Selkirk Paddles Reviewed: Pickleball Champs or Not?

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Are you a pickleball player who’s looking to upgrade to a higher-quality paddle? If so, you’ve probably heard about Selkirk paddles.

Although they haven’t been around for very long, they’ve already become one of the most popular brands in the pickleball paddle market. So have these products earned their newfound reputation, or do they fail to live up to the hype?

Obviously, you have a few questions that you need to answer before buying one of these paddles. What do they have to offer? Do they live up to their promises? How much do they cost? How do they compare to other popular pickleball paddles? And of course, what are Selkirk paddles anyway?

What Are Selkirk Paddles?

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Selkirk paddles began in 2013 as a family-owned business in Idaho. They take their name from the nearby Selkirk

mountain range. All of their products are made within a single 6,000 square foot facility. Despite the fact that they’ve only been making pickleball paddles for a short time, they’ve made a name for themselves as a brand to be reckoned with.

In fact, Selkirk paddles can be seen in the hands of many professional pickleball players today. These include Tyson McGuffin, Morgan Evans, Kaitlyn Christian, Cammy MacGregor, and many others. This makes them an intriguing choice for newer pickleball players looking to up their game.

What Else Should You Know About Selkirk Paddles?

Naturally, there are a few other things you need to know about Selkirk paddles before making a decision. Here are a few other useful facts about this brand.

How does Selkirk set itself apart from the competition?

Even though they’ve only been in the pickleball game for a few years, Selkirk paddles are on the cutting edge of paddle technology. Much of what they do is geared toward one particular goal. That goal is to combine both power and control.

Part of how they achieve that goal is with the unique materials they use to construct their paddles. As you’ll see below, many of their most popular models make use of a fiberglass face and a polypropylene polymer core. This keeps the paddles light while also giving them plenty of pop when you hit the ball.

In addition to this, Selkirk paddles are also well-known for their colorful and stylish graphics. While this might not be extremely important to everyone, it’s hard to deny that it feels good to walk on the court with a paddle you can show off. These paddles look cool, and they can make you feel cool as well.

What are some of Selkirk’s most popular models?

There are a few Selkirk paddles that stand out from the rest. One of these is the Selkirk Epic from the ever popular Amped series. This series features new technology to give the paddle a larger sweet spot.

This particular paddle has a Fiberflex fiberglass face, an X5 polypropylene polymer core, and a unique unibody design. All of these things add up to more power and more control. It has an average weight of 7.9 to 8.3 ounces. Customers on Amazon gave this paddle 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Another potential choice is the Selkirk S2. This paddle is from Selkirk’s Prime series, which are essentially remakes of some of their older paddles.

The Selkirk S2 has a weight of 7.4 to 7.8 ounces and a grip length of 4.5 inches. Unlike the Selkirk Epic, the Selkirk S2 uses an X4 core rather than X5. While the X5 is the latest technology, the X4 makes this paddle somewhat more affordable. It has 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Finally, we have the Selkirk Invikta. This paddle was designed alongside pickleball champion Tyson McGuffin.

It has an average weight of 7.4 to 7.8 ounces and a grip length of 5 inches. Like the Selkirk Epic, it has a Fiberflex face and an X5 polymer core. It also combines an elongated surface with a large sweet spot. It currently has 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

What do its customers think?

Most customers have absolutely raved about these paddles. Of course, Selkirk’s goal of combining power with lightweight paddles might sound too good to be true.

That said, many customers confirmed that this is precisely what these paddles do. Many were pleasantly surprised at how much power they were able to generate from such a light paddle.

Customers also said that the grip feels amazing on these paddles. Many described it as incredibly comfortable, and it made them feel like they had more control.

Several of the customers who tried Selkirk paddles were transitioning from beginner paddles. As such, they felt it was exactly what they needed to take their game to the next level.

Unfortunately, there is one common complaint about these paddles. Several people felt that the area around the sweet spot feels dead.

While sweet spot itself has a great pop, the surrounding area tends to fall flat. And depending on the model you choose, the sweet spot could be pretty small. Also, there were a handful of customers who complained about these paddles being a bit noisy.

How Much Do Selkirk Paddles Cost?

Depending on the model you choose, Selkirk paddles can cost anywhere from $50 to $160. Their least expensive paddles are fairly average in terms of price. However, their higher-end models are pretty expensive as far as pickleball paddles.

Nonetheless, you won’t find very many people complaining about the price. Most customers agree that the quality of these paddles makes them worth the extra cost.

You can buy Selkirk paddles online at their official website. They’re also available at Amazon, Pickleball Central, and Total Pickleball. Additionally, you can find Selkirk paddles in person at Dick’s Sporting Goods and many other sporting goods stores around the country.

How We Reviewed

In these reviews, we used the products’ official websites and Amazon as our primary sources of information. Pickleball Central was also used on occasion. Additionally, our opinions were most informed by customer reviews from sites such as Amazon and Pickleball Central.

When comparing these products to Selkirk paddles, we chose to focus on aspects such as power, control, grip, the size of the sweet spot, and overall quality. Of course, the price was also a major factor in these reviews.

