Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro vs Selkirk Luxx Control Air
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Selkirk Luxx Control Air takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Selkirk Luxx Control Air edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (85.1 vs 79.8), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
71 vs 70
Spin
84 vs 74
Control
Too close to call
94 vs 93
Forgiveness
87 vs 82
Hand speed
100 vs 119 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$150 at IQ 79.8 vs $250 at IQ 85.1
Overall pick: Selkirk Luxx Control Air · $250 · IQ 85.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power71
- 93Control94
- 74Spin84
- 82Forgiveness87
- 80Sweet spot88
- 76Stability89
- 88Maneuverability68
- 64Pop66
- 92Touch95
- 88Consistency90
- 58Swing weight78
- 62Twist weight88
- 42Launch angle48
- 66Plow through76
- 90Softness93
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro vs Selkirk Luxx Control Air specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro | Selkirk Luxx Control Air |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $150 — better | $250 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 85.1 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 8.4 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14.3 | 20 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 100 | 119 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6 | 6.6 — better |
| Shape | standard | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 15.75 | 16.4 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.6 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured graphite | Florek carbon |
| Core material | Patented Poly Core II | X5 polypropylene |
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro verdict
The paddle a generation of control players learned on, and still one of the quietest, most predictable graphite faces made. It will not out-hit a thermoformed paddle, but it will not surprise you either.
Selkirk Luxx Control Air verdict
The plushest paddle in the test. A 20 mm core swallows pace on resets, and the twist weight keeps the face square when the ball finds the edge.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: Selkirk Luxx Control Air scores 88 against 62 for Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro — a 26-point gap. They are effectively level on touch, softness, pop, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro is $100 cheaper at $150.
Twist weight
Selkirk Luxx Control Air leads by 26 points (88 vs 62).
Maneuverability
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro leads by 20 points (88 vs 68).
Swing weight
Selkirk Luxx Control Air leads by 20 points (78 vs 58).
Stability
Selkirk Luxx Control Air leads by 13 points (89 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 Luxx Control Air
Selkirk Luxx Control Air is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 88 vs 62, stability 89 vs 76, sweet spot 88 vs 80. Twist weight 6.6 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.8 vs 83.6 on the weighted index). Take Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro and keep the $100.
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Selkirk Luxx Control Air
Selkirk Luxx Control Air is a narrow pick at this level — spin 84 vs 74, plow through 76 vs 66, touch 95 vs 92. Swing weight 119 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Plow through
- Touch
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk Luxx Control Air
Selkirk Luxx Control Air is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 88 vs 62, softness 93 vs 90, forgiveness 87 vs 82. Its 20 mm X5 polypropylene core at 8.4 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Twist weight
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro
Take Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro if you want maneuverability (+20). Its swing weight of 100 kg·cm² and 14.3 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro review →Selkirk Luxx Control Air
Take Selkirk Luxx Control Air if you want twist weight (+26), swing weight (+20), stability (+13). Its swing weight of 119 kg·cm² and 20 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Luxx Control Air review →Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro vs Selkirk Luxx Control Air FAQ
- Which is better, the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro or the Selkirk Luxx Control Air?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.1 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Selkirk Luxx Control Air leads by 26 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro, at 100 kg·cm² swing weight against 119 for Selkirk Luxx Control Air. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro or the Selkirk Luxx Control Air?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air scores 71 for power against 70 for Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro. That comes from a 20 mm X5 polypropylene core swinging at 119 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air at 94 versus 93. Its 20 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 Luxx Control Air scores 84 for spin off its Florek carbon face, against 74 for the Textured graphite face on Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro. In practice a 10-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air, with the higher forgiveness score (87 vs 82). Its 6.6 twist weight against 6 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro costs $150, $100 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?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro: 14.3 mm Patented Poly Core II core with a Textured graphite face. Selkirk Luxx Control Air: 20 mm X5 polypropylene core with a Florek carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both run a 5.25 in handle.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 87 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro at 7.9 oz against 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (100 vs 119) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro to the Selkirk Luxx Control Air?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Luxx Control Air leads on twist weight by 26 points; everything else is within 20 points. At $150 vs $250, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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