The Scorpeus Pro IV is the widebody I'd get if you want to drive the ball hard and still keep your resets low, because no other paddle I've tested with both USA Pickleball and UPA-A approval has as much power and as much control. UPA-A is the paddle approval list used for pro tour events, so a paddle needs it for PPA events. The JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV is a 16mm Gen 3 widebody with a thermoformed honeycomb core, and it's the Collin Johns paddle that came before the Scorpeus Pro V. Power is the pace you get off full swings like drives and serves, and the Scorpeus Pro IV scored 85 out of 100 for it. No widebody I've tested with both approvals hits harder. It also scored 80 out of 100 for control, so dinks and resets are easy to keep down. The trade is pop. Pop is the pace you get off short swings at the net, and the Scorpeus Pro IV has far less of it than the average widebody, so counters and speed-ups won't jump off the face. It's $149.95, down from $229.95. JOOLA doesn't take discount codes, so there's no code for this paddle. As of October 22, 2026, JOOLA's product page shows it out of stock.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The Scorpeus Pro IV scored 85 out of 100 for power and 80 out of 100 for control, and no other paddle I've tested with both approvals has as much of both.
- No widebody I've tested with both USA Pickleball and UPA-A approval hits harder, and only five widebodies I've tested hit harder at all.
- Its twist weight of 7.34 is higher than all but six paddles I've tested. Twist weight is how much the face resists twisting when you miss the center, so off-center blocks stay on line without lead tape.
- The sweet spot scored 86 out of 100, and only 25 paddles I've tested have a bigger one.
Cons
- The Scorpeus Pro IV scored 55 out of 100 for pop, and only 13 widebodies I've tested have less. Counters and speed-ups go about as fast as you swing them.
- Owners have reported core crush on JOOLA's Perseus Pro IV, which shares this core. Core crush is when the honeycomb inside breaks down and the paddle starts playing hotter. The warranty is six months unless you register the paddle.
- The 5.25 inch handle is tight for a two-handed backhand.
Quick answers
Is the JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV a power paddle?
Yes, and a forgiving one. Its power score of 85 is far more than the average widebody's, which is about 65. Its control score of 80 and its sweet spot score of 86 are about the same as the average widebody's 76 and 83. So it drives as hard as a power paddle, with a soft game like the average widebody's. What it doesn't have is pop, with a pop score of 55 against the average widebody's, which is about 79.
Is the Scorpeus Pro IV the Collin Johns paddle?
Yes. JOOLA sells it as the Collin Johns Scorpeus Pro IV 16mm. JOOLA has since released the Scorpeus Pro V, and the Pro IV is listed at $149.95.
Is the Scorpeus Pro IV USA Pickleball approved?
Yes, and it's UPA-A approved too. USA Pickleball's approved paddle list has it as the Scorpeus IV 16mm, added January 15, 2025, and JOOLA's product page says it's UPA-A certified. So it works for USA Pickleball sanctioned events and for UPA-A events like PPA qualifiers.
How heavy is the Scorpeus Pro IV?
JOOLA lists it at 7.9 to 8.3 ounces. I measured a swing weight of 110.8. Swing weight is how heavy the paddle feels when you swing it, lower means faster hands. That's a little heavier than the average widebody's 108.8. I measured a twist weight of 7.34, which is higher than the average widebody's, which is about 6.9.
A steady, predictable face with a swing that's a little heavy for a widebody
So, the first thing you notice with the Scorpeus Pro IV is how steady the face is. Only six paddles I've tested have a higher twist weight, so when a hard drive catches you off center, the face doesn't twist and your block stays on line. You don't need lead tape at 3 and 9 o'clock to get there, since it comes that stable from the factory.
The feel is connected and predictable. The ball comes off the face the same way from shot to shot, so you learn quickly how hard to swing on a drop or a reset.
It isn't a light widebody, though. Its swing weight of 110.8 is a little heavier than the average widebody's, so in a fast exchange at the kitchen it won't win on hand speed alone. If the lightest swing you can get is what you're after, there are faster widebodies below.
