Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 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
- 88Power94
- 89Control80
- 90Spin90
- 86Forgiveness76
- 88Sweet spot78
- 90Stability82
- 72Maneuverability84
- 83Pop94
- 86Touch74
- 88Consistency80
- 76Swing weight70
- 86Twist weight76
- 55Launch angle60
- 86Plow through82
- 80Softness56
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 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 Perseus Pro V 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $275 — better | $280 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.8 — better | 81.9 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8.1 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 14 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 116 | 111 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 — better | 6.7 |
| 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 carbon friction surface |
| Core material | SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam | Propulsion core with foam walls |
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 V 14 verdict
The 14 mm Pro V trades the 16 mm model's dwell time for the highest pop we have measured in the Perseus line. It is a speed-up paddle for players who already have hands.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 80 against 56 for JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 — a 24-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($275 vs $280) that it should not break the tie.
Softness
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 24 points (80 vs 56).
Maneuverability
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 leads by 12 points (84 vs 72).
Touch
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 12 points (86 vs 74).
Pop
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 leads by 11 points (94 vs 83).
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 — forgiveness 86 vs 76, sweet spot 88 vs 78, twist weight 86 vs 76. Twist weight 6.8 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
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 — control 89 vs 80, touch 86 vs 74, forgiveness 86 vs 76. At 116 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Touch
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.9 vs 84.8 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — elongated on the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, hybrid on the Perseus Pro V 14.
- Touch
- Control
- Plow through
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 56, forgiveness 86 vs 76, twist weight 86 vs 76. 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 (+24), touch (+12), forgiveness (+10). 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 V 14
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 if you want maneuverability (+12), pop (+11), power (+6). Its swing weight of 111 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.8 vs 81.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 24 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14, at 111 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 V 14?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 measures 94 on power against 88 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. That comes from a 14 mm Propulsion core with foam walls core swinging at 111 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 at 89 versus 80. 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 carbon friction surface face on JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14. 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 6.7. 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?
- 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 V 14: 14 mm Propulsion core with foam walls core with a Raw carbon friction surface 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. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 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 8.1 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (116 vs 111) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14 to the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads on softness by 24 points; everything else is within 12 points. At $275 vs $280, 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 V 14 vs Power Pro X 14
- Perseus Pro V 14 vs Warrior Edge 14
- Perseus Pro V 14 vs Vanguard Power Air
- Perseus Pro V 14 vs Bantam TKO-C 14
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 Perseus Pro V 14. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.