Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik 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
- 88Power95
- 89Control84
- 90Spin91
- 86Forgiveness88
- 88Sweet spot89
- 90Stability92
- 72Maneuverability66
- 83Pop90
- 86Touch80
- 88Consistency85
- 76Swing weight82
- 86Twist weight92
- 55Launch angle58
- 86Plow through93
- 80Softness72
Specs
| $275 | Price | $333 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8 oz | Weight | 8.25 oz |
| 116 | Swing weight | 118 |
| 6.8 | Twist weight | 7.2 |
| elongated | Shape | elongated |
| Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture | Surface | Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.8 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.
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 verdict
The highest measured power in the database, and the twist weight (7.2) to back it up. The MOI tuning system lets you dial the balance, but nothing turns a 118 swing weight into a fast-hands paddle.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 80 against 72 for Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 — a 8-point gap. They are effectively level on consistency, launch angle, forgiveness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is $58 cheaper at $275.
Softness
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 8 points (80 vs 72).
Power
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 7 points (95 vs 88).
Pop
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 7 points (90 vs 83).
Plow through
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 7 points (93 vs 86).
Which one should you buy?
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Take Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 if you want softness (+8), maneuverability (+6), touch (+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 →Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Take Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 if you want power (+7), pop (+7), plow through (+7). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.1 vs 86.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, at 116 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik 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 Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 measures 95 on power against 88 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. That comes from a 16 mm BoomCore PureFoam with EVA Power Ring core swinging at 118 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 at 89 versus 84. 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?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 91 for spin off its Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit face, against 90 for the Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture face on Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. In practice a 1-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16, with 7.2 twist weight against 6.8. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (88) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 costs $275, $58 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. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16: 16 mm BoomCore PureFoam with EVA Power Ring core with a Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16, at 5.8 in of handle against 5.5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 89 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik 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 8.25 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 Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads on softness by 8 points; everything else is within 7 points. At $275 vs $333, 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
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Ultré Power 2
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Hyperion Pro V 16
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Friction Pro Elongated V2
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Labs Project 006
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 Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.