Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air 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 Vanguard 2.0 Invikta edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (84.7 vs 83.6), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
82 vs 74
Spin
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
86 vs 82
Control
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
95 vs 90
Forgiveness
84 vs 80
Hand speed
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
116 vs 120 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$180 at IQ 84.7 vs $200 at IQ 83.6
Overall pick: Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta · $180 · IQ 84.7
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 82Power74
- 90Control95
- 82Spin86
- 84Forgiveness80
- 84Sweet spot82
- 88Stability84
- 70Maneuverability72
- 76Pop66
- 90Touch94
- 90Consistency90
- 78Swing weight74
- 84Twist weight78
- 48Launch angle44
- 86Plow through82
- 84Softness88
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta | Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $180 — better | $200 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.7 — better | 83.6 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.4 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 19.8 | 19.05 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 120 | 116 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.5 — better | 6.2 |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.375 | 7.375 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | FiberFlex fiberglass | Quadcarbon woven carbon fiber |
| Core material | X5 polypropylene honeycomb | X5 polypropylene honeycomb |
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.
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta verdict
The softest premium elongated paddle in the database. The thick Quadcarbon build absorbs pace so completely that resets from mid-court land in the kitchen almost by default.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is pop: Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta scores 76 against 66 for Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta — a 10-point gap. They are effectively level on sweet spot, maneuverability, consistency, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta is $20 cheaper at $180.
Pop
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads by 10 points (76 vs 66).
Power
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads by 8 points (82 vs 74).
Twist weight
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads by 6 points (84 vs 78).
Control
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta leads by 5 points (95 vs 90).
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 — forgiveness 84 vs 80, twist weight 84 vs 78, stability 88 vs 84. Twist weight 6.5 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.3 vs 84.2 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta and keep the $20.
- Control
- Spin
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.5 vs 83.5 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta and keep the $20.
- Spin
- Touch
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84 vs 84 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta and keep the $20.
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta
Take Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta if you want pop (+10), power (+8), twist weight (+6). 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 Vanguard Control Air Invikta
Take Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta if you want control (+5), spin (+4), touch (+4). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 19.05 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta review →Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta or the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta?
- Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.7 vs 83.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — pop — Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads by 10 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta, at 116 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 Vanguard 2.0 Invikta or the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta?
- Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta scores 82 for power against 74 for Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta. 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 Control Air Invikta at 95 versus 90. Its 19.05 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 Control Air Invikta scores 86 for spin off its Quadcarbon woven carbon fiber face, against 82 for the FiberFlex fiberglass face on Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta. In practice a 4-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta, with the higher forgiveness score (84 vs 80). Its 6.5 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 Vanguard 2.0 Invikta costs $180, $20 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 2.0 Invikta: 19.8 mm X5 polypropylene honeycomb core with a FiberFlex fiberglass face. Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta: 19.05 mm X5 polypropylene honeycomb core with a Quadcarbon woven carbon fiber 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 Vanguard Control Air Invikta rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta at 8 oz against 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (116 vs 120) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta to the Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads on pop by 10 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $180 vs $200, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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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 Control Air Invikta vs LUXX Control Air Invikta
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Tempest Pro C 16
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Pursuit MX 6.0
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Pursuit Pro EX 16
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 Vanguard 2.0 Invikta and Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta and Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.