Rally Flare Graphite 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
- 74Power95
- 76Control84
- 72Spin91
- 84Forgiveness88
- 84Sweet spot89
- 68Stability92
- 90Maneuverability66
- 86Pop90
- 74Touch80
- 74Consistency85
- 46Swing weight82
- 66Twist weight92
- 68Launch angle58
- 54Plow through93
- 74Softness72
Specs
| $50 | Price | $333 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 7.5 oz | Weight | 8.25 oz |
| 100 | Swing weight | 118 |
| 5.8 | Twist weight | 7.2 |
| standard | Shape | elongated |
| Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture | Surface | Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit |
| 5.3 in | Handle | 5.8 in |
Rally Flare Graphite verdict
A $50 carbon-faced paddle with a thin 11 mm core: poppy, light and easy to swing. It is a starter paddle, and the thin core shows the moment you try to reset a hard drive.
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 plow through: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 93 against 54 for Rally Flare Graphite — a 39-point gap. They are effectively level on softness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Rally Flare Graphite is $283 cheaper at $50.
Plow through
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 39 points (93 vs 54).
Swing weight
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 36 points (82 vs 46).
Twist weight
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 26 points (92 vs 66).
Stability
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 24 points (92 vs 68).
Which one should you buy?
Rally Flare Graphite
Take Rally Flare Graphite if you want maneuverability (+24), launch angle (+10). Its swing weight of 100 kg·cm² and 11 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Rally Flare Graphite review →Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Take Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 if you want plow through (+39), swing weight (+36), twist weight (+26). 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 →Rally Flare Graphite vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Rally Flare Graphite or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.1 vs 75.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 39 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Rally Flare Graphite, at 100 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 Rally Flare Graphite or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 measures 95 on power against 74 for Rally Flare Graphite. 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?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 at 84 versus 76. 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 72 for the Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture face on Rally Flare Graphite. In practice a 19-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16, with 7.2 twist weight against 5.8. 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?
- Rally Flare Graphite costs $50, $283 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?
- Rally Flare Graphite: 11 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture 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?
- Rally Flare Graphite at 7.5 oz against 8.25 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (100 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Rally Flare Graphite to the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads on plow through by 39 points; everything else is within 36 points. At $50 vs $333, 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.
- Flare Graphite vs Z5 Graphite
- Flare Graphite vs Ben Johns Signature Pro
- Flare Graphite vs SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
- Flare Graphite vs Strike 4F
- 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 Friction Pro Elongated V2
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Labs Project 006
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: Rally Flare Graphite 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.