Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (85.2 vs 81.9), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
90 vs 88
Spin
86 vs 78
Control
84 vs 80
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 84
Hand speed
115 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$100 at IQ 81.9 vs $280 at IQ 85.2
Overall pick: Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 · $280 · IQ 85.2
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 88Power90
- 80Control84
- 78Spin86
- 84Forgiveness86
- 84Sweet spot88
- 86Stability90
- 72Maneuverability72
- 90Pop86
- 76Touch78
- 80Consistency84
- 76Swing weight80
- 84Twist weight88
- 62Launch angle58
- 86Plow through90
- 72Softness70
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta | Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $100 — better | $280 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 81.9 | 85.2 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8.4 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 115 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 | 7 — better |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture | Raw carbon fiber |
| Core material | X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter | Foam-injected polymer |
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.
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 verdict
A Labs release built for plow-through. Twist weight 88 and stability 90 are among the highest pairings in the database — it simply does not twist on off-center hits.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is spin: Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 scores 86 against 78 for Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta — an 8-point gap. They are effectively level on power, forgiveness, touch, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta is $180 cheaper at $100.
Spin
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads by 8 points (86 vs 78).
Control
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads by 4 points (84 vs 80).
Sweet spot
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads by 4 points (88 vs 84).
Stability
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 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
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 is a narrow pick at this level — sweet spot 88 vs 84, stability 90 vs 86, twist weight 88 vs 84. Twist weight 7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Stability
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 86 vs 78, control 84 vs 80, consistency 84 vs 80. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Control
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 86 vs 78, plow through 90 vs 86, control 84 vs 80. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Plow through
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (77.5 vs 77.6 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta and keep the $180.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
Take Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta if you want pop (+4), launch angle (+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 →Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16
Take Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 if you want spin (+8), control (+4), sweet spot (+4). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 review →Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta or the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.2 vs 81.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta, at 115 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta or the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 scores 90 for power against 88 for Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. That comes from a 16 mm Foam-injected polymer core swinging at 118 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 at 84 versus 80. Its 16 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 Labs 008 Project 16 scores 86 for spin off its Raw carbon fiber face, against 78 for the FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture face on Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. In practice an 8-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 84). Its 7 twist weight against 6.4 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta costs $100, $180 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 AMPED Pro Air Invikta: 16 mm X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter core with a FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture face. Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16: 16 mm Foam-injected polymer core with a Raw carbon fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16, 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 Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta at 8 oz against 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (115 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta to the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads on spin by 8 points; everything else is within 4 points. At $100 vs $280, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
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Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
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- Labs 008 Project 16 vs 1X TruFoam Power
- Labs 008 Project 16 vs CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
- Labs 008 Project 16 vs Mach 2 Forza 16
- Labs 008 Project 16 vs Ultré Power 2
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta and Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta and Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.