Selkirk Labs Project 006 vs Selkirk Vanguard Power Air
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Selkirk Labs Project 006 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Selkirk Labs Project 006 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (83.7 vs 78.4), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
92 vs 92
Spin
Too close to call
88 vs 87
Control
84 vs 78
Forgiveness
80 vs 71
Hand speed
114 vs 124 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$250 at IQ 78.4 vs $280 at IQ 83.7
Overall pick: Selkirk Labs Project 006 · $280 · IQ 83.7
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 92Power92
- 84Control78
- 87Spin88
- 80Forgiveness71
- 82Sweet spot73
- 89Stability76
- 65Maneuverability79
- 90Pop93
- 80Touch74
- 83Consistency79
- 86Swing weight68
- 82Twist weight62
- 63Launch angle61
- 92Plow through84
- 74Softness58
Selkirk Labs Project 006 vs Selkirk Vanguard Power 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 Vanguard Power Air |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $280 | $250 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 83.7 — better | 78.4 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.5 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 14 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 124 | 114 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.2 — better | 5.6 |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.7 | 16.4 |
| Face width(in) | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.75 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw carbon with Air Dynamic throat | Quadcarbon face |
| 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 Vanguard Power Air verdict
Explosive acceleration and crisp feedback for players who create their own control. The air-dynamic throat cuts drag noticeably on fast swings.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: Selkirk Labs Project 006 scores 82 against 62 for Selkirk Vanguard Power Air — a 20-point gap. They are effectively level on pop, launch angle, spin, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk Vanguard Power Air is $30 cheaper at $250.
Twist weight
Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads by 20 points (82 vs 62).
Swing weight
Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads by 18 points (86 vs 68).
Softness
Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads by 16 points (74 vs 58).
Maneuverability
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads by 14 points (79 vs 65).
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 Project 006
Selkirk Labs Project 006 is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 82 vs 62, forgiveness 80 vs 71, sweet spot 82 vs 73. Twist weight 6.2 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (80.4 vs 81.1 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk Vanguard Power Air and keep the $30.
- Forgiveness
- Control
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.5 vs 84.6 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk Vanguard Power Air and keep the $30.
- Plow through
- Touch
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk Labs Project 006
Selkirk Labs Project 006 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 74 vs 58, twist weight 82 vs 62, forgiveness 80 vs 71. Its 14 mm Thermoformed polymer core at 8.5 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air
Take Selkirk Vanguard Power Air if you want maneuverability (+14). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air review →Selkirk Labs Project 006
Take Selkirk Labs Project 006 if you want twist weight (+20), swing weight (+18), softness (+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 Vanguard Power Air vs Selkirk Labs Project 006 FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air or the Selkirk Labs Project 006?
- Selkirk Labs Project 006 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (83.7 vs 78.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads by 20 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air, at 114 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 Vanguard Power Air or the Selkirk Labs Project 006?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 92 for power.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Selkirk Labs Project 006 at 84 versus 78. 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?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air scores 88 for spin off its Quadcarbon face, against 87 for the Raw carbon with Air Dynamic throat face on Selkirk Labs Project 006. In practice a 1-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Labs Project 006, with the higher forgiveness score (80 vs 71). Its 6.2 twist weight against 5.6 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power 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 Vanguard Power Air: 14 mm X5 polypropylene core with a Quadcarbon face. Selkirk Labs Project 006: 14 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw carbon with Air Dynamic throat face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk Labs Project 006, at 5.75 in of handle against 5.5 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 Labs Project 006 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 80 and sweet spot 82 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Selkirk Vanguard Power Air rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air at 7.9 oz against 8.5 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (114 vs 124) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air to the Selkirk Labs Project 006?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads on twist weight by 20 points; everything else is within 18 points. At $250 vs $280, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a stability vs maneuverability decision
Browse every head-to-head that splits on the same trade-off:
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Selkirk Labs Project 006 and Selkirk Vanguard Power Air in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Selkirk Labs Project 006 and Selkirk Vanguard Power Air. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.