Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Selkirk Luxx Control Air
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Selkirk Luxx Control Air, which costs $250.
Power
82 vs 71
Spin
Too close to call
86 vs 84
Control
94 vs 90
Forgiveness
Too close to call
88 vs 87
Hand speed
114 vs 119 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$220 at IQ 85.9 vs $250 at IQ 85.1
Overall pick: Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 · $220 · IQ 85.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 82Power71
- 90Control94
- 86Spin84
- 88Forgiveness87
- 88Sweet spot88
- 86Stability89
- 76Maneuverability68
- 74Pop66
- 90Touch95
- 90Consistency90
- 72Swing weight78
- 84Twist weight88
- 46Launch angle48
- 82Plow through76
- 86Softness93
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Selkirk Luxx Control Air specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 | Selkirk Luxx Control Air |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $220 — better | $250 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 85.9 — better | 85.1 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.4 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 20 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 114 | 119 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 — better | 6.6 |
| Shape | elongated | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.4 |
| Face width(in) | 7.4 | 7.6 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured graphite | Florek carbon |
| Core material | Control Pro Black core | X5 polypropylene |
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 verdict
Engage's soft-core philosophy taken to its logical end. Launch angle 46 is the lowest in the database — the ball simply does not pop up off resets.
Selkirk Luxx Control Air verdict
The plushest paddle in the test. A 20 mm core swallows pace on resets, and the twist weight keeps the face square when the ball finds the edge.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is power: Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 scores 82 against 71 for Selkirk Luxx Control Air — an 11-point gap. They are effectively level on stability, spin, launch angle, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 is $30 cheaper at $220.
Power
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads by 11 points (82 vs 71).
Maneuverability
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads by 8 points (76 vs 68).
Pop
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads by 8 points (74 vs 66).
Softness
Selkirk Luxx Control Air leads by 7 points (93 vs 86).
Which one is right for your level?
Each call below re-weights the Paddle DNA traits that matter at that level, so the winner can differ from the overall pick.
Beginner
New to 3.0 — still building a consistent contact point
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (87.5 vs 88.7 on the weighted index). Take Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 and keep the $30.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Control
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 is a narrow pick at this level — power 82 vs 71, maneuverability 76 vs 68, spin 86 vs 84. At 114 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Power
- Maneuverability
- Spin
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 is a narrow pick at this level — power 82 vs 71, plow through 82 vs 76, maneuverability 76 vs 68. Swing weight 114 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Power
- Plow through
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk Luxx Control Air
Selkirk Luxx Control Air is a narrow pick at this level — softness 93 vs 86, twist weight 88 vs 84. Its 20 mm X5 polypropylene core at 8.4 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16
Take Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 if you want power (+11), maneuverability (+8), pop (+8). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 review →Selkirk Luxx Control Air
Take Selkirk Luxx Control Air if you want softness (+7), swing weight (+6), touch (+5). Its swing weight of 119 kg·cm² and 20 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Luxx Control Air review →Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Selkirk Luxx Control Air FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 or the Selkirk Luxx Control Air?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.9 vs 85.1), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — power — Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads by 11 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16, at 114 kg·cm² swing weight against 119 for Selkirk Luxx Control Air. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 or the Selkirk Luxx Control Air?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 scores 82 for power against 71 for Selkirk Luxx Control Air. That comes from a 16 mm Control Pro Black core swinging at 114 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air at 94 versus 90. Its 20 mm core holds the ball on the face slightly longer, which is what makes resets and dinks land shorter.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 scores 86 for spin off its Textured graphite face, against 84 for the Florek carbon face on Selkirk Luxx Control Air. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 87). Its 6.8 twist weight against 6.6 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 costs $220, $30 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on whether you actually use the traits it trades away — check the head-to-head DNA bars above before paying up.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16: 16 mm Control Pro Black core with a Textured graphite face. Selkirk Luxx Control Air: 20 mm X5 polypropylene core with a Florek carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Selkirk Luxx Control Air rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 at 8.3 oz against 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (114 vs 119) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Luxx Control Air to the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads on power by 11 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $220 vs $250, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Double Black Diamond Control
- Luxx Control Air vs Perseus CFS 16
- Luxx Control Air vs Vanguard Power Air
- Luxx Control Air vs Labs Project 006
- Luxx Control Air vs OMNI 16
- Luxx Control Air vs Vanguard 2.0 Invikta
- Luxx Control Air vs Double Black Diamond Control
- Luxx Control Air vs CRBN-3X Power Series
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Double Black Diamond Control V2
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs LUXX Control Air Invikta
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Pursuit MX 6.0
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs 2X TruFoam Genesis
- Luxx Control Air vs Pursuit MX 6.0
- Luxx Control Air vs Vanguard Control Air Invikta
- Luxx Control Air vs Black Ace LG
- Luxx Control Air vs Vanguard 2.0 Invikta
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 and Selkirk Luxx Control Air in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 and Selkirk Luxx Control Air. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.