Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (87.1 vs 86.8), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
88 vs 84
Spin
Too close to call
91 vs 90
Control
95 vs 89
Forgiveness
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
86 vs 82
Hand speed
Too close to call
116 vs 116 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$240 at IQ 87.1 vs $275 at IQ 86.8
Overall pick: JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 · $240 · IQ 87.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 88Power84
- 89Control95
- 90Spin91
- 86Forgiveness82
- 88Sweet spot84
- 90Stability88
- 72Maneuverability74
- 83Pop79
- 86Touch93
- 88Consistency92
- 76Swing weight72
- 86Twist weight86
- 55Launch angle52
- 86Plow through83
- 80Softness78
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 | JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $275 | $240 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.8 | 87.1 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8.2 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 116 | 116 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 — better | 6.4 |
| Shape | elongated | hybrid |
| 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 polymer |
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 Perseus CFS 16 verdict
The most complete tournament paddle in the database. Control numbers sit at the top of the field without giving up the drive speed you need to finish points.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is touch: JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 scores 93 against 86 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 — a 7-point gap. They are effectively level on launch angle, plow through, stability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 is $35 cheaper at $240.
Touch
JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads by 7 points (93 vs 86).
Control
JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads by 6 points (95 vs 89).
Power
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 4 points (88 vs 84).
Forgiveness
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 4 points (86 vs 82).
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 86.5 on the weighted index). Take JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 and keep the $35.
- 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 87 on the weighted index). Take JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 and keep the $35.
- Control
- Touch
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.9 vs 86.9 on the weighted index). Take JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 and keep the $35.
- Touch
- Control
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 80 vs 78, forgiveness 86 vs 82. 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
Which one should you buy?
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Take Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 if you want power (+4), forgiveness (+4), sweet spot (+4). 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 Perseus CFS 16
Take JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 if you want touch (+7), control (+6), consistency (+4). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 review →Where to Buy
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
JOOLA Perseus CFS 16
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the JOOLA Perseus CFS 16?
- JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.1 vs 86.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — touch — JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads by 7 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both swing at 116 kg·cm², and 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 Perseus CFS 16?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 88 for power against 84 for JOOLA Perseus CFS 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?
- JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 at 95 versus 89. 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?
- JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 scores 91 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon face, against 90 for the Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture face on Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. In practice a 1-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 82). Its 6.8 twist weight against 6.4 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 costs $240, $35 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 Perseus CFS 16: 16 mm Propulsion polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 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?
- 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. JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 at 8 oz against 8.2 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight is identical at 116 kg·cm², so they will feel the same mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 to the JOOLA Perseus CFS 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 leads on touch by 7 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $275 vs $240, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 and JOOLA Perseus CFS 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 and JOOLA Perseus CFS 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.