Gearbox Pro Ultimate Hyper Review
The latest Gearbox Pro is as expected: Silent But Deadly.
As we’ve come to know and love (or hate), the Ultimate Hyper is the next iteration of Gearbox’s PRO Series. It has the patented SSTCore™, classic edgeless design, and smooth-feeling surface that its predecessors have. But now, it’s all in a standard, wide-body shape.
Despite being the latest, this paddle isn’t what I’d consider the greatest. The faults from the Pro Power and Pro Control paddles still carry over to the supposed combination in the Pro Ultimate.
These faults are not limited to the notorious break-in period, non-linear power, and unpredictable nature. All that said, this is the best paddle Gearbox has to offer. It stays true to what makes it unique while still adding some desired refinements.
Specs
Price: $274.99 (No discount code available)
Shape: Hyper (aka Wide, 16” x 8”)
Thickness: 16mm
Core: Polymer + Carbon Fiber Rib Structure
Face: Raw Carbon Fiber
Handle: 5.5”
Grip: 4”
Static Weight: 8.0oz
Swing Weight: 113
Balance Point: 24.7cm (aka head heavy)
Twist Weight: 6.32 (better than other Gearbox’s and edgeless paddles)
RPM: 2014
Warranty: 1-Year
Design: SSTCore™ Technology, “Redefined” Power Matrix, TXR Surface Grip, Smart Dampen Technology
Why The Hyper Was Created
The Pro Ultimate Elongated came out this summer but was met with mild reactions. This was due to its high balance combined with high swing weight. It made the paddle difficult to use for most players.
In fact, I was actively working on its review but couldn’t get over how heavy it swung. Many reviewers shared that sentiment, so Gearbox needed a pivot.
The Hyper is just that. This release is much needed in Gearbox’s lineup. Their paddles have always been known for small sweet spots, so introducing a wide body is a no-brainer.
The Core
Gearbox’s SSTCore™ is what kickstarted the current power race, and it lies at the heart of the Ultimate Hyper.
Knowing this, I was surprised to find the layout of the internal rib structure similar in width to the Ultimate Elongated. I expected a wider layout to fill out the wide-body shape.
But when asked directly, Gearbox said the structure doesn’t need to be expanded to maximize the sweet spot. Other methods can be used, and this internal width is sufficient.
I’m no engineer, nor would I disregard their design reasonings. I just found this discovery interesting and worth noting.
Break-In
We need to talk about the large elephant in the room: The Break-In Period.
Foam-core paddles and Gearbox have been scrutinized for how drastically their play can change over time. How fast this occurs depends on how hard and often they are used, which means it can vary wildly among players.
For this review, I had two units. The first was used for almost all of my playtesting, while the second was held back to compare.
My first 5-6 play sessions were extremely underwhelming.
The sweet spot felt tighter than expected.
The feel was dense and soft.
It FELT like it lacked power, even though it hit just as hard as others.
Acknowledging these are pre-break-in thoughts, let’s focus on what makes the Ultimate Hyper feel unique. It gives the odd perception it’s less powerful than you’d expect. I believe this phenomenon occurs because:
Off-center hits (which miss the internal ribs) lose more power than the average paddle.
The sound is very muted, making it seem less aggressive.
That said, these thoughts would later prove mostly useless. I spent the first week disliking and wanting to avoid using the Ultimate Hyper. It hindered my play and wasn’t enjoyable.
Straight out of the box, this paddle is harder to swing, less forgiving, and less powerful than its standard-shaped competitors. There wasn’t anything about it that made it stand out.
After about the 7th session, I noticed loosening within the paddle. It’s an odd sensation that you won’t experience with most, but Gearbox Pro’s all go through this. Brand new, the components feel very tight. As it gets used, everything feels looser, relaxed, and springy.
After my Ultimate Hyper hit this point, the sweet spot felt much better. It improved so much that my initial lead setup (3, 9, & 12 o’clock) was no longer necessary, and it played better stock. The face felt more forgiving allowing the pop and power to improve too.
So if it wasn’t abundantly clear, this paddle needs time to break in. If you pick one up, then that must be factored in before passing judgment.
The last difference post-break-in was the sound. Brand new, the paddle is quiet and low-pitched. After loosening, the sound is louder and higher.
Considering all these changes, I can’t tell you when or if this honeymoon phase will end. I spent two weeks playtesting the paddle, and it was still very unclear.
Someone who hits harder than me will have a much looser, powerful paddle after more use. This makes this a hard review to write. With no clear end to the break-in period, I can’t articulate how the paddle truly plays.
