Gearbox Pro Power Elongated vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Gearbox's two elongated pro builds — control chassis versus power chassis. Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. 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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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 94Power88
- 74Control89
- 79Spin90
- 66Forgiveness86
- 68Sweet spot88
- 84Stability90
- 64Maneuverability72
- 95Pop83
- 68Touch86
- 76Consistency88
- 86Swing weight76
- 76Twist weight86
- 50Launch angle55
- 93Plow through86
- 44Softness80
Gearbox Pro Power Elongated vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Gearbox Pro Power Elongated | Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $200 — better | $275 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 76.6 | 86.8 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.5 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 126 | 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) | 7.4 | 7.375 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.6 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4 |
| Surface | Solid-span carbon | Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture |
| Core material | Coreless carbon | SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam |
Gearbox Pro Power Elongated verdict
The coreless construction produces the hardest, most direct feel in the database. It is a specialist's tool, not a general recommendation.
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
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 80 against 44 for Gearbox Pro Power Elongated — a 36-point gap. Gearbox Pro Power Elongated is $75 cheaper at $200.
Softness
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 36 points (80 vs 44).
Forgiveness
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 20 points (86 vs 66).
Sweet spot
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 20 points (88 vs 68).
Touch
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 18 points (86 vs 68).
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 66, sweet spot 88 vs 68, consistency 88 vs 76. 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 the clearer pick at this level — control 89 vs 74, forgiveness 86 vs 66, touch 86 vs 68. 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
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is the clearer pick at this level — touch 86 vs 68, spin 90 vs 79, control 89 vs 74. Swing weight 116 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- 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 44, forgiveness 86 vs 66, twist weight 86 vs 76. 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 Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Take Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 if you want softness (+36), forgiveness (+20), sweet spot (+20). 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 Pro Power Elongated
Take Gearbox Pro Power Elongated if you want pop (+12), swing weight (+10), plow through (+7). Its swing weight of 126 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Gearbox Pro Power Elongated review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Gearbox Pro Power Elongated FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the Gearbox Pro Power Elongated?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.8 vs 76.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 36 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, at 116 kg·cm² swing weight against 126 for Gearbox Pro Power Elongated. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the Gearbox Pro Power Elongated?
- Gearbox Pro Power Elongated measures 94 on power against 88 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. That comes from a 14 mm Coreless carbon core swinging at 126 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 at 89 versus 74. 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 79 for the Solid-span carbon face on Gearbox Pro Power Elongated. In practice a 11-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, with 6.8 twist weight against 6.3. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (86) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Gearbox Pro Power Elongated costs $200, $75 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 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. Gearbox Pro Power Elongated: 14 mm Coreless carbon core with a Solid-span carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Gearbox Pro Power Elongated, at 5.6 in of handle against 5.5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Gearbox Pro Power Elongated avoids.
- 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 Pro Power Elongated rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 at 8 oz against 8.5 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (116 vs 126) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Gearbox Pro 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 36 points; everything else is within 20 points. At $275 vs $200, 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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Read the full reviews: Gearbox Pro 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.