Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Proton Series One Project Black
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
- 88Power86
- 89Control86
- 90Spin90
- 86Forgiveness80
- 88Sweet spot82
- 90Stability86
- 72Maneuverability72
- 83Pop82
- 86Touch82
- 88Consistency84
- 76Swing weight76
- 86Twist weight86
- 55Launch angle54
- 86Plow through86
- 80Softness68
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Proton Series One Project Black 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 | Proton Series One Project Black |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $275 | $200 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.8 — better | 83.8 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 116 | 117 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 | 7 — better |
| 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 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture | Raw carbon fiber |
| Core material | SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam | Thermoformed unibody 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.
Proton Series One Project Black verdict
A thermoformed unibody built around stability. The foam walls push twist weight to the top of our measured range, which is why off-center drives still land deep.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 80 against 68 for Proton Series One Project Black — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on control, power, pop, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Proton Series One Project Black is $75 cheaper at $200.
Softness
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 12 points (80 vs 68).
Forgiveness
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 6 points (86 vs 80).
Sweet spot
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 6 points (88 vs 82).
Stability
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 4 points (90 vs 86).
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 a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 86 vs 80, sweet spot 88 vs 82, stability 90 vs 86. Twist weight 6.8 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Stability
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 80, control 89 vs 86, touch 86 vs 82. At 116 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Forgiveness
- Control
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.9 vs 84.4 on the weighted index). Take Proton Series One Project Black and keep the $75.
- Touch
- 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 — softness 80 vs 68, forgiveness 86 vs 80. 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 softness (+12), forgiveness (+6), sweet spot (+6). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 review →Proton Series One Project Black
Take Proton Series One Project Black if you prefer a elongated face and a 5.5 in handle — it gives up nothing measurable to Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16.
Read the Proton Series One Project Black review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Proton Series One Project Black FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the Proton Series One Project Black?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.8 vs 83.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, at 116 kg·cm² swing weight against 117 for Proton Series One Project Black. 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 Proton Series One Project Black?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 measures 88 on power against 86 for Proton Series One Project Black. 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?
- 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 fiber face on Proton Series One Project Black. In practice a 0-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Proton Series One Project Black, with 7 twist weight against 6.8. 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?
- Proton Series One Project Black costs $200, $75 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. Proton Series One Project Black: 16 mm Thermoformed unibody with foam walls core with a Raw carbon fiber 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. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 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 117) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Proton Series One Project Black to the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads on softness by 12 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $275 vs $200, 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
- Series One Project Black vs Ruby
- Series One Project Black vs Oni 16
- Series One Project Black vs 2X Power Series
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 Proton Series One Project Black. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.