Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Selkirk Vanguard Power Air
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Selkirk Vanguard Power Air 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
- 85Power92
- 82Control78
- 90Spin88
- 70Forgiveness71
- 68Sweet spot73
- 73Stability76
- 76Maneuverability79
- 79Pop93
- 85Touch74
- 75Consistency79
- 69Swing weight68
- 59Twist weight62
- 51Launch angle61
- 79Plow through84
- 82Softness58
Specs
| $80 | Price | $250 |
|---|---|---|
| 12.7 mm | Core | 14 mm |
| 8.25 oz | Weight | 7.9 oz |
| 112 | Swing weight | 114 |
| 5.9 | Twist weight | 5.6 |
| elongated | Shape | elongated |
| Raw Toray T700 Carbon Fiber | Surface | Quadcarbon face |
| 5.75 in | Handle | 5.5 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 Vanguard Power Air verdict
Explosive acceleration and crisp feedback for players who create their own control. The air-dynamic throat cuts drag noticeably on fast swings.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 scores 82 against 58 for Selkirk Vanguard Power Air — a 24-point gap. They are effectively level on stability, maneuverability, twist weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 is $170 cheaper at $80.
Softness
Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 leads by 24 points (82 vs 58).
Pop
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads by 14 points (93 vs 79).
Touch
Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 leads by 11 points (85 vs 74).
Launch angle
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads by 10 points (61 vs 51).
Which one should you buy?
Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7
Take Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 if you want softness (+24), touch (+11), control (+4). 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 Vanguard Power Air
Take Selkirk Vanguard Power Air if you want pop (+14), launch angle (+10), power (+7). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air review →Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 vs Selkirk Vanguard Power Air FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 or the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (78.4 vs 77), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 leads by 24 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7, at 112 kg·cm² swing weight against 114 for Selkirk Vanguard Power Air. 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 Vanguard Power Air?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air measures 92 on power against 85 for Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7. That comes from a 14 mm X5 polypropylene core swinging at 114 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 at 82 versus 78. Its 12.7 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 88 for the Quadcarbon face face on Selkirk Vanguard Power 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 MX 12.7, with 5.9 twist weight against 5.6. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Selkirk Vanguard Power Air carries the higher forgiveness score (71) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 costs $80, $170 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 Vanguard Power Air: 14 mm X5 polypropylene core with a Quadcarbon face face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7, at 5.75 in of handle against 5.5 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 Vanguard Power Air is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 71 and sweet spot 73 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Selkirk Vanguard Power Air rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air at 7.9 oz against 8.25 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (114 vs 112) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 to the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 leads on softness by 24 points; everything else is within 14 points. At $80 vs $250, 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
- Vanguard Power Air vs Bantam TKO-C 14
- Vanguard Power Air vs CRBN-1X Power Series
- Vanguard Power Air vs CX14E Ultimate Power
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Read the full reviews: Engage Pursuit Pro MX 12.7 and Selkirk Vanguard Power Air. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.