Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16

The verdict

Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is power: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 95 against 80 for Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 — a 15-point gap. They are effectively level on sweet spot, forgiveness, consistency, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 is $172.99 cheaper at $160.

• Power

  Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 15 points (95 vs 80).

• Plow through

  Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 15 points (93 vs 78).

• Maneuverability

  Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads by 14 points (80 vs 66).

• Pop

  Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 14 points (90 vs 76).

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.

Which one should you buy?

Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 FAQ

Which is better, the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?

Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.1 vs 84.1), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — power — Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 15 points.

Which one is faster at the kitchen line?

Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16, at 110 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.

Which paddle has more power, the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?

Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 95 for power against 80 for Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16. That comes from a 16 mm BoomCore PureFoam with EVA Power Ring core swinging at 118 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.

Which one gives more control and touch?

Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 at 88 versus 84. 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?

Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 91 for spin off its Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit face, against 86 for the Raw T700 carbon face on Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16. In practice a 5-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.

Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?

Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 86). Its 7.2 twist weight against 6.6 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.

Is the price difference worth it?

Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 costs $160, $172.99 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?

Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene honeycomb core with a Raw T700 carbon face. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16: 16 mm BoomCore PureFoam with EVA Power Ring core with a Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit face.

Which is better for a two-handed backhand?

Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16, at 5.8 in of handle against 5.3 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 avoids.

Which one is better for beginners?

Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 89 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.

Which is lighter in the hand?

Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 at 8 oz against 8.25 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (110 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.

Is it worth upgrading from the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 to the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?

Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads on power by 15 points; everything else is within 15 points. At $160 vs $332.99, 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.

• Crush Control 16 vs Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0
• Crush Control 16 vs SLK Halo XL Control
• Crush Control 16 vs Series Two Project Flash
• Crush Control 16 vs Ruby Hybrid 16

• Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Ultré Power 2
• Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs 1X TruFoam Power
• Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Hyperion Pro V 16
• Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Labs 008 Project 16

Top alternatives to both

Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.

Read the full reviews: Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 and Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.