Selkirk LABS Project 007 Review: Seven Sessions With Selkirk's Experimental Power Paddle
Quick Answer
The Selkirk LABS Project 007 is a spin-and-power paddle for advanced players, and it is worth $219 if you already hit topspin drives and rolls with clean technique. The 14 mm polypropylene core and InfiniGrit carbon face give heavy bite and real pace. Newer players will find it less forgiving than the LUXX Control Air.
- Best for: 4.0 and above players who brush the ball, attack off the bounce and like a long handle for two-handed backhands
- Weight and shape: 7.9 to 8.4 oz (8.15 oz average), elongated Invikta, 16.4 in by 7.5 in, 5.5 in handle, 4.25 in grip, 14 mm core
- Price at Padelnox: $219
Key Takeaways
- LABS means experimental: Project 007 comes from Selkirk's research line, built for players who want the newest design ideas first.
- InfiniGrit is the headline: the gritty surface over a Florek carbon fiber face is what makes topspin dip and serves kick.
- Middle-thickness core: at 14 mm it sits between the 13 mm Vanguard Power Air and the 19 to 20 mm LUXX Control Air.
- Heaviest Invikta we stock: 7.9 to 8.4 oz with an 8.15 oz average, which adds stability and plow-through.
- Longest handle of our Invikta paddles: 5.5 in, a real plus for two-handed backhands.
Quick Links
- Seven sessions with the LABS Project 007
- The Project 007 spec explained
- Who should buy it and how to set it up
- LABS Project 007 vs alternatives
- Where to buy
- Frequently asked questions
Seven Sessions With the Selkirk LABS Project 007
I spend most of my coaching hours on padel courts, but I also coach pickleball at my US club, mostly crossover players and a small group of strong 4.0 regulars. One of those regulars bought a Project 007 and kept beating me with topspin rolls, so I ordered the Selkirk LABS Project 007 Invikta 14mm ($219) and played seven sessions with it. Same outdoor balls, same drilling partner, a fixed warm-up of dinks, drops and drives, then open play, with notes after each session.
Session 1: first contact
The first thing I felt was weight. Not heavy, but planted. At an 8.15 oz average it sits at the top of the Invikta range we stock, and the extra mass shows up as stability on blocks. The sound is firmer than the LUXX and quieter than the Vanguard. On my first few drives the ball came off with a lot of pace and a noticeable dip at the end of its flight.
Session 2: spin on serves and drives
I spent the session working spin. The InfiniGrit surface grips the ball hard. Topspin serves kicked up and away, and a sidespin serve to my partner's backhand pulled her off the court twice in one game. Topspin drives dipped into the feet rather than flying long, which meant I could swing harder with more margin than with a smooth face.
Session 3: dinks and third-shot drops
This is the honest part. The Project 007 is not a soft paddle. My dinks were fine once I kept them compact, but drops from the baseline needed more care than with a 20 mm core. Off-center drops near the tip jumped, and I put several into the middle of the kitchen where my partner could attack. A clean, brushed drop, on the other hand, landed short and spun away. The paddle rewards technique rather than covering for its absence.
Session 4: hands battles at the kitchen line
The weight and the 5.5 in handle earned their keep here. I could switch to a two-handed backhand for counters without my hands crowding each other, and the extra mass meant hard drives at my body did not knock the face back. It is a fraction slower to turn over than the lighter Vanguard Power Air, so in the very fastest exchanges I was occasionally late.
Session 5: topspin rolls from the kitchen
This is where the paddle shines. Rolling a low dink with topspin is the shot that separates 4.0 players from 3.5 players, and the Project 007 makes it feel easier. The ball climbed over the net and dropped sharply, which gave my partner nothing to attack. I hit more rolls in this session than in any session I can remember.
Sessions 6 and 7: arm comfort and the verdict
Two long open-play sessions back to back. My forearm was fine after each: firmer than the LUXX, kinder than I expected for a power paddle. My verdict on the Selkirk LABS Project 007: it is the most complete attacking paddle in our Selkirk range for a player who already brushes the ball. It is the wrong paddle for someone still learning to drop. For my padel crossover students, who are used to a forgiving foam-core racket, I would start elsewhere.
The Selkirk LABS Project 007 Spec Explained
We stock one version, the Invikta 14mm. Here is what each line of its spec sheet means on court.
What LABS means
LABS is Selkirk's research and development line. The brand uses it for experimental designs aimed at players who want new technology before it reaches the main range. Project 007 is one of those designs, built for power. Treat it as a performance paddle, not a starter.
Shape and size
It uses Selkirk's elongated Invikta shape: 16.4 in long, 7.5 in wide, with a 5.5 in handle and a 4.25 in grip circumference. The long face gives leverage on serves and drives. The 5.5 in handle is the longest of the Invikta paddles we carry, ahead of the 5.35 in LUXX and 5.25 in Vanguard. My Selkirk Invikta guide compares the shape across all three lines.
Core and face
The core is a 14 mm polypropylene honeycomb. That is thin enough to give pace and thick enough to keep some control on resets. The face is Florek carbon fiber with Selkirk's InfiniGrit surface, the same texture used on the LUXX Control Air InfiniGrit Invikta 19mm in Red ($219). The rim is edgeless, which keeps the outline clean but leaves the frame exposed to court scrapes.
