Selkirk Vanguard Power Air vs Six Zero Quartz Control
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Six Zero Quartz Control takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Six Zero Quartz Control wins this matchup for most players: it takes control, forgiveness, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air, which costs $250.
Power
92 vs 78
Spin
Too close to call
90 vs 88
Control
93 vs 78
Forgiveness
91 vs 71
Hand speed
108 vs 114 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$190 at IQ 88 vs $250 at IQ 78.4
Overall pick: Six Zero Quartz Control · $190 · IQ 88
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 92Power78
- 78Control93
- 88Spin90
- 71Forgiveness91
- 73Sweet spot92
- 76Stability90
- 79Maneuverability82
- 93Pop72
- 74Touch92
- 79Consistency91
- 68Swing weight68
- 62Twist weight90
- 61Launch angle50
- 84Plow through72
- 58Softness89
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air vs Six Zero Quartz Control specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Selkirk Vanguard Power Air | Six Zero Quartz Control |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $250 | $190 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 78.4 | 88 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 114 | 108 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.6 | 7.2 — better |
| Shape | elongated | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16.4 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.4 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Quadcarbon face | Raw carbon friction |
| Core material | X5 polypropylene | Thermoformed polymer |
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.
Six Zero Quartz Control verdict
A control build in the Double Black Diamond tradition, only lighter and quicker. Twist weight and sweet spot are the standouts; power is deliberately mid-pack.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: Six Zero Quartz Control scores 89 against 58 for Selkirk Vanguard Power Air — a 31-point gap. They are effectively level on maneuverability, spin, swing weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Six Zero Quartz Control is $60 cheaper at $190.
Softness
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 31 points (89 vs 58).
Twist weight
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 28 points (90 vs 62).
Pop
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads by 21 points (93 vs 72).
Forgiveness
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 20 points (91 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
Six Zero Quartz Control
Six Zero Quartz Control is the clearer pick at this level — forgiveness 91 vs 71, sweet spot 92 vs 73, twist weight 90 vs 62. Twist weight 7.2 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Six Zero Quartz Control
Six Zero Quartz Control is the clearer pick at this level — control 93 vs 78, forgiveness 91 vs 71, touch 92 vs 74. At 108 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Forgiveness
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.5 vs 84.2 on the weighted index). Take Six Zero Quartz Control and keep the $60.
- Touch
- Control
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Six Zero Quartz Control
Six Zero Quartz Control is the clearer pick at this level — softness 89 vs 58, forgiveness 91 vs 71, twist weight 90 vs 62. Its 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air
Take Selkirk Vanguard Power Air if you want pop (+21), power (+14), plow through (+12). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air review →Six Zero Quartz Control
Take Six Zero Quartz Control if you want softness (+31), twist weight (+28), forgiveness (+20). Its swing weight of 108 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Six Zero Quartz Control review →Selkirk Vanguard Power Air vs Six Zero Quartz Control FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air or the Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Six Zero Quartz Control carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (88 vs 78.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 31 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Six Zero Quartz Control, at 108 kg·cm² swing weight against 114 for Selkirk Vanguard Power Air. 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 Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air scores 92 for power against 78 for Six Zero Quartz Control. That comes from a 14 mm X5 polypropylene core swinging at 114 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Six Zero Quartz Control at 93 versus 78. 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?
- Six Zero Quartz Control scores 90 for spin off its Raw carbon friction face, against 88 for the Quadcarbon face on Selkirk Vanguard Power Air. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Six Zero Quartz Control, with the higher forgiveness score (91 vs 71). Its 7.2 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?
- Six Zero Quartz Control costs $190, $60 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. Six Zero Quartz Control: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw carbon friction face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air, at 5.5 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 Vanguard Power Air avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Six Zero Quartz Control is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 91 and sweet spot 92 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both are listed at 7.9 oz, though swing weight differs (114 vs 108) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air to the Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Six Zero Quartz Control leads on softness by 31 points; everything else is within 28 points. At $250 vs $190, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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Read the full reviews: Selkirk Vanguard Power Air and Six Zero Quartz Control. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.