Joola Perseus Pro IV Pickleball Paddle – Ben Johns (14mm)

Shape	Perseus — Elongated flat-top, 16.5″ × 7.5″
Core Thickness	14mm (0.551″) — thinner = more pop
Average Weight	7.9 oz (range: 7.7–8.1 oz) — lighter than 16mm
Swing Weight	113 — faster swing than 16mm’s 118
Spin (RPM)	2,018 RPM
Twist Weight	5.9
Handle Length	5.5″
Grip Circumference	4⅛” (Small) — narrower than 16mm’s 4¼”
Grip Style	Perforated, Cushioned
Paddle Length	16.5″
Paddle Width	7.5″
Face	Textured Carbon Fiber
Core	Honeycomb Propulsion Core + Hyper-Foam Edge Wall
Signature Technology	TechFlex Power (TFP) — patent-pending
NFC Chip	Yes — JOOLA Connect
Certifications	USAP PBCoR .43 + UPA-A Dual Certified

God of Sports Expert Verdict on the Joola Perseus Pro IV Pickleball Paddle (14mm):

Joola Perseus Pro IV Pickleball Paddle (14mm) is the power-forward version of JOOLA’s current-generation Pro IV flagship — the same TechFlex Power (TFP) technology, Hyper-Foam Edge Wall, Textured Carbon Fiber surface, and dual USAP + UPA-A certification as the 16mm, but with a 14mm core for maximum explosive pop and faster swing speed. The Joola Perseus Pro IV Pickleball Paddle 14mm sits at the top of the JOOLA Pro IV lineup for pure power output — the combination of the Perseus shape’s high sweet spot, TFP’s frame flex, and the 14mm’s thin-core explosiveness produces one of the most powerful configurations in the JOOLA pickleball range.

• Who it is for: Advanced to competitive players whose game is built on explosive baseline power. Players who want the Pro IV’s TFP forgiveness and USAP certification in the most powerful 14mm configuration available from JOOLA’s current generation. Strong singles players and aggressive doubles players who rely on big serves, hard third-shot drives, and speed-up sequences to win points.
• What it does best: Explosive, dual-certified power. The 14mm thin core combined with TFP’s frame flex and the Perseus shape’s high sweet spot produces maximum ball speed on drives, serves, and overhead smashes. TFP’s forgiveness makes this explosiveness more accessible than previous generations — even on slight mishits, the frame flex returns improved results. The textured carbon surface’s long-lasting spin texture adds heavy topspin to every big drive.
• The honest note: The Joola Perseus Pro IV Pickleball Paddle 14mm is demanding on soft shot technique. The 14mm’s reduced dwell time means resets and drops require deliberate calibration — the thin core exits the ball quickly, leaving less time to shape soft placement shots. Players whose game is not yet solid defensively should start with the 16mm. The swing weight of 116, while slightly more manageable than the 16mm’s 118, remains the second-highest in the Pro IV lineup — less maneuverable at the kitchen than the Scorpeus or Hyperion shapes. The Perseus is a power player’s paddle.

Performance Ratings of Joola Perseus Pro IV Pickleball Paddle (14mm):

