Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 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
- 88Power90
- 89Control93
- 90Spin93
- 86Forgiveness85
- 88Sweet spot87
- 90Stability90
- 72Maneuverability71
- 83Pop85
- 86Touch90
- 88Consistency92
- 76Swing weight79
- 86Twist weight85
- 55Launch angle55
- 86Plow through88
- 80Softness84
Specs
| $275 | Price | $280 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8 oz | Weight | 8.3 oz |
| 116 | Swing weight | 118 |
| 6.8 | Twist weight | 6.5 |
| elongated | Shape | hybrid |
| Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture | Surface | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| 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 16 verdict
JOOLA's foam-era flagship. It keeps the Perseus hybrid footprint but adds perimeter foam, so drives leave hotter without the control numbers collapsing.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is control: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 scores 93 against 89 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 — a 4-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, swing weight, power, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($280 vs $275) that it should not break the tie.
Control
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 4 points (93 vs 89).
Touch
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 4 points (90 vs 86).
Consistency
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 4 points (92 vs 88).
Softness
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 4 points (84 vs 80).
Which one should you buy?
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 if you want control (+4), touch (+4), consistency (+4). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Take Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 if you prefer a elongated face and a 5.5 in handle — it gives up nothing measurable to JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16.
Read the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 review →JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (88.3 vs 86.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — control — JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 4 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, at 116 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 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 16 or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 measures 90 on power against 88 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. That comes from a 16 mm Gen 4 foam-injected polymer core swinging at 118 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 at 93 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 Pro IV 16 scores 93 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 3-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 6.5. 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?
- They are within $5 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16: 16 mm Gen 4 foam-injected polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon 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 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 JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 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. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 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 Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 to the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads on control by 4 points; everything else is within 4 points. At $280 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
Top alternatives to both
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Read the full reviews: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 and JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.