The Joola Pro V lineup looks incredible, but how does it compare to the Joola Pro IV that felt like a wild stallion? Does the Perseus or Kosmos or Hyperion perform best?
I have tested over 100+ paddles, so I was excited when I got my hands on the Joola Pro V Perseus, Hyperion, and the new Kosmos pickleball paddle, so I wanted to share my experience with you and whether it’s worth the $299.95 price tag.
Let’s start with my first impressions, the playability, cost considerations, Joola Pro V vs Joola Pro IV comparison, and which Joola paddle should you purchase.
First Impressions
My first impression of the JOOLA Pro V lineup was how clean and refined the paddles look in person. The matte carbon face gives them a really sleek, almost stealthy appearance. That said, I do not feel like it had as much grit on the paddle face as my new RPM v2 or the J2CR, but it wasn’t too noticable.
The red Perseus V, green Kosmos V, and blue Hyperion V each have their own personality without feeling overly flashy.
I also noticed right away how compact and well-balanced the heads look.
In hand, the paddles feel solid and well built. The edge guard looks tight and clean, and the handle finish feels premium with that slightly tacky JOOLA grip.
One thing I immediately appreciated was how consistent the face texture looked across all three paddles. The grit feels aggressive without feeling rough or uneven.
Let’s get down to playability though as that’s the most important.
Playability
Firstly, I am obsessed with the pickleball paddle’s sound when the ball connects with the paddle. This paddle’s sound is completely different. It feels like a combination between the Joola Pro IV and the Selkirk Boomstick.
Let’s discuss how the Perseus plays.
Perseus
Firstly, the Pro V Perseus 16mm felt quite a bit more poppier than many of the other paddles I’ve been main-ing recently such as the J2CR, the RPM V2, the Blade 3 and the older Joola Pro IV.
I feel that this paddle had more muted power than the Pro IV, and it feels more like the paddle absorbs the ball vs the Pro IV that felt like a springboard.
In terms of power, I would say that this is still a power and spin paddle, but I’d argue that the Joola Pro V also has good control for baseline shots.
Let’s talk about the new shape, the Kosmos.
Kosmos
The Joola Pro V Kosmos was the biggest surprise of the bunch, in a positive way. It was actually an incredible paddle. I felt that the Kosmos had less pop (in a good way) than the Pro V Perseus.
The paddle had incredible control, which was surprising as I got the 14mm paddle option. My serves were constantly deep and to the baseline, and I was really impressed with the consistency.
Secondly, I was able to return very hard serves with speed and a lot of control. On deep serves in singles I was able to paly the back side line that forced my opponent’s awkward backhand.
In addition, the paddle has a complete spin package. I was able to put ample top spin on serves and slices on returns. Also on strong sliced serves, I as able to get under the ball easily to drop the ball near the center to force my opponents backhand.
Hand speed felt very fast, and my serves were much more controlled. I would call this the best of the bunch.
Finally, let’s discuss the Hyperion next considering the old Hyperion CFC 16mm was my old favorite back in early 2024.
Hyperion
The Hyperion was another paddle that stuck out to me. The paddle’s shape made it easy to get dinks and the paddle had less pop than the Joola Perseus which I appreciated.
The paddle felt similar to the Perseus, but my serves were definitely better and deeper and more accurate than many of my other paddles.
I’d argue that I had more control than both the Pro IV Perseus and even the Pro V Perseus.
Let’s talk as these paddles are some of the most expensive paddles in the world.
Cost Considerations
The JOOLA Pro V pickleball paddles are slightly more expensive than the previous JOOLA Pro IV series. Most of the Pro IV paddles originally retailed around $279.95 (but is now around $249.95), while the newer Pro V lineup typically comes in at about $299.95 depending on the model.
That means you’re paying roughly $50 more for the newest generation. For players who always want the latest technology and updates, the Pro V may be worth the price increase.
However, if you can find the Pro IV on sale as retailers begin transitioning to the new lineup, it could end up being one of the better value options in the premium pickleball paddle category.
How does the Joola Pro IV vs the Pro V?
Joola Pro V vs Joola Pro IV
Right off the bat, I would 100% choose the Joola Pro V over the Pro IV.
Why?
If you’ve watched my videos and read my content, you would know that I feel like the Pro IV is such a wild paddle. The power and spin were absolutely incredible, but it was so hard to control. That’s one reason I loved my Selkirk Boomstick over the Pro IV.
I felt that they toned down the power on the new Pro V lineup and are focused on more control, but still a power and spin paddle.
I believe the price point is under $250 for the Joola Pro IV, so at least it’s priced below the new Pro IV.
Which Joola Would I Purchase?
Honestly, I connected the most with the Kosmos over the paddles and then the Joola Hyperion and then the Joola Perseus in the 3rd position.
That said…
I plan to continue to play with these paddles and re-work my rankings after breaking in these paddles more. Regardless, the new Pro IV is an exciting lineup, and I would argue that it’s a playability upgrade to the Joola Pro IVs.
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