How Do They Compare to Other Pickleball Paddles?

It should come as no surprise that Selkirk paddles have some very stiff competition. Let’s take a closer look at how they compare to some of the other big pickleball names out there.

Onix Z5

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The Onix Z5 is one of the world’s most popular pickleball paddles. That’s because it offers a ton of power while still maintaining an impressive amount of control. This is partially thanks to its Nomex honeycomb core and composite face.

Its handle is also similar to that of a tennis racket, which makes it a smooth transition for tennis players who are new to pickleball. Furthermore, it utilizes a wide body shape that gives it an extra large sweet spot. It has an average weight of 7.8 to 8.2 ounces.

Customer reviews for this paddle have been very enthusiastic. Most customers said it felt great in their hands. They believed it gave them greater control over the ball, and they loved its lightweight and large sweet spot.

Complaints were few and far between. However, a few customers did notice that the surface wears away in a relatively short amount of time. Also, some people felt that you can find paddles of similar quality that are much less expensive.

Speaking of which, an Onix Z5 costs between $60 and $100. This is actually somewhat cheaper than some of the best Selkirk paddles.

Overall, the Onix Z5 has earned its reputation. It’s a very solid contender that gives Selkirk paddles a run for their money. Deciding which one is superior will primarily come down to personal preference. The Onix Z5 has 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

Rally NX

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The Rally NX is an excellent paddle with a very affordable price. Its Nomex honeycomb core and graphite face give it a great blend of power and control.

This paddle also has a Winn Dry Grip that helps the paddle fit comfortably in your hands while minimizing slippage. On top of all this, it has an XL head size that gives it an extra large sweet spot. This paddle has an average weight of 7.4 to 8 ounces.

Most customers have been happy with this product. They loved how light it was, and they were pleasantly surprised by how much power it had. They also felt the grip was extremely comfortable, and they never had to worry about it slipping out of their hands.

Unfortunately, some customers felt that these paddles are very low-quality. In particular, several of them had problems with it breaking off at the handle.

The Rally NX will cost between $50 and $130. Again, this is potentially less expensive than some Selkirk paddles.

However, you do have to question their quality. Even though they’re less expensive, Selkirk paddles tend to be much more dependable. This paddle has 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

Paddletek Bantam EX-L

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The Paddletek Bantam EX-L is a good paddle for intermediate to advanced players. One unique feature is its Advanced ProPolyCore 2. This particular core uses vibration dampening technology.

The paddle also combines an extra large playing surface with balanced weight distribution. This gives you more power without sacrificing too much control. Finally, this paddle features an ultra cushion textured grip that makes it comfortable to hold. It has an average weight of 7.8 to 8.3 ounces.

Many customers chose this paddle after outgrowing their beginner paddles. As such, they felt this was a very noticeable upgrade in terms of power. Even though it’s a bit on the heavier side, they still had an excellent level of control.

On the downside, some customers had issues with the grip. They said there’s too much of a bump at the top and bottom of the handle. Also, some customers simply expected a higher quality paddle for the price.

In terms of price, this paddle will cost between $90 and $150. This is more or less comparable to Selkirk paddles.

The Paddletek Bantam EX-L might be a legitimate choice if you’re looking for something a little heavier. If not, then Selkirk paddles are still an excellent option. The Paddletek Bantam EX-L has 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

Gamma Voltage 2.0

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The Gamma Voltage 2.0 is the newest version of one of Gamma’s most famous paddles. It is believed to be the fastest paddle in the Gamma lineup. This paddle features an aramid honeycomb core that gives it an impressive blend of power and control.

Additionally, it has a four-inch honeycomb grip that absorbs sweat and prevents slipping. Finally, it has an 8-1/8 inch graphite face with a very large sweet spot. These paddles have an average weight of 7.4 to 7.8 ounces.

One thing customers loved about this paddle was its textured surface. This gives it a considerable amount of spin and control. They also appreciated how light and well-balanced it is.

That being said, there have also been numerous complaints about the lack of pop on this paddle. Many people simply felt it didn’t have as much power as similarly priced paddles. Several also had problems with it falling apart after a short time.

These paddles cost between $40 and $125. Once again, it’s potentially much cheaper than Selkirk paddles.

Although they’re less expensive, they don’t have the same amount of pop. Selkirk paddles generally have a better balance between power and control. The Gamma Voltage 2.0 has 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

Is This the Pickleball Paddle Brand for You?

By now, you should have a good idea of what Selkirk paddles have to offer. They’re on the cutting edge of pickleball paddle technology, and they’re a rising star in the market for good reason.

There are several great models to choose from, all of which offer a seamless combination of weight, power, and control. And of course, they have excellent grip as well. If you’re looking to transition from a beginner paddle, then this could be what you’re looking for.

The only thing that might make you hesitate is the price. As you’ve undoubtedly noticed, the best Selkirk paddles can be a bit expensive.

But once again, few customers have actually complained about the price. This should tell you something about the level of quality you can expect from these products. They might be a bit pricey, but Selkirk paddles are nonetheless one of the top brands on the market today.