Why I Stopped Buying Selkirk Paddles | Amped Pro Air Review

[@CarveSports]

180 is quite pricey for that. Love the video, JJ, good work. You should check out the Carve lineup.

[@michaelnoe1195]

Thanks a ton, I really appreciated this review. Both my playing partner and I have both been looking at these exact paddles for a while but haven't purchased anything just yet. I don't think the price point is that horrible when I compare it to other bigger company offerings and many of them offer power as well as control options. Technology aside you are looking for a paddle that will stand up over time and provide the value and attributes you purchased it for. However, the grit wear scares me as my 2 first paddles were a Ben John's Franklin and a Joola Hyperion that have tons of games/practice hours on them with still a gritty surface that seems to generate fair spin.

[@JJPickleball]

I switched to the power air from the Franklin ben Johns paddle. The spin definitely holds up better than the Franklin. Selkirks benefit is the lifetime warranty but I wasn’t able to get a new paddle for the grit wearing down. I had to find something else that went wrong with the paddle to get the refresh. It’s a good paddle and the 180 price point is much more reasonable than the 250. However, I just think there are better options on the market. If you like Selkirk and the made in the USA and lifetime warranty unlock at the vanguard controls. I have a review coming out in a few weeks on it, much better option but still lacking newer technology.

[@parksgarner3264]

I feel like Selkirk is good for pro players (people that replace their paddle often to keep good grit) instead of Rec players. They used to be really innovative, but they have been really stuck in their “Power Air” era and not been able to move on.

[@JJPickleball]

The power air was/is a good paddle that has good performance, but you nailed it with the pro comment. If you can replace the paddle every week then you never lose spin. As long as you don’t mind the hollow wood feel when playing the performance is there.

[@ARM1NIUS]

Selkirk paddles wear out fast. After a couple months, my Selkirk Amped S2 was done. The ball would just die on impact…zero pop. I switched to the J2K Pro by Honolulu Pickleball Co. and the Kevlar material plays well and holds up well over time, also very poppy

[@JJPickleball]

The J2k is such a good paddle. Definitely one of the best to come out this year. I’m happy to see Selkirk finally catching up to everyone else with their new releases, but still more expensive than everyone else

[@YTLonggg]

Hi, can you recommend for me a paddle with both highest bounce rate and spin rate at the time? I can spend up to 400 for 1 paddle. Thank you very much

[@JJPickleball]

When you refer to bounce rate do you mean power? Or are you referring to pop? Or are you meaning something else entirely?

[@donaldfleming331]

Hello. I purchased a Selkirk Luxx control air as my 1st paddle, more so cuz of just brand recognition and my wife purchased the older amped paddles. In comparison I like the older amped versions and dislike entirely the more expensive Luxx. No paddle feedback and like hitting with a pillow. That's just my take on it for me. Everyone else can keeping loving on Selkirk. I switched To Honolulu Pickleball Company kevlar paddles. My wife loves her J2K, top selling paddle fyi.. I have J2K pro and purchased the J7k recently to try an elongated paddle. Price points are 1/2 that of Selkirk which makes experimentation achievable. Power pop spin vary across the board but seem to all rank from mid tier to top end in all those categories.

[@donaldfleming331]

Hello. I purchased a Selkirk Luxx control air as my 1st paddle, more so cuz of just brand recognition and my wife purchased the older amped paddles. In comparison I like the older amped versions and dislike entirely the more expensive Luxx. No paddle feedback and like hitting with a pillow. That's just my take on it for me. Everyone else can keeping loving on Selkirk. I switched To Honolulu Pickleball Company kevlar paddles. My wife loves her J2K, top selling paddle fyi.. I have J2K pro and purchased the J7k recently to try an elongated paddle. Price points are 1/2 that of Selkirk which makes experimentation achievable. Power pop spin vary across the board but seem to all rank from mid tier to top end in all those categories. I'm just a rec player with no agenda fyi.

[@donaldfleming331]

Be happy to sell you my Luxx control air at a stupid price. Only used like 4 times.

[@JJPickleball]

⁠​⁠@@donaldfleming331J2K is amazing!! Glad you and your wife are loving their paddles.

[@deaconbleus8396]

Could not agree more for all the reasons stated. Thanks for having the courage to speak up. My wife bought me Selkirk (Invicta power) and I had to add led tape to add power and try to gain some measure of control. The paddle was a Christmas present and not only is the grit waiting off, but the paint on the face it chipping. And don't get me started on their pickleballs. I bought a 12 pack and all but 2 were usable. The others were either out of round or had seam problem (ridges) that sanding could not even fix. And those who have used them at my court are not using them anymore. I wrote Selkirk twice and they just blew me off. I am starting to look for a new paddle and it will not be a Selkirk, way to expensive and troublesome for the price. I really wanted to like this paddle (being an Idaho company where I am from), but as Bob Dylan sang, "I used to care, but things have changed.

