Six Zero's "Next Gem" line gave us two of the most talked-about paddles in Australia right now: the Coral 16mm at $275 and the flagship Black Opal at $350. They share more DNA than almost any two paddles we stock — same shape, same weight, same long-life carbon face — so on paper they look like twins. They don't play like twins. One's a plush, control-leaning all-rounder; the other's a foam-core power weapon. Here's the short version: most players should buy the Coral. Advanced power players who've outgrown the Double Black Diamond should buy the Black Opal.
The quick answer
- Buy the Six Zero Coral 16mm ($275) if you want the best all-round balance of control and drive, a soft feel at the kitchen, a more forgiving paddle, and a choice of colours. It's the right paddle for most club and competitive players — and the better value.
- Buy the Six Zero Black Opal ($350) if you're an advanced or competitive player chasing maximum pop, fast hands and the highest spin, and you want Six Zero's most ambitious tech. It's a power player's flagship.
What they share
Both paddles come from the same Next Gem playbook, and that's why they feel like a family:
- Hybrid shape — a middle ground between elongated reach and widebody forgiveness.
- 232g (8.2oz) average weight and an identical 41.4 × 19.1cm footprint.
- Swing weight 114 — quick through the air, planted on contact.
- Diamond Tough carbon face — Six Zero's textured surface engineered to hold its spin bite far longer than standard raw carbon.
- Floating-core engineering and the same 5.5" / 4.125" grip.
- Both are tournament-legal.
Practically, if you switch between them, the transition is seamless — same hand, same balance. The difference is all in the core.
The specs, side by side
| Spec | Coral 16mm — $275 | Black Opal — $350 |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Propulsion Core, 16mm (Tectonic Core Suspension, floating PP) | G4 aerospace solid foam, 14mm (Carbon Lite frame, floating) |
| Face | Toray 300K carbon (Diamond Tough) | Diamond Tough raw carbon fibre |
| Shape | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Weight | 232g (8.2oz) | 232g (8.2oz) |
| Dimensions | 41.4 × 19.1cm | 41.4 × 19.1cm |
| Swing weight | 114 | 114 |
| Twist weight | 6.7 | 6.6 |
| Spin | ~2,000 RPM | ~2,200 RPM |
| Colours | Ocean Blue / Coral Pink / Black | Black |
| Price | $275 | $350 |
Where they split: core and thickness
This is the whole story. The Coral runs a 16mm polypropylene Propulsion Core held in Six Zero's Tectonic Core Suspension — the core effectively floats inside the frame, which gives that plush, connected feel on soft shots. It's the successor to the Double Black Diamond, and it's a more rounded paddle than its predecessor in almost every way: cushioned at the kitchen, reliable drive from the baseline, and a slightly higher twist weight (6.7) that keeps off-centre hits honest.
The Black Opal goes thinner and harder: a 14mm G4 aerospace solid-foam core in a lightweight Carbon Lite frame. Solid foam transfers energy more efficiently than a honeycomb core, so contact is cleaner and more explosive — more pop. The clever part is that 14mm normally means a twitchy, unstable paddle, but the engineering here makes it play with the stability of a 16mm while keeping the hand speed of a thin one. It also edges the Coral on spin (~2,200 vs ~2,000 RPM).
How the Coral plays
Soft and dependable. The floating 16mm core soaks up pace on resets and dinks, so the kitchen game feels controlled rather than springy, and the Diamond Tough face still gives you plenty of bite for rolling third-shot drops and topspin drives. It's an all-court paddle that flatters more players than it punishes — the one to pick if your game is built on consistency and placement, not raw power. Skip it only if you specifically want a dedicated power paddle, in which case the Black Opal is the call.
How the Black Opal plays
Fast and punchy. The solid-foam core rewards aggressive players: quicker hands in firefights at the net, more put-away power, and the highest spin of the two. It's the paddle for someone who's already played the Double Black Diamond (or the Coral) and wants more out of it. Skip it if you're after plush touch and value, or if you're newer to the game — at this price and with this much pop, it's an advanced player's tool, not a first paddle.
So which should you buy?
- Play a control / all-court game, want value, or like having colour options? → Coral 16mm. It's the right answer for most Australian players.
- Aggressive, fast-hands player chasing power and spin who wants the flagship? → Black Opal.
- Brand new to pickleball? Neither — start with something friendlier on the wallet first. See our paddle guide for new players.
The verdict
The Coral is the smarter buy for most players — it does almost everything well, feels lovely at the kitchen, and saves you $75. The Black Opal is the power purist's paddle — pay the premium only if you specifically want explosive pace and the fastest hands. Either way you're getting Six Zero's best-in-class durable face and a tournament-legal build.
Both are in stock now with free Australian shipping over $150, backed by Pickld's 30-day returns — and we're an authorised Six Zero reseller, so you're covered on warranty.
Shop now: Six Zero Coral 16mm → · Six Zero Black Opal → · Browse the full Six Zero range →