Pickleball Weighted Tape Power & Pop Tests
Can weighted tape actually make a pickleball paddle hit harder? At The Racket Pro, we are testing that question with real-world radar-gun measurements.
For each paddle, we compare ball speed with the standard paddle against the same paddle with weight added in specific locations. We measure drive speed and pop speed separately so we can see whether added mass helps full-swing power, short-stroke acceleration, or both.
The goal is not simply to determine whether weighted tape makes a paddle feel more powerful. We want to measure whether the ball actually leaves the paddle faster. As we test more paddles, we will continue adding the results to this page so players can compare how different paddles respond to the same weighting strategy.
Current Weighted Tape Test Results
Here is a quick summary of the paddles tested so far.
| Paddle | Best Drive Result | Best Pop Result | Best Overall Setup | Main Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV | +9.9% | +10.9% | +16 g | More weight increased both drive speed and pop |
| Six Zero Double Black Diamond | +12.6% avg. | +3.1% | +8 g | 8 g improved both; 16 g reduced pop |
The early results already show why weighted-tape setup needs to be paddle-specific. The Scorpeus Pro IV continued to produce higher speeds as more weight was added. The Double Black Diamond behaved differently: drive speed continued to increase, but the heaviest configuration caused a significant drop in pop. That means the same weighting strategy can produce very different results depending on the paddle.
How We Test Pickleball Paddle Power and Pop
Our current test uses three paddle configurations.
Stock Paddle
The paddle is tested with no additional weight.
Configuration 1 (+8 Grams at 12 O’Clock)
One 4-inch strip weighing 8 grams is centered across the top of the paddle at 12 o’clock.
Configuration 2 (+16 Grams at 12, 10 and 2 O’Clock)
The same 8-gram strip remains centered at 12 o’clock, with an additional:
- 4 grams at approximately 10 o’clock
- 4 grams at approximately 2 o’clock
Total added weight is 16 grams.
Ball speed is measured with a radar gun using Franklin X-40 pickleballs.
We separately measure two types of shots.
Drive Speed
Drive speed measures ball velocity generated from a fuller swing. This helps show whether additional weight can increase ball speed when the player has enough time and distance to accelerate the paddle through a complete stroke.
Pop Speed
Pop measures ball velocity generated with a shorter, quicker stroke. This is especially useful when testing added weight because additional mass can work in two directions. More mass can potentially transfer more energy to the ball, but the resulting increase in swingweight can also make the paddle harder to accelerate quickly.
Testing both drive speed and pop gives us a better picture of how the added weight affects actual performance.
Paddle-by-Paddle Results
JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV
The JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV showed the clearest response to added weight.
| Configuration | Average Drive Speed | Change vs. Stock | Average Pop Speed | Change vs. Stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | 41.75 mph | — | 43.29 mph | — |
| +8 g at 12 o’clock | 43.25 mph | +3.6% | 46.29 mph | +6.9% |
| +16 g at 12, 10 & 2 | 45.88 mph | +9.9% | 48.00 mph | +10.9% |
The Scorpeus produced a very clear progression. Adding 8 grams increased both measured drive speed and pop. Increasing the total added weight to 16 grams increased both again.
Compared with the stock paddle, the 16-gram configuration produced:
- 9.9% more average drive speed
- 10.9% more average pop speed
For this paddle, the additional mass continued to produce higher ball speed across both types of shots. The results suggest that, within the range tested, the benefit of the added weight outweighed any loss in paddle acceleration caused by the extra weight.
Read the full JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV weighted-tape power test →
Six Zero Double Black Diamond
The Six Zero Double Black Diamond produced a different result.
| Configuration | Average Drive Speed | Change vs. Stock | Average Pop Speed | Change vs. Stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | 39.63 mph | — | 45.43 mph | — |
| +8 g at 12 o’clock | 43.63 mph | +10.1% | 46.86 mph | +3.1% |
| +16 g at 12, 10 & 2 | 44.63 mph | +12.6% | 41.00 mph | -9.7% |
Adding 8 grams increased both drive speed and pop. When total added weight increased to 16 grams, average drive speed increased again—but pop moved sharply in the opposite direction.
Average pop fell to 41.00 mph, approximately 9.7% below the stock paddle. That makes the Double Black Diamond a useful example because it shows that more weight does not automatically translate into more usable power.
The 8-gram configuration appeared to provide the better overall balance because it improved both types of shots. The 16-gram setup produced the highest average drive speed, but at the cost of substantially lower pop.
Read the full Six Zero Double Black Diamond weighted-tape power test →
What Are We Learning?
Even with only two paddles tested so far, several important patterns are beginning to emerge.
1. The Same Weighting Setup Can Affect Paddles Differently
Both paddles were tested using the same basic weighting configurations. But they did not respond the same way. The Scorpeus Pro IV continued to gain both drive speed and pop as more weight was added. The Double Black Diamond gained drive speed but lost substantial pop with the heaviest configuration.
That is strong evidence that there is no single weighted-tape setup that will work equally well on every paddle.
2. Drive Power and Pop Should Be Measured Separately
One of the most important findings from our testing is that full-swing power and short-stroke pop are not the same thing. A full drive gives the player more time to accelerate the paddle. A pop relies much more heavily on quick acceleration over a short distance. That means added mass can help one type of shot while hurting the other. The Double Black Diamond demonstrated this clearly. Its 16-gram setup produced the highest average drive speed, yet the lowest average pop speed.
3. More Weight Is Not Automatically Better
Added weight can increase the amount of momentum moving into the ball. But it also makes the paddle harder to accelerate. The ideal result occurs when the benefit of the additional mass is greater than the loss in paddle speed. That point will vary by paddle. It will also vary by player.
4. Weight Placement Matters
Our test configurations place weight high on the paddle because these positions can have a strong effect on power. Weight at 12 o’clock places mass far from the player’s hand and can increase the amount of momentum delivered to the ball. Adding weight at 10 and 2 o’clock increases total mass further while spreading some of that weight toward the sides. But more aggressive weighting also increases the effort required to accelerate and maneuver the paddle.
That is why paddle customization is not simply about adding more grams, it is about finding the right balance.
Why These Tests Matter
Most discussions around weighted tape are based on feel. Players may say a paddle feels more powerful, more stable, or heavier through the ball. Those observations can be useful—but they are subjective. Our goal with these tests is to add a measurable layer.
By using a radar gun and comparing the same paddle across different weighting configurations, we can see whether added mass actually changes ball speed.
Over time, this should help answer questions such as:
- Which paddles gain the most drive speed from added weight?
- Which paddles gain pop?
- At what point does added weight begin to hurt short-stroke acceleration?
- Which paddles respond best to moderate weighting?
- Which paddles continue to benefit from heavier setups?
Those are the questions this ongoing testing project is designed to explore.
More Paddle Tests Are Coming
This page will continue to expand as we test additional paddles using the same basic methodology. Each new paddle will be added to the comparison table above and will also receive its own detailed test article.
For each paddle, we will document:
- stock drive speed
- weighted drive speed
- stock pop speed
- weighted pop speed
- percentage changes
- the weighting configuration used
- the key takeaway from the test
As the database grows, it should become easier to compare how different paddles respond to the same weighted-tape strategy.
Want to Experiment With Weighted Tape on Your Paddle?
These tests show that weighted tape can meaningfully change paddle performance—but they also show that the same setup can produce very different results from one paddle to another.
For a deeper explanation of where to place weight and what different positions are designed to change, see our Pickleball Weighted Tape Guide.
You can also use The Racket Pro Paddle Optimizer to get a personalized weighted-tape placement recommendation based on your paddle and the performance characteristics you want to improve.