Selkirk LUXX Control Air Review
Consensus score
Selkirk charges $280 for a paddle that speed guns clock in the 4th percentile for power. That is either insane or the most honest control paddle ever made. It's the second one. The LUXX Control Air with InfiniGrit is the touch-play king: plush at the kitchen, spin that actually lasts, and just enough counterpunch to keep you honest. Street price is $200 now, which is the price it should have been all along.
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. Our rankings are never influenced by commissions or brand partnerships. Consensus score 86/100 (Excellent) — aggregated Oct 2026 from editorial and measured consensus; owner-rating coverage is thin — how we rank.
The consensus verdict
Best for
Control-first doubles players who live at the kitchen. Dinks, drops, resets, blocks. If your game is touch and you're tired of raw-carbon grit wearing off in two months, InfiniGrit is the answer.
Not for
Power players. The speed gun doesn't lie: 54.2 MPH serve exit, 4th percentile. You supply all the pace with this paddle, and reviewers are blunt that drive-first players should look elsewhere.
Consensus 86/100 · Excellent
Weighted from Pickleheads sub-scores (~8.7 average on the original), PickleballPaddlesCanada 7.8 average on the InfiniGrit version, measured spin of ~1,900–2,000 RPM, and unanimous touch-play praise. Docked for the power deficit and the $280 MSRP. Coverage note: no big-sample owner rating exists, so this score leans on editorial and measured consensus.
Which version is this?
This review covers the current LUXX Control Air with InfiniGrit (2025, 19mm core). The original 2023 version had a 20mm core and ProSpin+ paint grit and is being cleared out at retailers. Make sure you're buying the InfiniGrit version.
Specs
| MSRP | $280 (InfiniGrit version); street price ~$199.99 at major retailers |
|---|---|
| Shape | Invikta (elongated) 16.4" × 7.5" · Epic (standard) 15.85" × 7.85" |
| Thickness | 19mm |
| Face | Florek Carbon Fiber with InfiniGrit texture (Selkirk claims 3x the spin durability of raw carbon) |
| Core | X7 Thikset polypropylene honeycomb, FlexFoam perimeter injection, edgeless 360° molding; EVA foam in throat and handle |
| Weight | 7.9–8.3 oz |
| Handle | 5.35" (Invikta) / 5.25" (Epic) · 4.25" Selkirk Geo Grip |
| Measured (third-party) | Spin ~1,900–2,000 RPM; serve exit 54.2 MPH (4th percentile); pop 35.3 MPH (7th percentile) |
| Approval | USAP approved |
| Included | Paddle only; limited lifetime warranty when registered |
Specs from Selkirk and retailer listings; measured figures from independent reviewer lab data (unit-to-unit variance applies). Clean InfiniGrit with microfiber, soap, and water only. Do not use a raw-carbon eraser block.
What reviewers agree on
Strengths
- Elite kitchen touch. Plush, dwell-heavy, predictable on dinks, drops, blocks, and resets. The single most repeated praise across every review of this paddle.
- Forgiving sweet spot. The FlexFoam perimeter does real work. Mishits stay controlled instead of flying. Reviewers call it a highlight, not a footnote.
- Spin that lasts. Measured ~1,900–2,000 RPM, and InfiniGrit is Selkirk's direct answer to raw-carbon grit fade. If you've watched spin die on other paddles in two months, this is the fix.
- More offense than expected. More counterpunch and easier power than the original LUXX. It's still a control paddle, but it's not helpless when you need to finish.
- Vibration dampening. EVA foam in the throat and handle cuts vibration. Long-session comfort is real, and arm-sensitive players notice.
Weaknesses & caveats
- Still not a power paddle. The speed-gun numbers are stark: 4th-percentile serve speed, 7th-percentile pop. Everything in this paddle was traded for control.
- Average edge stability. Low twist weight plus the edgeless design means off-center hits twist more than stiffer alternatives. Cleaner contact required.
- The price. $280 MSRP is hard to defend and reviewers keep saying so, pointing at similar control blends for much less. The $200 street price is the fair number.
- Adjustment period. The ultra-soft feel takes time if you're coming from a firmer paddle. Give it two weeks before you judge it.
- Lacks snap for fast exchanges. Reviewers note it doesn't have the flick-speed for rapid-fire kitchen battles that some competitors do.
Synthesized from measured lab reviews (Pickleball Effect), scored reviews (Pickleheads, Pickleball Studio), detailed written reviews, and thin owner-review pools. How we rank →
Who it's for
Who it's for
- Control-first doubles players whose game lives at the kitchen line
- Players transitioning from firmer paddles who want plush, arm-friendly feel
- Spin-reliant players tired of raw-carbon grit wearing off
Who should skip it
- Power-first singles players and aggressive baseliners — the Vanguard Power Air is Selkirk's answer for you
- Budget buyers — even at $200 street it's premium
- Players wanting snap for fast kitchen flicks and rapid exchanges
Pro usage
Jack Sock, verified. Selkirk sells an official Jack Sock Signature LUXX Control Air, and Selkirk's blog lists Sock competing on Team Selkirk at 2026 PPA events. Pro tracker →
Where to buy
MSRP $280, but street price is ~$199.99 at JustPaddles — don't pay full retail. This link is the Invikta; the Epic shape is there too. Confirm it's the InfiniGrit version (19mm).
← Best paddles $200+ · Raw carbon explained · Vanguard Power Air review
LUXX Control Air FAQs
InfiniGrit vs original?
InfiniGrit is the 2025 update: new longer-lasting surface, 19mm core (was 20mm), EVA foam in the handle. Same $280 MSRP.
Good for beginners?
Mixed. The Epic shape is forgiving; the Invikta is less so. Really aimed at intermediate-to-advanced control players.
Enough offense?
More than expected, but measured pop is 7th percentile. You swing hard to finish points.