Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, spin and forgiveness on Paddle DNA against the Franklin Signature 16 Composite, which costs $70.
Power
88 vs 81
Spin
78 vs 68
Control
Too close to call
83 vs 80
Forgiveness
84 vs 72
Hand speed
Franklin Signature 16 Composite
110 vs 115 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Franklin Signature 16 Composite
$70 at IQ 73.5 vs $100 at IQ 81.9
Overall pick: Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta · $100 · IQ 81.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 81Power88
- 83Control80
- 68Spin78
- 72Forgiveness84
- 70Sweet spot84
- 67Stability86
- 80Maneuverability72
- 76Pop90
- 84Touch76
- 74Consistency80
- 66Swing weight76
- 50Twist weight84
- 52Launch angle62
- 75Plow through86
- 86Softness72
Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Franklin Signature 16 Composite | Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $70 — better | $100 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 73.5 | 81.9 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.1 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 110 | 115 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.6 | 6.4 — better |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.3 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.6 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.5 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Composite/Fiberglass | FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture |
| Core material | Polypropylene | X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter |
Franklin Signature 16 Composite verdict
A fiberglass-faced elongated paddle at a rec-league price. Composite faces give up spin to carbon, but they hand back free pop that beginners actually benefit from.
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta verdict
Fiberglass instead of carbon means more pop and less bite. At $100 the Pro Air Invikta is the cheapest way into elongated Selkirk power, as long as you do not need a raw-carbon spin number.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta scores 84 against 50 for Franklin Signature 16 Composite — a 34-point gap. They are effectively level on control, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Franklin Signature 16 Composite is $30 cheaper at $70.
Twist weight
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads by 34 points (84 vs 50).
Stability
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads by 19 points (86 vs 67).
Sweet spot
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads by 14 points (84 vs 70).
Pop
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads by 14 points (90 vs 76).
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
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 84 vs 50, sweet spot 84 vs 70, stability 86 vs 67. Twist weight 6.4 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Sweet spot
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (77.5 vs 79.3 on the weighted index). Take Franklin Signature 16 Composite and keep the $30.
- Spin
- Forgiveness
- Power
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta is a narrow pick at this level — spin 78 vs 68, plow through 86 vs 75, power 88 vs 81. Swing weight 115 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Plow through
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (75.6 vs 77.5 on the weighted index). Take Franklin Signature 16 Composite and keep the $30.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Franklin Signature 16 Composite
Take Franklin Signature 16 Composite if you want softness (+14), maneuverability (+8), touch (+8). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Signature 16 Composite review →Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
Take Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta if you want twist weight (+34), stability (+19), sweet spot (+14). Its swing weight of 115 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta review →Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta FAQ
- Which is better, the Franklin Signature 16 Composite or the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (81.9 vs 73.5), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads by 34 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite, at 110 kg·cm² swing weight against 115 for Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Franklin Signature 16 Composite or the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta scores 88 for power against 81 for Franklin Signature 16 Composite. That comes from a 16 mm X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter core swinging at 115 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite at 83 versus 80. 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?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta scores 78 for spin off its FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture face, against 68 for the Composite/Fiberglass face on Franklin Signature 16 Composite. In practice a 10-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta, with the higher forgiveness score (84 vs 72). Its 6.4 twist weight against 5.6 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite costs $70, $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?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite: 16 mm Polypropylene core with a Composite/Fiberglass face. Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta: 16 mm X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter core with a FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite, at 5.6 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Franklin Signature 16 Composite avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 84 and sweet spot 84 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Franklin Signature 16 Composite rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta at 8 oz against 8.1 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (115 vs 110) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Franklin Signature 16 Composite to the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads on twist weight by 34 points; everything else is within 19 points. At $70 vs $100, 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.
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- Signature 16 Composite vs Ben Johns Signature Pro
- Signature 16 Composite vs Flare Graphite
- Signature 16 Composite vs Evoke Premier
- Signature 16 Composite vs Blaze Pro 16
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- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs R4 Pulsar
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- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Mach 2 Forza 16
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Vantage Power 16
Top alternatives to both
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Franklin Signature 16 Composite and Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Franklin Signature 16 Composite and Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.