JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus Pro V 14mm Review

Technical specifications

The JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14mm keeps the same 16.5 × 7.5 in (41.9 × 19.1 cm) elongated outline and 5.5 in (14.0 cm) handle as the 16mm, but lowers the official average weight to 7.9 oz (224 g). One exact-model independent sample weighed 7.88 oz (223.4 g). Its 115.25 swing weight is 5.45 points below the measured 16mm, while the 24.4 cm balance point remains head-heavy. The result is easier to redirect without becoming genuinely head-light. The exact-thickness official specification graphic shows a 4.125 in grip, and the independent measurement page agrees. JOOLA’s product prose also says that both Ben Johns versions use 4.250 in, creating an unresolved manufacturer conflict. Buyers should confirm the selected SKU at checkout rather than assume the copy is internally consistent. The face is textured carbon fiber over a 14 mm polypropylene honeycomb core with perimeter foam. US price was $299.95 on July 27, 2026, and exact 14mm approvals were found in both USAP and UPA-A records.

Face surface and material behavior

The Feel-Tec textured carbon surface produced 2,289 rpm in exact-model testing—effectively identical to the 16mm sample—and measured 6.18 µm in roughness. Spin is therefore not the sacrifice made for the thinner core. Aggressive topspin drives, roll volleys and shaped serves remain available, while the lower swing burden makes it easier to accelerate the head during short exchanges. What changes is contact time. The ball leaves the 14mm face earlier, so fine brush shots have a smaller timing window even when the peak RPM result is strong. Players with decisive technique can generate heavy rotation; players who rely on prolonged pocketing may find the surface less cooperative than the number suggests. As with the 16mm, the face is not among the most abrasive in tactile terms, and no exact long-term protocol establishes how much of the initial texture remains after extended use.

Core structure and thickness effects

Construction remains polypropylene honeycomb with perimeter foam, Propulsion Core branding and the KineticFrame reinforcement through the throat. It is not a full-foam paddle. The 14 mm core bends less and returns energy sooner than the 16mm, creating a firmer, more immediate launch on counters, speed-ups and compact volleys. Independent evidence repeatedly treats it as a different response profile rather than merely a lighter version. That early release improves hand speed and directness but reduces dwell on dinks, drops and transition resets. The paddle is easier to position, yet less willing to absorb incoming pace. Players accustomed to thin cores can use the predictable, crisp rebound; players moving from a soft 16mm paddle may send the first several soft balls long. Break-in can loosen the core and add rebound, so control demands may increase rather than disappear as the paddle settles.

Weight, balance, and swing mechanics

The measured 7.88 oz static weight and 115.25 swing weight make this version substantially easier to move than the 16mm. Kitchen counters, backhand-to-forehand changes and late face corrections require less effort. The 16.5-inch lever still provides useful head mass and reach, so the paddle does not feel as quick as a Scorpeus or compact widebody, but it occupies a more manageable middle ground. The balance point remains 24.4 cm, meaning the lighter total mass has not moved the center of mass far toward the hand. Players still feel the head, especially during long sessions. Adding weight high on the frame is possible but undermines the main reason to select 14mm. A small amount near the lower corners may improve twist resistance more efficiently, yet any modification should be evaluated against approval rules and the stock 115.25 handling advantage.

Sweet spot and stability analysis

The 14mm sample measured 6.10 twist weight, lower than the 16mm and below the cited rig average. Combined with a 7.5-inch-wide elongated face, that creates a relatively small effective zone. Center contact is fast and precise, but balls struck toward the side lose depth and direction sooner. The thinner core also provides less damping when the contact point moves toward the edge. This is the largest practical cost of the faster setup. The paddle can feel more maneuverable before impact while being less forgiving at impact. Skilled players who consistently find the center may prefer that trade; players who are late in hand battles may discover that the quicker swing does not compensate for the smaller target. Sweet spot and stability both score 6.5/10, and no amount of premium branding changes the mechanical consequence of narrow geometry plus modest torsional resistance.

Power, pop, and control

Measured serve speed was 60.4 mph and punch-volley speed was 39.0 mph. Those results are almost identical to the 16mm sample, showing that the thinner version does not buy a large maximum-speed advantage. Its advantage is access: compact counters and speed-ups release the ball sooner, making pace easier to find with a shorter motion. Full-swing drives remain strong, though the lighter head supplies slightly less plow-through against heavy incoming balls. Control is more technique-dependent. The direct face can produce accurate trajectories when grip pressure and swing length are disciplined, but drops and resets have a narrower depth window. The paddle does not absorb pace as automatically as the 16mm. Its 7.5/10 control score reflects precision available to an experienced 14mm user, not broad ease of use. Players still building a reliable soft game should not interpret the lower swing weight as a beginner-friendly specification.

