JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 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
- 81Power92
- 86Control78
- 90Spin88
- 72Forgiveness71
- 70Sweet spot73
- 70Stability76
- 83Maneuverability79
- 76Pop93
- 88Touch74
- 76Consistency79
- 64Swing weight68
- 56Twist weight62
- 49Launch angle61
- 73Plow through84
- 85Softness58
Specs
| $250 | Price | $250 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 mm | Core | 14 mm |
| 8 oz | Weight | 7.9 oz |
| 109 | Swing weight | 114 |
| 5.8 | Twist weight | 5.6 |
| elongated | Shape | elongated |
| Charged Carbon Surface Technology | Surface | Quadcarbon face |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.5 in |
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 verdict
Gen 4 propulsion core in the thinner 14 mm shell. You get the Pro IV's spin and pop without the swing weight that slows the 16 mm version in fast exchanges.
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: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 scores 85 against 58 for Selkirk Vanguard Power Air — a 27-point gap. They are effectively level on sweet spot, consistency, spin, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($250 vs $250) that it should not break the tie.
Softness
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 leads by 27 points (85 vs 58).
Pop
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads by 17 points (93 vs 76).
Touch
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 leads by 14 points (88 vs 74).
Launch angle
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads by 12 points (61 vs 49).
Which one should you buy?
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 if you want softness (+27), touch (+14), control (+8). Its swing weight of 109 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 review →Selkirk Vanguard Power Air
Take Selkirk Vanguard Power Air if you want pop (+17), launch angle (+12), power (+11). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air review →JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 vs Selkirk Vanguard Power Air FAQ
- Which is better, the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 or the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (78.4 vs 77.5), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 leads by 27 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14, at 109 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 JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 or the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air measures 92 on power against 81 for JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14. 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 at 86 versus 78. Its 14 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 scores 90 for spin off its Charged Carbon Surface Technology 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14, with 5.8 twist weight against 5.6. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 carries the higher forgiveness score (72) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- They are within $0 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14: 14 mm Propulsion Core core with a Charged Carbon Surface Technology face. Selkirk Vanguard Power Air: 14 mm X5 polypropylene core with a Quadcarbon face face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 72 and sweet spot 70 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 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (114 vs 109) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 to the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 leads on softness by 27 points; everything else is within 17 points. At $250 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.
- Perseus Pro IV 14 vs Perseus 14
- Perseus Pro IV 14 vs Signature 13
- Perseus Pro IV 14 vs Hyperion C2 CFS 16
- Perseus Pro IV 14 vs Pursuit Pro MX 12.7
- Vanguard Power Air vs Bantam TKO-C 14
- Vanguard Power Air vs CRBN-1X Power Series
- Vanguard Power Air vs CX14E Ultimate Power
- Vanguard Power Air vs Pursuit Pro MX 12.7
Top alternatives to both
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Read the full reviews: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 14 and Selkirk Vanguard Power Air. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.