Ben Johns Perseus Pro V Weighted Tape Configuration Explained

We continue our series of blogs on Ben Johns weighted tape configurations with this article on his Perseus Pro V paddle. Not surprisingly, Ben Johns does not play his JOOLA Perseus Pro V exactly as it comes out of the box. Like many professional players, he adds weight to change how the paddle behaves. What's interesting about Johns' Perseus Pro V weighted-tape configuration is how little weight he actually adds—and where he puts it.

His setup uses just two 5.5-inch strips of ½-inch-wide weighted tape, positioned low on the paddle. At 0.5 grams per inch, the modification adds only 5.5 grams (0.19 oz) total. This is basically the configuration Johns used on his previous Perseus Pro IV. His paddle changed. His basic weighting strategy didn't.

Ben Johns' Perseus Pro V Weighted-Tape Setup

The configuration is straightforward:

 

Each 5.5-inch strip begins just above the grip and follows the lower edge of the paddle, wrapping around the bottom corner and continuing several inches up the side. Unlike some of Johns' earlier setups, there is no additional weight near the top of the paddle.

Ben Johns Perseus Pro V Weighted Tape Setup

Why Put 5.5 Grams So Low on the Paddle?

Adding weight to a pickleball paddle doesn't simply make it heavier. Where that weight is placed determines how strongly it affects different playing characteristics. Two of the most important are swing weight and twist weight.

Swing weight measures how difficult the paddle is to rotate around the player's hand. Weight placed far from the hand—particularly around 12 o'clock—has a much larger effect on swing weight than weight placed near the handle.

Twist weight measures the paddle's resistance to rotating around its long axis when the ball strikes away from the center of the face. Johns' lower-perimeter placement provides an attractive compromise.

Because the tape is positioned toward the outside edge, it can increase resistance to twisting and make the paddle feel more stable on imperfect contact. But because the tape remains relatively close to the hand, it avoids the much larger swing-weight increase that would result from placing those same 5.5 grams near the top.

In practical terms, Johns is looking for more stability and effective mass without unnecessarily sacrificing hand speed.

Why Not Put the Tape at 12 O'Clock?

If Johns took the same 5.5 grams and placed it near the top of the Pro V, the result would be quite different.

The physics can be approximated by:

I = mr²

The important variable is r—the distance between the added mass and the axis of rotation near the player's hand. Because that distance is squared, moving mass farther toward the tip increases its effect on rotational inertia disproportionately. Weight at 12 o'clock would therefore produce substantially more:

swing weight, plow-through and power potential.

But it would also make the paddle harder to accelerate and slower to reposition during rapid exchanges at the kitchen. Johns' setup suggests that simply maximizing power isn't the objective.

For a broader comparison of 12 o’clock, 10 and 2, 3 and 9, lower-side, throat and handle weighting, read our Pickleball Weighted Tape Guide & Paddle Weighting Optimizer.

The Stock Perseus Pro V Already Provides Plenty of Paddle

The starting platform also matters. JOOLA lists Johns' signature Perseus Pro V 16mm at an average 8.1 oz, with a 16.5-inch length, 7.5-inch width and 5.5-inch handle. It uses a textured carbon-fiber surface with a polypropylene/carbon-fiber/EVA-foam construction.

The Pro V also introduces JOOLA's KineticFrame, integrated into the throat. JOOLA says this slimmer frame is designed to flex, store momentum and release it at impact. The paddle also uses a Propulsion Core and Hyperfoam Edge Wall.

So Johns isn't trying to transform a lightweight paddle into a heavy power paddle. He's starting with an elongated performance paddle and making a relatively subtle change to its mass distribution.

5.5 Grams Doesn't Sound Like Much. Does It Really Matter?

Five and a half grams represents only about 2.4% of the stock mass of an 8.1-ounce paddle. But that's precisely why static weight can be misleading. If those 5.5 grams were concentrated at the very top of the paddle, their effect on swing weight could be substantial. Move those same grams toward the lower corners, and the swing-weight penalty becomes much smaller while the lateral positioning can still contribute to stability.

