Gearbox
Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated 16mm
Exact variant covered
- Exact model
- GX2 Power Elongated 16mm
- Revision
- USAP 'GX2 Power Elongated 16mm' (2025-05-27); UPA-A model # TP01-D2-1; separate from the GX2 (non-Power)
Evidence is attached only when a source names this variant; ambiguous mentions are held back.
At a glance
Who it suits
The evidence points to 3.5 to 5.0 competitive players who want drive power and have worn out thermoformed paddles.[1]
Creators flag it as a weaker fit for beginners and for anyone who needs forgiveness on off-center contact.[1, 5]
Where creators agree
- Power2 of 2 creators
Where they split
- Sweet spot1 positive, 1 negative
What the evidence says
Creators agree the GX2 Power Elongated leans toward power, and one ties the extra pop to the higher swingweight of the elongated shape.[1, 2, 5] One reviewer found it snappier on drives than the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16mm, yet calls the power controlled and says contact feels less jarring than a 12mm carbon paddle.[1] Forgiveness is where the sources split.[2, 5] Braydon Unsicker rated the sweet spot excellent for its shape, while John Kew found the elongated shape a little less forgiving, and a third reviewer says edge mis-hits are more exposed than on a standard shape even though the new edge guard helps twist weight.[1, 2, 5] Hand speed reads as average for its 118 swingweight, and the 8.0 oz weight drew a warning about swing fatigue in longer sessions.[1, 2] One reviewer also reports strong topspin on drives from the peel-ply grit, a stiff feel for the first 3 to 5 sessions, and a core that does not go dead the way thermoformed foam cores do.[1]
More on player fit
Players who camp at the kitchen and rely on precise dinks should expect significant practice reps, and players with no patience for break-in may be put off.[1] Two-handed backhand players with large grips may find the 5.5 inch handle snug, and one reviewer suggests budget-conscious buyers weigh the $279.99 price against the Selkirk LUXX at $199.99.[1]
Trait by trait
Each bar counts creator voices on that trait by their current stance: positive, neutral or mixed, negative. A longer bar means more creators spoke to it. Open a row for their words.
Power2 positive of 2 voices
Braydon Unsicker (Pickleball Effect) positive
“the Elongated adds reach and a bit more power due to the bump in swingweight.”
Benjamin Carper (FORWRD) positive
“Testing hard drives side-by-side against the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16mm: the GX2 consistently felt snappier off contact.”
Sweet spot1 positive · 1 negative of 2 voices
Johnkew Pickleball negative
“So the elongated shape is a little less forgiving,”
Benjamin Carper (FORWRD) positive
“Edge guard (new for Gearbox) meaningfully improves twist weight and forgiveness on off-center hits”
Break-in1 negative of 1 voice
Benjamin Carper (FORWRD) negative
“Real break-in period — first 3–5 sessions it plays stiffer than it should”
Control1 positive of 1 voice
Benjamin Carper (FORWRD) positive
“Ball contact is not as jarring as a 12mm carbon rocket ship — you get feedback, and the face doesn't "launch" unintentionally.”
Durability1 positive of 1 voice
Benjamin Carper (FORWRD) positive
“Structurally stable — doesn't go dead the way thermoformed foam cores do over months of use”
Hand speed1 neutral or mixed of 1 voice
Braydon Unsicker (Pickleball Effect) neutral
“The Elongated felt as expected: average hand speed for its 118 swingweight.”
Handle and grip1 negative of 1 voice
Benjamin Carper (FORWRD) negative
“the 5.5" handle is adequate for two hands but tighter than some — players with large grip sizes may find the circumference a bit snug.”
Spin1 positive of 1 voice
Benjamin Carper (FORWRD) positive
“The surface generates strong topspin on drives — the peel-ply grit bites the ball without feeling manufactured.”
Touch1 negative of 1 voice
Benjamin Carper (FORWRD) negative
“Players who camp at the kitchen and rely on precise dink placement will need significant practice reps to dial in the GX2 Power at NVZ distances.”
Value1 negative of 1 voice
Benjamin Carper (FORWRD) negative
“Budget-conscious players: $279.99 is real money; the JOOLA Perseus at $299.95 or Selkirk LUXX at $199.99 deliver comparable or better value for most skill levels.”
Weight and balance1 negative of 1 voice
Benjamin Carper (FORWRD) negative
“8.0 oz is on the heavy end for an elongated shape — swing fatigue in longer sessions”
Follow-up videos extend a creator's timeline; they never count as a new voice.
Owner feedback
No owner feedback analyzed yet.
Creators
3 independent creator voices. Disclosure chips come from each video or article's own description.
- Benjamin Carper (FORWRD)
10 stances on this paddle
Positive on power, sweet spot, control, durability
Negative on break-in, handle and grip, touch
Affiliate link“Testing hard drives side-by-side against the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16mm: the GX2 consistently felt snappier off contact.”
Jun 10, 2026SourceAffiliate link - Braydon Unsicker (Pickleball Effect)
2 stances on this paddle
Positive on power
Affiliate linkDiscount codeFree unitSponsored“the Elongated adds reach and a bit more power due to the bump in swingweight.”
Aug 6, 2025SourceAffiliate linkDiscount codeFree unitSponsored - Johnkew Pickleball
1 stance on this paddle
Positive on nothing yet
Negative on sweet spot
Affiliate linkDiscount code“So the elongated shape is a little less forgiving,”
Aug 1, 2025 at 6:59SourceAffiliate linkDiscount code
Pro associations
No dated pro association with this exact paddle yet.
Specs
| Spec | Value | Status | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core thickness | 16 mm | Verified | 3 4 |
| UPA-A approved list | yes (model # TP01-D2-1, added 2025-11-21) | Verified | 3 |
| USAP approved list | yes (listed 2025-05-27 as 'GX2 Power Elongated 16mm') | Verified | 4 |
Verified means the brand figure and an independent measurement or governing-body list agree. Brand reported means only the brand states it.
Evidence gaps
- No owner feedback has been analyzed yet.
- 126 mention(s) could not be matched to this exact variant and are held for review.
Sources 5
Titles are the publishers' own.
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated Paddle Review 2026 creator article by Benjamin Carper (FORWRD), Jun 10, 2026. Retrieved Nov 2, 2026. Analyzed: full article text.
- Gearbox GX2 Power Series Review: A Softer, Smarter Power Paddle creator article by Braydon Unsicker (Pickleball Effect), Aug 6, 2025. Retrieved Nov 2, 2026. Analyzed: full article text.
- UPA-A Certified Paddles List governing body, undated. Retrieved Nov 1, 2026. Analyzed: full list page as served (certified list).
- USA Pickleball approved paddle list, model search 'GX2' governing body, undated. Retrieved Nov 2, 2026. Analyzed: full search result page.
- Best in Class Power Paddle – the Gearbox GX2 Power creator video by Johnkew Pickleball, Aug 1, 2025. Retrieved Nov 2, 2026. Analyzed: full transcript (machine transcription by Gemini video understanding, timed [mm:ss] segments); quotes verified against this transcript.
Changelog 1
- page: none to published
Latest evidence: Jun 10, 2026. Page last rebuilt: Nov 2, 2026. Sources analyzed: 5 of 24 available.