Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs VERSIX Strike 4F
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 wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, spin, control and forgiveness on Paddle DNA against the VERSIX Strike 4F, which costs $15.
Power
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
95 vs 66
Spin
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
91 vs 52
Control
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
84 vs 72
Forgiveness
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
88 vs 80
Hand speed
96 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$15 at IQ 69.7 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
- 95Power66
- 84Control72
- 91Spin52
- 88Forgiveness80
- 89Sweet spot78
- 92Stability62
- 66Maneuverability94
- 90Pop84
- 80Touch70
- 85Consistency70
- 82Swing weight40
- 92Twist weight60
- 58Launch angle72
- 93Plow through48
- 72Softness72
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs VERSIX Strike 4F 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 | VERSIX Strike 4F |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $332.99 | $15 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 87.1 — better | 69.7 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.25 | 7.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 10 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 118 | 96 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 7.2 — better | 5.4 |
| Shape | elongated | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 15.4 |
| Face width(in) | 7.45 | 7.75 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.8 | 5.1 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit | Glass fiber composite |
| Core material | BoomCore PureFoam with EVA Power Ring | Polypropylene honeycomb |
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.
VERSIX Strike 4F verdict
At $15 this is a loaner-bin paddle done properly: light, poppy and durable enough for a season of open play. Nobody should keep playing with it once they can consistently dink.
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 48 for VERSIX Strike 4F — a 45-point gap. They are effectively level on softness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. VERSIX Strike 4F is $317.99 cheaper at $15.
Plow through
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 45 points (93 vs 48).
Swing weight
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 42 points (82 vs 40).
Spin
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 39 points (91 vs 52).
Twist weight
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 32 points (92 vs 60).
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 60, stability 92 vs 62, sweet spot 89 vs 78. 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
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 91 vs 52, power 95 vs 66, control 84 vs 72. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Power
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 91 vs 52, plow through 93 vs 48, power 95 vs 66. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Plow through
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 92 vs 60, forgiveness 88 vs 80. Its 16 mm BoomCore PureFoam with EVA Power Ring core at 8.25 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Take Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 if you want plow through (+45), swing weight (+42), spin (+39). 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 →VERSIX Strike 4F
Take VERSIX Strike 4F if you want maneuverability (+28), launch angle (+14). Its swing weight of 96 kg·cm² and 10 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the VERSIX Strike 4F review →Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs VERSIX Strike 4F FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 or the VERSIX Strike 4F?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.1 vs 69.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 45 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- VERSIX Strike 4F, at 96 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 VERSIX Strike 4F?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 95 for power against 66 for VERSIX Strike 4F. 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 72. 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 52 for the Glass fiber composite face on VERSIX Strike 4F. In practice a 39-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 80). Its 7.2 twist weight against 5.4 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- VERSIX Strike 4F costs $15, $317.99 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. VERSIX Strike 4F: 10 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Glass fiber composite face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16, at 5.8 in of handle against 5.1 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. VERSIX Strike 4F rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- VERSIX Strike 4F at 7.3 oz against 8.25 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (96 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the VERSIX Strike 4F 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 45 points; everything else is within 42 points. At $332.99 vs $15, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
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- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs GX2 Power Elongated
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs CRBN-3X Power Series
- Strike 4F vs V7 Hybrid
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs TruFoam Genesis 1
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- 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.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 and VERSIX Strike 4F in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 and VERSIX Strike 4F. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.