Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta 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 007 Epic 14 wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta, which costs $180.
Power
82 vs 77
Spin
Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14
90 vs 82
Control
Too close to call
90 vs 89
Forgiveness
84 vs 77
Hand speed
Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14
100 vs 120 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14
$130 at IQ 82 vs $180 at IQ 84.7
Overall pick: Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 · $130 · IQ 82
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 77Power82
- 89Control90
- 90Spin82
- 77Forgiveness84
- 75Sweet spot84
- 84Stability88
- 92Maneuverability70
- 76Pop76
- 88Touch90
- 83Consistency90
- 50Swing weight78
- 74Twist weight84
- 49Launch angle48
- 64Plow through86
- 85Softness84
Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 | Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $130 — better | $180 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 82 | 84.7 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.4 | 8.4 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 19.8 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 100 | 120 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 | 6.5 — better |
| Shape | standard | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.85 | 7.375 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Florek Carbon Face with InfiniGrit | FiberFlex fiberglass |
| Core material | Polypropylene Honeycomb with Patent Pending Titanium Mesh Layer System | X5 polypropylene honeycomb |
Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 verdict
A titanium mesh layer under the Florek carbon face gives the 007 Epic a firmer, louder response than the rest of the Labs line, and it sells for a third of Boomstik money.
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta verdict
Selkirk's long-running Invikta shape in the softer Vanguard 2.0 build. Touch 90 and consistency 90 with 86 plow-through make it a drive-and-reset paddle for patient players.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is swing weight: Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta scores 78 against 50 for Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 — a 28-point gap. They are effectively level on touch, control, launch angle, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 is $50 cheaper at $130.
Swing weight
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads by 28 points (78 vs 50).
Maneuverability
Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 leads by 22 points (92 vs 70).
Plow through
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads by 22 points (86 vs 64).
Twist weight
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads by 10 points (84 vs 74).
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 Vanguard 2.0 Invikta
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta is the clearer pick at this level — sweet spot 84 vs 75, forgiveness 84 vs 77, twist weight 84 vs 74. Twist weight 6.5 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14
Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 is a narrow pick at this level — maneuverability 92 vs 70, spin 90 vs 82. At 100 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Maneuverability
- Spin
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (82.8 vs 83.5 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 and keep the $50.
- Plow through
- Power
- Touch
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 84 vs 77, twist weight 84 vs 74. Its 19.8 mm X5 polypropylene honeycomb core at 8.4 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14
Take Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 if you want maneuverability (+22), spin (+8). Its swing weight of 100 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 review →Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta
Take Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta if you want swing weight (+28), plow through (+22), twist weight (+10). Its swing weight of 120 kg·cm² and 19.8 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta review →Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 or the Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta?
- Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.7 vs 82), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads by 28 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14, at 100 kg·cm² swing weight against 120 for Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 or the Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta?
- Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta scores 82 for power against 77 for Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14. That comes from a 19.8 mm X5 polypropylene honeycomb core swinging at 120 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta at 90 versus 89. Its 19.8 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 007 Epic 14 scores 90 for spin off its Florek Carbon Face with InfiniGrit face, against 82 for the FiberFlex fiberglass face on Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta. In practice an 8-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta, with the higher forgiveness score (84 vs 77). Its 6.5 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 Labs Project 007 Epic 14 costs $130, $50 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 007 Epic 14: 14 mm Polypropylene Honeycomb with Patent Pending Titanium Mesh Layer System core with a Florek Carbon Face with InfiniGrit face. Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta: 19.8 mm X5 polypropylene honeycomb core with a FiberFlex fiberglass face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both run a 5.25 in handle.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 84 and sweet spot 84 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both are listed at 8.4 oz, though swing weight differs (100 vs 120) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 to the Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads on swing weight by 28 points; everything else is within 22 points. At $130 vs $180, 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.
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Labs Project 006
- Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Luxx Control Air
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Scorpeus 14
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Hyperion C2 CFS 16
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs R1 Pulsar
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Atlas 16
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs SLK Halo XL Control
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Scorpeus 14
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16
- Labs Project 007 Epic 14 vs BALLR+ 16
- Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs LUXX Control Air Invikta
- Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Pursuit Pro EX 16
- Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Model E Max V3
- Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs 2X TruFoam Genesis
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 Labs Project 007 Epic 14 and Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 and Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.