That's the central idea behind Johns' configuration: He's not just adding 5.5 grams. He's choosing where those 5.5 grams can do the most useful work.

How Does the Stock Pro V Compare With the Pro IV?

Despite the changes JOOLA made to the Pro V, its basic weight characteristics are remarkably similar to the previous Perseus Pro IV.

Independent testing by Pickleball Effect measured the Pro IV 16mm at approximately 118 swing weight and 6.29 twist weight, while the Pro V measured approximately 117 swing weight and 6.26 twist weight. The Pro V sample was slightly lighter in static weight at about 7.95 oz compared with roughly 8.1–8.2 oz for the Pro IV.

From a mass-distribution standpoint, those are remarkably similar paddles. A one-point difference in swing weight and a 0.03 difference in twist weight are small enough that normal manufacturing variation could easily blur the distinction between individual paddles.

That helps explain something interesting about Johns' customization. He didn't need to reinvent his weighted-tape setup when he moved from the Pro IV to the Pro V.

Both paddles give him a stock platform around 117–118 swing weight and approximately 6.3 twist weight. Johns then adds the same 5.5 grams of low-perimeter weight—one 5.5-inch strip on each side—to modify that platform.

He Used the Same Setup on the Pro IV

Johns' previous Perseus Pro IV used essentially the same configuration. On the Pro IV, he used two 5.5-inch × ½-inch tungsten strips weighing 0.5 g/in, again adding 5.5 grams total. The strips started approximately an inch above the grip, wrapped around the lower corners and extended several inches up the sides.  That's significant because Johns didn't always weight his Perseus this way.

How the Setup Changed From the Perseus 3S

Johns' Perseus 3S configuration was considerably more extensive. On the 3S, Johns described using:

Lower perimeter: two 5.5-inch × ½-inch strips on each side

Upper corners: one 2-inch × ¼-inch strip on each side

When Johns moved to the Pro IV, the upper-corner weighting disappeared. Now, with the Pro V, he has apparently retained that simpler lower-perimeter strategy.

What Can Recreational Players Learn From Ben Johns' Setup?

The lesson isn't necessarily to put exactly 5.5 grams in exactly the same location. Johns is tuning a paddle for his technique, strength and preferences. The more useful lesson is how deliberately he places the weight.

If your paddle feels unstable or twists too much on off-center contact, adding weight around the lower sides can increase stability without dramatically increasing swing weight.

If instead you're looking primarily for additional plow-through and power, moving weight farther toward the top will have a much greater effect—but you'll pay for it with increased swing weight and potentially slower hands. And if your paddle already feels slow or head-heavy, adding weight high on the paddle may make the problem worse.

This is why two players can add exactly the same number of grams to identical paddles and end up with paddles that feel very different.

The Bigger Lesson From Ben Johns' Pro V

Johns' Perseus Pro V setup demonstrates an important principle of paddle customization: The objective isn't to add as much weight as possible. It's to put a small amount of weight where it produces the change you actually want.

Johns adds only about 5.5 grams to his Pro V, but he concentrates that mass around the lower perimeter where it can improve stability and effective hitting mass while minimizing the effect on swing weight and hand speed.

That's a useful lesson whether you're playing a Perseus Pro V or almost any other paddle: before deciding how much weighted tape to add, first decide what you want your paddle to do differently.

Want to understand the principles behind this setup? Explore our Pickleball Paddle Customization Guide to learn how weight placement, swingweight, twistweight and balance can change paddle performance.

For help in configuring weighted tape for your paddle use our Paddle Optimizer App, which gives recommendations based on your objectives, whether that be power, control, spin etc. 

For information on Ben Johns Perseus IV weighted tape setup, see our blog Why Ben Johns Adds Weighted Tape to His JOOLA Perseus Pickleball Paddle

Not convinced the Joola Perseus Pro V is for you?  Check out our article on Best JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16mm Upgrades: 4 Measured Alternatives