Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project 006
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Selkirk Labs Project 006 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
- 92Power92
- 80Control84
- 90Spin87
- 78Forgiveness80
- 80Sweet spot82
- 88Stability89
- 68Maneuverability65
- 88Pop90
- 76Touch80
- 80Consistency83
- 82Swing weight86
- 88Twist weight82
- 56Launch angle63
- 90Plow through92
- 62Softness74
Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project 006 specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 | Selkirk Labs Project 006 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $230 — better | $280 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 82.8 | 83.7 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.4 | 8.5 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 14 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 120 | 124 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 7.2 — better | 6.2 |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.7 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.75 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw carbon fiber | Raw carbon with Air Dynamic throat |
| Core material | Thermoformed unibody with injected foam walls | Thermoformed polymer |
Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 verdict
A full foam-wall unibody aimed squarely at the JOOLA and CRBN flagships. Twist weight 88 and plow-through 90 are flagship numbers; the 120 swing weight is the tax you pay for them.
Selkirk Labs Project 006 verdict
Selkirk's limited-run Labs build is unapologetically a power paddle. Plow-through and pop lead the field; touch play asks for a deliberate slower swing.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: Selkirk Labs Project 006 scores 74 against 62 for Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, maneuverability, consistency, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 is $50 cheaper at $230.
Softness
Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads by 12 points (74 vs 62).
Launch angle
Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads by 7 points (63 vs 56).
Twist weight
Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 leads by 6 points (88 vs 82).
Control
Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads by 4 points (84 vs 80).
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 (82 vs 82.9 on the weighted index). Take Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 and keep the $50.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (80.4 vs 81.1 on the weighted index). Take Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 and keep the $50.
- Control
- Touch
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.1 vs 84.6 on the weighted index). Take Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 and keep the $50.
- Touch
- Control
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk Labs Project 006
Selkirk Labs Project 006 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 74 vs 62, forgiveness 80 vs 78. Its 14 mm Thermoformed polymer core at 8.5 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16
Take Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 if you want twist weight (+6). Its swing weight of 120 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 review →Selkirk Labs Project 006
Take Selkirk Labs Project 006 if you want softness (+12), launch angle (+7), control (+4). Its swing weight of 124 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Labs Project 006 review →Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 vs Selkirk Labs Project 006 FAQ
- Which is better, the Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 or the Selkirk Labs Project 006?
- Selkirk Labs Project 006 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (83.7 vs 82.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16, at 120 kg·cm² swing weight against 124 for Selkirk Labs Project 006. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 or the Selkirk Labs Project 006?
- Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 measures 92 on power against 92 for Selkirk Labs Project 006. That comes from a 16 mm Thermoformed unibody with injected foam walls core swinging at 120 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Selkirk Labs Project 006 at 84 versus 80. 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?
- Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 scores 90 for spin off its Raw carbon fiber face, against 87 for the Raw carbon with Air Dynamic throat face on Selkirk Labs Project 006. In practice a 3-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16, with 7.2 twist weight against 6.2. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Selkirk Labs Project 006 carries the higher forgiveness score (80) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 costs $230, $50 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?
- Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16: 16 mm Thermoformed unibody with injected foam walls core with a Raw carbon fiber face. Selkirk Labs Project 006: 14 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw carbon with Air Dynamic throat face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk Labs Project 006, 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 Selkirk Labs Project 006 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Selkirk Labs Project 006 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 80 and sweet spot 82 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 at 8.4 oz against 8.5 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (120 vs 124) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 to the Selkirk Labs Project 006?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads on softness by 12 points; everything else is within 7 points. At $230 vs $280, 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.
- Pro XS 16 vs 2X Power Series
- Pro XS 16 vs GX2 Power Elongated
- Pro XS 16 vs CX14E Ultimate Power
- Pro XS 16 vs Hyperion Pro V 16
- Labs Project 006 vs GX2 Power Elongated
- Labs Project 006 vs Hyperion Pro V 16
- Labs Project 006 vs Hyperion CFS 16
- Labs Project 006 vs Loco 16mm Elongated
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: Legacy Pickleball Pro XS 16 and Selkirk Labs Project 006. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.