Selkirk Labs Project 006 vs Selkirk Luxx Control Air
Labs project paddle against the production control flagship at the top of Selkirk's range. Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Selkirk Luxx Control Air takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Selkirk Luxx Control Air wins this matchup for most players: it takes control, forgiveness, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Selkirk Labs Project 006, which costs $280.
Power
92 vs 71
Spin
Too close to call
87 vs 84
Control
94 vs 84
Forgiveness
87 vs 80
Hand speed
119 vs 124 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$250 at IQ 85.1 vs $280 at IQ 83.7
Overall pick: Selkirk Luxx Control Air · $250 · IQ 85.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 92Power71
- 84Control94
- 87Spin84
- 80Forgiveness87
- 82Sweet spot88
- 89Stability89
- 65Maneuverability68
- 90Pop66
- 80Touch95
- 83Consistency90
- 86Swing weight78
- 82Twist weight88
- 63Launch angle48
- 92Plow through76
- 74Softness93
Selkirk Labs Project 006 vs Selkirk Luxx Control Air specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Selkirk Labs Project 006 | Selkirk Luxx Control Air |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $280 | $250 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 83.7 | 85.1 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.5 | 8.4 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 20 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 124 | 119 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.2 | 6.6 — better |
| Shape | elongated | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.7 | 16.4 |
| Face width(in) | 7.4 | 7.6 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.75 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw carbon with Air Dynamic throat | Florek carbon |
| Core material | Thermoformed polymer | X5 polypropylene |
Selkirk Labs Project 006 verdict
Selkirk's limited-run Labs build is unapologetically a power paddle. Plow-through and pop lead the field; touch play asks for a deliberate slower swing.
Selkirk Luxx Control Air verdict
The plushest paddle in the test. A 20 mm core swallows pace on resets, and the twist weight keeps the face square when the ball finds the edge.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is pop: Selkirk Labs Project 006 scores 90 against 66 for Selkirk Luxx Control Air — a 24-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, maneuverability, stability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk Luxx Control Air is $30 cheaper at $250.
Pop
Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads by 24 points (90 vs 66).
Power
Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads by 21 points (92 vs 71).
Softness
Selkirk Luxx Control Air leads by 19 points (93 vs 74).
Plow through
Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads by 16 points (92 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
Selkirk Luxx Control Air
Selkirk Luxx Control Air is the clearer pick at this level — forgiveness 87 vs 80, sweet spot 88 vs 82, consistency 90 vs 83. Twist weight 6.6 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Selkirk Luxx Control Air
Selkirk Luxx Control Air is a narrow pick at this level — touch 95 vs 80, control 94 vs 84, forgiveness 87 vs 80. At 119 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Touch
- Control
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Selkirk Labs Project 006
Selkirk Labs Project 006 is a narrow pick at this level — power 92 vs 71, plow through 92 vs 76, spin 87 vs 84. Swing weight 124 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Power
- Plow through
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk Luxx Control Air
Selkirk Luxx Control Air is the clearer pick at this level — softness 93 vs 74, forgiveness 87 vs 80, twist weight 88 vs 82. Its 20 mm X5 polypropylene core at 8.4 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Labs Project 006
Take Selkirk Labs Project 006 if you want pop (+24), power (+21), plow through (+16). Its swing weight of 124 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Labs Project 006 review →Selkirk Luxx Control Air
Take Selkirk Luxx Control Air if you want softness (+19), touch (+15), control (+10). Its swing weight of 119 kg·cm² and 20 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Luxx Control Air review →Selkirk Labs Project 006 vs Selkirk Luxx Control Air FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Labs Project 006 or the Selkirk Luxx Control Air?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.1 vs 83.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — pop — Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads by 24 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air, at 119 kg·cm² swing weight against 124 for Selkirk Labs Project 006. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Selkirk Labs Project 006 or the Selkirk Luxx Control Air?
- Selkirk Labs Project 006 scores 92 for power against 71 for Selkirk Luxx Control Air. That comes from a 14 mm Thermoformed polymer core swinging at 124 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air at 94 versus 84. Its 20 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 Project 006 scores 87 for spin off its Raw carbon with Air Dynamic throat face, against 84 for the Florek carbon face on Selkirk Luxx Control Air. In practice a 3-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air, with the higher forgiveness score (87 vs 80). Its 6.6 twist weight against 6.2 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air costs $250, $30 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 Labs Project 006: 14 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw carbon with Air Dynamic throat face. Selkirk Luxx Control Air: 20 mm X5 polypropylene core with a Florek carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk Labs Project 006, at 5.75 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Selkirk Labs Project 006 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 87 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Selkirk Labs Project 006 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Selkirk Luxx Control Air at 8.4 oz against 8.5 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (119 vs 124) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Labs Project 006 to the Selkirk Luxx Control Air?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads on pop by 24 points; everything else is within 21 points. At $280 vs $250, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a control vs power decision
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Selkirk Labs Project 006 and Selkirk Luxx Control Air in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Selkirk Labs Project 006 and Selkirk Luxx Control Air. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.