Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Selkirk OMNI 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Selkirk OMNI 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Selkirk OMNI 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes forgiveness on Paddle DNA against the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, which costs $275.
Power
Too close to call
89 vs 88
Spin
Too close to call
90 vs 88
Control
Too close to call
92 vs 89
Forgiveness
90 vs 86
Hand speed
Too close to call
115 vs 116 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Too close to call
$280 at IQ 88.7 vs $275 at IQ 86.8
Overall pick: Selkirk OMNI 16 · $280 · IQ 88.7
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 88Power89
- 89Control92
- 90Spin88
- 86Forgiveness90
- 88Sweet spot91
- 90Stability90
- 72Maneuverability74
- 83Pop84
- 86Touch90
- 88Consistency91
- 76Swing weight76
- 86Twist weight89
- 55Launch angle54
- 86Plow through85
- 80Softness86
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Selkirk OMNI 16 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 | Selkirk OMNI 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $275 — better | $280 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.8 | 88.7 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8.1 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 116 | 115 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 | 6.9 — better |
| Shape | elongated | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.4 |
| Face width(in) | 7.375 | 7.6 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture | Raw carbon |
| Core material | SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam | Full EVA foam core |
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 OMNI 16 verdict
Selkirk's answer to the foam era, and the most balanced paddle they have built. The OMNI refuses to specialize: power and control both sit in the top decile, which is rare and expensive.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: Selkirk OMNI 16 scores 86 against 80 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 — a 6-point gap. They are effectively level on control, sweet spot, consistency, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($275 vs $280) that it should not break the tie.
Softness
Selkirk OMNI 16 leads by 6 points (86 vs 80).
Forgiveness
Selkirk OMNI 16 leads by 4 points (90 vs 86).
Touch
Selkirk OMNI 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
Selkirk OMNI 16
Selkirk OMNI 16 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 90 vs 86, sweet spot 91 vs 88, twist weight 89 vs 86. Twist weight 6.9 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Selkirk OMNI 16
Selkirk OMNI 16 is a narrow pick at this level — control 92 vs 89, forgiveness 90 vs 86, touch 90 vs 86. At 115 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Forgiveness
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.9 vs 86.8 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — elongated on the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, hybrid on the OMNI 16.
- Touch
- Control
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk OMNI 16
Selkirk OMNI 16 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 86 vs 80, forgiveness 90 vs 86, twist weight 89 vs 86. Its 16 mm Full EVA foam core at 8.1 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 prefer an elongated face and a 16 mm SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam core — it gives up nothing measurable to Selkirk OMNI 16.
Read the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 review →Selkirk OMNI 16
Take Selkirk OMNI 16 if you want softness (+6), forgiveness (+4), touch (+4). Its swing weight of 115 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk OMNI 16 review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Selkirk OMNI 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the Selkirk OMNI 16?
- Selkirk OMNI 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (88.7 vs 86.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Selkirk OMNI 16 leads by 6 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk OMNI 16, at 115 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 Selkirk OMNI 16?
- Selkirk OMNI 16 scores 89 for power against 88 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. That comes from a 16 mm Full EVA foam core swinging at 115 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Selkirk OMNI 16 at 92 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 carbon face on Selkirk OMNI 16. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk OMNI 16, with the higher forgiveness score (90 vs 86). Its 6.9 twist weight against 6.8 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- 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. Selkirk OMNI 16: 16 mm Full EVA foam core with a Raw 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?
- Selkirk OMNI 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 90 and sweet spot 91 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 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 (116 vs 115) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 to the Selkirk OMNI 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk OMNI 16 leads on softness by 6 points; everything else is within 4 points. At $275 vs $280, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs CRBN-3X Power Series
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 and Selkirk OMNI 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 and Selkirk OMNI 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.