You might love the Ultimate Hyper when it’s new but hate it when broken in, while someone else might feel the opposite. My only hope is to provide you with enough information to make an educated decision for yourself.
Post Break-In Performance
For setup, I eventually landed on 4” of tungsten tape (1g/in) at the bottom corners. This increased the stability just enough to make the Ultimate Hyper feel solid on contact. My stats went from a static weight of 8.0oz to 8.4oz, swing weight of 112 to 114, and twist weight of 6.32 to 7.13.
After those changes, the Ultimate Hyper’s on-court performance is defined by 3 main characteristics.
#1 The Disparity Between Pop and Power
On drives, the paddle hits hard, but compared to competitors, the pop is lacking. This gap between pop and power is by no means drastic. It’s just bigger than average.
This is a feature not a flaw. You can swing big to unlock the power, but for resets and dinks, it won’t get you into trouble. Usually high pop makes for a harder-to-control paddle.
Keep in mind, this is all in comparison to similar power paddles. The Ultimate Hyper is still aggressive overall, and that’s reflected in its pop. Fortunately, though, this disparity gives you the best of both worlds.
#2 Sweet Spot
It doesn’t compete with paddles like the Volair Mach 2 Forza, but it’s by far Gearbox’s best sweet spot. It’s also great compared to other power paddles.
The best sweet-spot-to-power ratio currently belongs to the JOOLA 3S models. But given that the Ultimate Hyper is an edgeless paddle, the reliability and forgiveness are impressive.
#3 Minimal Vibrations
This isn’t super important to me, but many of you will enjoy how muted this is. I believe it’s in the Top 3 of minimized vibrations. This is the perfect choice if you’re one of those players who value that.
Now, for the 3 characteristics that the Ultimate Hyper fell flat on.
#1 & #2 Non-linear Power and Spin Scales
During games, I wasn’t impressed by the paddle’s ability to shape shots. To fully utilize Gearbox’s core, you must hit the ball a certain way.
For example, large swings felt good. But at the net, roll volleys and the like became harder to manipulate. I don’t prefer this non-linear style of power and spin.
But even so, this particular paddle isn’t the only offender on the market. The JOOLA Mod (losing USAP certification on July 1, 2025), Gearbox Pro Power Elongated (uncertified same as Mod), and Diadem Vice all share this same non-linear power/spin scale.
Fortunately, there are power paddles that are more linear for those who share my preference. The PaddleTek ESQ-C is a great example. Using it, you know exactly what you’re going to get all of the time.
The Ultimate Hyper, on the other hand, made me question how hard I should swing on certain shots, which dropped my confidence. Particularly on returns, I couldn’t find a consistent swing pattern to place the ball.
This may all be personal rather than the paddle’s fault. But if this experience sounds unfavorable, then you know what to expect with the Ultimate Hyper.
#3 Break In
If you’ve seen my reviews, you know I hate break-in periods. I think it’s bad for the industry in almost every regard.
For some (like the Mod-TA15), it’s breaking as you play with an out-of-spec core. Then, you have paddles like the Gearbox where it’s unclear whether it’s damaged or just breaking in.
Regardless, performance change over time gives players too much uncertainty, and it makes my job even harder.
I don’t expect there to be zero change, but when the change is the paddle getting hotter and hotter, then it’s bad for the industry.
If this continues, I’d like to see it go away. If not, I’d like to see the break-in be consistent and well-defined without significant pop/power increase.
Closing Thoughts
If you couldn’t tell already, I had a hard time deciding how to rate this paddle. Objectively, the Ultimate Hyper has great traits once broken in, but they’re not THAT much better than a PaddleTek ESQ-C or a JOOLA 3S.
If anything, Gearbox’s latest performs similarly but differently. Instead of PaddleTek’s short dwell time, loud hits, and extra pop, the Ultimate Hyper does everything the opposite while still achieving the same power spike.
You should consider the Gearbox Ultimate Hyper if:
You don’t care about a break-in period or a changing paddle.
Want max-dampened vibrations.
Prefer a pop slightly below the power to make for better control.
Already love Gearbox but want a bigger sweet spot and faster hands.
You should avoid it if:
You dislike break-in periods.
Want a high value-to-dollar-spent ratio.
Prefer head-light paddles.
Enjoy a linear power scale.
Already own a PaddleTek ESQ-C 12.7mm or JOOLA Scorpeus 3S 14mm.
While the gap between this and other power paddles has shrunk significantly, it’s for the best. You’ll no longer be the only player to receive an eye roll when pulling one out.
The Ultimate Hyper is more balanced and amateur-friendly while still packing a very heavy punch (once broken in). It is Gearbox’s best paddle to date.
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