Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Volair Mach 1 Forza 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.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Quick answer
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, which costs $275.
Power
Too close to call
88 vs 86
Spin
Too close to call
90 vs 87
Control
Too close to call
89 vs 88
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 86
Hand speed
113 vs 116 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$170 at IQ 85.3 vs $275 at IQ 86.8
Overall pick: Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 · $170 · IQ 85.3
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
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Volair Mach 1 Forza 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 | Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $275 | $170 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.8 — better | 85.3 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8.1 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 116 | 113 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 — better | 6.6 |
| Shape | elongated | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.3 |
| Face width(in) | 7.375 | 7.6 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture | Raw carbon |
| 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.
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
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, 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 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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (87.6 vs 86.2 on the weighted index). Take Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 and keep the $105.
- Stability
- Consistency
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.2 vs 84.5 on the weighted index). Take Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 and keep the $105.
- Spin
- Power
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.9 vs 84.3 on the weighted index). Take Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 and keep the $105.
- Plow through
- Spin
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 84 vs 80. Its 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core at 8.1 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
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 scores 88 for 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 86 on forgiveness despite twist weights of 6.8 and 6.6.
- 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both run a 5.5 in handle, long enough that neither forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- 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. Volair Mach 1 Forza 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 8.1 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.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Pro Power Elongated
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Double Black Diamond Control
- 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
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 Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 in context against the rest of the database.
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.