Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Selkirk Omni Elongated 16
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
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin, forgiveness and value on Paddle DNA against the Selkirk Omni Elongated 16, which costs $300.
Power
Too close to call
88 vs 87
Spin
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
90 vs 76
Control
Too close to call
89 vs 89
Forgiveness
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
86 vs 80
Hand speed
112 vs 116 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
$275 at IQ 86.8 vs $300 at IQ 79.7
Overall pick: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 · $275 · IQ 86.8
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 88Power87
- 89Control89
- 90Spin76
- 86Forgiveness80
- 88Sweet spot79
- 90Stability73
- 72Maneuverability76
- 83Pop75
- 86Touch92
- 88Consistency81
- 76Swing weight69
- 86Twist weight59
- 55Launch angle50
- 86Plow through79
- 80Softness84
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Selkirk Omni Elongated 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 Elongated 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $275 — better | $300 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.8 — better | 79.7 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8.25 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 116 | 112 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 — better | 5.9 |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.375 | 7.45 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.8 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture | InfiniGrit® Durable Spin Texture |
| Core material | SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam | ReactCore™ (PureFoam™ + Double-Ring Technology) |
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 Elongated 16 verdict
ReactCore's foam-and-ring build makes the elongated Omni unusually stable for its 16.5 in length, and the 5.8 in handle is the longest in the database.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 86 against 59 for Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 — a 27-point gap. They are effectively level on power, control, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is $25 cheaper at $275.
Twist weight
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 27 points (86 vs 59).
Stability
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 17 points (90 vs 73).
Spin
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 14 points (90 vs 76).
Sweet spot
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 9 points (88 vs 79).
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
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 86 vs 59, stability 90 vs 73, sweet spot 88 vs 79. Twist weight 6.8 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 90 vs 76, forgiveness 86 vs 80, consistency 88 vs 81. At 116 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Forgiveness
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 90 vs 76, plow through 86 vs 79, power 88 vs 87. Swing weight 116 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Plow through
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 86 vs 59, forgiveness 86 vs 80. Its 16 mm SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam core at 8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Omni Elongated 16
Take Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 if you want touch (+6), maneuverability (+4), softness (+4). Its swing weight of 112 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Take Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 if you want twist weight (+27), stability (+17), spin (+14). 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 Omni Elongated 16 vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.8 vs 79.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 27 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk Omni Elongated 16, at 112 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 Elongated 16 or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 88 for power against 87 for Selkirk Omni Elongated 16. 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 76 for the InfiniGrit® Durable Spin Texture face on Selkirk Omni Elongated 16. In practice a 14-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 80). Its 6.8 twist weight against 5.9 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 costs $275, $25 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?
- Selkirk Omni Elongated 16: 16 mm ReactCore™ (PureFoam™ + Double-Ring Technology) core with an InfiniGrit® Durable Spin Texture 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 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 Omni 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. Selkirk Omni 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 8.25 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (116 vs 112) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 to the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads on twist weight by 27 points; everything else is within 17 points. At $300 vs $275, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a touch vs pop decision
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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 Selkirk Omni Elongated 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 and Selkirk Omni Elongated 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.