Spin potential in real-world play

A measured 2,289 rpm earns the same 8.5/10 spin score as the 16mm. The lighter swing can help players accelerate sharply through roll volleys and flicks, while the long face creates leverage for topspin drives and slice returns. Rotation remains one of the strongest objective traits in this variant. The feel of spin is different from the number. Shorter dwell means the ball does not appear to sit on the face for long, and a moderate roughness reading does not produce a highly adhesive sensation. Precise brush angle and speed are required. Players who hit through the ball with a compact, fast path should enjoy the result; those who shape soft shots through prolonged pocketing may prefer 16mm. The RPM remains protocol-specific and should not be compared directly with unrelated test systems.

Vibration, feedback, and feel

Impact is firmer, faster and more connected than on the 16mm. Clean center strikes provide clear information and counters feel crisp, but the thinner core filters less vibration. Contact toward the perimeter can feel sharp, particularly before the paddle has broken in. The reduced swing burden helps physical effort, yet that is separate from impact comfort. The resulting 7.0/10 comfort score is adequate rather than premium. Players who like direct 14mm feedback may call it responsive; players seeking a plush, muted or full-foam sensation will call it harsh. No comfort score should be interpreted as an injury-prevention claim. Grip size, individual sensitivity, contact consistency and session length can matter as much as core thickness.

Durability and long-term observations

The same durability uncertainty surrounding Pro V applies here. The honeycomb core can loosen and become livelier during break-in, and independent reports discuss core crushing across the family. The available exact-model material does not establish how often the 14mm fails, whether its thinner core fails faster, or how production batches vary. An isolated new-paddle complaint is evidence that quality control should be checked, not proof that every unit is defective. JOOLA’s United States warranty begins at six months and can be extended to twelve months for eligible NFC paddles registered through the Infinity app within fourteen days with proof of purchase. That condition is important at $299.95. Inspect the paddle on arrival, confirm the selected grip/SKU, register immediately and retain the receipt. Changes in localized softness, crackling through the center, rebound or surface separation deserve documentation and warranty contact.

Regulatory and competitive use

The exact Perseus Pro V 14mm passed the USAP equipment list and was added on October 1, 2025 as a 14 mm polypropylene paddle with textured carbon-fiber surface. UPA-A lists the separate exact model as P14G5D, approved on February 9, 2026. Both records were checked on July 27, 2026. The 14mm and 16mm approvals are separate, and the older Perseus generations have their own identities. Players should not transfer measurements or compliance status among CFS, 3S, 3S Dual, Pro IV and Pro V. Approval concerns the stock model under the named body; it does not validate added surface treatments or every weighting modification. Recheck the current list before sanctioned competition.

Practical on-court takeaways

The best player for the 14mm is advanced, attack-first and already comfortable with thin-core timing. Quick counters, compact speed-ups, roll volleys and aggressive two-handed drives benefit from the combination of 115.25 swing weight, 16.5-inch reach and immediate rebound. The paddle also suits someone who likes Perseus leverage but found the 16mm too slow. It is a poor default for beginners, control-first players or anyone who regularly contacts outside the center. Softer hands can manage dinks, but the paddle supplies less depth insurance on resets and drops. At the same price as the 16mm, selecting 14mm should be an intentional preference for speed and direct feedback—not an assumption that thinner automatically means better. For many players, Kosmos 16mm, Scorpeus 16mm or the Perseus 16mm will produce a higher percentage of playable balls.

Comparison with other models

Compared with the Perseus Pro V 16mm, the 14mm cuts measured swing weight from 120.7 to 115.25 and static weight from 8.16 to 7.88 oz. Serve speed and spin remain almost unchanged, but twist weight falls from 6.35 to 6.10. The practical exchange is clear: faster hands for less dwell, stability and forgiveness. The 16mm is the broader recommendation; 14mm is the specialist option. Compared with Kosmos Pro V, Perseus keeps more elongated reach and leverage but offers a narrower lateral target. Scorpeus is quicker and more forgiving. Against Perseus Pro IV 14mm, Pro V is softer and less abruptly connected, yet the performance change is incremental relative to the $50 price gap. Strong lower-priced 14mm elongated paddles can challenge it on output and value, so JOOLA’s premium should be paid only when this specific balance and feel are preferred.

Technical positioning within its class

Within premium 14mm elongated paddles, Perseus Pro V sits between a pure speed paddle and a heavy power lever. Its 115.25 swing weight is manageable for the shape, while 9.5/10 reach, 8.5/10 power and 8.5/10 spin preserve offensive upside. The limitations are concentrated in the hitting zone: 6.5/10 sweet spot, stability and forgiveness leave little protection for inconsistent contact. The final 74/100 places it in the limited-fit band. That does not mean weak performance; it means the product asks for a narrow set of priorities and skills at a very high price. Advanced 14mm players can exploit it. Most buyers will get a more complete result from the 16mm or a wider shape, especially when reset quality, defensive stability and price-performance matter as much as quick counter speed.