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Jacob Johnson
Updated 04/28/2023
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BestProducts.Review does considerable research, analyses and testing on Health & Wellness products to provide you objective findings so that you can make more informed buying decisions.
Our proprietary Massage Gun Score™ analyses 10 primary features of a percussion massagers in both professional vs. portable grade devices to create a rank and score for each model.
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Professional Gun Model Comparison & Score
- BestProducts.Review
- Updated: May 1, 2023
- Fitness, Pain Management
PlayMakar MVP+ Percussion Massage Gun
Hypervolt 2
PlayMakar MVP+ Percussion Massage Gun
Hypervolt 2
1000-3000 / 6 / Also comes with RPM Lock Feature
20000-2700 / 3
45-55dB
55-65dB
Weight on center. Least vibration for professional massager.
A little top heavy but overall feels relatively well balanced.
Display & Controls
Touchscreen
Display & Controls
Push Button
Massage Head Attachments
9 ProTips available, including percussion roller tip and heat tip.
Massage Head Attachments
Comes with 2. Flat Head and Bullet.
24V/Up to 3.5 hours / Fixed Battery
PROS
14 mm Stroke length, touchscreen, extremely well balanced and seems to have far less vibration. Amazing silica rubber massage heads that can be easily cleaned. PLUS, their Optional Massage Heads are unlike anything on the market, including new HeatTip. Best professional grade gun for less than $300.
PROS
Ergonomic handle, low noise
CONS
Does not come with a carrying case. Use promo code “BestProducts” to get case at 50% with purchase of MVP+.
CONS
Low stall force, battery is not sufficient
BOTTOM LINE
All in all, best overall! Professional grade, Touchscreen display, super well balanced with less vibration. best massage heads on the market, looks amazing. It’s in a similar class to the HyperVolt 2 Pro but spec for spec is better. Highly recommended.
BOTTOM LINE
Does not feel great in your hand. While we think the handle is better than 1st gen versions, it’s still not great. Stall force is simply inadequate for a gun this price and battery lasts considerably less than MVP+ or others in the top picks.
Massage Gun Score™
42 out of 50 (score based on 5 points for each category)
Massage Gun Score™
30 out of 50 (score based on 5 points for each category)
Weight on center. Least vibration for professional massager.
A little top heavy but overall feels relatively well balanced.
9 ProTips available, including percussion roller tip and heat tip.
Comes with 2. Flat Head and Bullet.
PROS
14 mm Stroke length, touchscreen, extremely well balanced and seems to have far less vibration. Amazing silica rubber massage heads that can be easily cleaned. PLUS, their Optional Massage Heads are unlike anything on the market, including new HeatTip. Best professional grade gun for less than $300.
Ergonomic handle, low noise
CONS
Does not come with a carrying case. Use promo code “BestProducts” to get case at 50% with purchase of MVP+.
Low stall force, battery is not sufficient
BOTTOM LINE
All in all, best overall! Professional grade, Touchscreen display, super well balanced with less vibration. best massage heads on the market, looks amazing. It’s in a similar class to the HyperVolt 2 Pro but spec for spec is better. Highly recommended.
Does not feel great in your hand. While we think the handle is better than 1st gen versions, it’s still not great. Stall force is simply inadequate for a gun this price and battery lasts considerably less than MVP+ or others in the top picks.
Massage Gun Score™
42 out of 50 (score based on 5 points for each category)
30 out of 50 (score based on 5 points for each category)
Price
There are a wide range of options for massage guns ranging from $60 (very low quality, would not recommend) to $600 (very overpriced and there are plenty of options available that have as good or better specs for less money). We have reviewed dozens of massage guns over the last few years and based on the key metrics we have shown in the chart above, the PlayMakar MVP+ is our number one pick for professional grade massage guns. Given the quality of this massage gun, it is a very good price when comparing to other massage guns that have inferior quality and actually priced much higher.
Stroke Length or Amplitude
The term refers to how far the reciprocation extends from within the massage gun to your body. It is the length of shaft extension primarily measured in millimeters. The longer the stroke length, the deeper the massage.
We consider massage guns less than 12 mm appropriate for soft tissue massage while massage guns beyond 12 mm will provide a deep tissue massage that will stimulate dense muscle such as the quads, hamstrings, glutes and calves. We have found most guns listed on Amazon to be 10 mm and would estimate that 5% of all guns are considered professional grade.
