Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. 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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Quick answer
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (87.1 vs 82.9), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
95 vs 82
Spin
Too close to call
91 vs 89
Control
Too close to call
85 vs 84
Forgiveness
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
88 vs 83
Hand speed
113 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$99 at IQ 82.9 vs $332.99 at IQ 87.1
Overall pick: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 · $332.99 · IQ 87.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 95Power82
- 84Control85
- 91Spin89
- 88Forgiveness83
- 89Sweet spot84
- 92Stability83
- 66Maneuverability78
- 90Pop80
- 80Touch81
- 85Consistency84
- 82Swing weight66
- 92Twist weight80
- 58Launch angle57
- 93Plow through74
- 72Softness79
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 | Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $332.99 | $99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 87.1 — better | 82.9 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.25 | 8.1 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 118 | 113 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 7.2 — better | 6.3 |
| Shape | elongated | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.2 |
| Face width(in) | 7.45 | 7.7 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.8 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit | Raw T700 carbon |
| Core material | BoomCore PureFoam with EVA Power Ring | Thermoformed polymer |
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 verdict
The highest power score 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.
Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid verdict
Thermoformed construction at a mid-tier price. It gives up very little to paddles at twice the cost and is the value pick of the 2026 releases.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is plow through: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 93 against 74 for Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid — a 19-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, control, touch, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid is $233.99 cheaper at $99.
Plow through
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 19 points (93 vs 74).
Swing weight
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 16 points (82 vs 66).
Power
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 13 points (95 vs 82).
Maneuverability
Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid leads by 12 points (78 vs 66).
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 the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 92 vs 80, stability 92 vs 83, forgiveness 88 vs 83. Twist weight 7.2 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.6 vs 83.2 on the weighted index). Take Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid and keep the $233.99.
- Power
- Forgiveness
- Spin
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 — plow through 93 vs 74, power 95 vs 82, spin 91 vs 89. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Power
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (80 vs 80.3 on the weighted index). Take Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid and keep the $233.99.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Take Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 if you want plow through (+19), swing weight (+16), power (+13). 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 →Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid
Take Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid if you want maneuverability (+12), softness (+7). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid review →Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 or the Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.1 vs 82.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 19 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid, at 113 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 Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 or the Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 95 for power against 82 for Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid. 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?
- Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid at 85 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 89 for the Raw T700 carbon face on Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid. In practice a 2-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 83). Its 7.2 twist weight against 6.3 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid costs $99, $233.99 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?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16: 16 mm BoomCore PureFoam with EVA Power Ring core with a Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit face. Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw T700 carbon 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. Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid at 8.1 oz against 8.25 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (113 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid 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 19 points; everything else is within 16 points. At $332.99 vs $99, 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.
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- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs CRBN-3X Power Series
- V7 Hybrid vs Prism Flash
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Also worth comparing
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- V7 Hybrid vs SLK Halo XL Control
- V7 Hybrid vs Vice V2 16
- V7 Hybrid vs Prism Flash V2 16
- V7 Hybrid vs Evoke Premier
Top alternatives to both
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 and Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 and Vatic Pro V7 Hybrid. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.