Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Volair Mach 1 Forza 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. 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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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 88Power86
- 89Control88
- 90Spin87
- 86Forgiveness86
- 88Sweet spot87
- 90Stability86
- 72Maneuverability75
- 83Pop82
- 86Touch85
- 88Consistency86
- 76Swing weight76
- 86Twist weight85
- 55Launch angle56
- 86Plow through82
- 80Softness84
Specs
| $275 | Price | $170 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8 oz | Weight | 8.1 oz |
| 116 | Swing weight | 113 |
| 6.8 | Twist weight | 6.6 |
| 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.
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 verdict
The Forza is the sensible hybrid: nothing extreme, everything solid. It is the paddle to hand someone moving off a big-box starter without overwhelming them.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is stability: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 90 against 86 for Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 — a 4-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, maneuverability, power, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 is $105 cheaper at $170.
Stability
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 4 points (90 vs 86).
Plow through
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 4 points (86 vs 82).
Softness
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads by 4 points (84 vs 80).
Which one should you buy?
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Take Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 if you want stability (+4), plow through (+4). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 review →Volair Mach 1 Forza 16
Take Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 if you want softness (+4). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.8 vs 85.3), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — stability — Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 4 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16, at 113 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 Volair Mach 1 Forza 16?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 measures 88 on power against 86 for Volair Mach 1 Forza 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?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 at 89 versus 88. 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 87 for the Raw carbon face on Volair Mach 1 Forza 16. In practice a 3-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, with 6.8 twist weight against 6.6. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (86) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 costs $170, $105 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. Volair Mach 1 Forza 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 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 Gearbox Pro Ultimate 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. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 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 113) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 to the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads on stability by 4 points; everything else is within 4 points. At $275 vs $170, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Also worth comparing
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- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs CRBN-1X
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- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Nova R1
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs CRBN-3X Power Series
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Read the full reviews: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 and Volair Mach 1 Forza 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.