Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Volair Mach 1 Forza 16
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
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes control, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16, which costs $332.99.
Power
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
95 vs 86
Spin
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
91 vs 87
Control
88 vs 84
Forgiveness
Too close to call
88 vs 86
Hand speed
113 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$170 at IQ 85.3 vs $332.99 at IQ 87.1
Overall pick: Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 · $170 · IQ 85.3
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 95Power86
- 84Control88
- 91Spin87
- 88Forgiveness86
- 89Sweet spot87
- 92Stability86
- 66Maneuverability75
- 90Pop82
- 80Touch85
- 85Consistency86
- 82Swing weight76
- 92Twist weight85
- 58Launch angle56
- 93Plow through82
- 72Softness84
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 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 | Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $332.99 | $170 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 87.1 — better | 85.3 |
| 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 | 6.6 |
| Shape | elongated | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.3 |
| Face width(in) | 7.45 | 7.6 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.8 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit | Raw 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.
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 verdict
The Forza is the sensible hybrid: nothing extreme, everything solid. It is the paddle to hand someone moving off a big-box starter without overwhelming them.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 scores 84 against 72 for Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, sweet spot, launch angle, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 is $162.99 cheaper at $170.
Softness
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads by 12 points (84 vs 72).
Plow through
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 11 points (93 vs 82).
Power
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 9 points (95 vs 86).
Maneuverability
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads by 9 points (75 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 a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 92 vs 85, stability 92 vs 86, forgiveness 88 vs 86. 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 84.5 on the weighted index). Take Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 and keep the $162.99.
- Maneuverability
- Control
- Touch
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 86, plow through 93 vs 82, spin 91 vs 87. 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
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 84 vs 72. Its 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core at 8.1 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Take Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 if you want plow through (+11), power (+9), pop (+8). 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 →Volair Mach 1 Forza 16
Take Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 if you want softness (+12), maneuverability (+9), touch (+5). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 review →Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 or the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.1 vs 85.3), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16, 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 Volair Mach 1 Forza 16?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 95 for power against 86 for Volair Mach 1 Forza 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?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 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 87 for the Raw carbon face on Volair Mach 1 Forza 16. In practice a 4-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 86). Its 7.2 twist weight against 6.6 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 costs $170, $162.99 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. Volair Mach 1 Forza 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16, at 5.8 in of handle against 5.5 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. Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 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 Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 to the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads on softness by 12 points; everything else is within 11 points. At $332.99 vs $170, 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 GX2 Power Elongated
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs CRBN-3X Power Series
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Double Black Diamond Control
- 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
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Nova R1
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Loco 16mm Standard
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Mod TA-15 3S 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 Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 and Volair Mach 1 Forza 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.