Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (84.1 vs 79.8), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
71 vs 70
Spin
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16
90 vs 74
Control
Too close to call
94 vs 93
Forgiveness
Too close to call
82 vs 82
Hand speed
Too close to call
98 vs 100 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$150 at IQ 79.8 vs $333 at IQ 84.1
Overall pick: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 · $333 · IQ 84.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power71
- 93Control94
- 74Spin90
- 82Forgiveness82
- 80Sweet spot81
- 76Stability84
- 88Maneuverability97
- 64Pop70
- 92Touch92
- 88Consistency87
- 58Swing weight47
- 62Twist weight77
- 42Launch angle46
- 66Plow through59
- 90Softness90
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro | Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $150 — better | $333 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 84.1 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 8.2 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14.3 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 100 | 98 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6 | 6.5 — better |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 15.75 | 15.95 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 5.6 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured graphite | Multistrata T700 Carbon |
| Core material | Patented Poly Core II | BoomCore™ |
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro verdict
The paddle a generation of control players learned on, and still one of the quietest, most predictable graphite faces made. It will not out-hit a thermoformed paddle, but it will not surprise you either.
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 verdict
The widebody Boomstik keeps BoomCore's power but spreads it across a 15.95 x 8.0 in face, which is the most forgiving version of Selkirk's flagship platform.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is spin: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 scores 90 against 74 for Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro — a 16-point gap. They are effectively level on power, control, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro is $183 cheaper at $150.
Spin
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 leads by 16 points (90 vs 74).
Twist weight
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 leads by 15 points (77 vs 62).
Swing weight
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro leads by 11 points (58 vs 47).
Maneuverability
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 leads by 9 points (97 vs 88).
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 Widebody 16
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 77 vs 62, stability 84 vs 76, sweet spot 81 vs 80. Twist weight 6.5 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 90 vs 74, maneuverability 97 vs 88, control 94 vs 93. At 98 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Maneuverability
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 90 vs 74, maneuverability 97 vs 88, power 71 vs 70. Swing weight 98 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Maneuverability
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 77 vs 62. Its 16 mm BoomCore™ core at 8.2 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro
Take Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro if you want swing weight (+11), plow through (+7). Its swing weight of 100 kg·cm² and 14.3 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro review →Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16
Take Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 if you want spin (+16), twist weight (+15), maneuverability (+9). Its swing weight of 98 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 review →Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.1 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 leads by 16 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16, at 98 kg·cm² swing weight against 100 for Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 scores 71 for power against 70 for Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro. That comes from a 16 mm BoomCore™ core swinging at 98 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 at 94 versus 93. 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 Widebody 16 scores 90 for spin off its Multistrata T700 Carbon face, against 74 for the Textured graphite face on Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro. In practice a 16-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 82 on forgiveness despite twist weights of 6 and 6.5.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro costs $150, $183 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?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro: 14.3 mm Patented Poly Core II core with a Textured graphite face. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16: 16 mm BoomCore™ core with a Multistrata T700 Carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16, at 5.6 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 82 and sweet spot 80 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro at 7.9 oz against 8.2 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (100 vs 98) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro to the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 leads on spin by 16 points; everything else is within 15 points. At $150 vs $333, 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.
- Tempest Wave Pro vs Tempest Wave V3
- Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
- Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Coral Pro
- Tempest Wave Pro vs Encore Pro EX
- Tempest Wave Pro vs Obsidian 16
- Tempest Wave Pro vs SLK Halo Control
- Tempest Wave Pro vs Radical Tour Ultra 16
- Tempest Wave Pro vs Essentials 16
Also worth comparing
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- Tempest Wave Pro vs Coral Hybrid 16
- Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Labs Project 007 Epic 14
- Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Scorpeus 14
- Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Kinetic Pro Flight
- Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro and Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro and Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.