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$275MSRP $275

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Gearbox

Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16

87Tested 2026-07-28 · Players who want a firm, engineered all-court feel

Gearbox's rib-suspended SSTCore feels unlike any honeycomb paddle: firmer through contact, quieter on resets, and unusually consistent shot to shot. You pay $275 for that engineering.

Cross-shopping? Most buyers weigh the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 against the CRBN CRBN-1X — see them side by side, or browse every Gearbox paddle.

Core
16 mm
Weight
8 oz
Swing wt
116
Twist wt
6.8
Shape
elongated
Surface
Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture
Grip
5.5 in
Released
2026

Pros

  • Distinctive, very stable feel through contact
  • Edgeless 7.375 in face with above-average twist weight
  • 5.5 in smooth-wrap handle for two-handers

Cons

  • $275 with no discount history
  • 4 in grip is small for most hands

AI verdict — generated from measured specs

Last updated: July 2026

Should you buy the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?

The Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 86.8/100 on our IQ index, built from all 15 Paddle DNA traits. Its signature is stability (90/100, 83th percentile of the database), backed by twist weight at 86 and plow through at 86. The 16 mm SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam core and Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture face at 8 oz put it in the all-court — comfortable driving and resetting in the same rally bracket.

Where it gives ground is maneuverability (72) and pop (83). With a 116 kg·cm² swing weight and a 5.5 in handle it suits advanced/pro players, two-handed backhands, balanced doubles play. Skip it if this is your first paddle and you have not settled on a shape.

Closest paddles by DNA: CRBN CRBN-1X ($220), Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 ($220), Ronbus Nova R1 ($160). If budget matters, the Six Zero Quartz Control lands within 1 IQ points for $85 less. Overall: a strong buy for the right player, though not the outright best paddle in the database.

Best for
advanced/pro players, two-handed backhands, balanced doubles play
Playing style
all-court — comfortable driving and resetting in the same rally
Avoid if
this is your first paddle and you have not settled on a shape

In depth

Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 — the long answer

Gearbox's SSTCore suspends vertical carbon ribs along the paddle instead of using a honeycomb cell structure. The feel is firmer and quieter than any polymer paddle in the database, and stability reads 90.

The sections below are analysis of measured specifications and Paddle DNA™ values, not a play-test write-up. Where we have hit with a paddle, those notes appear separately and are attributed.

Rib core versus honeycomb

Honeycomb cores deform locally on impact; the ribbed SSTCore transmits load along the length of the paddle instead. That produces a more uniform response from tip to throat, which is why consistency reads 88 and stability 90. It also produces a distinctive muted feel that players either immediately like or immediately reject — demo it if you can.

The 4 in grip is the real caveat

Gearbox ships a 4 in circumference smooth-wrap handle, a full quarter inch smaller than the 4.25 in standard most brands use. Most adult men will need an overgrip, which adds weight at the handle and shifts the balance slightly toward faster hands.

Community consensus

What other players say about the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16

Verbatim excerpts from public discussion and independent reviews, plus the themes they add up to. These are other people's opinions, not ours, and every quote links back to where it was written.

No sourced community excerpts are published for this paddle yet. We only quote text we can link back to.

Who should buy the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?

  • Former tennis players and two-handed backhands
  • Soft-game specialists who reset and dink their way through rallies
  • Singles players and drivers who end points with pace
  • Topspin-heavy players rolling and dipping every ball
  • Players still tightening up their contact point
  • Brand-new beginners still finding a contact point
  • Anyone not ready to spend $200+ before knowing their shape preference

AI paddle match

If you like the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, you'll probably like…

Each pick is the database's best answer to one specific question, ranked by how far it moves the needle versus the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16.

Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 head-to-head comparisons

The matchups people actually cross-shop, each with a full 15-trait breakdown.

Paddle DNA™ — all 15 traits

Every trait normalised 0-100 against the full database, so these numbers mean the same thing on any paddle page. How we measure →

Power88Control89Spin90Forgiveness86Sweet spot88Stability90Maneuverability72Touch86

Key attributes

Power88
Control89
Spin90
Forgiveness86
Sweet spot88
Stability90
Maneuverability72
Pop83
Touch86
Consistency88
Swing weight76
Twist weight86
Launch angle55
Plow through86
Softness80

DNA match — paddles within 5% of the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16

Our similarity engine ranks the whole database by average DNA deviation. Tighten or widen the band to see how far you have to travel to save money or gain a trait.

Paddle DNA™ match

Match tolerance

Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16

IQ 86.8 · $275

Power88Control89Spin90Forgiveness86Sweet spot88Stability90Maneuverability72Touch86

8 paddles within 5% of the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16

Ranked by DNA deviation

  1. #1CRBN CRBN-1X$220 (-55) · 16 mm · elongatedDNA match98.7%88
    +4 spin+3 swing weight+2 twist weight+2 launch angle

    Saves $55 versus the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 · +4 spin · Higher IQ score (87.5 vs 86.8)

    CompareFull DNA
  2. #2Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16$220 (-55) · 16 mm · hybridDNA match98.5%88
    +4 spin+4 forgiveness+4 twist weight+3 sweet spot

    Saves $55 versus the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 · +4 spin · Higher IQ score (88.2 vs 86.8)

    CompareFull DNA
  3. #3Ronbus Nova R1$160 (-115) · 16 mm · elongatedDNA match98.4%86
    +5 softness-3 stability+3 swing weight-2 spin

    Saves $115 versus the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 · +5 softness

    CompareFull DNA
  4. #4CRBN CRBN-3X Power Series$170 (-105) · 16 mm · elongatedDNA match98.3%88
    +3 spin+3 forgiveness+2 sweet spot-2 stability

