Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Ronbus Nova R1
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
Ronbus Nova R1 wins this matchup for most players: it takes value on Paddle DNA against the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, which costs $275.
Power
Too close to call
88 vs 87
Spin
Too close to call
90 vs 88
Control
Too close to call
89 vs 89
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 85
Hand speed
Too close to call
116 vs 116 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$160 at IQ 85.7 vs $275 at IQ 86.8
Overall pick: Ronbus Nova R1 · $160 · IQ 85.7
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 88Power87
- 89Control89
- 90Spin88
- 86Forgiveness85
- 88Sweet spot86
- 90Stability87
- 72Maneuverability73
- 83Pop83
- 86Touch86
- 88Consistency87
- 76Swing weight79
- 86Twist weight84
- 55Launch angle57
- 86Plow through85
- 80Softness85
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Ronbus Nova R1 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 | Ronbus Nova R1 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $275 | $160 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.8 — better | 85.7 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8.1 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 116 | 116 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 — better | 6.4 |
| 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 T700 carbon |
| Core material | SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam | Foam-perimeter polymer |
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.
Ronbus Nova R1 verdict
Ronbus keeps doing the same thing: premium specs, mid-tier price. The Nova R1 lands between a control and power build and does not embarrass itself in either direction.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: Ronbus Nova R1 scores 85 against 80 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 — a 5-point gap. They are effectively level on stability, swing weight, spin, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Ronbus Nova R1 is $115 cheaper at $160.
Softness
Ronbus Nova R1 leads by 5 points (85 vs 80).
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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (87.6 vs 86 on the weighted index). Take Ronbus Nova R1 and keep the $115.
- Sweet spot
- Stability
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.2 vs 84.7 on the weighted index). Take Ronbus Nova R1 and keep the $115.
- Spin
- Forgiveness
- Power
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.9 vs 85.2 on the weighted index). Take Ronbus Nova R1 and keep the $115.
- Spin
- Power
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Ronbus Nova R1
Ronbus Nova R1 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 85 vs 80. Its 16 mm Foam-perimeter polymer core at 8.1 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Take Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 if you prefer a 16 mm SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam core — it gives up nothing measurable to Ronbus Nova R1.
Read the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 review →Ronbus Nova R1
Take Ronbus Nova R1 if you want softness (+5). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Ronbus Nova R1 review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Ronbus Nova R1 FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the Ronbus Nova R1?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.8 vs 85.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Ronbus Nova R1 leads by 5 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both swing at 116 kg·cm², and 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 Ronbus Nova R1?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 88 for power against 87 for Ronbus Nova R1. 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 89 for control.
- 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 88 for the Raw T700 carbon face on Ronbus Nova R1. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 85). Its 6.8 twist weight against 6.4 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Ronbus Nova R1 costs $160, $115 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. Ronbus Nova R1: 16 mm Foam-perimeter polymer core with a Raw T700 carbon 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. Ronbus Nova R1 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable 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 is identical at 116 kg·cm², so they will feel the same mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Ronbus Nova R1 to the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Ronbus Nova R1 leads on softness by 5 points; everything else is within 3 points. At $275 vs $160, 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
- Nova R1 vs R1 Pulsar
- 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 CRBN-3X Power Series
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 Ronbus Nova R1 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 and Ronbus Nova R1. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.