Selkirk Amped Pro Air: My In-Depth Thoughts

They definitely delivered us the prettiest all-court paddle on the market

(Image Credit: Dennis Rodriguez)

First Look

It is no secret that Selkirk makes very good looking paddles. They offer a variety of colors in many of their paddles and the new Amped Pro Air is no different. It is offered in a variety of colors including neon green, grey, sky blue, red, and purple. The edgeless design is definitely appealing as far as aesthetics go. Personally I prefer an edge guard which adds some weight as well as stability to the paddle. I am more of a minimalist when it comes to my paddles and prefer the look of a raw carbon face but if you enjoy a bit of flair in your paddles, the Selkirk Amped Pro Air is definitely a head turner. It feels well balanced and definitely cuts through the air making flicks much easier to execute. The average swing weight of both paddle shapes (Invikta & Epic) was around 115 which definitely contributes to those improved flicks and fast hands.

(Image Credit: Dennis Rodriguez)

My Experience

Consistency & Accuracy

So, although this would not be my paddle of choice, I applaud Selkirk on finally coming out with a paddle that I really would consider an all-court. I was able to generate plenty of power while still maintaining a generous amount of control when using the Amped Pro. I tested both the Invikta (elongated) shape as well as the Epic (standard) shape. Both were great paddles overall with the Epic offering a slightly bigger sweet spot and increased twist weight. Adding a bit of lead tape to the sides did help increase that stability that I felt the Invikta shape was missing. If you like that feel you got from the original Power Air, the Amped Pro Air feels very similar. It is definitely a different feeling when comparing it to more traditional Raw Carbon faced paddles. I used to say it feels almost like you’re hitting with a piece of plywood (take that description with a grain of salt haha).

Power

The power and pop of the Amped Pro Air was more than sufficient in my opinion. I felt very comfortable generating power from the baseline during drives and serves. While the pop of the paddle was not quite as quick off the face as the 13mm Power Air, for a 16mm paddle I was pretty impressed with the Pro Air’s pop. Pop is becoming such an important aspect in today’s playing style because of how fast the game is getting. Too much pop and you begin to lose control, too little and you begin to lose speed at the kitchen line. Selkirk found the sweet spot when it comes to pop with the Amped Pro Air making it suitable for just about any player, beginner to pro.

Spin

While I was very happy with the amount of spin I was able to generate with the Amped Pro Air, my only real concern is that Selkirk is still using paint on grit for their paddles. In past experiences, this type of grit tends to wear out quicker. For $180, I would hope that my paddle would last longer than a few months and paint on grit is definitely not helping with that. The Invikta paddle was the primary paddle I was testing because it seems like most people prefer the elongated shape over the standard shape. I was getting around 1900 rpm which, while not the highest spin rate, is still a relatively good number overall. After a month or so of playing with the paddle I have noticed that number drop closer to 1800 which tells me that the paint grit is still wearing out faster than other grit types.

Defense To Offense

As I stated earlier, this is definitely an all-court paddle. Because of that, transitioning from defense to offense was not an issue for me. I am noticing this more and more in my paddle testing. Many companies seem to be focusing on this all-court design which is definitely making players feel more comfortable while in the transition zone. The Amped Pro Air offered me just the right amount of pop and control to make resets feel effortless. As they say, “points are won at the kitchen”, and the Pro Air definitely helps its players get there.

Feedback & Feel

Overall I enjoyed the feel of the Amped Pro Air much more than I did with the Power Air. Due to that 16mm design, there is definitely a bit more dwell time on contact which adds to that control. I thought that the sweet spot was better on these paddles as well and felt that it was more than enough. The Epic shape definitely has a larger sweet spot and is a bit more forgiving but I felt that I got better feedback from the Invikta shape. You really notice when you’re not hitting the center of the face. If you like that “hollow” type feel similar to a Gearbox or Selkirk’s original Power Air, then you will most likely enjoy the feel of the Amped Pro Air. I personally don’t, but to each their own.

Looks & Design

There is no denying, this paddle is a very good looking paddle and the fact that it is offered in so many colors only makes it more appealing. If looks are what you are after, it is extremely hard to beat Selkirk. The edgeless design really does add to the clean look of the paddle but it sacrifices things like paddle stability and higher twist weights. The open throat design is something that originally caught the eye of many players but it has proven to be more of a distraction or even a gimmick, than a benefit. I’m sure it makes the paddle lighter but I’ve found that many players, including myself, end up adding weight anyway to help with plow through and stability.

(Image Credit: Dennis Rodriguez)

Overall Experience

I was extremely happy to see that Selkirk has finally come out with an all-court paddle. The last all-court paddle they had was their Halo series which was a pretty basic Gen 1 raw carbon paddle. For so long they have been focused on either power paddles (Power Air & 002), or control paddles (Vanguard Control & LUXX). If I were to play a Selkirk paddle, the Amped Pro Air would most likely be my paddle of choice, offering a nice blend of both power and control. Selkirk paddles are made in the US, offer an incredible warranty and great customer service, and are obviously beautiful paddles. If these features are important to you, you really can’t go wrong with Selkirk. This is personal preference but for $180, I do feel there are better all-court paddles on the market that offer a longer lasting grit and an overall better playing experience.