Ronbus R4 Pulsar vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Ronbus R4 Pulsar 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
- 88Power88
- 82Control80
- 88Spin78
- 82Forgiveness84
- 84Sweet spot84
- 86Stability86
- 78Maneuverability72
- 86Pop90
- 78Touch76
- 84Consistency80
- 76Swing weight76
- 80Twist weight84
- 56Launch angle62
- 86Plow through86
- 68Softness72
Ronbus R4 Pulsar vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Ronbus R4 Pulsar | Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $160 | $100 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 83.5 — better | 81.9 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.1 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 113 | 115 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.5 — better | 6.4 |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.4 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw T700 carbon | FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture |
| Core material | Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls | X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter |
Ronbus R4 Pulsar verdict
Ronbus swings for pace with a 14 mm foam-walled build. Power 88 and pop 86 at $160 is the best price-to-punch ratio we have measured this year.
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta verdict
Fiberglass instead of carbon means more pop and less bite. At $100 the Pro Air Invikta is the cheapest way into elongated Selkirk power, as long as you do not need a raw-carbon spin number.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is spin: Ronbus R4 Pulsar scores 88 against 78 for Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta — a 10-point gap. They are effectively level on control, forgiveness, touch, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta is $60 cheaper at $100.
Spin
Ronbus R4 Pulsar leads by 10 points (88 vs 78).
Maneuverability
Ronbus R4 Pulsar leads by 6 points (78 vs 72).
Launch angle
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads by 6 points (62 vs 56).
Pop
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads by 4 points (90 vs 86).
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 (83.1 vs 83.4 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta and keep the $60.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Ronbus R4 Pulsar
Ronbus R4 Pulsar is a narrow pick at this level — spin 88 vs 78, maneuverability 78 vs 72, control 82 vs 80. At 113 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Maneuverability
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Ronbus R4 Pulsar
Ronbus R4 Pulsar is a narrow pick at this level — spin 88 vs 78, maneuverability 78 vs 72, touch 78 vs 76. Swing weight 113 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Maneuverability
- Touch
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta is a narrow pick at this level — softness 72 vs 68, twist weight 84 vs 80, forgiveness 84 vs 82. Its 16 mm X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter core at 8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Ronbus R4 Pulsar
Take Ronbus R4 Pulsar if you want spin (+10), maneuverability (+6), consistency (+4). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Ronbus R4 Pulsar review →Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
Take Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta if you want launch angle (+6), pop (+4), twist weight (+4). Its swing weight of 115 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta review →Ronbus R4 Pulsar vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta FAQ
- Which is better, the Ronbus R4 Pulsar or the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta?
- Ronbus R4 Pulsar carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (83.5 vs 81.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — Ronbus R4 Pulsar leads by 10 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Ronbus R4 Pulsar, at 113 kg·cm² swing weight against 115 for Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Ronbus R4 Pulsar or the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta?
- Ronbus R4 Pulsar measures 88 on power against 88 for Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. That comes from a 14 mm Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls core swinging at 113 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Ronbus R4 Pulsar at 82 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?
- Ronbus R4 Pulsar scores 88 for spin off its Raw T700 carbon face, against 78 for the FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture face on Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. In practice a 10-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Ronbus R4 Pulsar, with 6.5 twist weight against 6.4. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta carries the higher forgiveness score (84) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta costs $100, $60 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 R4 Pulsar: 14 mm Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls core with a Raw T700 carbon face. Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta: 16 mm X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter core with a FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Ronbus R4 Pulsar, at 5.5 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Ronbus R4 Pulsar avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 84 and sweet spot 84 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Ronbus R4 Pulsar rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta at 8 oz against 8.1 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (115 vs 113) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta to the Ronbus R4 Pulsar?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Ronbus R4 Pulsar leads on spin by 10 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $160 vs $100, 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.
- R4 Pulsar vs Black Diamond Power 16
- R4 Pulsar vs Series One Project Black
- R4 Pulsar vs Extreme Tour 16
- R4 Pulsar vs Evoke Premier Pro
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Black Diamond Power 16
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Vantage Power 16
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Oni 16
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: Ronbus R4 Pulsar and Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.