JOOLA makes the most-played paddles in pro pickleball — and one of the most confusing lineups to shop. Perseus, Pro V, Hyperion, Scorpeus, Gen 3, Gen 4, three thicknesses and two shapes each. If you've searched "JOOLA pickleball paddle" and bounced off a wall of model names, this is the guide that sorts it out.
Short version: most Australian players asking this question want the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16mm — the control-leaning Ben Johns paddle that does everything well. Here's how the rest of the line stacks up, and who each one actually suits.
First, the only two questions that matter
Forget the model names for a second. Pick your answer to these two and the paddle almost chooses itself:
- Shape — how much reach and power do you want? Elongated (Perseus) gives you reach and put-away power with a tighter sweet spot. Hybrid/standard shapes spread the sweet spot wider and forgive more. Most all-court doubles players are happiest on the elongated Perseus shape.
- Thickness — control or pop? 16mm is the control-and-feel option (soft hands, resets, dinks). 14mm is the power option (more pop, less touch). When in doubt, 16mm — it's the safer, more forgiving choice for the DUPR 3.0–4.0 player.
Answer those and you're choosing between two or three paddles, not ten.
The flagship: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV
The Perseus Pro IV is Ben Johns' paddle and the one we sell most of. The 16mm build is a control player's dream — a plush, muted feel that swallows pace and lets you place dinks and resets with real precision — while still having the power to speed a ball up when the window opens. It's the safest premium JOOLA buy for the broadest set of players.
Who it's for: intermediate-to-advanced doubles players who lead with control and patience. Skip the 16mm and look at the 14mm if you're a banger who wants more raw pop and will trade some touch for it. We go deep in our Perseus Pro IV review.
The newer line: JOOLA Pro V
The Pro V is JOOLA's latest-generation surface technology, and it comes in several shapes and thicknesses that genuinely play differently from one another — enough that we wrote a dedicated Pro V buying guide just to untangle it. If you want the freshest JOOLA tech and you're the kind of player who tracks the pro-tour gear cycle, start there.
Who it's for: players who want JOOLA's newest surface and are happy to pick a shape deliberately. Skip it if you'd rather buy the proven, widely-loved Perseus and not think about it.
How to choose, in one line each
- You want the safe, proven, do-everything JOOLA: Perseus Pro IV 16mm.
- You're a power-first banger: the 14mm Perseus.
- You want JOOLA's newest surface tech and will pick a shape: the Pro V line.
- You're not sure JOOLA is even the right brand: read our best pickleball paddles in Australia round-up — Six Zero and RPM are worth a look at lower prices.
Is JOOLA worth it over a cheaper paddle?
Honestly: sometimes. JOOLA sits at the premium end, and a Six Zero Coral gives you 90% of the control feel for less. What you pay extra for with JOOLA is the surface refinement, the pro-validated feel, and the resale demand — they hold their value. If you play seriously, want the paddle the best player in the world uses, and the budget's there, it's a buy. If you're still finding your game, a mid-tier paddle is the smarter first step. We'd rather tell you that than upsell you.
The catch
JOOLA's lineup turns over fast — generations and surface revisions land every year, and the "current" flagship in mid-2026 won't be the flagship forever. This guide covers the paddles we stock and stand behind right now; for the live range and exact shapes/thicknesses in stock, browse our JOOLA collection. And if you're stuck between two, that's a one-line reply away — Ben or Chris will tell you which suits your game.
Everything we carry ships from our Sydney warehouse, usually in 1–3 business days. Browse the full JOOLA range or the wider paddle collection to compare.
— Ben