Gearbox GX2 Integra XL vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Gearbox GX2 Integra XL wins this matchup for most players: it takes control, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, which costs $275.
Power
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
88 vs 73
Spin
Too close to call
90 vs 90
Control
94 vs 89
Forgiveness
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
86 vs 73
Hand speed
105 vs 116 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$170 at IQ 78 vs $275 at IQ 86.8
Overall pick: Gearbox GX2 Integra XL · $170 · IQ 78
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 73Power88
- 94Control89
- 90Spin90
- 73Forgiveness86
- 71Sweet spot88
- 68Stability90
- 89Maneuverability72
- 70Pop83
- 92Touch86
- 78Consistency88
- 58Swing weight76
- 53Twist weight86
- 46Launch angle55
- 67Plow through86
- 90Softness80
Gearbox GX2 Integra XL vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Gearbox GX2 Integra XL | Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $170 — better | $275 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 78 | 86.8 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 116 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.7 | 6.8 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.375 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.375 | 7.375 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4 |
| Surface | TXR Surface Grip Technology (3K Woven Carbon Fiber) | Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture |
| Core material | 140 FAW-Toray T-700 Mid Modulus Carbon Fiber | SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam |
Gearbox GX2 Integra XL verdict
Gearbox's solid-span construction removes the traditional honeycomb core, which is why the GX2 feels dense and quiet where thermoformed rivals feel hollow and loud.
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
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 86 against 53 for Gearbox GX2 Integra XL — a 33-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Gearbox GX2 Integra XL is $105 cheaper at $170.
Twist weight
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 33 points (86 vs 53).
Stability
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 22 points (90 vs 68).
Plow through
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 19 points (86 vs 67).
Swing weight
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 18 points (76 vs 58).
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.
Beginner
New to 3.0 — still building a consistent contact point
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 86 vs 53, sweet spot 88 vs 71, stability 90 vs 68. Twist weight 6.8 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Sweet spot
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.3 vs 85.2 on the weighted index). Take Gearbox GX2 Integra XL and keep the $105.
- Maneuverability
- Control
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is a narrow pick at this level — plow through 86 vs 67, power 88 vs 73. Swing weight 116 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 86 vs 53, forgiveness 86 vs 73. Its 16 mm SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam core at 8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Gearbox GX2 Integra XL
Take Gearbox GX2 Integra XL if you want maneuverability (+17), softness (+10), touch (+6). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Gearbox GX2 Integra XL review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Take Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 if you want twist weight (+33), stability (+22), plow through (+19). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 review →Gearbox GX2 Integra XL vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox GX2 Integra XL or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.8 vs 78), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 33 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Gearbox GX2 Integra XL, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 116 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Gearbox GX2 Integra XL or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 88 for power against 73 for Gearbox GX2 Integra XL. That comes from a 16 mm SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam core swinging at 116 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Gearbox GX2 Integra XL at 94 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 90 for spin.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 73). Its 6.8 twist weight against 5.7 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Gearbox GX2 Integra XL costs $170, $105 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?
- Gearbox GX2 Integra XL: 16 mm 140 FAW-Toray T-700 Mid Modulus Carbon Fiber core with a TXR Surface Grip Technology (3K Woven Carbon Fiber) 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both run a 5.5 in handle, long enough that neither forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Gearbox GX2 Integra XL 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 oz, though swing weight differs (105 vs 116) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Gearbox GX2 Integra XL to the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads on twist weight by 33 points; everything else is within 22 points. At $170 vs $275, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
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- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Pro Power Elongated
- GX2 Integra XL vs Double Black Diamond Control
- GX2 Integra XL vs Quartz Control
- GX2 Integra XL vs BALLR+ 16
- GX2 Integra XL vs Vanguard Control Air Invikta
- GX2 Integra XL vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
- GX2 Integra XL vs Sapphire 16
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
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- GX2 Integra XL vs BALLR+ 16
- GX2 Integra XL vs Perseus 14
- GX2 Integra XL vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs CRBN-1X
- 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.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Gearbox GX2 Integra XL and Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Gearbox GX2 Integra XL and Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.