Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Selkirk Luxx Control Air

The verdict

Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is swing weight: Selkirk Luxx Control Air scores 78 against 47 for Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 — a 31-point gap. They are effectively level on touch, consistency, softness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk Luxx Control Air is $83 cheaper at $250.

• Swing weight

  Selkirk Luxx Control Air leads by 31 points (78 vs 47).

• Maneuverability

  Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 leads by 29 points (97 vs 68).

• Plow through

  Selkirk Luxx Control Air leads by 17 points (76 vs 59).

• Twist weight

  Selkirk Luxx Control Air leads by 11 points (88 vs 77).

Which one should you buy?

Selkirk Luxx Control Air vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 FAQ

Which is better, the Selkirk Luxx Control Air or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16?

Selkirk Luxx Control Air carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.1 vs 84.1), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — Selkirk Luxx Control Air leads by 31 points.

Which one is faster at the kitchen line?

Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16, at 98 kg·cm² swing weight against 119 for Selkirk Luxx Control Air. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.

Which paddle has more power, the Selkirk Luxx Control Air or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16?

Selkirk Luxx Control Air measures 71 on power against 71 for Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16. That comes from a 20 mm X5 polypropylene core swinging at 119 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.

Which one gives more control and touch?

Selkirk Luxx Control Air at 94 versus 94. 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 Boomstik Widebody 16 scores 90 for spin off its Multistrata T700 Carbon face, against 84 for the Florek carbon face on Selkirk Luxx Control Air. In practice a 6-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.

Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?

Selkirk Luxx Control Air, with 6.6 twist weight against 6.5. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Selkirk Luxx Control Air carries the higher forgiveness score (87) as a result.

Is the price difference worth it?

Selkirk Luxx Control Air costs $250, $83 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 Luxx Control Air: 20 mm X5 polypropylene core with a Florek carbon face. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16: 16 mm BoomCore™ core with a Multistrata T700 Carbon face.

Which is better for a two-handed backhand?

Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16, at 5.6 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 Boomstik Widebody 16 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 Luxx Control Air rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.

Which is lighter in the hand?

Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 at 8.2 oz against 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (98 vs 119) is what you feel mid-rally.

Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 to the Selkirk Luxx Control Air?

Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Luxx Control Air leads on swing weight by 31 points; everything else is within 29 points. At $250 vs $333, 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.

• Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Labs Project 007 Epic 14
• Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Scorpeus 14
• Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Kinetic Pro Flight
• Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid

• Luxx Control Air vs Pursuit MX 6.0
• Luxx Control Air vs Double Black Diamond Control
• Luxx Control Air vs Quartz Control
• Luxx Control Air vs SLK Halo Control

Top alternatives to both

Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.

Read the full reviews: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 and Selkirk Luxx Control Air. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.