Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16

The verdict

Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 92 against 59 for Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 — a 33-point gap. They are effectively level on control, spin, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 is $252.99 cheaper at $80.

• Twist weight

  Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 33 points (92 vs 59).

• Sweet spot

  Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 21 points (89 vs 68).

• Stability

  Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 19 points (92 vs 73).

• Forgiveness

  Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 18 points (88 vs 70).

Which one is right for your level?

Each call below re-weights the Paddle DNA traits that matter at that level, so the winner can differ from the overall pick.

Which one should you buy?

Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 FAQ

Which is better, the Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?

Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.1 vs 77), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 33 points.

Which one is faster at the kitchen line?

Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7, at 112 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 Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?

Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 95 for power against 85 for Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7. 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?

Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 at 84 versus 82. 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 Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber face on Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7. 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 the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 70). Its 7.2 twist weight against 5.9 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.

Is the price difference worth it?

Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 costs $80, $252.99 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?

Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7: 12.7 mm Control Pro Black Polymer Core with a Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber 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 5.75 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. Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.

Which is lighter in the hand?

Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both are listed at 8.25 oz, though swing weight differs (112 vs 118) and that is what you feel mid-rally.

Is it worth upgrading from the Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 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 33 points; everything else is within 21 points. At $80 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.

• Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Signature 13
• Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Perseus Pro IV 14
• Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Perseus 14
• Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Omni Elongated 16

• Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Ultré Power 2
• Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs 1X TruFoam Power
• Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Hyperion Pro V 16
• Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Labs 008 Project 16

Top alternatives to both

Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.

Read the full reviews: Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 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.