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.
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16In depthJOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads touch 94 vs 74; JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 leads pop 94 vs 80.
- 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.
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control V2In depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control V2 leads touch 88 vs 74; Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 leads pop 88 vs 74.
- 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.
- Six Zero Ruby vs Selkirk SLK Halo ControlIn depthSelkirk SLK Halo Control leads touch 90 vs 82; Six Zero Ruby leads pop 83 vs 64.
- CRBN-2X Square vs CRBN-1X Power SeriesIn depthCRBN-2X Square leads touch 86 vs 76; CRBN-1X Power Series leads pop 89 vs 74.
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads touch 89 vs 80; Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated leads pop 89 vs 73.
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air vs CRBN-3X Power SeriesIn depthSelkirk Luxx Control Air leads touch 95 vs 88; CRBN-3X Power Series leads pop 84 vs 66.
- 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.
- Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 vs Electrum Model E Max V3In depthElectrum Model E Max V3 leads touch 86 vs 76; Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 leads pop 88 vs 74.
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads touch 93 vs 80; Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads pop 90 vs 79.
- 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.
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads touch 93 vs 80; Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated leads pop 89 vs 79.
- 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.
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air vs Vatic Pro Prism FlashIn depthSelkirk Luxx Control Air leads touch 95 vs 80; Vatic Pro Prism Flash leads pop 72 vs 66.
- 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.
- Diadem Edge 18K V2 vs Diadem Warrior Edge 14In depthDiadem Edge 18K V2 leads touch 84 vs 74; Diadem Warrior Edge 14 leads pop 88 vs 78.
- Vatic Pro V7 Pro 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads touch 89 vs 80; Vatic Pro V7 Pro 16 leads pop 84 vs 73.
- 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.
- Six Zero Coral Pro vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16In depthSelkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 leads touch 92 vs 88; Six Zero Coral Pro leads pop 84 vs 70.
- Honolulu J2CR vs Six Zero Coral Hybrid 16In depthSix Zero Coral Hybrid 16 leads touch 92 vs 86; Honolulu J2CR leads pop 87 vs 75.
- Selkirk SLK Halo Control vs Vatic Pro Prism FlashIn depthSelkirk SLK Halo Control leads touch 90 vs 80; Vatic Pro Prism Flash leads pop 72 vs 64.
- CRBN-1X vs CRBN-1X Power SeriesIn depthCRBN-1X leads touch 87 vs 76; 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.
- Six Zero Ruby vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads touch 89 vs 82; Six Zero Ruby leads pop 83 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.
- Ronbus R3 Pulsar vs Ronbus R1 PulsarIn depthRonbus R1 Pulsar leads touch 90 vs 84; Ronbus R3 Pulsar leads pop 80 vs 70.
- 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.
- Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Selkirk Luxx Control AirIn depthSelkirk Luxx Control Air leads touch 95 vs 90; Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads pop 76 vs 66.
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs Selkirk OMNI 16In depthSelkirk OMNI 16 leads touch 90 vs 80; Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated leads pop 89 vs 84.
- Honolulu J2CR vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads touch 93 vs 86; Honolulu J2CR leads pop 87 vs 79.
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Six Zero Coral ProIn depthSix Zero Coral Pro leads touch 88 vs 80; Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads pop 90 vs 84.
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs CRBN-3X Power SeriesIn depthCRBN-3X Power Series leads touch 88 vs 80; Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads pop 90 vs 84.
- Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads touch 89 vs 86; Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 leads pop 84 vs 73.
- Honolulu J6CR vs Selkirk Omni Elongated 16In depthSelkirk Omni Elongated 16 leads touch 92 vs 84; Honolulu J6CR leads pop 81 vs 75.
- 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.
- Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control vs Selkirk Luxx Control AirIn depthSelkirk Luxx Control Air leads touch 95 vs 89; Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads pop 73 vs 66.
- Honolulu J6CR vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads touch 89 vs 84; Honolulu J6CR leads pop 81 vs 73.
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2In depthCRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads touch 88 vs 82; RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads pop 88 vs 81.
