Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 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 Boomstik Widebody 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin, control and hand speed on Paddle DNA against the Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta, which costs $180.
Power
82 vs 71
Spin
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16
90 vs 82
Control
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16
94 vs 90
Forgiveness
Too close to call
84 vs 82
Hand speed
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16
98 vs 120 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$180 at IQ 84.7 vs $333 at IQ 84.1
Overall pick: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 · $333 · IQ 84.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 71Power82
- 94Control90
- 90Spin82
- 82Forgiveness84
- 81Sweet spot84
- 84Stability88
- 97Maneuverability70
- 70Pop76
- 92Touch90
- 87Consistency90
- 47Swing weight78
- 77Twist weight84
- 46Launch angle48
- 59Plow through86
- 90Softness84
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 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 Boomstik Widebody 16 | Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $333 | $180 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.1 | 84.7 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.2 | 8.4 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 19.8 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 98 | 120 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.5 | 6.5 |
| Shape | standard | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 15.95 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.375 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.6 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Multistrata T700 Carbon | FiberFlex fiberglass |
| Core material | BoomCore™ | X5 polypropylene honeycomb |
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 verdict
The widebody Boomstik keeps BoomCore's power but spreads it across a 15.95 x 8.0 in face, which is the most forgiving version of Selkirk's flagship platform.
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 47 for Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 — a 31-point gap. They are effectively level on sweet spot, consistency, forgiveness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta is $153 cheaper at $180.
Swing weight
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads by 31 points (78 vs 47).
Maneuverability
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 leads by 27 points (97 vs 70).
Plow through
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads by 27 points (86 vs 59).
Power
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads by 11 points (82 vs 71).
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 a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 84 vs 77, sweet spot 84 vs 81, stability 88 vs 84. Twist weight 6.5 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Sweet spot
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 is the clearer pick at this level — maneuverability 97 vs 70, spin 90 vs 82, control 94 vs 90. At 98 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Maneuverability
- Spin
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (82.6 vs 83.5 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta and keep the $153.
- Plow through
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.5 vs 84 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta and keep the $153.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16
Take Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 if you want maneuverability (+27), spin (+8), softness (+6). Its swing weight of 98 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 review →Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta
Take Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta if you want swing weight (+31), plow through (+27), power (+11). 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 Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 or the Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta?
- Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.7 vs 84.1), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta 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 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 Boomstik Widebody 16 or the Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta?
- Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta scores 82 for power against 71 for Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16. 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 Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 at 94 versus 90. 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?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 scores 90 for spin off its Multistrata T700 Carbon 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 82). Twist weight is identical at 6.5, so the gap comes from sweet-spot size and face stability rather than resistance to twisting.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta costs $180, $153 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 Boomstik Widebody 16: 16 mm BoomCore™ core with a Multistrata T700 Carbon 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?
- 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 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 Boomstik Widebody 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable 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 120) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 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 31 points; everything else is within 27 points. At $333 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.
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- Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Luxx Control Air
- Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs GX2 Integra XL
- Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Quartz Control
- Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs Vanguard Control Air Invikta
- Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 vs LUXX Control Air Invikta
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
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- 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 Boomstik Widebody 16 and Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16 and Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.