Franklin Signature Carbon STR vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16

The verdict

Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is plow through: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 93 against 64 for Franklin Signature Carbon STR — a 29-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, sweet spot, control, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Franklin Signature Carbon STR is $222.99 cheaper at $110.

• Plow through

  Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 29 points (93 vs 64).

• Swing weight

  Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 28 points (82 vs 54).

• Twist weight

  Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 20 points (92 vs 72).

• Power

  Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 19 points (95 vs 76).

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?

Franklin Signature Carbon STR vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 FAQ

Which is better, the Franklin Signature Carbon STR or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?

Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.1 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 29 points.

Which one is faster at the kitchen line?

Franklin Signature Carbon STR, at 110 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 Franklin Signature Carbon STR or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?

Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 95 for power against 76 for Franklin Signature Carbon STR. 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 83. 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 80 for the Raw carbon face on Franklin Signature Carbon STR. In practice an 11-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.

Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?

Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 85). Its 7.2 twist weight against 6 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.

Is the price difference worth it?

Franklin Signature Carbon STR costs $110, $222.99 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?

Franklin Signature Carbon STR: 16 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Raw carbon 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 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. Franklin Signature Carbon STR rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.

Which is lighter in the hand?

Franklin Signature Carbon STR at 8 oz against 8.25 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (110 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.

Is it worth upgrading from the Franklin Signature Carbon STR to the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?

Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads on plow through by 29 points; everything else is within 28 points. At $110 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.

• Signature Carbon STR vs SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
• Signature Carbon STR vs Prism Flash
• Signature Carbon STR vs Essentials 16
• Signature Carbon STR vs Radical Tour Ultra 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: Franklin Signature Carbon STR 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.