Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik 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
- 80Power95
- 88Control84
- 86Spin91
- 86Forgiveness88
- 86Sweet spot89
- 84Stability92
- 80Maneuverability66
- 76Pop90
- 86Touch80
- 86Consistency85
- 70Swing weight82
- 80Twist weight92
- 50Launch angle58
- 78Plow through93
- 80Softness72
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 | Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 — better | $332.99 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.1 | 87.1 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8.25 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 110 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.6 | 7.2 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.2 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.45 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.3 | 5.8 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw T700 carbon | Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit |
| Core material | Thermoformed polypropylene honeycomb | BoomCore PureFoam with EVA Power Ring |
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 verdict
Holbrook's first genuinely competitive control paddle. The hybrid shape and 110 swing weight make it an easy switch from a standard build without losing kitchen-line speed.
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 verdict
The highest measured power in the database, and the twist weight (7.2) to back it up. The MOI tuning system lets you dial the balance, but nothing turns a 118 swing weight into a fast-hands paddle.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, 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.
Beginner
New to 3.0 — still building a consistent contact point
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 92 vs 80, stability 92 vs 84, sweet spot 89 vs 86. Twist weight 7.2 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.5 vs 83.6 on the weighted index). Take Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 and keep the $172.99.
- Maneuverability
- Touch
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 is a narrow pick at this level — power 95 vs 80, plow through 93 vs 78, spin 91 vs 86. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Power
- Plow through
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81.6 vs 80 on the weighted index). Take Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 and keep the $172.99.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16
Take Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 if you want maneuverability (+14), softness (+8), touch (+6). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 review →Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Take Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 if you want power (+15), plow through (+15), pop (+14). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 review →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 measures 95 on 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 7.2 twist weight against 6.6. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (88) as a result.
- 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. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable 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 Double Black Diamond Control V2
- Crush Control 16 vs R3 Pulsar
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Ultré Power 2
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Hyperion Pro V 16
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Friction Pro Elongated V2
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.