Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Quick answer
Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated, which costs $250.
Power
Too close to call
93 vs 92
Spin
90 vs 86
Control
Too close to call
83 vs 80
Forgiveness
Too close to call
78 vs 78
Hand speed
120 vs 123 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$230 at IQ 82.8 vs $250 at IQ 83.4
Overall pick: Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 · $230 · IQ 82.8
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 93Power92
- 83Control80
- 86Spin90
- 78Forgiveness78
- 80Sweet spot80
- 87Stability88
- 70Maneuverability68
- 89Pop88
- 80Touch76
- 84Consistency80
- 82Swing weight82
- 84Twist weight88
- 60Launch angle56
- 91Plow through90
- 68Softness62
Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 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 | Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $250 | $230 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 83.4 — better | 82.8 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.4 | 8.4 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 123 | 120 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.3 | 7.2 — better |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.6 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.3 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured carbon | Raw carbon fiber |
| Core material | Solid-span carbon (no honeycomb) | Thermoformed unibody with injected foam walls |
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.
Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 verdict
A full foam-wall unibody aimed squarely at the JOOLA and CRBN flagships. Twist weight 88 and plow-through 90 are flagship numbers; the 120 swing weight is the tax you pay for them.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated scores 68 against 62 for Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 — a 6-point gap. They are effectively level on control, maneuverability, power, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 is $20 cheaper at $230.
Softness
Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated leads by 6 points (68 vs 62).
Spin
Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 leads by 4 points (90 vs 86).
Touch
Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated leads by 4 points (80 vs 76).
Consistency
Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated leads by 4 points (84 vs 80).
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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (82.1 vs 82 on the weighted index). Take Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 and keep the $20.
- Consistency
- Control
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81.6 vs 80.4 on the weighted index). Take Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 and keep the $20.
- Control
- Touch
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.9 vs 84.1 on the weighted index). Take Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 and keep the $20.
- Touch
- Control
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated
Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated is a narrow pick at this level — softness 68 vs 62. Its 14 mm Solid-span carbon (no honeycomb) core at 8.4 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated
Take Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated if you want softness (+6), touch (+4), consistency (+4). Its swing weight of 123 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated review →Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16
Take Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 if you want spin (+4), twist weight (+4). Its swing weight of 120 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 review →Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated or the Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16?
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (83.4 vs 82.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated leads by 6 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16, at 120 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 Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16?
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated scores 93 for power against 92 for Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 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 GX2 Power Elongated at 83 versus 80. Its 14 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?
- Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 scores 90 for spin off its Raw carbon fiber 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 78 on forgiveness despite twist weights of 6.3 and 7.2.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 costs $230, $20 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. Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16: 16 mm Thermoformed unibody with injected foam walls core with a Raw carbon fiber 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Forgiveness (78) and sweet spot (80) are identical, so a developing player can start on either — decide on price and handle feel.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both are listed at 8.4 oz, though swing weight differs (123 vs 120) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 to the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated leads on softness by 6 points; everything else is within 4 points. At $250 vs $230, 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.
- GX2 Power Elongated vs GX2 Integra XL
- GX2 Power Elongated vs OMNI 16
- GX2 Power Elongated vs Perseus CFS 16
- GX2 Power Elongated vs Double Black Diamond Control
- GX2 Power Elongated vs Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
- GX2 Power Elongated vs Loco 16mm Elongated
- Pro XS 16 vs Perseus Pro V 14
- Pro XS 16 vs Model E Max V3
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- GX2 Power Elongated vs 2X Power Series
- GX2 Power Elongated vs Labs Project 006
- GX2 Power Elongated vs Hyperion CFS 16
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 Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated and Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.