Ronbus R1 Pulsar vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. 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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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 78Power74
- 92Control95
- 88Spin86
- 84Forgiveness80
- 84Sweet spot82
- 80Stability84
- 84Maneuverability72
- 70Pop66
- 90Touch94
- 86Consistency90
- 62Swing weight74
- 74Twist weight78
- 46Launch angle44
- 72Plow through82
- 84Softness88
Ronbus R1 Pulsar vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Ronbus R1 Pulsar | Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $120 — better | $200 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 83.5 | 83.6 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 19.05 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 104 | 116 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 | 6.2 — better |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.4 | 7.375 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw Toray T700 carbon | Quadcarbon woven carbon fiber |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb | X5 polypropylene honeycomb |
Ronbus R1 Pulsar verdict
The value benchmark for an elongated control paddle. It gives up thermoformed power, but the swing weight is low enough that fast hands stay fast into the third game.
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta verdict
The softest premium elongated paddle we measure. The thick Quadcarbon build absorbs pace so completely that resets from mid-court land in the kitchen almost by default.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is maneuverability: Ronbus R1 Pulsar scores 84 against 72 for Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on control, spin, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Ronbus R1 Pulsar is $80 cheaper at $120.
Maneuverability
Ronbus R1 Pulsar leads by 12 points (84 vs 72).
Swing weight
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta leads by 12 points (74 vs 62).
Plow through
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta leads by 10 points (82 vs 72).
Power
Ronbus R1 Pulsar leads by 4 points (78 vs 74).
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 (82.8 vs 83.5 on the weighted index). Take Ronbus R1 Pulsar and keep the $80.
- Stability
- Twist weight
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Ronbus R1 Pulsar
Ronbus R1 Pulsar is a narrow pick at this level — maneuverability 84 vs 72, forgiveness 84 vs 80, power 78 vs 74. At 104 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Maneuverability
- Forgiveness
- Power
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.6 vs 83.5 on the weighted index). Take Ronbus R1 Pulsar and keep the $80.
- Maneuverability
- Power
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (82.2 vs 84 on the weighted index). Take Ronbus R1 Pulsar and keep the $80.
- Softness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Ronbus R1 Pulsar
Take Ronbus R1 Pulsar if you want maneuverability (+12), power (+4), forgiveness (+4). Its swing weight of 104 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Ronbus R1 Pulsar review →Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
Take Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta if you want swing weight (+12), plow through (+10), stability (+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 →Ronbus R1 Pulsar vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta FAQ
- Which is better, the Ronbus R1 Pulsar or the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta?
- Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (83.6 vs 83.5), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — maneuverability — Ronbus R1 Pulsar leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar, at 104 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 Ronbus R1 Pulsar or the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta?
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar measures 78 on power against 74 for Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta. That comes from a 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core swinging at 104 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta at 95 versus 92. 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?
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar scores 88 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon face, against 86 for the Quadcarbon woven carbon fiber face on Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta, with 6.2 twist weight against 6.1. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Ronbus R1 Pulsar carries the higher forgiveness score (84) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar costs $120, $80 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?
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Raw Toray T700 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?
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar, 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 Ronbus R1 Pulsar avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 84 and sweet spot 84 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Ronbus R1 Pulsar rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Ronbus R1 Pulsar at 7.9 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (104 vs 116) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Ronbus R1 Pulsar to the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Ronbus R1 Pulsar leads on maneuverability by 12 points; everything else is within 12 points. At $120 vs $200, 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.
- R1 Pulsar vs Sapphire 16
- R1 Pulsar vs Obsidian 16
- R1 Pulsar vs Radical Tour Ultra 16
- R1 Pulsar vs Coral Hybrid 16
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Pursuit MX 6.0
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Luxx Control Air
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Perseus CFS 16
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Sapphire 16
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: Ronbus R1 Pulsar and Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.