Power paddle drives and a soft game that stays low, but not much pop
How its spin stacks up against other widebodies you can buy
About average spin for a widebody, right at the average
The top three for spin
- 1Honolulu J3CR Crystal Blue2,436
- 211SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean 22,37561 RPM behind
- 3RPM Q2 Widebody2,36967 RPM behind
- 21JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV2,279157 RPM behind
Drives, serves and put-aways
This is where the Scorpeus Pro IV stands out for a widebody. Its power score of 85 out of 100 is far more than the average widebody's, and only five widebodies I've tested hit harder. None of those five has both USA Pickleball and UPA-A approval. So drives and serves get deep without a big swing, and a ball that sits up at the kitchen is easy to put away.
Spin is right around average. The Scorpeus Pro IV read 2,279 RPM in my spin test, for a spin score of 72 out of 100, which is about the same as the average widebody at about 2,273 RPM. The face is raw carbon with a peel-ply texture and no grit, so a topspin drive dips about as much as it would off most widebodies, not more.
Speed-ups and counters
This is the weak spot. The Scorpeus Pro IV's pop score of 55 out of 100 is far less than the average widebody's, which is about 79, and only 13 widebodies I've tested have less pop. Short, quick swings don't get much extra pace off the face, so a counter goes about as fast as you swing it. The steady face helps you block a hard ball back on line, but if you win hands battles by out-pacing the other player, this isn't the paddle for it.
Dinks, resets and third-shot drops
Here the low pop works for you. Control and sweet spot are my scores from the same ball-machine dink, drop and reset drills every paddle gets. The Scorpeus Pro IV scored 80 for control, about the same as the average widebody's 76, and only 33 paddles I've tested have more. Only one paddle you can buy with both approvals has more control, the Franklin C45 Tempo 16mm, at 81. Because the face adds so little pace on short swings, a reset off a hard drive comes off slow, and a dink you push a little too hard still stays low. That's what makes this paddle unusual, since paddles that hit this hard usually make you fight for your resets.
Mishits
The sweet spot scored 86 out of 100, about the same as the average widebody's 83, and only 25 paddles I've tested have a bigger one. Put that together with the high twist weight, and off-center dinks and blocks still stay in play.
How it feels in your hand next to other widebodies you can buy
Heavier in your hands, steadier than most when you miss the middle
How heavy the paddle feels when you swing it. A lower number swings quicker.
Swings heavier than most widebodies.
How much the paddle fights twisting when you miss the middle. A higher number is steadier.
Only two widebodies you can buy are steadier.
How its sweet spot stacks up against other widebodies you can buy
An average-size sweet spot for a widebody
Both rings are sized to their score.
A honeycomb core that drives like full foam
Inside is JOOLA's Gen 3 build, which JOOLA calls the Propulsion Core. It's a 16mm polypropylene honeycomb core with an EVA foam insert and foam around the perimeter, under a raw carbon fiber face with a raw peel-ply texture, and the whole paddle is thermoformed. It's the same core and face as the Perseus Pro IV, JOOLA's elongated.
That build usually doesn't hit hard. The average 16mm honeycomb widebody scores 50 for power, and the Scorpeus Pro IV scored 85, far more. It even has a little more power than the average 16mm full foam widebody, which scores 78. Where it still plays like honeycomb is the soft game and the pop. Its control score of 80 is about the same as the average 16mm honeycomb widebody's, which is about 84, and its pop score of 55 is far less than the average 16mm full foam widebody's 86. So you get full foam drives with a honeycomb soft game, and you pay for it with pop at the net.
JOOLA lists it at 16 inches long and 8 inches wide, with a 5.25 inch handle and a 4.25 inch grip. That handle is a little short for a two-handed backhand. JOOLA also makes a 14mm Scorpeus Pro IV, and this review covers the 16mm, the one I tested.
