2024 Hot List Gold Award

Nowadays, it seems like most brands prioritize power over creating the best control paddle. So I appreciate that Selkirk took the time to intentionally develop a series of paddles focused on control, and they did an excellent job.

The LUXX Control Air Invikta offers a unique plush, yet crisp feel that makes you feel more connected with the ball and enhances control without feeling too soft. The paddle is a true control paddle which means the ball doesn’t come off the face quickly and absorbs pace off the ball well and does much of the work for you to keep the ball down and under control.

The paddle has no edge guard and is 20mm thick. Edgeless paddles like this typically have smaller sweet spots so I like that they increased the thickness of the paddle from your typical 16mm to 20mm to improve the sweet spot and stability of the paddle. Plus, it looks really good too. But, because it’s edgeless, you’ll want to pick up some edge guard protection tape to go with it. Check out this stuff on Amazon, the Standard size fits it perfectly. 

The edgeless design and lower swingweight of the paddle also gives the paddle speed and maneuverability to cover the court and counter quickly which isn’t something you’d expect from an extra thick core like this.

On the offensive side it offers a good spin rating which helps you find angles and enables you to be aggressive. However, the paddle is a pure control paddle so if you rely solely on the paddle to generate power for you then it won’t meet your expectations. I’ve seen players who can generate their own power rip the ball with this paddle so if you can generate your own power then it will respond for you. I will note that the grit on the paddle is a paint style grit and not raw carbon so the grit doesn’t last quite as long.

Last thing I’ll mention is the shape options available. Although I highlighted the Invikta shape for this award, Selkirk offers three shapes in this series and I think they are all good paddles. Having those options is nice and isn’t something many brands offer. There are also multiple color options which is always fun.

The paddle is on the pricier side which is a drawback, however, Selkirk paddles are also backed with a limited lifetime warranty and their customer service is second to none. So you get what you pay for in that department.  

The bottom line: The Selkirk LUXX Control Air Invikta offers some of the best control and the best looks you’ll find. It’s unique, edgeless design and thicker core is clever and will help enhance your soft game and control.