Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 75Power95
- 94Control84
- 90Spin91
- 76Forgiveness88
- 75Sweet spot89
- 77Stability92
- 86Maneuverability66
- 70Pop90
- 92Touch80
- 82Consistency85
- 58Swing weight82
- 65Twist weight92
- 46Launch angle58
- 70Plow through93
- 90Softness72
Specs
| $120 | Price | $332.99 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8.3 oz | Weight | 8.25 oz |
| 105 | Swing weight | 118 |
| 6.1 | Twist weight | 7.2 |
| hybrid | Shape | elongated |
| Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit | Surface | Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.8 in |
Babolat BALLR+ 16 verdict
Babolat brings its RPM tennis grit to pickleball on a 16 mm hybrid. The face texture is the story — it spins like a raw carbon paddle without the chalky wear pattern.
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 verdict
The highest measured power in the database, and the twist weight (7.2) to back it up. The MOI tuning system lets you dial the balance, but nothing turns a 118 swing weight into a fast-hands paddle.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is twist weight: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 92 against 65 for Babolat BALLR+ 16 — a 27-point gap. They are effectively level on consistency, spin, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Babolat BALLR+ 16 is $212.99 cheaper at $120.
Twist weight
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 27 points (92 vs 65).
Swing weight
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 24 points (82 vs 58).
Plow through
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 23 points (93 vs 70).
Power
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 20 points (95 vs 75).
Which one should you buy?
Babolat BALLR+ 16
Take Babolat BALLR+ 16 if you want maneuverability (+20), softness (+18), touch (+12). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Babolat BALLR+ 16 review →Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Take Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 if you want twist weight (+27), swing weight (+24), plow through (+23). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 review →Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Babolat BALLR+ 16 or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.1 vs 80.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 27 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Babolat BALLR+ 16 or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 measures 95 on power against 75 for Babolat BALLR+ 16. That comes from a 16 mm BoomCore PureFoam with EVA Power Ring core swinging at 118 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 at 94 versus 84. Its 16 mm core holds the ball on the face slightly longer, which is what makes resets and dinks land shorter.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 91 for spin off its Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit face, against 90 for the Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit face on Babolat BALLR+ 16. In practice a 1-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16, with 7.2 twist weight against 6.1. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (88) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 costs $120, $212.99 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on whether you actually use the traits it trades away — check the head-to-head DNA bars above before paying up.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16: 16 mm X5™ Polypropylene Honeycomb core with a Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit face. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16: 16 mm BoomCore PureFoam with EVA Power Ring core with a Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16, at 5.8 in of handle against 5.5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 89 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 at 8.25 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (118 vs 105) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Babolat BALLR+ 16 to the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads on twist weight by 27 points; everything else is within 24 points. At $120 vs $332.99, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- BALLR+ 16 vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
- BALLR+ 16 vs Hyperion C2 CFS 16
- BALLR+ 16 vs GX2 Integra XL
- BALLR+ 16 vs Coral Hybrid 16
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Ultré Power 2
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Hyperion Pro V 16
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Friction Pro Elongated V2
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Labs Project 006
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: Babolat BALLR+ 16 and Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.