CRBN CRBN-1X vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. CRBN CRBN-1X 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
- 89Power88
- 89Control89
- 94Spin90
- 86Forgiveness86
- 88Sweet spot88
- 89Stability90
- 71Maneuverability72
- 83Pop83
- 87Touch86
- 89Consistency88
- 79Swing weight76
- 88Twist weight86
- 57Launch angle55
- 88Plow through86
- 78Softness80
Specs
| $220 | Price | $275 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8.3 oz | Weight | 8 oz |
| 119 | Swing weight | 116 |
| 6.6 | Twist weight | 6.8 |
| elongated | Shape | elongated |
| Raw Toray T700 carbon | Surface | Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.5 in |
CRBN CRBN-1X verdict
The spin-first elongated build for players who care about how a paddle is made. Foam-injected edge walls widen the sweet spot on a shape that usually punishes off-center contact.
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 verdict
Gearbox's rib-suspended SSTCore feels unlike any honeycomb paddle: firmer through contact, quieter on resets, and unusually consistent shot to shot. You pay $275 for that engineering.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is spin: CRBN CRBN-1X scores 94 against 90 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 — a 4-point gap. They are effectively level on swing weight, twist weight, launch angle, so those traits should not decide the purchase. CRBN CRBN-1X is $55 cheaper at $220.
Spin
CRBN CRBN-1X leads by 4 points (94 vs 90).
Which one should you buy?
CRBN CRBN-1X
Take CRBN CRBN-1X if you want spin (+4). Its swing weight of 119 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the CRBN CRBN-1X review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Take Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 if you prefer a elongated face and a 5.5 in handle — it gives up nothing measurable to CRBN CRBN-1X.
Read the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 review →CRBN CRBN-1X vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the CRBN CRBN-1X or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- CRBN CRBN-1X carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.5 vs 86.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — CRBN CRBN-1X leads by 4 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, at 116 kg·cm² swing weight against 119 for CRBN CRBN-1X. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the CRBN CRBN-1X or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- CRBN CRBN-1X measures 89 on power against 88 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. That comes from a 16 mm Foam-injected edge-wall polymer core swinging at 119 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- CRBN CRBN-1X at 89 versus 89. 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?
- CRBN CRBN-1X scores 94 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon face, against 90 for the Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture face on Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. In practice a 4-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, with 6.8 twist weight against 6.6. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and CRBN CRBN-1X carries the higher forgiveness score (86) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- CRBN CRBN-1X costs $220, $55 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?
- CRBN CRBN-1X: 16 mm Foam-injected edge-wall polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16: 16 mm SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam core with a Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- CRBN CRBN-1X, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which CRBN CRBN-1X avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- CRBN CRBN-1X is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. CRBN CRBN-1X rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 at 8 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (116 vs 119) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 to the CRBN CRBN-1X?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. CRBN CRBN-1X leads on spin by 4 points; everything else is within 3 points. At $220 vs $275, 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.
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Infinity Ruby 16
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Nova R1
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs CRBN-3X Power Series
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: CRBN CRBN-1X and Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.