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Jacob Johnson
Updated 04/28/2023
Our Mission is To Simplify Your Massage Gun Purchase
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.
We only make money if you purchase a product from the links, and all opinions about the products are our own.
Professional Gun Model Comparison & Score
- BestProducts.Review
- Updated: May 1, 2023
- Fitness, Pain Management
PlayMakar MVPmini Percussion Massage Gun
Bob & Brad Q2 Mini
PlayMakar MVPmini Percussion Massage Gun
Bob & Brad Q2 Mini
1800-3000 /5
1800-3000 /5
30 lbs.
30 lbs.
Less than 45dB
less 45dB
Super well balanced. Minimal Vibration.
Well balanced. Small vibration.
Push Button
Push Button
Comes with 4 ProTips™: Shoc™, EchoBall™, ImpactBall™ and Accupressure™. Plus Optional Attachments: HeatTip™, ShocDuo™ Dual Thumb & DynamicDuo™
5 Attachments: Bullet, Round, Fork, Cushion and Hard Round Plastic
PROS
Unmatched stall force for portable gun, comes with carrying case. High quality Massage Head tips. Simple one button design.
PROS
Includes a case and 5 attachments. Cheapest Price.
CONS
For a portable percussion massager, hard to find anything other than 7 mm stroke that would be a con.
CONS
Housing feels a little cheap. Massage heads cheaply made with plastic and foam. Push button to select intensity too small for normal size finger.
BOTTOM LINE
Super light, feels great in your hands. Perfect for neck and back, small muscle groups. Unmatched stall force force for highly portable massage gun.
BOTTOM LINE
Cheapest cost but also feels a little cheap. Can’t get ahold of customer service.
Massage Gun Score™
43 out of 50 (score based on 5 points for each category)
Massage Gun Score™
41 out of 50 (score based on 5 points for each category)
Comes with 4 ProTips™: Shoc™, EchoBall™, ImpactBall™ and Accupressure™. Plus Optional Attachments: HeatTip™, ShocDuo™ Dual Thumb & DynamicDuo™
5 Attachments: Bullet, Round, Fork, Cushion and Hard Round Plastic
PROS
Unmatched stall force for portable gun, comes with carrying case. High quality Massage Head tips. Simple one button design.
Includes a case and 5 attachments. Cheapest Price.
CONS
For a portable percussion massager, hard to find anything other than 7 mm stroke that would be a con.
Housing feels a little cheap. Massage heads cheaply made with plastic and foam. Push button to select intensity too small for normal size finger.
BOTTOM LINE
Super light, feels great in your hands. Perfect for neck and back, small muscle groups. Unmatched stall force force for highly portable massage gun.
Cheapest cost but also feels a little cheap. Can’t get ahold of customer service.
Massage Gun Score™
43 out of 50 (score based on 5 points for each category)
41 out of 50 (score based on 5 points for each category)
Price
Massage guns range from around $100 to $500, so think about how much you’re willing to spend.
There are some great options available at all price points, so don’t let the cost deter you from finding the perfect gun for you.
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 MVPmini
66.7 dB at 3000 RPM
Bob and Brad Q2 Mini
66.7 dB at 3000 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 MVPmini
Weighs 0.93 lbs.
Bob & Brad Q2 Mini
Weighs 0.96 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.
MVPmini Controls
Touchscreen to Control RPM, Pause/Start and SpeedLock™ to lock out RPM. For most hands, can hold and adjust controls using one hand.
Bob & Brad Q2 Mini 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.
MVPmini 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.
Bob & Brad Q2 Mini 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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