Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Wilson Blaze Pro 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Selkirk AMPED Pro 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 AMPED Pro Air Invikta wins this matchup for most players: it takes power and value on Paddle DNA against the Wilson Blaze Pro 16, which costs $170.
Power
88 vs 78
Spin
Too close to call
78 vs 78
Control
Too close to call
82 vs 80
Forgiveness
Too close to call
84 vs 84
Hand speed
110 vs 115 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$100 at IQ 81.9 vs $170 at IQ 80.2
Overall pick: Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta · $100 · IQ 81.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 88Power78
- 80Control82
- 78Spin78
- 84Forgiveness84
- 84Sweet spot84
- 86Stability80
- 72Maneuverability78
- 90Pop76
- 76Touch78
- 80Consistency84
- 76Swing weight70
- 84Twist weight76
- 62Launch angle52
- 86Plow through76
- 72Softness74
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Wilson Blaze Pro 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 | Wilson Blaze Pro 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $100 — better | $170 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 81.9 — better | 80.2 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 115 | 110 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 | 6.5 — better |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.3 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.375 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture | Raw carbon fiber |
| Core material | X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter | Polypropylene honeycomb |
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.
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 verdict
Wilson's most competitive pickleball paddle to date. Nothing in the DNA profile is exceptional, but nothing is a weakness either — it is the definition of a balanced all-court build.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is pop: Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta scores 90 against 76 for Wilson Blaze Pro 16 — a 14-point gap. They are effectively level on control, touch, softness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta is $70 cheaper at $100.
Pop
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads by 14 points (90 vs 76).
Power
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads by 10 points (88 vs 78).
Launch angle
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads by 10 points (62 vs 52).
Plow through
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads by 10 points (86 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 (83.4 vs 82 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta and keep the $70.
- Twist weight
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (79.3 vs 80 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta and keep the $70.
- Maneuverability
- Control
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta is a narrow pick at this level — power 88 vs 78, plow through 86 vs 76. Swing weight 115 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Power
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (77.5 vs 77.1 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta and keep the $70.
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
Take Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta if you want pop (+14), power (+10), launch angle (+10). Its swing weight of 115 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta review →Wilson Blaze Pro 16
Take Wilson Blaze Pro 16 if you want maneuverability (+6), consistency (+4). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Wilson Blaze Pro 16 review →Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Wilson Blaze Pro 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta or the Wilson Blaze Pro 16?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (81.9 vs 80.2), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — pop — Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads by 14 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16, at 110 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 Wilson Blaze Pro 16?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta scores 88 for power against 78 for Wilson Blaze Pro 16. That comes from a 16 mm X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter core swinging at 115 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16 at 82 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 78 for spin.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 84 on forgiveness despite twist weights of 6.4 and 6.5.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta costs $100, $70 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. Wilson Blaze Pro 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Raw carbon fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16, at 5.375 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Forgiveness (84) and sweet spot (84) are identical, so a developing player can start on either — decide on price and handle feel.
- 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 (115 vs 110) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Wilson Blaze Pro 16 to the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta leads on pop by 14 points; everything else is within 10 points. At $100 vs $170, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Vanguard Control Air Invikta
- Blaze Pro 16 vs Double Black Diamond Control V2
- Blaze Pro 16 vs Radical Tour Ultra 16
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs CX14E Ultimate Power
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Warrior Edge 14
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Evoke Premier
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Black Diamond Power 16
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Bantam TKO-C 14
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- Blaze Pro 16 vs Evoke Premier
- Blaze Pro 16 vs SLK Halo XL Control
- Blaze Pro 16 vs V7 Pro 16
- Blaze Pro 16 vs V7 Hybrid
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 Wilson Blaze Pro 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta and Wilson Blaze Pro 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.