We tested 9 paddles for a span of multiple weeks to deliver the top Selkirk Pickleball Paddle Reviews.
The pickleball market has seen massive growth over the last couple of years. With pickleball paddles slowly creeping above the $200 range, it’s important to make sure you’re buying something that is worth your money. That is why we deliver the most unbiased and honest reviews. Let’s dive into the selkirk pickleball paddle reviews.
Also Check Out: Overall Best Pickleball Paddles
One common theme across pickleball paddles is the design: we have two distinct styles.
The most common is a honeycomb pattern of cardboard/plastic underneath a plastic (polymers, polypropylene, polycarbonate, carbon fiber) face.
The other less common design is a solid carbon fiber paddle and in the case of the SLK Halo, raw carbon fiber.
9 Best Selkirk Pickleball Paddles
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Epic
The Selkirk Power Air Epic is, in my opinion. the most balanced and well-rounded paddle from the Power Air series. It has that gritty surface texture that all of the Selkirk Power Air paddles share so you can generate a ton of spin without worrying about the texture wearing off.
They also have the same carbon fiber/fiberglass hybrid face which is no joke when it comes to creating a ton of speed, but the Epic also has a much wider face than the Invikta which provides a noticeable difference in control and feel.
Power isn’t a big part of my strategy, so having a little extra control is much more important for me, but for someone who already has control dialed in and needs a little extra reach and pop, the Invika may be a better option.
If you’re looking for a well balanced paddle that is suitable for singles and doubles play, you really cant go wrong with the Epic.
Pros
- Great power for a standard paddle
- Large sweet spot creates a ton of spin
- Good touch and feel
- Very forgiving
- Unique face material blend
- Long enough handle for two hands
Cons
- White paint can chip easily if you don’t add electrical tape.
Check out Out Full review of the Selkirk Power Air
Selkirk Power Air Invikta Pickleball Paddle
My initial thoughts on using this paddle was “less is more” because of the explosive pop it has. Think acceleration versus top speed because the power can be matched by other Selkirk paddles, but the pop felt like I went from driving a Honda Fit to a Tesla in Ludicrous Mode.
This insane pop comes at the expense of forgiveness and control. The touchiness of the paddle demanded far less movement in my hands and arms for 3rd ball drop shots, power drives, and punches at the net.
The explosiveness was a double-edged sword because while it required less range of motion in my swing, which minimized the chance of an errant swing, the quick hand-battle shots that are more reflex than anything often sent balls soaring beyond the service line.
Nonetheless, I had to really focus on downplaying my swing when I first used it and allow the paddle to do the work which took me some time.
The surface of the paddle provided enough grip for my topspin shots to dive, while still being able to slice drops and dinks.
At the net, this pickleball paddle provided me the best playability of punch shots of the 7 Selkirks tested, but as I mentioned, underestimating the power of the paddle will quickly put you on the defensive.
When it came to hands battles, this was by far the best paddle to block and punch shots because the paddle propels the pace and its lightweight allowed for quicker reaction time. Again, less is more with this paddle.
As for durability, I found chips and scratches to this edgeless paddle after my first use, but haven’t noticed a diminish in performance after eight weeks of play.
Pros
- Excellent Power
- Great for spin shots
- High-quality paddle
- Good touch and feel
- Versatile
- Unique face material blend
- Long enough handle for two hands
Cons
- Little less than standard sized handle
- White paint can chip easily if you don’t add electrical tape.
SLK Halo Max Pickleball Paddle
Selkirk has finally joined in the T-700 raw carbon fiber pickleball club with the SLK Halo XL. The Halo XL has an elongated shape that gives you plenty of reach while also giving you a little leverage to create spin.
The SLK Halo XL’s T700 raw carbon fiber face also enhances spin potential that improves with age. Raw carbon fiber paddles spin more as the carbon fiber waves befin to fray, which creates more surface texture.
The raw carbon fiber face doesn’t provide a ton of power even thought it has an elongated shape, but you are getting a very soft, plush face that is very responsive and very easy to control dinks and drops.
The power isn’t BAD, but if you’re comparing it to an Invikta, it falls short. I had no issues with attacks, but this is very much a control paddle.
Pros
- Amazing value (under $150)
- Face absorbs shock and creates controlled resets.
- Very soft, plush face
- Great spin with a combination of control.
- Very maneuverable and quick due to lightweight
Cons
- The handle is a little thicker than average
- More of a control paddle than a power paddle.
