Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 82Power74
- 90Control95
- 89Spin86
- 84Forgiveness80
- 86Sweet spot82
- 82Stability84
- 76Maneuverability72
- 76Pop66
- 88Touch94
- 86Consistency90
- 70Swing weight74
- 80Twist weight78
- 50Launch angle44
- 80Plow through82
- 80Softness88
Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 | Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $230 | $200 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.4 — better | 83.6 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.2 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 19.05 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 113 | 116 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.5 — better | 6.2 |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.375 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw carbon fiber with Control Pro Omni grit | Quadcarbon woven carbon fiber |
| Core material | Specialized polymer honeycomb | X5 polypropylene honeycomb |
Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 verdict
Engage's most balanced Pursuit yet. The Omni grit face holds spin longer into a paddle's life than most raw carbon, which matters more than peak-day RPM numbers.
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta verdict
The softest premium elongated paddle we measure. The thick Quadcarbon build absorbs pace so completely that resets from mid-court land in the kitchen almost by default.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is pop: Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 scores 76 against 66 for Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta — a 10-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, stability, twist weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta is $30 cheaper at $200.
Pop
Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 leads by 10 points (76 vs 66).
Power
Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 leads by 8 points (82 vs 74).
Softness
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta leads by 8 points (88 vs 80).
Touch
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta leads by 6 points (94 vs 88).
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 (84.3 vs 83.5 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta and keep the $30.
- 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 vs 84.2 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta and keep the $30.
- Power
- Maneuverability
- Spin
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 $30.
- Power
- Spin
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta is a narrow pick at this level — softness 88 vs 80. Its 19.05 mm X5 polypropylene honeycomb core at 8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0
Take Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 if you want pop (+10), power (+8), launch angle (+6). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 review →Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
Take Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta if you want softness (+8), touch (+6), control (+5). 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 Ultra MX 6.0 vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 or the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta?
- Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.4 vs 83.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — pop — Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 leads by 10 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0, at 113 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 Ultra MX 6.0 or the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta?
- Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 measures 82 on power against 74 for Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta. That comes from a 16 mm Specialized polymer honeycomb core swinging at 113 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?
- Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 scores 89 for spin off its Raw carbon fiber with Control Pro Omni grit face, against 86 for the Quadcarbon woven carbon fiber face on Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta. In practice a 3-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0, with 6.5 twist weight against 6.2. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 carries the higher forgiveness score (84) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta costs $200, $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 Ultra MX 6.0: 16 mm Specialized polymer honeycomb core with a Raw carbon fiber with Control Pro Omni grit 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 Ultra MX 6.0, 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 Ultra MX 6.0 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 84 and sweet spot 86 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta at 8 oz against 8.2 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (116 vs 113) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta to the Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 leads on pop by 10 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $230 vs $200, 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 Ultra MX 6.0 vs SLK Halo XL Control
- Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 vs Double Black Diamond Control V2
- Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 vs Edge 18K V2
- Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 vs V-Sol Pro 16
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Pursuit MX 6.0
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Luxx Control Air
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Perseus CFS 16
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Sapphire 16
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: Engage Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0 and Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.