ProKennex Black Ace LG vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Selkirk Vanguard Control 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 Vanguard Control Air Invikta edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (83.6 vs 83.1), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
74 vs 74
Spin
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
86 vs 82
Control
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
95 vs 88
Forgiveness
88 vs 80
Hand speed
109 vs 116 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Too close to call
$200 at IQ 83.6 vs $200 at IQ 83.1
Overall pick: Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta · $200 · IQ 83.6
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 74Power74
- 88Control95
- 82Spin86
- 88Forgiveness80
- 86Sweet spot82
- 82Stability84
- 78Maneuverability72
- 70Pop66
- 90Touch94
- 88Consistency90
- 70Swing weight74
- 78Twist weight78
- 48Launch angle44
- 76Plow through82
- 92Softness88
ProKennex Black Ace LG vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | ProKennex Black Ace LG | Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $200 | $200 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 83.1 | 83.6 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 19.05 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 109 | 116 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 — better | 6.2 |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.3 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.375 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured carbon | Quadcarbon woven carbon fiber |
| Core material | Kinetic core with damping chambers | X5 polypropylene honeycomb |
ProKennex Black Ace LG verdict
The most arm-friendly build in the database. Softness 92 comes from ProKennex's Kinetic damping, and it is the one paddle we recommend without hesitation for players managing tendon pain.
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta verdict
The softest premium elongated paddle in the database. The thick Quadcarbon build absorbs pace so completely that resets from mid-court land in the kitchen almost by default.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is forgiveness: ProKennex Black Ace LG scores 88 against 80 for Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta — an 8-point gap. They are effectively level on stability, consistency, power, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Both sell for $200, so price cannot break the tie.
Forgiveness
ProKennex Black Ace LG leads by 8 points (88 vs 80).
Control
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta leads by 7 points (95 vs 88).
Maneuverability
ProKennex Black Ace LG leads by 6 points (78 vs 72).
Plow through
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta leads by 6 points (82 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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.1 vs 83.5 on the weighted index). Pick on handle length — 5.5 in on the Black Ace LG, 5.25 in on the Vanguard Control Air Invikta.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.7 vs 84.2 on the weighted index). Pick on handle length — 5.5 in on the Black Ace LG, 5.25 in on the Vanguard Control Air Invikta.
- Control
- Spin
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta is a narrow pick at this level — plow through 82 vs 76, control 95 vs 88, spin 86 vs 82. Swing weight 116 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Control
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
ProKennex Black Ace LG
ProKennex Black Ace LG is a narrow pick at this level — softness 92 vs 88, forgiveness 88 vs 80. Its 16 mm Kinetic core with damping chambers core at 8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
ProKennex Black Ace LG
Take ProKennex Black Ace LG if you want forgiveness (+8), maneuverability (+6), sweet spot (+4). Its swing weight of 109 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the ProKennex Black Ace LG review →Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
Take Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta if you want control (+7), plow through (+6), spin (+4). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 19.05 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta review →ProKennex Black Ace LG vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta FAQ
- Which is better, the ProKennex Black Ace LG or the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta?
- Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (83.6 vs 83.1), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — forgiveness — ProKennex Black Ace LG leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- ProKennex Black Ace LG, at 109 kg·cm² swing weight against 116 for Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the ProKennex Black Ace LG or the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 74 for power.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta at 95 versus 88. Its 19.05 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 Vanguard Control Air Invikta scores 86 for spin off its Quadcarbon woven carbon fiber face, against 82 for the Textured carbon face on ProKennex Black Ace LG. In practice a 4-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- ProKennex Black Ace LG, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 80). Its 6.4 twist weight against 6.2 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Both list at $200. Too close to call — neither has an advantage here.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- ProKennex Black Ace LG: 16 mm Kinetic core with damping chambers core with a Textured carbon face. Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta: 19.05 mm X5 polypropylene honeycomb core with a Quadcarbon woven carbon fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- ProKennex Black Ace LG, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which ProKennex Black Ace LG avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- ProKennex Black Ace LG is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 86 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both are listed at 8 oz, though swing weight differs (109 vs 116) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the ProKennex Black Ace LG to the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. ProKennex Black Ace LG leads on forgiveness by 8 points; everything else is within 7 points. At $200 vs $200, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a spin vs pop decision
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Read the full reviews: ProKennex Black Ace LG and Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.