Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Selkirk OMNI 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Selkirk OMNI 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
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
Specs
| $275 | Price | $280 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8 oz | Weight | 8.1 oz |
| 116 | Swing weight | 115 |
| 6.8 | Twist weight | 6.9 |
| elongated | Shape | hybrid |
| Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture | Surface | Raw 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.
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
Measured on the same 15-trait test, 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 ($280 vs $275) 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 should you buy?
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
Take Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 if you prefer a elongated face and a 5.5 in handle — it gives up nothing measurable to Selkirk OMNI 16.
Read the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 review →Selkirk OMNI 16 vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk OMNI 16 or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 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 Selkirk OMNI 16 or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Selkirk OMNI 16 measures 89 on power against 88 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. That comes from a 16 mm Full EVA foam core 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 6.9 twist weight against 6.8. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Selkirk OMNI 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (90) as a result.
- 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?
- Selkirk OMNI 16: 16 mm Full EVA foam core core with a Raw carbon 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.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk OMNI 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 Selkirk OMNI 16 avoids.
- 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. Selkirk OMNI 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 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 $280 vs $275, 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
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 OMNI 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.