[@JJPickleball]

Selkirk is a great company that is definitely having some issues the past year. Sorry to hear you had those issues. Do you have a shape in mind that you like playing with? Elongated, wide body, hybrid?

[@deaconbleus8396]

@@JJPickleball I have the elongated

[@deaconbleus8396]

@JJPickleball You know it is odd, but after I added the tape it was a great paddle, loved how it played. Now it's just another expensive and worn out paddle. Sad. Hope this is not a cash grab company so they can sell to Wal-Mart.

[@JJPickleball]

@@deaconbleus8396 I would look at the J7k, bread and butter shogun, the engage paddles.if you want to look at spending similar to Selkirk look are new joola paddle that’s releasing this week or the new gearbox paddles for a lot of power.

[@JJPickleball]

@@deaconbleus8396 the lead opens up the sweet spot so much. But I will say since I have switched to thermoformed paddles I don’t think I can go back.

[@tonyjackson4501]

I don’t know. I have both a Luxx and a Power Air. I play 5-6 times a week. I play with a lot of spin. I have had my paddles for 3 months now and they are both still like new. No degradation on the grit face of either paddle. .

[@bicyclethief]

feel the paddle face with your finger. i guarantee you there's a spot that's noticeably smoother than the rest of the paddle-- that's where you're striking the ball most often

[@JJPickleball]

Paddles will still generate spin. And honestly I really did enjoy the paddles at the time. In my opinion there are just better cheaper paddles that make the game easier. Everything is personal though and comes down to what you like.

[@tonyjackson4501]

@@bicyclethief I know how to check for degradation. The faces on both of my paddles are just fine.

[@bicyclethief]

@@tonyjackson4501 sorry but you say there’s no degradation after 3 months on a grit that’s sprayed on, that just doesn’t ring true unless you’ve only played with it a handful of times. Even carbon faced paddles where the grit is structural degrades with regular use over 3 months.

[@brendafriedel4610]

What paddle would you recommend for a newer player? I’m a 61 year old woman in good shape. Not a tennis or badminton player. Thanks.

[@JJPickleball]

@@brendafriedel4610 I think the best deal out there is the 11six24 monarch jellybean. Great sweet spot and spin. Should be on sale with Black Friday. Also if you use code JJPB you save some more I believe. The other option is Friday’s paddles. But thats the best deal if you do the 2 for 99 and I do not have a code for them. Performance is better on the jellybean but these are always my top 2 recommendations for newer players.

[@PKB-AG]

The swing weight to twist weight ratio is 20, which is pretty high (not good). There are too many better paddles out there and it only takes a little shopping to find one.

[@JJPickleball]

Appreciate the comment! Great insight.

[@MelvinToledo-t1c]

What “Big box” store sells Selkirk paddles?

[@JJPickleball]

Walmart, Dicks sporting goods, Scheels, some Big 5 sports.

[@ejmin2703]

I don’t know about the criticism on Selkirk’s lack of innovation but this is one of few non-Chinese made paddles on the market. I have both Power Air and Amped. I agree with this KZbinr on the characterization of both paddles. I have tried most well regarded carbon fiber paddles including CRBN and 6.0 from Australia. But they do not fit to my game. After adding lead and tungsten up to 8.3-4, both paddles are my favorites, especially Amped. I can face against big boys.

[@JJPickleball]

Appreciate the feedback. These paddles certainly perform fine as we see paid pros doing well with them. My issue is Selkirk labs is supposed to be their r&d club and it took them over 18 months to release a 3 mm thicker version of the power air which everyone wanted a year ago. They make very solid paddles but it’s nothing new. Their recent vanguard control isn’t even thermoformed like most gen 2 paddles which have been on the market for over a year. There are just too many options on the market for a fraction of the cost that provide the same if not better performance in my opinion.

[@jtk101catchit]

Selkirks are actually made in China. They put "assembled in the USA" to trick people into believing its made in the USA. What they do is have the paddles and grip made in China, ship them to the US and then have people in the US wrap the grips and call it "assembled in the USA". In my opinion this is worse than being "made in China" because it still is made in China, they are just trying to trick consumers.

