Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Six Zero Quartz Control
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Six Zero Quartz Control takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Six Zero Quartz Control wins this matchup for most players: it takes control, forgiveness, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, which costs $275.
Power
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
88 vs 78
Spin
Too close to call
90 vs 90
Control
93 vs 89
Forgiveness
91 vs 86
Hand speed
108 vs 116 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$190 at IQ 88 vs $275 at IQ 86.8
Overall pick: Six Zero Quartz Control · $190 · IQ 88
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
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Six Zero Quartz Control 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 | Six Zero Quartz Control |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $275 | $190 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.8 | 88 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 116 | 108 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 | 7.2 — better |
| Shape | elongated | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.375 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture | Raw carbon friction |
| Core material | SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam | Thermoformed polymer |
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
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, 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 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
Six Zero Quartz Control
Six Zero Quartz Control is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 91 vs 86, sweet spot 92 vs 88, twist weight 90 vs 86. Twist weight 7.2 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Six Zero Quartz Control
Six Zero Quartz Control is a narrow pick at this level — maneuverability 82 vs 72, touch 92 vs 86, control 93 vs 89. At 108 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Maneuverability
- Touch
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.9 vs 84.2 on the weighted index). Take Six Zero Quartz Control and keep the $85.
- Plow through
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Six Zero Quartz Control
Six Zero Quartz Control is the clearer pick at this level — softness 89 vs 80, forgiveness 91 vs 86, twist weight 90 vs 86. Its 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core at 7.9 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 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 scores 88 for 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 90 for spin.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Six Zero Quartz Control, with the higher forgiveness score (91 vs 86). Its 7.2 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?
- 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 less stable 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.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Pro Power Elongated
- Quartz Control vs Ruby
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs TruFoam Genesis 2
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs TruFoam Genesis X
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Scorpeus Pro IV 16
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Agassi Pro 16
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs OMNI 16
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 Radius CGS 16
- Quartz Control vs Sapphire 16
- Quartz Control vs Vision CGS 16
- Quartz Control vs Tempest Pro C 16
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 Six Zero Quartz Control in context against the rest of the database.
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.