    Saves $105 versus the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 · Higher IQ score (87.9 vs 86.8)

    CompareFull DNA
  5. #5Six Zero Coral Pro$240 (-35) · 16 mm · hybridDNA match98.2%89
    +4 softness+3 spin+3 forgiveness+3 maneuverability

    Saves $35 versus the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 · +4 softness · Higher IQ score (88.5 vs 86.8)

    CompareFull DNA
  6. #6Volair Mach 1 Forza 16$170 (-105) · 16 mm · hybridDNA match98.1%85
    -4 stability-4 plow through+4 softness-3 spin

    Saves $105 versus the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 · +4 softness · -4 stability

    CompareFull DNA
  7. #7Honolulu J2CR$230 (-45) · 16 mm · hybridDNA match97.9%89
    +6 maneuverability+4 power+4 forgiveness+4 pop

    Saves $45 versus the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 · +6 maneuverability · Higher IQ score (88.7 vs 86.8)

    CompareFull DNA
  8. #8JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16$280 (+5) · 16 mm · hybridDNA match97.9%88
    +4 control+4 touch+4 consistency+4 softness

    +4 control · Higher IQ score (88.3 vs 86.8)

    CompareFull DNA

Best alternatives to the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16

Each pick beats the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 on one specific thing — price, power, control or forgiveness.

Similar paddles (within 8% DNA)

CRBN CRBN-1X16 mm · elongated · 8.3 oz · SW 119$22088Six Zero Infinity Ruby 1616 mm · hybrid · 8.2 oz · SW 116$22088Ronbus Nova R116 mm · elongated · 8.1 oz · SW 116$16086CRBN CRBN-3X Power Series16 mm · elongated · 8 oz · SW 114$17088

Want a different matchup? Compare any two paddles or browse the full paddle database.

Ranked in

More from Gearbox

Racquetball crossover brand using solid-span carbon construction with no traditional honeycomb core.

Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 — frequently asked questions

Is the Gearbox Pro Ultimate worth $275?
It is the most expensive non-Labs paddle we track. Buy it for the SSTCore feel and the stability figures; there is no discount history to wait for.
Edgeless with foam edgewalls — durable?
The foam edgewalls stiffen the perimeter and hold up well in play, but there is no replaceable bumper if you scrape the court.
Elongated or standard?
The elongated 16.5 in adds reach and drive depth. Kitchen-focused doubles players should take the standard shape.
Is the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 good for beginners?
Not our first recommendation. Forgiveness sits at 86/100 and the paddle is tuned for advanced/pro play. A developing player is better served by something more forgiving and cheaper — see our beginner shortlist.
Is the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 worth the price?
At $275 it sits in the 85th percentile of the database for cost and the 70th for IQ score. If those numbers do not line up for you, the Six Zero Quartz Control at $190 is the value alternative we point people to.
How does the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 compare to the CRBN-1X?
They are close on DNA. The Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 reads power 88 / control 89 / spin 90 against 89 / 89 / 94 for the CRBN-1X, at $275 versus $220. Our full head-to-head breaks down every trait.
Is the 16 mm better than the 14 mm version?
A 16 mm core has longer dwell time, which is what produces softer resets and more repeatable placement. The 14 mm build trades that dwell for a faster, poppier response off the face. Control players take 16 mm; players who want the ball gone quickly take 14 mm.
Is the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 approved for tournament play?
Sanctioned play requires the model to appear on USA Pickleball's official approved-equipment list. Gearbox submits its retail models for approval, but approval is per model and configuration, so check the current USAP list for the exact Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 build before you enter a sanctioned event. We do not list approval status we have not verified.
Does the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 have good spin?
Spin measures 90/100 — the 60th percentile of our database — off a Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture face. That is top-tier: enough bite for heavy topspin drives and rolls.
Is the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 head heavy?
Swing weight is 116 kg·cm² and twist weight 6.8. That is mid-range: balanced enough that most players will not describe it as head heavy. Static weight is 8 oz.
Does the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 benefit from lead tape?
It already swings at 116 kg·cm², so adding weight at 12 o'clock will make it sluggish. If you customise, keep it to a few grams at 3 and 9 o'clock for stability. Any added weight can affect tournament legality if it changes the paddle beyond the approved configuration.
What is the best overgrip for the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
The stock handle is 5.5 in long with a 4 in circumference. A thin tacky overgrip adds roughly 1/16 in of circumference and a few grams above the balance point — the cheapest way to fine-tune fit. If your hand is larger than the 4 in stock size, build up with an under-wrap first rather than stacking overgrips.
What should I replace the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 with when it wears out?
Face wear shows up as lost spin long before the core dies. The straight replacement is another Pro Ultimate Elongated 16; if you want to change something, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 adds control (96 vs 89) and the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 adds power (95 vs 88).
Who is the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 best for?
Players who want a firm, engineered all-court feel. Skill levels we would put on it: advanced, pro. Handle length of 5.5 in supports a two-handed backhand.
What shape and size is the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
elongated shape, 16.5 in long by 7.375 in wide, 16 mm SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam core, Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture face, 8 oz. Released 2026.

Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 on video

PickleballLookup review — coming soon
Head-to-head comparison — coming soon
Manufacturer footage — coming soon

Reviewed by

Alex Zubarev

Founder, PickleballLookup

Alex built the Paddle DNA™ database behind PickleballLookup — 15 normalized traits measured against every paddle in the catalog. Every page on this site is generated from that data and editorially reviewed before publication.

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Last updated July 2026 · How we score paddles