Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs Selkirk OMNI 16
Solid-span power against balanced all-court — two very different answers at similar money. Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Selkirk OMNI 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Selkirk OMNI 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes control, forgiveness and hand speed on Paddle DNA against the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated, which costs $250.
Power
93 vs 89
Spin
Too close to call
88 vs 86
Control
92 vs 83
Forgiveness
90 vs 78
Hand speed
115 vs 123 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$250 at IQ 83.4 vs $280 at IQ 88.7
Overall pick: Selkirk OMNI 16 · $280 · IQ 88.7
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 93Power89
- 83Control92
- 86Spin88
- 78Forgiveness90
- 80Sweet spot91
- 87Stability90
- 70Maneuverability74
- 89Pop84
- 80Touch90
- 84Consistency91
- 82Swing weight76
- 84Twist weight89
- 60Launch angle54
- 91Plow through85
- 68Softness86
Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs Selkirk OMNI 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 OMNI 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $250 — better | $280 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 83.4 | 88.7 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.4 | 8.1 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 123 | 115 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.3 | 6.9 — better |
| Shape | elongated | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.6 | 16.4 |
| Face width(in) | 7.3 | 7.6 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured carbon | Raw carbon |
| Core material | Solid-span carbon (no honeycomb) | Full EVA foam core |
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 OMNI 16 verdict
Selkirk's answer to the foam era, and the most balanced paddle they have built. The OMNI refuses to specialize: power and control both sit in the top decile, which is rare and expensive.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: Selkirk OMNI 16 scores 86 against 68 for Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated — an 18-point gap. They are effectively level on stability, spin, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated is $30 cheaper at $250.
Softness
Selkirk OMNI 16 leads by 18 points (86 vs 68).
Forgiveness
Selkirk OMNI 16 leads by 12 points (90 vs 78).
Sweet spot
Selkirk OMNI 16 leads by 11 points (91 vs 80).
Touch
Selkirk OMNI 16 leads by 10 points (90 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
Selkirk OMNI 16
Selkirk OMNI 16 is the clearer pick at this level — forgiveness 90 vs 78, sweet spot 91 vs 80, consistency 91 vs 84. Twist weight 6.9 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Selkirk OMNI 16
Selkirk OMNI 16 is the clearer pick at this level — control 92 vs 83, forgiveness 90 vs 78, touch 90 vs 80. At 115 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 86.8 on the weighted index). Take Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated and keep the $30.
- Touch
- Control
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk OMNI 16
Selkirk OMNI 16 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 86 vs 68, forgiveness 90 vs 78, twist weight 89 vs 84. Its 16 mm Full EVA foam core at 8.1 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 swing weight (+6), launch angle (+6), plow through (+6). Its swing weight of 123 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated review →Selkirk OMNI 16
Take Selkirk OMNI 16 if you want softness (+18), forgiveness (+12), sweet spot (+11). Its swing weight of 115 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk OMNI 16 review →Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs Selkirk OMNI 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated or the Selkirk OMNI 16?
- Selkirk OMNI 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (88.7 vs 83.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Selkirk OMNI 16 leads by 18 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk OMNI 16, at 115 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 Selkirk OMNI 16?
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated scores 93 for power against 89 for Selkirk OMNI 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 OMNI 16 at 92 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 OMNI 16 scores 88 for spin off its Raw carbon face, against 86 for the Textured carbon face on Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk OMNI 16, with the higher forgiveness score (90 vs 78). Its 6.9 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?
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated: 14 mm Solid-span carbon (no honeycomb) core with a Textured carbon face. Selkirk OMNI 16: 16 mm Full EVA foam core with a Raw 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 OMNI 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 90 and sweet spot 91 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?
- Selkirk OMNI 16 at 8.1 oz against 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (115 vs 123) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated to the Selkirk OMNI 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk OMNI 16 leads on softness by 18 points; everything else is within 12 points. At $250 vs $280, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a control vs power decision
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Guides featuring these paddles
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Read the full reviews: Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated and Selkirk OMNI 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.