JOOLA's warranty is six months, or 12 months if you register the paddle through the NFC chip in the handle.
Out of stock at JOOLA, and approved by both
As of October 22, 2026, JOOLA's product page lists the Scorpeus Pro IV 16mm at $149.95, down from $229.95, and shows it out of stock. JOOLA's newer Scorpeus Pro V came out in February 2026.
The Scorpeus Pro IV is on USA Pickleball's approved paddle list, listed as the Scorpeus IV 16mm. USA Pickleball approved it on January 15, 2025, before JOOLA released it on March 4, 2025. JOOLA's product page says it's UPA-A certified as well. So it's legal in USA Pickleball sanctioned events and in UPA-A events.
Owners rarely name this shape, and core crush is the risk to know
The Scorpeus Pro IV has been out about a year and a half, but owner reports that name this exact paddle are thin, and the retailer pages I checked had no customer reviews on it. As of October 22, 2026, I haven't found a defect that three or more owners report on the Scorpeus Pro IV.
Core crush is the thing to know about. Owners have reported core crush on JOOLA's Perseus Pro IV, which shares this core. None of the reports I found name the Scorpeus Pro IV. Full foam has no honeycomb to crush, so a full foam paddle holds up better on that front.
If you buy one, register it through the NFC chip as soon as it arrives, since that takes the warranty from six months to 12.
Scorpeus Pro IV or Perseus Pro IV 16mm?
The Perseus Pro IV 16mm is the paddle I'd weigh the Scorpeus Pro IV against first. It's JOOLA's elongated with the same core, the same face, the same $149.95 price and the same two approvals, so the shape is the only real difference.
On power they're even, since both scored 85 out of 100. After that, the Scorpeus Pro IV wins almost everything. It has a far bigger sweet spot, 86 out of 100 against 50, and far more control, 80 against 35. It spins far more, 2,279 RPM against 2,121 RPM, and it swings clearly lighter, with a swing weight of 110.8 against 116.2. Its face is steadier too, with a twist weight of 7.34 against 6.28. The one score the Perseus Pro IV 16mm wins is pop, and only by a little, 64 against 55.
What the Perseus Pro IV gives you is reach. It's 16.5 inches long against 16 inches on the Scorpeus Pro IV, and its 5.5 inch handle has room for a two-handed backhand, where the Scorpeus Pro IV's 5.25 inch handle is tight.
So unless you need the reach or a two-hander, get the Scorpeus Pro IV. It hits just as hard, and the soft game is far easier.
Where I'd look instead, for more pop, a lighter swing or less money
Two paddles you might pick instead
How it stacks up against the TruFoam Barrage 2 and the MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Widebody
A paddle only wins a score when it leads by 5 points or more.
Scorpeus Pro IVWidebody · $149.95
TruFoam Barrage 2Widebody · $206.99The Scorpeus Pro IV has a bigger sweet spot and is more controllable. The TruFoam Barrage 2 has more pop. Power and spin are about the same. The TruFoam Barrage 2 costs about $57 more.
Scorpeus Pro IVWidebody · $149.95
MPP Turbo ArmorGrit WidebodyWidebody · $99.99The Scorpeus Pro IV is more controllable. The MPP Turbo ArmorGrit has more pop, spins more and has a bigger sweet spot. Power is about the same. The MPP Turbo ArmorGrit costs about $49 less.
With both approvals
CRBN TruFoam Barrage 2 14mm, $229.99, or $206.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. If pop is what you'd miss, this is the one. It's $57.04 more than the Scorpeus Pro IV after the code. Power is about the same, 83 out of 100 against 85, and so is spin, 2,282 RPM against 2,279 RPM. The Barrage 2 has far more pop, 88 against 55, so counters and speed-ups jump off the face. You give up a little of the soft game, with a little less control, 71 against 80, and a little smaller sweet spot, 81 against 86. Swing weight is about the same, 108.9 against 110.8. The Barrage 2 is a 14mm full foam paddle, its 5.5 inch handle has room for two hands, and CRBN's warranty is one year. It fits players who need both approvals and attack at the net.
