Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. 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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Quick answer
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, forgiveness and value on Paddle DNA against the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14, which costs $250.
Power
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
88 vs 81
Spin
Too close to call
90 vs 90
Control
Too close to call
89 vs 86
Forgiveness
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
86 vs 72
Hand speed
109 vs 116 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
$275 at IQ 86.8 vs $250 at IQ 77.5
Overall pick: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 · $275 · IQ 86.8
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
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 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 Pro IV 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $275 | $250 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.8 — better | 77.5 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 14 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 116 | 109 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 — better | 5.8 |
| 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 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture | Charged Carbon Surface Technology |
| Core material | SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam | Propulsion Core |
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
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, 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 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
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 86 vs 56, sweet spot 88 vs 70, forgiveness 86 vs 72. Twist weight 6.8 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 86 vs 72, consistency 88 vs 76, power 88 vs 81. At 116 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Forgiveness
- Consistency
- Power
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is a narrow pick at this level — plow through 86 vs 73, power 88 vs 81, control 89 vs 86. Swing weight 116 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Power
- Control
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 — twist weight 86 vs 56, forgiveness 86 vs 72. Its 16 mm SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam core at 8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
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
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 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14?
- 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 Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 88 for 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 90 for spin.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 72). Its 6.8 twist weight against 5.8 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 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?
- 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 Pro IV 14: 14 mm Propulsion Core with a Charged Carbon Surface Technology 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 Pro IV 14 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both are listed at 8 oz, though swing weight differs (116 vs 109) and that 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 $275 vs $250, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Pro Power Elongated
- Perseus Pro IV 14 vs Perseus Pro IV 16
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs TruFoam Genesis 2
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs TruFoam Genesis X
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Scorpeus Pro IV 16
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Agassi Pro 16
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs OMNI 16
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
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 and JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 in context against the rest of the database.
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.