Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14
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
- 88Power81
- 89Control86
- 90Spin90
- 86Forgiveness72
- 88Sweet spot70
- 90Stability70
- 72Maneuverability83
- 83Pop76
- 86Touch88
- 88Consistency76
- 76Swing weight64
- 86Twist weight56
- 55Launch angle49
- 86Plow through73
- 80Softness85
Specs
| $275 | Price | $250 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 14 mm |
| 8 oz | Weight | 8 oz |
| 116 | Swing weight | 109 |
| 6.8 | Twist weight | 5.8 |
| elongated | Shape | elongated |
| Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture | Surface | Charged Carbon Surface Technology |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.5 in |
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 Pro IV 14 verdict
Gen 4 propulsion core in the thinner 14 mm shell. You get the Pro IV's spin and pop without the swing weight that slows the 16 mm version in fast exchanges.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is twist weight: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 86 against 56 for JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 — a 30-point gap. They are effectively level on control, touch, spin, so those traits should not decide the purchase. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 is $25 cheaper at $250.
Twist weight
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 30 points (86 vs 56).
Stability
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 20 points (90 vs 70).
Sweet spot
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 18 points (88 vs 70).
Forgiveness
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 14 points (86 vs 72).
Which one should you buy?
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 if you want maneuverability (+11), softness (+5). Its swing weight of 109 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Take Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 if you want twist weight (+30), stability (+20), sweet spot (+18). 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 Pro IV 14 vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.8 vs 77.5), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 30 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14, at 109 kg·cm² swing weight against 116 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 measures 88 on power against 81 for JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14. 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 scores 90 for spin off its Charged Carbon Surface Technology face, against 90 for the Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture face on Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 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 5.8. 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 Perseus Pro IV 14 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14: 14 mm Propulsion Core core with a Charged Carbon Surface Technology 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.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14, 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 JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 at 8 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (109 vs 116) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 to the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads on twist weight by 30 points; everything else is within 20 points. At $250 vs $275, 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
- Perseus Pro IV 14 vs Perseus 14
- Perseus Pro IV 14 vs Signature 13
- Perseus Pro IV 14 vs Hyperion C2 CFS 16
- Perseus Pro IV 14 vs Pursuit Pro MX 12.7
Top alternatives to both
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Read the full reviews: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 and JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.