Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 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
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes forgiveness and hand speed on Paddle DNA against the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated, which costs $250.
Power
Too close to call
93 vs 90
Spin
Too close to call
86 vs 86
Control
Too close to call
84 vs 83
Forgiveness
86 vs 78
Hand speed
118 vs 123 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$250 at IQ 83.4 vs $280 at IQ 85.2
Overall pick: Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 · $280 · IQ 85.2
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 93Power90
- 83Control84
- 86Spin86
- 78Forgiveness86
- 80Sweet spot88
- 87Stability90
- 70Maneuverability72
- 89Pop86
- 80Touch78
- 84Consistency84
- 82Swing weight80
- 84Twist weight88
- 60Launch angle58
- 91Plow through90
- 68Softness70
Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 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 | Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $250 — better | $280 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 83.4 | 85.2 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.4 | 8.4 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 123 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.3 | 7 — better |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.6 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.3 | 7.4 |
| 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) | Foam-injected polymer |
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.
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 verdict
A Labs release built for plow-through. Twist weight 88 and stability 90 are among the highest pairings in the database — it simply does not twist on off-center hits.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is forgiveness: Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 scores 86 against 78 for Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated — an 8-point gap. They are effectively level on power, stability, pop, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated is $30 cheaper at $250.
Forgiveness
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads by 8 points (86 vs 78).
Sweet spot
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads by 8 points (88 vs 80).
Twist weight
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads by 4 points (88 vs 84).
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
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 86 vs 78, sweet spot 88 vs 80, twist weight 88 vs 84. Twist weight 7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (82.5 vs 81.6 on the weighted index). Take Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated and keep the $30.
- Forgiveness
- Maneuverability
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.2 vs 84.9 on the weighted index). Take Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated and keep the $30.
- Power
- Touch
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 86 vs 78, softness 70 vs 68, twist weight 88 vs 84. Its 16 mm Foam-injected polymer core at 8.4 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Forgiveness
- Softness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16
Take Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 if you want forgiveness (+8), sweet spot (+8), twist weight (+4). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 review →Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated
Take Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated if you prefer a 14 mm Solid-span carbon (no honeycomb) core — it gives up nothing measurable to Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16.
Read the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated review →Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 vs Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 or the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.2 vs 83.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — forgiveness — Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16, at 118 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 Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 or the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated?
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated scores 93 for power against 90 for Selkirk Labs 008 Project 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?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 86 for spin.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 78). Its 7 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, $30 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?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16: 16 mm Foam-injected polymer core with a Raw carbon fiber face. Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated: 14 mm Solid-span carbon (no honeycomb) core with a Textured carbon 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?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both are listed at 8.4 oz, though swing weight differs (118 vs 123) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated to the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads on forgiveness by 8 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $280 vs $250, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a forgiveness vs power decision
Browse every head-to-head that splits on the same trade-off:
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
- GX2 Power Elongated vs Labs Project 006
- Labs 008 Project 16 vs Labs Project 006
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 Pro XS 16
- GX2 Power Elongated vs Hyperion CFS 16
- Labs 008 Project 16 vs 1X TruFoam Power
- Labs 008 Project 16 vs CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
- Labs 008 Project 16 vs Mach 2 Forza 16
- Labs 008 Project 16 vs Ultré Power 2
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 Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated and Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.