[@billobama6018]

Selkirk is just Assembled in US, its main components are still from China😂

[@JJPickleball]

@@billobama6018 my understanding with this is their higher end line is made in the USA and their budget SLK line is assembled in the USA but made in china. But their new vanguard pro paddle is assembled in the US which was a weird decision.

[@vanillaghetto]

@@JJPickleball No, it says right on their website for Power Air, "Assembled in USA" (ie, made in China), and for the SLK, "Designed in USA" (ie, made in China).

[@stroshow5]

I use a power air right now. What’s a good alternative from a different company? I’m looking for a new paddle

[@JJPickleball]

If you want something that feels the same but is carbon fiber, look at the diadem 18k. If you want a thermoformed paddle look at the cron's or the new gearbox or Joola mod for crazy power

[@f2sports_pickleball]

We would like to work with you to review our edgeless Kevlar. Can you share your contact info?

[@JJPickleball]

Feel free to reach me at [e-mail]

[@PKB-AG]

The cost of Kevlar is too high for what benefit they perceive - that said they finally came out with one.... the new black control model looks decent. Two other large brands came out with new stuff (paddletek and franklin) so with the high level of competition - time to swing for some homeruns.

[@JJPickleball]

Hopefully the new Halo puts them back on the map for having paddles that actually have newer innovations.

[@brianrutherford2379]

I have liked every Selkirk paddle I have purchased. I have tried some other brands and have always been disappointed.

[@JJPickleball]

I’m curious is the issue performance or feel based disappointment. I noticed a huge change switching off Selkirk when I did and now it’s hard to go back unless it’s a vanguard or the new rumored halo.

[@patricksnow8941]

What paddles do you recommend?

[@JJPickleball]

Vatic pro, Honolulu pickleball company, 11six24, and thrive all have great paddle for better prices than most the larger brands. What are you looking for? Theres some great paddles from bigger brands as well but need to know what you like in a paddle.

[@jaycetee3268]

I tried siz zero Ruby, Progear, CRBN and I prefered my Selkirk Invikta Pro than these. Will try J2K later this year

[@JJPickleball]

The new vanguard pro? The J2k is a very good hybrid paddle highly recommend

[@jaycetee3268]

@@JJPickleball j2k has 2 version: j2k red and j2k pro, what is the difference bro? Which one should fit with me? I prefer to control the game and more spin Tks

[@JJPickleball]

@@jaycetee3268 the performance is virtually the same. The vJ2k just has a stiffer feel. Most have preferred the regular J2k and it has a lower price tag.

[@BaoNgocHoang-u7p]

Hi man. .I'm planning to get 6.0 Ruby or Invikta Power Air. Which one would u recommend? Thanks

[@JJPickleball]

@@BaoNgocHoang-u7p I would suggest you go with the ruby over the power air. A cheaper option with a bigger sweet spot over the Ruby is the J2K. Plenty of hype behind that paddle this year. Could probably suggest some others if you give me some insight into what you are looking for.

[@ralphdouglas6656]

I have the power air and the amp. The power air so much more spin and power. But I do agree grit wears much too fast

[@JJPickleball]

Thanks for the comment! I went through 3 power airs before moving on. Loved the paddle at the time though.

[@ItsaMeGo]

Never considered them primarily because I got so sick of seeing their paid ads on every single pickleball video

[@JJPickleball]

They do advertise a lot, but that also helps support the pro scene. Completely understandable though! Appreciate the comment!

[@superchetube]

same same

[@123BV8]

Power Air with a Reload or Nanotac.

[@JJPickleball]

Have actually been enjoying my new reload paddle. Some flaws but love the innovation. Maybe we will see them license the technology.

[@JB-ys8mj]

The “CarbonPickle Pro” is the same as the Luxx S2 Air for $99 instead of $250

[@ralphmersiowsky9983]

POV gameplay?

[@JJPickleball]

I’ll work on that 😉

[@TopJoo7]

So the grit on these $150+ Selkirk paddles will wear off overtime, what? That is disappointing.

[@JJPickleball]

Anything paint grit has a much shorter lifespan than carbon fiber, Kevlar, “titanium”…etc

[@CooperArmstrong-y4m]

Wilson Susan Gonzalez John Hernandez Dorothy

[@quangtruong8755]

Compared to other companies, Selkirk painted great but no innovation and no improvement. Who pays for that…

[@JJPickleball]

Completely agree. At least their new halo pros and vanguard pro are a step in the right direction.

[@kimleith1378]

Paint grit is crap. Selkirk won't support returns for grit loss.

[@JJPickleball]

Was always the issue for me with the warranty.