Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 vs Selkirk Luxx Control Air
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Selkirk Luxx Control 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
- 72Power71
- 92Control94
- 80Spin84
- 86Forgiveness87
- 87Sweet spot88
- 82Stability89
- 81Maneuverability68
- 68Pop66
- 91Touch95
- 89Consistency90
- 56Swing weight78
- 76Twist weight88
- 58Launch angle48
- 66Plow through76
- 88Softness93
Specs
| $150 | Price | $250 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 20 mm |
| 7.9 oz | Weight | 8.4 oz |
| 110 | Swing weight | 119 |
| 6.1 | Twist weight | 6.6 |
| standard | Shape | hybrid |
| Textured carbon | Surface | Florek carbon |
| 5.25 in | Handle | 5.25 in |
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 verdict
The reference control paddle for players who do not want the weight of a 20 mm build. Touch scores trail only the Luxx.
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
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is swing weight: Selkirk Luxx Control Air scores 78 against 56 for Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 — a 22-point gap. They are effectively level on control, pop, power, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 is $100 cheaper at $150.
Swing weight
Selkirk Luxx Control Air leads by 22 points (78 vs 56).
Maneuverability
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 leads by 13 points (81 vs 68).
Twist weight
Selkirk Luxx Control Air leads by 12 points (88 vs 76).
Launch angle
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 leads by 10 points (58 vs 48).
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Luxx Control Air
Take Selkirk Luxx Control Air if you want swing weight (+22), twist weight (+12), plow through (+10). 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 V3
Take Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 if you want maneuverability (+13), launch angle (+10). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 review →Selkirk Luxx Control Air vs Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Luxx Control Air or the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.1 vs 82.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — Selkirk Luxx Control Air leads by 22 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave V3, at 110 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 Selkirk Luxx Control Air or the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 measures 72 on power against 71 for Selkirk Luxx Control Air. That comes from a 16 mm Tempest control core core swinging at 110 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air at 94 versus 92. 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 80 for the Textured carbon face on Paddletek Tempest Wave V3. In practice a 4-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air, with 6.6 twist weight against 6.1. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Selkirk Luxx Control Air carries the higher forgiveness score (87) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 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?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air: 20 mm X5 polypropylene core with a Florek carbon face. Paddletek Tempest Wave V3: 16 mm Tempest control core core with a Textured carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air, at 5.25 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- 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 V3 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 at 7.9 oz against 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (110 vs 119) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 to the Selkirk Luxx Control Air?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Luxx Control Air leads on swing weight by 22 points; everything else is within 13 points. At $250 vs $150, 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.
- Tempest Wave V3 vs SLK Halo Control
- Tempest Wave V3 vs Encore Pro EX
- Tempest Wave V3 vs Signature Carbon STR
- Tempest Wave V3 vs Essentials 16
- Luxx Control Air vs Pursuit MX 6.0
- Luxx Control Air vs Double Black Diamond Control
- Luxx Control Air vs Quartz Control
- Luxx Control Air vs SLK Halo Control
Top alternatives to both
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Read the full reviews: Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 and Selkirk Luxx Control Air. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.