Attribute	Rating (out of 10)	Summary
Smash / Power	9.5 / 10	Joola Perseus Pro IV Pickleball Paddle has maximum power in the Perseus Pro IV range. The 14mm thin core’s explosive response, the Perseus shape’s high-position sweet spot, and TFP’s enhanced energy return combine to produce among the highest ball speed on drives, serves, and overheads of any JOOLA paddle at GOS. Players describe the Pro IV 14mm as especially poppy on aggressive baseline shots while being more forgiving than the 3S 14mm.
Defence / Reset	7.5 / 10	TFP’s frame flex of Joola Perseus Pro IV Pickleball Paddle improves defensive forgiveness over the 3S 14mm — mishits that would have died on a rigid-frame paddle return workable results. The Hyper-Foam Edge Wall cushions edge contacts. However, the 14mm’s reduced dwell time still requires deliberate touch calibration on soft resets and drops. Advanced players with developed technique manage the 14mm defensively; developing players will find 16mm meaningfully more manageable.
Dinking	8 / 10	TFP’s dwell enhancement adds soft, connected feel that improves upon the 3S 14mm’s kitchen feel. The textured carbon provides reliable spin assist on directional dinks. The 14mm still requires more deliberate touch than 16mm — calibration is needed. Once calibrated, the Pro IV 14mm dinks with precision and speed given its lower swing weight relative to the 16mm.
Control	8 / 10	TFP’s forgiveness upgrade in the Joola Perseus Pro IV Pickleball Paddle meaningfully improves control over the 3S generation at 14mm. The foam outside the frame narrows the honeycomb channel and adds a consistent flex response — players describe the Pro IV 14mm as more predictable on placement shots than the 3S. Still requires more technique at 14mm than 16mm, but the Pro IV’s control ceiling at 14mm is higher than any previous JOOLA 14mm Perseus.
Spin	9.5 / 10	The textured carbon surface combined with the 14mm’s faster swing speed and TFP’s dwell time enhancement produces the highest spin rating in the Perseus Pro IV range. Heavy topspin serves, cross-court topspin drives, and spin-assisted kitchen attacks all benefit from the texture’s grip and the 14mm’s fast head speed. Among the best-spinning JOOLA Pro IV paddles at GOS.

Technologies used in Joola Perseus Pro IV Pickleball Paddle (14mm):

• TFP — TechFlex Power at 14mm: TechFlex Power places high-density foam outside the frame under the edge guard at the throat and bottom corners. At 14mm, TFP’s frame flex plays an even more significant role in delivering forgiveness than at 16mm — a thinner core is inherently less forgiving on mishits, and TFP’s flex partially compensates by giving the frame itself more yield on off-centre contacts. The foam also adds weight at the bottom corners, helping balance what would otherwise be a lighter, more head-light 14mm paddle. The narrowed honeycomb channel that TFP creates also adds dwell time — partially compensating for 14mm’s inherently shorter dwell, bringing the Pro IV 14mm closer to 16mm-like touch than the 3S 14mm achieved.
• Honeycomb Propulsion Core at 14mm + Hyper-Foam Edge Wall: The 14mm Propulsion Core delivers JOOLA’s controlled trampoline power effect at its most explosive — the thin core compresses less and returns ball energy faster, producing crisp, powerful response on every contact. The Hyper-Foam Edge Wall inside the frame perimeter expands the sweet spot and cushions vibration on edge contacts. Working in concert with TFP’s outer foam, the Pro IV 14mm has two layers of foam reinforcement — one inside, one outside the frame.
• Textured Carbon Fiber Surface: Long-lasting textured carbon maintains consistent spin grip across the paddle’s lifespan. The texture’s durability is particularly valuable at 14mm where players generate high swing speeds — the surface withstands high-velocity contact without degrading as quickly as smoother surfaces. Works with TFP’s dwell time to provide more ball-texture contact time per shot for increased spin generation.
• Perseus Shape at 14mm — Peak Baseline Power: The Perseus shape’s high sweet spot positioning (mass concentrated in the upper face) maximises power on groundstrokes and overhead smashes. At 14mm, the thin-core explosiveness combined with the high sweet spot and the 16.5-inch length’s swing leverage produces peak baseline driving power — the fastest ball speed configuration available from JOOLA at GOS. The 5.5-inch handle provides two-handed backhand accommodation and full overhead swing radius.

Pro IV 14mm vs Pro IV 16mm — Joola Pickleball Paddle Perseus

Zone	14mm Performance	16mm Performance
Baseline Drives	More immediate pop, faster exit velocity	More dwell time — ball “loads” into face before launching
Third-Shot Drops	Requires deliberate touch — less forgiving	More cushioned — drops feel more controlled
Kitchen Dinks	Clean and solid — but smaller error margin	More forgiving — recommended for most
Resets vs Hard Drives	Demands precise angle management	More absorbent — easier to redirect pace
Speed-Ups / Counters	Sharper, more explosive	Strong, but slightly less crisp
Overhead Put-Aways	Fast and decisive	More powerful — extra mass for slams
Hand Battles	Faster — swing weight 113, lighter head	Stronger — more plow-through and stability