Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
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 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (85.9 vs 83.6), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
82 vs 74
Spin
Too close to call
86 vs 86
Control
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
95 vs 90
Forgiveness
88 vs 80
Hand speed
Too close to call
114 vs 116 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
$200 at IQ 83.6 vs $220 at IQ 85.9
Overall pick: Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 · $220 · IQ 85.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 82Power74
- 90Control95
- 86Spin86
- 88Forgiveness80
- 88Sweet spot82
- 86Stability84
- 76Maneuverability72
- 74Pop66
- 90Touch94
- 90Consistency90
- 72Swing weight74
- 84Twist weight78
- 46Launch angle44
- 82Plow through82
- 86Softness88
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta 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 Vanguard Control Air Invikta |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $220 | $200 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 85.9 — better | 83.6 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 19.05 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 114 | 116 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 — better | 6.2 |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.4 | 7.375 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured graphite | Quadcarbon woven carbon fiber |
| Core material | Control Pro Black core | X5 polypropylene honeycomb |
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 Vanguard Control Air Invikta verdict
The softest premium elongated paddle in the database. The thick Quadcarbon build absorbs pace so completely that resets from mid-court land in the kitchen almost by default.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is power: Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 scores 82 against 74 for Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta — an 8-point gap. They are effectively level on stability, swing weight, launch angle, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta is $20 cheaper at $200.
Power
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads by 8 points (82 vs 74).
Forgiveness
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads by 8 points (88 vs 80).
Pop
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads by 8 points (74 vs 66).
Sweet spot
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads by 6 points (88 vs 82).
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
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 88 vs 80, sweet spot 88 vs 82, twist weight 84 vs 78. Twist weight 6.8 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.6 vs 84.2 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta and keep the $20.
- Forgiveness
- Power
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.4 vs 83.5 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta and keep the $20.
- Power
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 88 vs 80, twist weight 84 vs 78. Its 16 mm Control Pro Black core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16
Take Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 if you want power (+8), forgiveness (+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 Vanguard Control Air Invikta
Take Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta if you want control (+5), touch (+4). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 19.05 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta review →Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 or the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.9 vs 83.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — power — Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16, at 114 kg·cm² swing weight against 116 for Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta. 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 Vanguard Control Air Invikta?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 scores 82 for power against 74 for Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta. 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 Vanguard Control Air Invikta at 95 versus 90. Its 19.05 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 86 for spin.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 80). Its 6.8 twist weight against 6.2 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta costs $200, $20 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 Vanguard Control Air Invikta: 19.05 mm X5 polypropylene honeycomb core with a Quadcarbon woven carbon fiber 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 Vanguard Control Air Invikta rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta at 8 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (116 vs 114) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta to the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 leads on power by 8 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $220 vs $200, 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
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs AMPED Pro Air Invikta
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Model E Max V3
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Pursuit MX 6.0
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Bantam ALW-C 14
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Radius CGS 16
- Pursuit Pro EX 16 vs Quartz Hybrid 16
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
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs LUXX Control Air Invikta
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Tempest Pro C 16
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Pursuit MX 6.0
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 Vanguard Control Air Invikta in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Engage Pursuit Pro EX 16 and Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.