Gearbox Pro Power Elongated vs Volair Mach 1 Forza 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Volair Mach 1 Forza 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
- 94Power86
- 74Control88
- 79Spin87
- 66Forgiveness86
- 68Sweet spot87
- 84Stability86
- 64Maneuverability75
- 95Pop82
- 68Touch85
- 76Consistency86
- 86Swing weight76
- 76Twist weight85
- 50Launch angle56
- 93Plow through82
- 44Softness84
Specs
| $200 | Price | $170 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8.5 oz | Weight | 8.1 oz |
| 126 | Swing weight | 113 |
| 6.3 | Twist weight | 6.6 |
| elongated | Shape | hybrid |
| Solid-span carbon | Surface | Raw carbon |
| 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.
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 verdict
The Forza is the sensible hybrid: nothing extreme, everything solid. It is the paddle to hand someone moving off a big-box starter without overwhelming them.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 scores 84 against 44 for Gearbox Pro Power Elongated — a 40-point gap. They are effectively level on stability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 is $30 cheaper at $170.
Softness
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads by 40 points (84 vs 44).
Forgiveness
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads by 20 points (86 vs 66).
Sweet spot
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads by 19 points (87 vs 68).
Touch
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads by 17 points (85 vs 68).
Which one should you buy?
Gearbox Pro Power Elongated
Take Gearbox Pro Power Elongated if you want pop (+13), plow through (+11), swing weight (+10). Its swing weight of 126 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Gearbox Pro Power Elongated review →Volair Mach 1 Forza 16
Take Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 if you want softness (+40), forgiveness (+20), sweet spot (+19). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 review →Gearbox Pro Power Elongated vs Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox Pro Power Elongated or the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.3 vs 76.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads by 40 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16, at 113 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 Volair Mach 1 Forza 16?
- Gearbox Pro Power Elongated measures 94 on power against 86 for Volair Mach 1 Forza 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?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 at 88 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?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 scores 87 for spin off its Raw carbon face, against 79 for the Solid-span carbon face on Gearbox Pro Power Elongated. In practice a 8-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16, with 6.6 twist weight against 6.3. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (86) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 costs $170, $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 Pro Power Elongated: 14 mm Coreless carbon core with a Solid-span carbon face. Volair Mach 1 Forza 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw 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?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 87 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?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 at 8.1 oz against 8.5 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (113 vs 126) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Gearbox Pro Power Elongated to the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads on softness by 40 points; everything else is within 20 points. At $200 vs $170, 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
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Loco 16mm Standard
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Nova R1
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Oni 16
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Ruby
Top alternatives to both
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Read the full reviews: Gearbox Pro Power Elongated and Volair Mach 1 Forza 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.