Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Six Zero Quartz Control
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Six Zero Quartz Control 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
- 88Power78
- 89Control93
- 90Spin90
- 86Forgiveness91
- 88Sweet spot92
- 90Stability90
- 72Maneuverability82
- 83Pop72
- 86Touch92
- 88Consistency91
- 76Swing weight68
- 86Twist weight90
- 55Launch angle50
- 86Plow through72
- 80Softness89
Specs
| $275 | Price | $190 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8 oz | Weight | 7.9 oz |
| 116 | Swing weight | 108 |
| 6.8 | Twist weight | 7.2 |
| elongated | Shape | standard |
| Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture | Surface | Raw carbon friction |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.25 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 Quartz Control verdict
A control build in the Double Black Diamond tradition, only lighter and quicker. Twist weight and sweet spot are the standouts; power is deliberately mid-pack.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is plow through: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 86 against 72 for Six Zero Quartz Control — a 14-point gap. They are effectively level on consistency, spin, stability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Six Zero Quartz Control is $85 cheaper at $190.
Plow through
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 14 points (86 vs 72).
Pop
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 11 points (83 vs 72).
Power
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 10 points (88 vs 78).
Maneuverability
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 10 points (82 vs 72).
Which one should you buy?
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Take Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 if you want plow through (+14), pop (+11), power (+10). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 review →Six Zero Quartz Control
Take Six Zero Quartz Control if you want maneuverability (+10), softness (+9), touch (+6). Its swing weight of 108 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Six Zero Quartz Control review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Six Zero Quartz Control FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Six Zero Quartz Control carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (88 vs 86.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 14 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Six Zero Quartz Control, at 108 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 Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 measures 88 on power against 78 for Six Zero Quartz Control. 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?
- Six Zero Quartz Control at 93 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 90 for the Raw carbon friction face on Six Zero Quartz Control. In practice a 0-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Six Zero Quartz Control, with 7.2 twist weight against 6.8. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Six Zero Quartz Control carries the higher forgiveness score (91) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Six Zero Quartz Control costs $190, $85 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. Six Zero Quartz Control: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw carbon friction face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Six Zero Quartz Control is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 91 and sweet spot 92 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Six Zero Quartz Control at 7.9 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (108 vs 116) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 to the Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads on plow through by 14 points; everything else is within 11 points. At $275 vs $190, 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
- Quartz Control vs Magnus 3S 16
- Quartz Control vs Double Black Diamond Control
- Quartz Control vs Pursuit MX 6.0
- Quartz Control vs Bantam ALW-C 14
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 Quartz Control. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.