Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
The most aerodynamic elongated paddle Selkirk currently ships — buy it if you swing big and your control paddle can't keep up with your serve speed.
Playstyle
Reviewer's assessment on a 0–10 scale. Higher is more, not better.
- PowerServe + put-away speed9.0/10
- ControlTouch, resets, dink stability5.0/10
- SpinSurface grip + topspin potential8.0/10
- FeelDwell time + hand feedback5.0/10
Pros
- Aero throat shape genuinely reduces swing drag — measurable on follow-through speed
- Long handle (5.25") with palpable two-handed backhand leverage
- Edge guard is thinner than the original Vanguard generation — better feel near the tip
Cons
- Sweet spot is high on the face; balls off the throat plate die
- FiberFlex face shows wear faster than raw carbon — visible scuffing by 25 hours
- $240 is a real number for a single paddle
Specs
| Brand | Selkirk |
|---|---|
| Price | $239.99 |
| Weight | 8.1 oz |
| Grip circumference | 4.25″ |
| Grip length | 5.25″ |
| Paddle length | 16.5″ |
| Paddle width | 7.375″ |
| Core thickness | 16 mm |
| Core material | polypropylene honeycomb |
| Surface | FiberFlex face with aerodynamic throat |
| Shape | elongated |
| Playstyle | power, spin |
| Skill level | intermediate-to-pro |
How it plays
The AMPED Pro Air Invikta is the elongated version of Selkirk's Air series — same aerodynamic throat cutout, longer hitting surface, bigger reach. The throat shape isn't marketing nonsense: when you swing hard, the air slot drops drag enough that your follow-through is noticeably faster than the same paddle without it. Whether that matters depends on how aggressively you swing.
The face is FiberFlex, not raw carbon. That means more spin grab off the bat — but the texture wears down faster. If you're a 4.5+ player putting 5+ hours/week through one paddle, expect to feel the spin difference by month three. If you rotate paddles, the face stays usable longer.
Where it stands out: driving serves and put-away third shots. The elongated 16.5″ length plus the lighter swingweight (because of the throat cutout) means you can crush balls without feeling like you're swinging a sledgehammer. Where it falls short: resets at the kitchen. The high sweet spot punishes balls that come in low to the throat — they die instead of softly resetting deep.
Who it's for
4.0–5.0 players who already swing aggressively and need a paddle that keeps up with their hand speed. Especially good for big-hitting backhand-flick types — the long handle gives you wrist room a 5.0″ handle doesn't.
What I'd skip it for
If you're 3.5 still building your stroke, the swingweight is going to fight you. The JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16 is the friendlier $40-cheaper option. If you can't justify $240, the Hyperion is also the answer.
What you'd give up
The AMPED Pro Air Invikta makes a trade: it gives you more head-end leverage and less drag in exchange for a smaller, higher sweet spot. If your game depends on getting low resets from awkward positions, that trade isn't going to work for you. If your game is built on driving the ball, it's the most-paddle Selkirk currently ships in the elongated shape.