Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Ronbus Nova R1
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
- 88Power87
- 89Control89
- 90Spin88
- 86Forgiveness85
- 88Sweet spot86
- 90Stability87
- 72Maneuverability73
- 83Pop83
- 86Touch86
- 88Consistency87
- 76Swing weight79
- 86Twist weight84
- 55Launch angle57
- 86Plow through85
- 80Softness85
Specs
| $275 | Price | $160 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8 oz | Weight | 8.1 oz |
| 116 | Swing weight | 116 |
| 6.8 | Twist weight | 6.4 |
| elongated | Shape | elongated |
| Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture | Surface | Raw 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.
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
Measured on the same 15-trait test, 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 should you buy?
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 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?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, at 116 kg·cm² swing weight against 116 for Ronbus Nova R1. 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 Ronbus Nova R1?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 measures 88 on 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?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 at 89 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?
- 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 6.8 twist weight against 6.4. 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?
- 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?
- 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 8.1 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (116 vs 116) is what you feel 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.
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.
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.