Selkirk Labs Project 006Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads touch 80 vs 74; Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads pop 93 vs 90.
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs JOOLA Essentials 16JOOLA Essentials 16 leads touch 82 vs 76; Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads pop 79 vs 76.
- Honolulu J6CR vs ONIX Evoke Premier ProHonolulu J6CR leads touch 84 vs 78; ONIX Evoke Premier Pro leads pop 84 vs 81.
- Gearbox CX14H Ultimate Power vs Gearbox Pro Power ElongatedGearbox CX14H Ultimate Power leads touch 72 vs 68; Gearbox Pro Power Elongated leads pop 95 vs 90.
- Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Vatic Pro Oni 16Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 leads touch 85 vs 82; Vatic Pro Oni 16 leads pop 85 vs 79.
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Selkirk OMNI 16JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads touch 94 vs 90; Selkirk OMNI 16 leads pop 84 vs 80.
- Selkirk OMNI 16 vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis XSelkirk OMNI 16 leads touch 90 vs 85; CRBN TruFoam Genesis X leads pop 87 vs 84.
- Ronbus Tenon vs 11SIX24 Pegasus Gen 3Ronbus Tenon leads touch 89 vs 84; 11SIX24 Pegasus Gen 3 leads pop 86 vs 83.
Touch vs Pop FAQ
- What does 'touch' mean on a pickleball paddle?
- How much feedback and dwell you get on soft shots. A high-touch paddle lets you feel the ball compress, which makes drop and reset depth easier to judge and repeat.
- Is a poppy paddle bad for dinking?
- It is less forgiving on soft shots. A hot face turns a slightly long dink into a pop-up, so poppy paddles ask for a more disciplined soft game in exchange for the speed they give you elsewhere.