JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16mm Review (UK 2026)
The Perseus Pro IV 16mm is the safest serious-paddle recommendation in the UK in 2026. It is the paddle the independent review press keeps converging on for the intermediate-to-advanced club player: enough power to finish points, enough dwell and forgiveness to defend, and cleaner UK availability than almost any of its US-brand rivals. At £195.99 from PDH Sports it undercuts JOOLA's newer Pro V and VI generations while giving up very little on court.
Strengths
- The most-recommended power-control paddle in the independent review press at this price
- TechFlex foam at the throat adds flex, forgiveness and dwell time over earlier Perseus generations
- Raw Carbon Friction Surface holds spin well; the 16mm core keeps the launch controlled
Watch outs
- Elongated shape and 5.5-inch handle trade sweet-spot width for reach
- 8.1 oz average weight is demanding for beginners at the kitchen line
- Newer Pro V and VI generations exist, though their premium buys only a marginal gain
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Every paddle generation has a reference point that the rest of the market gets measured against, and in 2026 that is the Perseus line. It is the signature paddle of Ben Johns, the most decorated player in the sport's short professional history, and the Pro IV generation is the one that independent reviewers at Pickleball Effect and Pickleheads consistently place at the top of the control-with-power category. This review covers the build, how it plays, who it suits, and the UK buying picture.
Build and design
The Pro IV is an elongated paddle: more length and reach in exchange for a slightly narrower face. Three construction choices define it.
Face: JOOLA's Carbon Friction Surface, a raw (unpainted, unlaminated) carbon-fibre layer whose grit texture is what generates spin. Raw carbon faces are the 2025-2026 premium standard, and JOOLA's implementation is among the more durable at holding its texture over months of play.
Core: a 16mm reactive polymer honeycomb. Sixteen millimetres is the thick end of the market: more dwell time on the ball, a softer launch, and more forgiveness on off-centre contact than the 14mm version of the same paddle.
The foam: the Pro IV's defining feature is TechFlex Power, a section of high-density foam set into the bottom corners and throat. It lets the face flex more than earlier Perseus generations, which shows up as extra forgiveness and feel without giving up the power that made the line's name.
How it plays
The consistent picture from the independent review pool is a paddle that sits almost exactly on the line between power and control, leaning power when you swing fast. The 16mm core and foam throat give enough dwell for confident resets and dinks; the elongated shape and head speed give real put-away pace on drives and overheads. Spin generation off the raw carbon face rates near the top of the market, which matters most on serves and rolls.
The trade-offs are the standard elongated-shape ones. The sweet spot is tall rather than wide, so off-centre contact towards the edges is punished more than on a widebody paddle, and at around 8.1 oz average it asks for quicker hands in fast kitchen exchanges than a beginner will have. The 5.5-inch handle is a genuine plus for two-handed backhands.
Who it suits
The Pro IV 16mm makes most sense for an improving club player, roughly 3.5 and up, who has outgrown a first paddle and wants one serious purchase rather than a ladder of upgrades. Tennis converts will like the reach, the handle length and the swing feel. If you are still developing consistent contact, a widebody control paddle is a more forgiving place to spend less money; see our paddle-choosing guide for the decision framework, and the UK buying guide for picks at every budget tier.
Buying it in the UK
Availability is where the Pro IV quietly beats most of its rivals. JOOLA has real UK distribution, and at the time of writing PDH Sports lists the 16mm Pro IV at £195.99 against a £280 RRP, with a 14mm sibling at the same price for players who want a faster, firmer response. Buying from a UK retailer means UK returns and no customs surprises; importing the same paddle from the US typically adds £30-60 in duty, VAT and handling plus a shipping wait.
Confirm the thickness on the listing before checkout: the 14mm and 16mm versions carry near-identical names, and the 16mm is the one this review covers.