- CRBN-3X Power Series vs CRBN 2X Power SeriesIn depthCRBN-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.
- Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond ControlIn depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control leads touch 89 vs 86; Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) leads pop 82 vs 73.
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs CRBN⁴ TruFoam BarrageIn depthCRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads touch 88 vs 82; CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads pop 86 vs 81.
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard vs Six Zero Double Black Diamond Control V2In depthSix Zero Double Black Diamond Control V2 leads touch 88 vs 85; Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard leads pop 82 vs 74.
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16 vs HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16In depthHEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads touch 82 vs 78; Wilson Blaze Pro 16 leads pop 76 vs 70.
- JOOLA Mod TA-15 3S 16 vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads touch 93 vs 86; JOOLA Mod TA-15 3S 16 leads pop 82 vs 79.
- JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 vs CRBN-3X Power SeriesIn depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads touch 93 vs 88; CRBN-3X Power Series leads pop 84 vs 79.
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Six Zero Coral ProIn depthJOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads touch 94 vs 88; Six Zero Coral Pro leads pop 84 vs 80.
- Six Zero Coral Pro vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads touch 93 vs 88; Six Zero Coral Pro leads pop 84 vs 79.
- 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.
- Selkirk OMNI 16 vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16In depthJOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads touch 93 vs 90; Selkirk OMNI 16 leads pop 84 vs 79.
- JOOLA Mod TA-15 3S 16 vs CRBN-5 TruFoam HybridIn depthJOOLA Mod TA-15 3S 16 leads touch 86 vs 82; CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads pop 86 vs 82.
- 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.
- Honolulu J2CR vs Selkirk OMNI 16In depthSelkirk OMNI 16 leads touch 90 vs 86; Honolulu J2CR leads pop 87 vs 84.
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads touch 88 vs 74; JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 leads pop 94 vs 81.
- Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 leads touch 92 vs 78; Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads pop 86 vs 75.
- Rally Flare Graphite vs HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads touch 82 vs 74; Rally Flare Graphite leads pop 86 vs 70.
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 leads touch 84 vs 74; JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 leads pop 94 vs 82.
- 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.
- VERSIX Strike 4F vs Franklin Signature 16 CompositeFranklin Signature 16 Composite leads touch 84 vs 70; VERSIX Strike 4F leads pop 84 vs 76.
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs Rally Flare GraphiteFranklin Signature 16 Composite leads touch 84 vs 74; Rally Flare Graphite leads pop 86 vs 76.
- ONIX Z5 Graphite vs Franklin Signature 16 CompositeFranklin Signature 16 Composite leads touch 84 vs 70; ONIX Z5 Graphite leads pop 80 vs 76.
- JOOLA Essentials 16 vs Paddletek Tempest Wave V3Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 leads touch 91 vs 82; JOOLA Essentials 16 leads pop 76 vs 68.
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 vs JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 leads touch 84 vs 74; JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 leads pop 94 vs 88.
- ONIX Evoke Premier vs Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 InviktaSelkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads touch 90 vs 80; ONIX Evoke Premier leads pop 82 vs 76.
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro vs HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro leads touch 92 vs 82; HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads pop 70 vs 64.
- HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0HEAD Radical Tour Ultra 16 leads touch 82 vs 76; Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads pop 79 vs 70.
- JOOLA Essentials 16 vs Engage Encore Pro EXEngage Encore Pro EX leads touch 86 vs 82; JOOLA Essentials 16 leads pop 76 vs 66.
- 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.
- Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Ronbus R4 PulsarEngage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 leads touch 85 vs 78; Ronbus R4 Pulsar leads pop 86 vs 79.
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 leads touch 86 vs 78; Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads pop 86 vs 81.
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 vs Bread & Butter Loco 16mm HybridBread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid leads touch 83 vs 74; Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 leads pop 88 vs 84.
- 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.
- CRBN-1X vs CRBN 2X Power SeriesCRBN-1X leads touch 87 vs 80; CRBN 2X Power Series leads pop 88 vs 83.
- 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.
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.