Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 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
- 88Power90
- 80Control80
- 78Spin86
- 84Forgiveness84
- 84Sweet spot84
- 86Stability84
- 72Maneuverability76
- 90Pop88
- 76Touch74
- 80Consistency82
- 76Swing weight74
- 84Twist weight80
- 62Launch angle58
- 86Plow through84
- 72Softness62
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta | Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $100 — better | $180 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 81.9 | 82.6 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8.1 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 115 | 113 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 | 6.6 — 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 Toray T700 carbon |
| Core material | X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter | Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls |
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.
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 verdict
Six Zero finally built a power paddle. Pop 88 and power 90 at $180 undercut every flagship drive paddle in the database, and the DBD forgiveness DNA mostly survives the switch.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta scores 72 against 62 for Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 — a 10-point gap. They are effectively level on power, stability, pop, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta is $80 cheaper at $100.
Softness
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads by 10 points (72 vs 62).
Spin
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 leads by 8 points (86 vs 78).
Maneuverability
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 leads by 4 points (76 vs 72).
Twist weight
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads by 4 points (84 vs 80).
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 (83.4 vs 82.8 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta and keep the $80.
- Twist weight
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 86 vs 78, maneuverability 76 vs 72, power 90 vs 88. At 113 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Maneuverability
- Power
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (80.6 vs 82.5 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta and keep the $80.
- Spin
- Maneuverability
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta is the clearer pick at this level — softness 72 vs 62, twist weight 84 vs 80. Its 16 mm X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter core at 8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
Take Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta if you want softness (+10), twist weight (+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 →Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16
Take Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 if you want spin (+8), maneuverability (+4). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 review →Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta or the Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (82.6 vs 81.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads by 10 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16, 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 Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta or the Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 measures 90 on power against 88 for Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. That comes from a 16 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?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta at 80 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?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 scores 86 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon face, against 78 for the FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture face on Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. In practice a 8-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16, with 6.6 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, $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?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta: 16 mm X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter core with a FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture face. Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 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 Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 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. Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 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 Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads on softness by 10 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $100 vs $180, 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.
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Vantage Power 16
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Oni 16
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs GX2 Power Elongated
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs Vantage Power 16
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs Evoke Premier Pro
- Black Diamond Power 16 vs 2X Power Series
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta and Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.