- slightly cheaper feeling than premium paddles.
Selkirk Amped Epic Midweight X5 FiberFlex
Weight: 7.9 oz. The Selkirk Amped Epic has an elongated handle at 5 ¼” and an overall paddle length of 15 ¾”; plenty of paddle to give you added coverage without compromising playability.
Of the 9 paddles we tested, this was the most balanced with the largest sweet spot, leaving ample room for error.
My drop shots and my drives were exactly where I would expect them to be, and my dinks were effective and controlled. However, the ball also pops off the paddle with reasonable power, and the surface provides a sufficient grip that my topspin drives tended to dive with surprising effect.
At the net, this pickleball paddle provided the best playability of the 9 Selkirks tested.
I love to slice my backhand crosscourt dink, and the Selkirk Amped Epic bit the ball hard. When it came to hands battles, this is only one of two tested Selkirk paddles (I will discuss the other later) where I felt completely comfortable and confident. Again, playability was perfect.
Though some reviews will discuss durability, it would be disingenuous to comment after only six weeks of play. Over the course of testing, the Selkirk Amped Epic played extremely well.
The thick core made resets and dinks as easy as any paddle I have previously used.
Pros
- Extremely versatile paddle
- The length, thickness, and weight make for excellent balance
- Can easily add weight to your desire
- Lots of room for error
Cons
- If you need to specifically add power to your game, this isn’t the paddle for you
SLK Omega Max
If you don’t want to spd over $200 on a Selkirk, then look no further than the SLK Omega Max which sits right under $150.
SLK is the budget brand of Selkirk paddles that are made with a lot of the same technology, but they’re assembled in China.
However, Just because it’s cheaper than the other Selkirk paddles in this review does not mean you’re sacrificing performance. You can generate a lot of spin with his paddle. In my opinion, it’s easier to generate more spin with this paddle than a lot of the older Selkirk paddles.
The Omega Max feels like it has a bigger, softer sweet spot than any other Selkirk which isn’t great for power, but it is great for control. The paddle feels great and has a lot of pop off the face. Overall this paddle really shocked me in terms of performance and playability.
Pros
- So easy to generate tons of spin
- Amazing price for quality
- Durable surface texture
- Big sweet spot
- Very nice feel
- Decent power
- Easy to control
- Forgiving face
Cons
- Not the best paddle if you’re looking for power
Selkirk Invikta Amped
Weight: 8.0 oz. This is the Selkirk pickleball paddle Tyson McGuffin used before the Project Paddles.
The handle on the Sekrik Amped Invikta is elongated at 5¼” with both standard and thin grips available.
The paddle itself measures 16½” in length, which means to be fully legal, it has to sacrifice some width. The narrow paddle face is just over 7⅓.”
Clearly, this results in the sweet spot being smaller and more defined. However, if someone promised me I was going to hit overheads the entire match, this is the paddle I would want in my hand.
My drives had a ton of zip, even if I sprayed them with a little less consistency than usual. When I connected cleanly, the ball felt as though it was coming out of a cannon.
Drop shots took some adjustment, but once I was completely accustomed to this Selkirk paddle, I was quite confident in my ability to place the drops with proper distance and accuracy.
At the net, however, I felt lost.
The narrow paddle face is not for me. Admittedly, hands battles are not my strength.
I can be exceedingly patient in the dink game and will often lull my opponents to sleep before attacking (or lobbing!). With the Invikta Amped, I was moderately comfortable with my dinks, though not completely so due to the smaller sweet spot.
Additionally, I never fully adjusted when someone attacked first. The paddle felt clunky and cumbersome.
Selkirk Invikta Amped Pros and Cons
Pros
- Plenty of power to finish overheads and hit convincing drives
- Soft enough to land drops with efficacy
Cons
- Dinks take extreme precision with little room for error
- Hand battles were a losing affair with this paddle
Selkirk Vanguard S2
Weight: 7.7 oz. Let us start with the obvious – this pickleball paddle has enough surface area on the face to serve an entire dinner.
The paddle itself is 15¾” long and a full 8” wide. If a sweet spot is what you want, this paddle will fit your desire.
Of the three of us who used this pickleball paddle over the six-week trial period, two of us strongly liked the oversized sweet spot. Make no mistake, the Selkirk Vanguard S2 pickleball paddle provides its bearer with plenty of room for error.
All of us felt as though we could hit outside the sweet spot on this paddle, and it still felt as though we retained an element of control and predictability.
