Gearbox GX2 Power Review & Comparison

It’s taken a while, but Gearbox has finally made a paddle that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with today’s top power paddles.

In my first impressions video, I covered the specs, design, and how it compared to the previous GX2.

In this review, I’m focusing on what’s changed since then — including how the paddle feels after breaking in, how it performs in real play, and how it stacks up against other top power paddles like the JOOLA Pro IV, Honolulu J2NF, Body Helix F1, and Selkirk Boomstik.

Other wise, let’s break it down.

Table of Contents

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Break-In Period (Serve Speed Test Pre & Post Break in)

The GX2 Power definitely has a break-in period.

It’s not like the old Pro Power elongated (which changed dramatically over time), but it’s enough to impact play.

For me, the paddle was actually easier to use brand new. After break-in, resets and softer shots, like taking a ball out of the air at the kitchen, became harder to control.

Serve Speed Tests (Pre & Post Break-In)

To back this up with data, I tested serve speeds:

So yes, the power does increase after break-in. The question is whether that’s just the paddle settling in or an early sign of durability issues.

With JOOLA Pro IV, seeing metrics of the paddle hitting harder over time usually meant the core was on it’s way out.

With the GX2 Power, it’s to early to tell if this is a feature or a red flag. My caution to you would be, if that worries you, wait for more consumers to get the paddle and report any issues.

Dwell Time

This paddle has a very high dwell time. The ball really sinks into the face before launching out.

For some players, that cushioned feel will be great. But for me, it made shot placement harder, especially in the soft game.

The best way I found to use it post break-in was to stay aggressive. Playing neutral and trying to outlast an opponent in resets didn’t feel as comfortable.

Weight Setup

Out of the box, the GX2 Power felt stable enough that I didn’t need to add weight.

When I did add weight, it was mostly out of habit and curiosity to see how it would change the paddle, not because I felt like it needed weakness to be corrected.

For testing, I added:

The changes were small:

It did add some plow-through and stability, but I’d be comfortable playing it stock.

Gearbox GX2 Power Comparisons

JOOLA Pro IV

Feel

Sweet Spot

Durability

Shape Variety

Tournament Pick

Honolulu J2NF

These paddles are in 2 different categories. So there isn’t a clear “winner” in each categotry but rather how they cater to each audience in each one.

Power

Feel

Overall

Body Helix FLIK F1

Power

✅ Winner: F1 — hits harder than the GX2.

Control & Sweet Spot

✅ Winner: GX2 Power — much more consistent across the face. The F1 has a big sweet spot and power drop off when hitting the ball off center.

Spin

✅ Winner: F1 — the spin potential is crazy good. This is the only thing this paddle does better than the GX2 Power in my opinion.

Overall

Selkirk Labs Boomstik

Power

Feel

Spin Durability

Overall

Final Thoughts — Who it is and isn’t for

✅ For Players Who:

❌ Not For Players Who:

The GX2 Power is a legitimate top-end power paddle.

It delivers big pop, long dwell time, and a solid sweet spot. That softer, dampened feel is going to be love-it or hate-it, great for aggressive players, but not ideal if you rely on resets and control.

For my game, the Pro IV and Boomstik are still a better fit. But if you’re looking for a cushioned, dwell-heavy power paddle, especially in a hybrid shape, the GX2 Power deserves to be in the conversation with today’s elite options.

Use code: PBSTUDIO for 10% off which helps support the channel by giving us a commission so that we can keep making reviews just like this.