Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Agassi Pro 16
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
- 88Power88
- 89Control86
- 90Spin90
- 86Forgiveness84
- 88Sweet spot86
- 90Stability88
- 72Maneuverability72
- 83Pop84
- 86Touch84
- 88Consistency88
- 76Swing weight78
- 86Twist weight84
- 55Launch angle54
- 86Plow through88
- 80Softness72
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Agassi Pro 16 specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 | JOOLA Agassi Pro 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $275 | $250 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.8 — better | 85.6 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 116 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 — better | 6.6 |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.375 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| Core material | SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam | Propulsion Core with foam edge |
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.
JOOLA Agassi Pro 16 verdict
JOOLA's tennis-convert paddle. The 5.5 in handle, 118 swing weight and plow-through 88 reward a full swing, and spin 90 keeps those heavy drives inside the baseline.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 80 against 72 for JOOLA Agassi Pro 16 — a 8-point gap. They are effectively level on control, forgiveness, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. JOOLA Agassi Pro 16 is $25 cheaper at $250.
Softness
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 8 points (80 vs 72).
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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (87.6 vs 85.8 on the weighted index). Take JOOLA Agassi Pro 16 and keep the $25.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.2 vs 84.2 on the weighted index). Take JOOLA Agassi Pro 16 and keep the $25.
- Control
- Forgiveness
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.9 vs 85.5 on the weighted index). Take JOOLA Agassi Pro 16 and keep the $25.
- Control
- Touch
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 72, forgiveness 86 vs 84, twist weight 86 vs 84. 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 (+8). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 review →JOOLA Agassi Pro 16
Take JOOLA Agassi Pro 16 if you prefer a elongated face and a 5.5 in handle — it gives up nothing measurable to Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16.
Read the JOOLA Agassi Pro 16 review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Agassi Pro 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the JOOLA Agassi Pro 16?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.8 vs 85.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, at 116 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for JOOLA Agassi Pro 16. 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 JOOLA Agassi Pro 16?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 measures 88 on power against 88 for JOOLA Agassi Pro 16. That comes from a 16 mm SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam core swinging at 116 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 at 89 versus 86. 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 90 for the Raw Toray T700 carbon face on JOOLA Agassi Pro 16. In practice a 0-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, with 6.8 twist weight against 6.6. 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?
- JOOLA Agassi Pro 16 costs $250, $25 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. JOOLA Agassi Pro 16: 16 mm Propulsion Core with foam edge core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, at 5.5 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 Ultimate Elongated 16 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 Ultimate Elongated 16 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 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (116 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the JOOLA Agassi Pro 16 to the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads on softness by 8 points; everything else is within 3 points. At $275 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 Ultimate Elongated 16 vs CRBN-1X
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Infinity Ruby 16
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Nova R1
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs CRBN-3X Power Series
- Agassi Pro 16 vs Friction Pro Elongated V2
- Agassi Pro 16 vs Mod TA-15 3S 16
- Agassi Pro 16 vs CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 and JOOLA Agassi Pro 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.