Revolutions per Minute or RPM vs PPM or Percussion Per Minute
Revolutions per Minute or RPM vs PPM or Percussion Per Minute: Refers to how fast the motor is spinning. General professional grade RPM’s will range from 1200-3500. It take RPM divided by two to determine PPM or number of downward strikes produced by 12 v or 24 volt motors. Massage gun motors can be vary greatly.
Different guns offer different levels of intensity, so think about what you need. If you’re a beginner, you might want to start with a lower intensity and work your way up. If you’re looking for the best experience, you’ll want a gun that provides the full range. The average speed is around 3,000 hits per minute.
Stall Force
Stall force measurements determine how much downward force in lbs. can be applied before the motor stalls or stops.
Professional grade devices should exceed 55 lbs. stall force while portable devices should be 30 lbs. or more.
Decibals (dB) or Noise Level
Professional grade massage guns will make noise however some are nosier than others. Its best to avoid massage guns that are so loud that it can interrupt a conversation of the sound of your TV.
Anything over 70 to 75 is considered disruptive which is the equivalent to a typical vacuum cleaner.
PlayMakar MVP+
66.7 dB at 3000 RPM
Hypervolt 2
69.5 dB at 2700 RPM
WINNER: PlayMakar MVP+ is the quietest professional grade massager we tested.
Balance & Vibration
In a massage gun, the center of mass and gravity refers to the location where the body’s total weight is balanced, whereas the center of mass refers to the location where the body’s total mass is directed.
When the center of gravity and the center of mass are aligned, it will lead to a more relaxing massage with less strain on your hands, wrist, and arms.
WINNER: PlayMakar MVP+ is the most well balanced professional grade massager we tested.
Weight & Ergonomics
The understanding of the interaction analysis between a human and a machine applied by the Gun designer to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. Excessive weight will be detrimental to the user of the device.
The primary components that make up the weight is obviously the overall size but also important to make distinction between professional and portable grade. Professional grade devices will have larger motors and batteries which make up the major part of the weight.
If you’re going to be using your massage gun a lot, then you’ll want to ensure that it’s not too heavy, especially if you’re carrying it around. A heavier gun is more challenging to use and get proper angles with and can cause fatigue. This will, however, depend on how strong you are.
PlayMakar MVP+
Weighs 2.35 lbs.
Hypervolt 2
Weighs 1.8 lbs
Display & Controls
The controls vary greatly by massage gun. Push buttons, dials, and full digital touchscreen displays.
The difference creates the option to operate and adjust controls with one hand or requires a two-handed operation.
MVP+ Controls
Touchscreen to Control RPM, Pause/Start and SpeedLock™ to lock out RPM. For most hands, can hold and adjust controls using one hand.
Hypervolt 2 Controls
Turn Dial to Control Intensity. Requires two hands to operate.
Massage Head Attachments
Interchangeable Massage heads for a specific application are useful and, in large parts, have been addressed by most massage gun manufacturers.
However, all bodies aren’t equal. Some have high-density muscles, others are less dense, and all are different.
Most manufacturers are using hard ABS plastic or cheaper foam alternatives.
PlayMakar brand has developed a line of Silica rubber Massage Heads that offer a progressive impact. Rubber and ABS Plastic massage heads can be used in conjunction with oils or lotions and can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher.
Different massage guns come with different attachments. These attachments can change the focus of the massage, so if you have specific areas that you need to target, make sure the gun you choose has the proper attachment for you.
MVP+ Bundle with ProTips
Massage attachments include 7 different shapes with premium silica rubber along with patented GlidePro percussion rolling tip, and unique HeatTip that allows you to combine heat and massage therapy.
Hypervolt 2 with Attachments
Includes 5 different attachments that are pretty standard with most massage guns.
Battery
An essential component of a handheld device. It will determine uninterrupted operation time (autonomy) based on Amplitude and force applied. It is also a determining factor in a gun’s ergonomics, which generally have bulky batteries inside the handle, making them uncomfortable.
Massage guns can be pretty power-hungry, so you’ll want to ensure that the one you choose has a long battery life. Ideally, you should be looking for a gun with a long battery life so that you don’t have to worry about it running out of juice in the middle of a massage, especially if you’re planning on massaging while you’re out the house, i.e., at the gym or work.
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