Franklin C45 Tempo 16mm, $229.99, or $206.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. If you want the lightest swing you can get with both approvals, this is the one. It's $57.04 more than the Scorpeus Pro IV after the code. Control and sweet spot come out about the same, 81 out of 100 against 80 for control and 83 against 86 for sweet spot. The Tempo swings clearly lighter, with a swing weight of 102.5 against 110.8, so it gets to the ball first in fast exchanges. The trade is pace. The Tempo has far less power, 49 against 85, far less pop, 30 against 55, and less spin, 2,210 RPM against 2,279 RPM. It's the same kind of honeycomb core with perimeter foam, its 5.1 inch handle is even shorter, and Franklin's warranty is one year. It fits soft-game players who win with hand speed and don't need help on drives.
For USA Pickleball players only
Enhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Widebody, $119.99, or $99.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. If you only play USA Pickleball events, this is the one that makes the Scorpeus Pro IV a harder sell. It's $49.96 less than the Scorpeus Pro IV after the code. Power is about the same, 83 out of 100 against 85. The ArmorGrit Widebody has far more pop, 90 against 55, more spin, 2,341 RPM against 2,279 RPM, and a little bigger sweet spot, 93 against 86. It also swings clearly lighter, with a swing weight of 105.6 against 110.8. It has a little less control, 74 against 80, so resets take a softer touch. It's full foam, so there's no honeycomb to crush, but Enhance's warranty covers just the core, for one year, and its 5.3 inch handle is tight for two hands. It fits USA Pickleball players who want the same drives with real pop for less money.
For UPA-A players only
11SIX24 Pegasus Power 2, $209.99, or $199.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. If you only play UPA-A events, this is the widebody I'd get. It's $50.04 more than the Scorpeus Pro IV after the code. Power is about the same, 89 out of 100 against 85. The Pegasus Power 2 has far more pop, 95 against 55, more spin, 2,361 RPM against 2,279 RPM, and a clearly bigger sweet spot, a perfect 100 against 86. Control is a little lower, 72 against 80, and it swings a little lighter, with a swing weight of 108.8 against 110.8. That spin lasts, too, because in my wear test, 11SIX24's HexGrit face lost about 1% of its spin over 75 games. Its 5.75 inch handle has room for two hands, and the warranty is one year. It's approved by UPA-A only, so you can't use it in USA Pickleball sanctioned events.
Get it if you drive and reset, and skip it if you win with pop
If you win points with drives and serves, still want resets that stay low, and play under both USA Pickleball and UPA-A, the Scorpeus Pro IV is the widebody I'd get. No other paddle I've tested with both approvals has as much power and as much control, and at $149.95 it costs less than the Barrage 2 or the C45 Tempo.
Skip the Scorpeus Pro IV if you win hands battles with pace, because it scored 55 out of 100 for pop. Skip it if you hit a two-handed backhand, since the 5.25 inch handle is tight. And if core crush worries you and you only need USA Pickleball approval, the ArmorGrit Widebody gives you the same power on a full foam core with far more pop, for less money.
Testing details
- Tested
- July 28, 2026
- Power and pop
- 20 full serves for power and 20 punch volleys for pop, every ball speed read on a Stalker radar gun.
- Spin
- 20 more serves on the radar. I drop the outliers and average the rest, which gave this paddle 2,279 RPM.
- Swing and twist weight
- Measured on a Briffidi SW1 swing weight machine.
- Sweet spot and control
- The same dinks, drops, resets and drives off a Titan ONE ball machine, for every paddle.
- The scores
- Out of 100, with the same tests for every paddle. The top paddles I've tested score 100.
- Published
- Scores from
- My database, updated October 21, 2026. How I test
No. 1
No. 2
No. 1
No. 2
No. 3
No. 4