For someone whose pickleball game already contains ample power, the Selkirk Vanguard S2 could serve as a step in the other direction, toward control.
In the right hands, this paddle can generate consistent, biting dinks for days. And though I am skeptical of all technology involving plastic surfaces claiming it is better, advanced, unique, etc., the Quad Carbon face seemed to play more consistently than other Selkirk Paddles over the trial period.
In the attacking game, the Selkirk Vanguard S2 more than held its own.
My ability to reset balls sometimes felt tenuous with the small grip, but with some minor tweaks, I was able to turn the paddle into a defensive shield.
Naturally, with such a large paddle surface area, some sacrifices have to be made. For the Vanguard S2, this is handle length.
In my hands, this Selkirk pickleball paddle simply doesn’t have enough handle. Though the Selkirk website touts the handle as medium in length, make no mistake, this 4½” is small. It almost feels tiny.
Selkirk Vanguard S2 Pros and Cons
Pros
- A forgiving and large sweet spot
- No power sacrifice with the oversize surface area
- Bite and consistency from the QuadCarbon paddle face
- Confidence-instilling control
Cons
- Confidence-instilling control
- For the money, we think there are superior paddles available
Selkirk Amped S2
Weight: 8.0 oz. This might be the shortest pickleball paddle review in pickleball history.
This plays just like the Selkirk Vanguard S2, but without the QuadCarbon paddle face. It is our recommendation to spend the extra money and invest in the Selkirk Vanguard pickleball paddle.
The Selkirk Amped has the same dimensions and the same less-than-exciting short handle. Again, the oversize sweet spot certainly has its advantages, but without the QuadCarbon bite and pop, this paddle is simply less playable.
Selkirk Amped S2 pros and cons
Pros
- Oversize sweet spot plays well for touch
- Feels totally controllable during net play – both dinking and hand battles
Cons
- Feels totally controllable during net play – both dinking and hand battles
- Feels totally controllable during net play – both dinking and hand battles
Selkirk Invikta Vanguard
Weight: 7.6 oz. As with most Selkirk pickleball paddles in this review, I appreciate the 16mm thickness.
The Selkirk Vanguard Invikta adds a layer of control and feel that thinner paddles lack. Because of the elongated and narrow shape, the smaller sweet spot requires a bit of help, and the thick core fills the need.
The handle length is 5 ¼”, which is sufficient for most players, especially for those preferring to have two hands on it at any given time.
This Selkirk pickleball paddle plays a little less cleanly than the elongated Amped version of the Invikta, but I was still able to dial in those drops after considerable work.
My guess is that you have a guy at your courts who plays with this paddle – he wears a glove on his playing hand, hits his drives with intimidating pace, and has a nickname, “Ca$h Money,” or something similar.
It is also likely that Ca$h Money has tested the aerodynamics of the paddle by throwing it over the fence because he consistently loses both long rallies and hand battles at the net.
This is my long way of reiterating, elongated paddles aren’t for me.
A few pros still choose to play with them, but unless you are desperate to add power to your game, we think the larger sweet spot on traditional paddles is universally a better paddle investment.
Selkirk Invikta Vanguard pros and cons
Pros
- Added power is almost guaranteed
- With the 16mm version, touch is on par with traditional paddles
Cons
- Considerably compromised sweet spot
- Difficulty adapting to pace
Selkirk Pickleball Paddle Rating Factors
Lots of review articles will use catchwords such as “power, control, spin, etc.” In reality, those terms are simply anecdotal – reviewers aren’t making the effort, nor do they have the ability, to measure the specific metrics those terms imply.
Because of current technological limitations, we don’t (YET!) have the tools either.
However, a speed gun is on its way, and we are in talks with a mechanical engineer to develop a tool to measure how much spin a pickleball paddle can exert on a ball.
It is important to bear in mind paddle manufacturers are doing one thing – trying to sell you their paddle.
You will see many variations in descriptions about the core, the face, and the other paddle structures. Though you can definitely find distinct differences in each, all paddles are some combination of plastic components.
The nine Selkirk pickleball paddles were rigorously tested in both drills and games in January, February, and March of 2022.
Final Thoughts On Selkirk Pickleball Paddles
Selkirk pickleball paddles come in all shapes and sizes so I wouldn’t say there’s a standout best Selkirk paddle. It’s really individual and depends on your game and your preference.
One thing is for sure. All Selkirk pickleball paddles are made with a high-quality polymer core so you can be sure you’re getting a very good quality paddle.
