Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated 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 Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin, control, forgiveness and hand speed on Paddle DNA against the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated, which costs $250.
Power
93 vs 88
Spin
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
90 vs 86
Control
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
89 vs 83
Forgiveness
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
86 vs 78
Hand speed
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
116 vs 123 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$250 at IQ 83.4 vs $275 at IQ 86.8
Overall pick: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 · $275 · IQ 86.8
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 93Power88
- 83Control89
- 86Spin90
- 78Forgiveness86
- 80Sweet spot88
- 87Stability90
- 70Maneuverability72
- 89Pop83
- 80Touch86
- 84Consistency88
- 82Swing weight76
- 84Twist weight86
- 60Launch angle55
- 91Plow through86
- 68Softness80
Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated 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 Power Elongated | Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $250 — better | $275 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 83.4 | 86.8 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.4 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 123 | 116 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.3 | 6.8 — better |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.6 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.3 | 7.375 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4 |
| Surface | Textured carbon | Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture |
| Core material | Solid-span carbon (no honeycomb) | SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam |
Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated verdict
Gearbox's solid-span construction with a genuine power tune. It feels unlike any honeycomb paddle — firmer, more direct — and rewards players who already hit clean.
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 softness: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 80 against 68 for Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on stability, maneuverability, twist weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated is $25 cheaper at $250.
Softness
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 12 points (80 vs 68).
Forgiveness
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 8 points (86 vs 78).
Sweet spot
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 8 points (88 vs 80).
Control
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 6 points (89 vs 83).
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 — forgiveness 86 vs 78, sweet spot 88 vs 80, consistency 88 vs 84. Twist weight 6.8 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is a narrow pick at this level — control 89 vs 83, forgiveness 86 vs 78, touch 86 vs 80. At 116 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Forgiveness
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.9 vs 85.9 on the weighted index). Take Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated and keep the $25.
- Touch
- Spin
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 80 vs 68, forgiveness 86 vs 78, twist weight 86 vs 84. Its 16 mm SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam core at 8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated
Take Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated if you want pop (+6), swing weight (+6), power (+5). Its swing weight of 123 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Take Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 if you want softness (+12), forgiveness (+8), sweet spot (+8). 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 Power Elongated vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.8 vs 83.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, at 116 kg·cm² swing weight against 123 for Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated scores 93 for power against 88 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. That comes from a 14 mm Solid-span carbon (no honeycomb) core swinging at 123 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 at 89 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?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 90 for spin off its Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture face, against 86 for the Textured carbon face on Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated. 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 the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 78). Its 6.8 twist weight against 6.3 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 Power Elongated costs $250, $25 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 Power Elongated: 14 mm Solid-span carbon (no honeycomb) core with a Textured 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?
- 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 Power Elongated rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 at 8 oz against 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (116 vs 123) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated to the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads on softness by 12 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $250 vs $275, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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- 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 Power Elongated and Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated and Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.