Gearbox Pro Power Elongated vs Selkirk Vanguard Power Air
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Selkirk Vanguard Power Air 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
- 94Power92
- 74Control78
- 79Spin88
- 66Forgiveness71
- 68Sweet spot73
- 84Stability76
- 64Maneuverability79
- 95Pop93
- 68Touch74
- 76Consistency79
- 86Swing weight68
- 76Twist weight62
- 50Launch angle61
- 93Plow through84
- 44Softness58
Specs
| $200 | Price | $250 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 mm | Core | 14 mm |
| 8.5 oz | Weight | 7.9 oz |
| 126 | Swing weight | 114 |
| 6.3 | Twist weight | 5.6 |
| elongated | Shape | elongated |
| Solid-span carbon | Surface | Quadcarbon face |
| 5.6 in | Handle | 5.5 in |
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.
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air verdict
Explosive acceleration and crisp feedback for players who create their own control. The air-dynamic throat cuts drag noticeably on fast swings.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is swing weight: Gearbox Pro Power Elongated scores 86 against 68 for Selkirk Vanguard Power Air — a 18-point gap. They are effectively level on consistency, power, pop, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Gearbox Pro Power Elongated is $50 cheaper at $200.
Swing weight
Gearbox Pro Power Elongated leads by 18 points (86 vs 68).
Maneuverability
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads by 15 points (79 vs 64).
Twist weight
Gearbox Pro Power Elongated leads by 14 points (76 vs 62).
Softness
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads by 14 points (58 vs 44).
Which one should you buy?
Gearbox Pro Power Elongated
Take Gearbox Pro Power Elongated if you want swing weight (+18), twist weight (+14), plow through (+9). Its swing weight of 126 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Gearbox Pro Power Elongated review →Selkirk Vanguard Power Air
Take Selkirk Vanguard Power Air if you want maneuverability (+15), softness (+14), launch angle (+11). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air review →Gearbox Pro Power Elongated vs Selkirk Vanguard Power Air FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox Pro Power Elongated or the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (78.4 vs 76.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — Gearbox Pro Power Elongated leads by 18 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air, at 114 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 Power Elongated or the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air?
- Gearbox Pro Power Elongated measures 94 on power against 92 for Selkirk Vanguard Power Air. 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?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air at 78 versus 74. 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?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air scores 88 for spin off its Quadcarbon face face, against 79 for the Solid-span carbon face on Gearbox Pro Power Elongated. In practice a 9-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Gearbox Pro Power Elongated, with 6.3 twist weight against 5.6. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Selkirk Vanguard Power Air carries the higher forgiveness score (71) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Gearbox Pro Power Elongated costs $200, $50 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 Power Elongated: 14 mm Coreless carbon core with a Solid-span carbon face. Selkirk Vanguard Power Air: 14 mm X5 polypropylene core with a Quadcarbon face 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?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 71 and sweet spot 73 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?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air at 7.9 oz against 8.5 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (114 vs 126) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Gearbox Pro Power Elongated to the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Gearbox Pro Power Elongated leads on swing weight by 18 points; everything else is within 15 points. At $200 vs $250, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Pro Power Elongated vs Bantam TKO-C 14
- Pro Power Elongated vs CX14E Ultimate Power
- Pro Power Elongated vs CRBN-1X Power Series
- Pro Power Elongated vs Hyperion CFS 16
- Vanguard Power Air vs Bantam TKO-C 14
- Vanguard Power Air vs CRBN-1X Power Series
- Vanguard Power Air vs CX14E Ultimate Power
- Vanguard Power Air vs Hyperion CFS 16
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: Gearbox Pro Power Elongated and Selkirk Vanguard Power Air. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.