Weight
The listed weight is 7.9 to 8.4 oz, with an 8.15 oz average. That is heavier than the Vanguard's 7.7 to 8.1 oz and slightly heavier at the top end than the LUXX's 7.9 to 8.3 oz. More mass means more stability on blocks and more plow-through on drives, at a small cost in hand speed.
Who Should Buy the LABS Project 007, and How to Set It Up
Buy it if you are a 4.0 or stronger player who drives with topspin, rolls dinks and wants one paddle that does both. Skip it if your main errors are pop-ups and long drops, or if you play once a week and want something forgiving.
- Check your spin first. If you do not already brush up on drives and rolls, InfiniGrit will not add much yet. A smooth control paddle teaches the soft game faster.
- Confirm the handle suits you. The 5.5 in handle is great for two-handers. One-handed players with small hands can choke up a little without losing reach.
- Size the grip. The listed circumference is 4.25 in. Add a thin overgrip for bigger hands, but keep it to one or two layers so the handle does not feel round and slippery.
- Do not add weight early. At an 8.15 oz average it is already the heaviest Invikta we stock. Play at least a month before adding any lead tape.
- Clean the face. InfiniGrit only works when it is clean. Wipe it with a damp cloth after play to remove dust and ball residue.
- Protect the rim. The edgeless design marks easily if you scrape low balls. Keep the paddle in a cover or a bag between sessions.
Selkirk LABS Project 007 vs the Alternatives
| Paddle | Shape | Weight | Core | Face | Price at Padelnox |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selkirk LABS Project 007 Invikta 14mm | Elongated (Invikta) | 7.9 - 8.4 oz (8.15 oz average) | Polypropylene honeycomb, 14 mm | Florek carbon fiber, InfiniGrit | $219 |
| Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invikta 13mm | Elongated (Invikta) | 7.7 - 8.1 oz | Polymer honeycomb, 13 mm | Fiberglass and carbon fiber hybrid | $219 |
| Selkirk LUXX Control Air InfiniGrit Invikta 19mm | Elongated (Invikta) | 7.9 - 8.3 oz | X7 Thickset honeycomb, 19 mm | Florek carbon fiber, InfiniGrit | $219 |
| CRBN 1X Power Series 12mm | Elongated | 7.8 - 8.1 oz (8.0 oz average) | Polypropylene honeycomb, 12 mm | Raw T700 carbon fiber | $159 |
| JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus | Elongated | 7.9 - 8.3 oz (8.1 oz average) | Honeycomb propulsion, hyper-foam edge wall | Textured carbon fiber | $219 |
The closest in-house alternative is the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invikta 13mm in Grey ($219): lighter, faster in the hands, less spin. My Vanguard Power Air review explains the difference, and the LUXX Control Air review covers the control side. Outside Selkirk, the CRBN 1X Power Series 12mm ($159) is the value power pick (see CRBN 1X vs 3X and the CRBN paddles), and the JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus ($219) is the spin-heavy rival from JOOLA. I compare the two JOOLA flagships in JOOLA Perseus vs Hyperion.
Where to Buy the Selkirk LABS Project 007
The Project 007 is listed in our Selkirk paddles collection next to the LUXX and Vanguard lines. Padelnox is a US-based online store shipping worldwide, with 221 frames and bags in stock. We sell genuine brand stock, never replicas, and every paddle is inspected before dispatch. Orders leave within 1 to 3 business days with tracking, and delivery takes 7 to 14 business days from dispatch.
The Project 007 costs $219, so it ships free and tracked (anything under $99 is $9.95 flat), and it includes the Court-Ready Kit: a free overgrip 3-pack plus frame protector with every racket over $150. You can send back an unused paddle in its original packaging within 30 days. Report damage or a wrong item with a photo within 7 days and we replace or refund it. Full terms sit on our shipping and returns page. Buy three or more items from accessories and 15% comes off automatically, and our bags collection has a carry bag to protect that edgeless rim. There is no public coupon code; the discount code page explains how offers apply.
Still weighing it up? Browse every pickleball paddle we stock, read my Selkirk pickleball paddle guide, or jump to the best pickleball paddles of 2026. Searched for a pickleball racket? That page explains why it is called a paddle. Questions about the Project 007 go to helppadelnox@outlook.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Selkirk LABS Project 007?
It is an experimental power paddle from Selkirk LABS, the brand's research and development line. The version we stock uses the elongated Invikta shape, a 14 mm polypropylene honeycomb core, a Florek carbon fiber face with InfiniGrit texture and an edgeless rim. It weighs 7.9 to 8.4 oz, with an 8.15 oz average, and has a 5.5 in handle. At Padelnox it costs $219.
Is the LABS Project 007 good for intermediate players?
It suits strong intermediates who already hit topspin and play often. If you are a 3.5 still working on drops and resets, the 14 mm core and grippy face will punish off-center soft shots more than a thick control paddle. In that case start with the LUXX Control Air Invikta 20mm, then move to the Project 007 once your rolls and brushed drives are consistent.
Project 007 vs Vanguard Power Air: which is better?
Neither is better overall; they suit different attackers. The Project 007 is heavier, at 7.9 to 8.4 oz, with an InfiniGrit carbon face for spin and a longer 5.5 in handle. The Vanguard Power Air is lighter, at 7.7 to 8.1 oz, with a 13 mm core and a hybrid face for flat pace and faster hands. Pick the 007 for topspin, the Vanguard for speed.