Six Zero Boulder Opal vs Black Opal
Six Zero Boulder Opal vs Black Opal: these are the two paddles in Six Zero's Next Gem series, and they are close twins. Both run the same 14mm G4 aerospace solid foam core in the same Carbon Lite frame, both are listed Professional, both are hybrid shapes, and their swing weights are all but identical (Boulder 115, Black 114). The real decision is the face and the lean. The Boulder Opal is the spin-and-grip sibling: a SharkSkin raw carbon face and a Power, Spin tag, and it is the cheaper of the two at $300. The Black Opal is the power-and-control sibling: a Diamond Tough raw carbon face, a Control, Power tag, a published 2200 RPM spin figure, a slightly higher twist weight of 6.6 for a touch more stability, and it sits at $350. Want the grippier SharkSkin face and the spin-first lean for less money? The Boulder Opal. Want the published spin number, the marginally steadier head and the power-control balance? The Black Opal. Every real spec is below, then our honest take on who each suits.
We stock both at Pickld. Here is the honest read.
Six Zero Boulder Opal vs Black Opal: specs side by side
| Spec | Boulder Opal | Black Opal |
|---|---|---|
| Price (RRP) | $300.00 | $350.00 |
| Weight | 227-235 g (8.0-8.3 oz) | 232 g (8.2 oz) |
| Swing weight | 115 | 114 |
| Twist weight | 6.4 | 6.6 |
| Spin | Not published | 2200 RPM |
| Core | G4 aerospace solid foam | G4 aerospace solid foam (floating) |
| Face | SharkSkin raw carbon fibre | Diamond Tough raw carbon fibre |
| Core thickness | 14 mm | 14 mm |
| Shape | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Frame | Carbon Lite | Carbon Lite |
| Grip | 5.5 in length, 4.125 in circumference | 5.5 in length, 4.125 in circumference |
| Skill tier | Professional | Professional |
| Play style | Power, Spin | Control, Power |
| Availability at Pickld | In stock; the product page is the live figure | Currently out of stock; the product page is the live figure |
| Warranty | Six Zero manufacturer warranty (handled by Pickld) | Six Zero manufacturer warranty (handled by Pickld) |
Specs are the manufacturer figures we hold on each product page. Where a number is not published by the maker, we say so rather than guess. Availability moves, so the product page is always the live answer.
How they actually play
Boulder Opal
The Boulder Opal is the spin-first paddle in the Next Gem pair. It runs Six Zero's SharkSkin raw carbon face, the grippier of the two surfaces, over the same 14mm G4 aerospace solid foam core and Carbon Lite frame as the Black Opal. That solid foam core gives a firm, muted, powerful pop rather than the springy trampoline of a honeycomb core, and it stays consistent shot to shot. At a swing weight of 115 and a twist weight of 6.4 it is a stable, hittable head that rewards an aggressive spin-and-drive game, and it is tagged Power, Spin for exactly that. It is also the cheaper of the two at $300. If you want the grippy SharkSkin surface and a spin-forward lean without paying the top of the range, this is the one.
Black Opal
The Black Opal is the power-and-control paddle in the pair, and Six Zero describes it as playing with the stability of a 16mm paddle plus explosive hand speed. It runs a Diamond Tough raw carbon face over the same 14mm G4 solid foam core, and it is the one that publishes a spin figure at 2200 RPM. Its twist weight of 6.6 is a hair higher than the Boulder's 6.4, so the head is marginally steadier on off-centre contact, and it is tagged Control, Power for a balanced, competitive game. At $350 it sits $50 above the Boulder. If you want the published spin number, the slightly more stable head and the durable Diamond Tough face, this is the pick.
The verdict: which should you buy?
- Pick the Boulder Opal if you want the grippier SharkSkin raw carbon face, a spin-first lean, the same premium 14mm foam core, and the lower $300 price.
- Pick the Black Opal if you want the published 2200 RPM spin figure, the slightly higher twist weight of 6.6 for a steadier head, and the durable Diamond Tough face in a power-control build.
And who each one is not for
Skip the Boulder Opal if you want a published spin number and the most stable head of the two. The Black Opal publishes 2200 RPM and carries the higher twist weight.
Skip the Black Opal if you want the grippier SharkSkin surface and the lower price. The Boulder Opal runs the spin-oriented face and comes in $50 cheaper.
Both are 14mm G4 solid foam Six Zero Next Gem paddles, so this is really a face-and-lean call between spin and power-control. To see the wider bracket, browse our professional paddles, power paddles and spin paddles collections. Not sure on shape or weight? Browse the full paddle range.
More paddle comparisons
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- Franklin C45 Parris Todd vs Six Zero Boulder Opal
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V vs Six Zero Coral
- RPM Q2 vs Six Zero Coral
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Six Zero Boulder Opal and Black Opal?
They are the two paddles in Six Zero's Next Gem series and share the same 14mm G4 aerospace solid foam core and Carbon Lite frame, so the difference is the face and the lean. The Boulder Opal runs a SharkSkin raw carbon face, is tagged Power and Spin, and costs $300. The Black Opal runs a Diamond Tough raw carbon face, is tagged Control and Power, publishes a 2200 RPM spin figure, carries a slightly higher twist weight of 6.6, and costs $350.
Which Six Zero Opal spins more?
The Black Opal publishes a 2200 RPM spin figure, while the Boulder Opal does not publish an RPM number. The Boulder is the spin-oriented sibling by design, with the grippier SharkSkin raw carbon face and a Power, Spin tag, but Six Zero does not list a spin figure for it, so we do not quote one. We list the maker's published numbers and do not guess where one is absent.
Which is more forgiving?
The Black Opal is marginally more forgiving, with a twist weight of 6.6 versus the Boulder Opal's 6.4. Both share the same 14mm G4 solid foam core, Carbon Lite frame and near-identical swing weight (114 vs 115), so the two heads feel very close; the higher twist weight gives the Black Opal a touch more stability on off-centre hits.
Are the Boulder Opal and Black Opal 14mm or 16mm?
Both are 14mm paddles built on a G4 aerospace solid foam core. Six Zero engineers the solid foam core to play with the stability of a thicker 16mm honeycomb paddle while keeping the quicker hand speed of a 14mm, which is why both feel more planted than a typical thin paddle.