Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Six Zero Infinity Ruby 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
- 88Power88
- 89Control89
- 90Spin94
- 86Forgiveness90
- 88Sweet spot91
- 90Stability90
- 72Maneuverability70
- 83Pop84
- 86Touch86
- 88Consistency89
- 76Swing weight76
- 86Twist weight90
- 55Launch angle54
- 86Plow through86
- 80Softness78
Specs
| $275 | Price | $220 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8 oz | Weight | 8.2 oz |
| 116 | Swing weight | 116 |
| 6.8 | Twist weight | 7 |
| elongated | Shape | hybrid |
| Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture | Surface | Aramid fiber |
| 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.
Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 verdict
The edgeless Ruby. Removing the edge guard adds face area and twist weight (7.0) to a paddle that already had one of the most durable spin surfaces in the sport.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is spin: Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 scores 94 against 90 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 — a 4-point gap. They are effectively level on sweet spot, maneuverability, softness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 is $55 cheaper at $220.
Spin
Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 leads by 4 points (94 vs 90).
Forgiveness
Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 leads by 4 points (90 vs 86).
Twist weight
Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 leads by 4 points (90 vs 86).
Which one should you buy?
Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16
Take Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 if you want spin (+4), forgiveness (+4), twist weight (+4). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Six Zero Infinity Ruby 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 Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16.
Read the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 review →Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (88.2 vs 86.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 leads by 4 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16, at 116 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 Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 or the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 measures 88 on power against 88 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. That comes from a 16 mm Thermoformed honeycomb polymer with foam edgewalls core swinging at 116 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Six Zero Infinity Ruby 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?
- Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 scores 94 for spin off its Aramid fiber face, against 90 for the Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture face on Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. In practice a 4-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16, with 7 twist weight against 6.8. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (90) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 costs $220, $55 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?
- Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16: 16 mm Thermoformed honeycomb polymer with foam edgewalls core with a Aramid fiber 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?
- Six Zero Infinity Ruby 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 Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 90 and sweet spot 91 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Six Zero Infinity Ruby 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 8.2 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 Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 to the Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 leads on spin by 4 points; everything else is within 4 points. At $220 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 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 Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.