Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 85Power80
- 82Control88
- 90Spin89
- 70Forgiveness84
- 68Sweet spot85
- 73Stability82
- 76Maneuverability78
- 79Pop78
- 85Touch86
- 75Consistency86
- 69Swing weight70
- 59Twist weight80
- 51Launch angle55
- 79Plow through76
- 82Softness80
Specs
| $80 | Price | $100 |
|---|---|---|
| 12.7 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8.25 oz | Weight | 8 oz |
| 112 | Swing weight | 112 |
| 5.9 | Twist weight | 6.2 |
| elongated | Shape | elongated |
| Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber | Surface | Raw T700 carbon fiber |
| 5.75 in | Handle | 5.75 in |
Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 verdict
A thin 12.7 mm elongated build with a soft Control Pro core — an unusual pairing that produces quick hands and a low launch instead of the usual thin-core pop.
Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control verdict
A $100 raw-carbon elongated with a 5.75 in handle — the cheapest credible paddle in the database for a two-handed backhand player who wants real spin.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is twist weight: Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control scores 80 against 59 for Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 — a 21-point gap. They are effectively level on plow through, maneuverability, softness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 is $20 cheaper at $80.
Twist weight
Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control leads by 21 points (80 vs 59).
Sweet spot
Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control leads by 17 points (85 vs 68).
Forgiveness
Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control leads by 14 points (84 vs 70).
Consistency
Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control leads by 11 points (86 vs 75).
Which one should you buy?
Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7
Take Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 if you want power (+5). Its swing weight of 112 kg·cm² and 12.7 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 review →Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control
Take Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control if you want twist weight (+21), sweet spot (+17), forgiveness (+14). Its swing weight of 112 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control review →Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 or the Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control?
- Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (83.8 vs 77), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control leads by 21 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7, at 112 kg·cm² swing weight against 112 for Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 or the Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control?
- Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 measures 85 on power against 80 for Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control. That comes from a 12.7 mm Control Pro Black Polymer Core core swinging at 112 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control at 88 versus 82. Its 16 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 MX 12.7 scores 90 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber face, against 89 for the Raw T700 carbon fiber face on Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control. In practice a 1-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control, with 6.2 twist weight against 5.9. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control carries the higher forgiveness score (84) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 costs $80, $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 MX 12.7: 12.7 mm Control Pro Black Polymer Core core with a Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber face. Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control: 16 mm Rev-Core polymer honeycomb core with a Raw T700 carbon fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7, at 5.75 in of handle against 5.75 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 84 and sweet spot 85 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control at 8 oz against 8.25 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (112 vs 112) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 to the Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control leads on twist weight by 21 points; everything else is within 17 points. At $80 vs $100, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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 MX 12.7 vs Signature 13
- Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Perseus Pro IV 14
- Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Perseus 14
- Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Omni Elongated 16
- SLK Halo XL Control vs V7 Hybrid
- SLK Halo XL Control vs V-Sol Pro 16
- SLK Halo XL Control vs Series Four (Project Roadrunner)
- SLK Halo XL Control vs Ruby
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 and Selkirk SLK Halo XL Control. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.