Selkirk vs JOOLA: Which Pickleball Paddle Brand Is Right for You?

By Tomás Reyes, FIP-Certified Padel Coach
Published 2026-07-09 · Last updated September 2026

Quick Answer

Key Takeaways

• Price is not the tiebreaker: the Selkirk and JOOLA paddles compared here all cost $219 at Padelnox.
• Selkirk gives you a clearer choice: the 20 mm LUXX and 13 mm Vanguard are at opposite ends of the feel spectrum.
• JOOLA's signature pair is closer together: the Perseus and Hyperion share the same published dimensions and core description.
• Weights overlap almost completely: Selkirk's LUXX and JOOLA's signature paddles both list 7.9 to 8.3 oz.
• Face texture differs in feel: Selkirk's InfiniGrit feels gritty, while JOOLA's textured carbon feels grippy but smoother.

Quick Links

• The short version
• Selkirk vs JOOLA head-to-head
• On court with both brands
• Who should pick which
• Where to buy
• FAQ

Selkirk vs JOOLA: The Short Version

I get asked "Selkirk or JOOLA?" by pickleball players the way padel players ask me "NOX or Bullpadel?". The honest answer in both cases is that the brand matters less than the specific paddle. Still, the two brands do have personalities, and knowing them saves you time.

Selkirk is a US pickleball brand whose range splits by purpose. The LUXX Control Air is its soft-game paddle, with a thick X7 honeycomb core. The Vanguard Power Air is its attacking paddle, with a 13 mm core and a livelier hybrid face. The LABS line, such as Project 007, is where Selkirk tries new ideas.

JOOLA came to pickleball from table tennis, and its paddles lean toward spin and feel. Its two signature paddles in our range are the Ben Johns Perseus and the Simone Jardim Hyperion. Both are elongated, carbon-faced and averaging 8.1 oz. The Pro Carbon Paddle editions give you the JOOLA face without a player's name on it.

So the short version is this. If you know whether you are a control player or a power player, Selkirk gives you a paddle built exactly for that. If you want one paddle that attacks with spin from anywhere on the court, JOOLA is the more natural fit. For the longer brand stories, read my guides to Selkirk pickleball paddles and JOOLA pickleball paddles.

What the two brands have in common

It helps to know how much overlap there is before you agonize. Every Selkirk and JOOLA paddle with a published spec sheet in our range is elongated, carbon-faced and weighs within a few tenths of an ounce of 8 oz. None of them is a bad paddle. The Selkirk vs JOOLA question is really a question about feel: how thick a core you want, and how much the face should grab the ball. When a student cannot decide, I hand them one of each for a doubles session and ask which one made their third shot easier. That answer usually settles it faster than any spec sheet.

Selkirk vs JOOLA Head-to-Head: The Specs

Every figure below comes from the manufacturer specification sheets we hold. JOOLA does not publish core thickness on the sheet we have for the Perseus and Hyperion, and we have no full sheet for the Pro Carbon editions, so those cells stay empty rather than guessed.

Paddle	Shape	Weight	Core	Face	Price at Padelnox
Selkirk LUXX Control Air Invikta 20mm	Elongated (Invikta)	7.9 - 8.3 oz	X7 Thickset honeycomb, 20 mm	Florek carbon fiber	$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
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invikta 13mm	Elongated (Invikta)	7.7 - 8.1 oz	Polymer honeycomb, 13 mm	Fiberglass and carbon fiber hybrid	$219
JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus	Elongated	7.9 - 8.3 oz (8.1 oz average)	Honeycomb propulsion, hyper-foam edge wall	Textured carbon fiber	$219
JOOLA Simone Jardim Hyperion	Elongated	7.9 - 8.3 oz (8.1 oz average)	Honeycomb propulsion, hyper-foam edge wall	Textured carbon fiber	$219
JOOLA Pro Carbon Paddle, Edition A or B	-	-	-	-	$219

A few details the table does not show. The Selkirk LUXX lists a 16.4 in length, 7.5 in width and a 5.35 in handle. The JOOLA signature paddles list 16.5 in by 7.5 in with a 5.5 in handle. So the JOOLA paddles are a fraction longer with a slightly longer handle, which helps players who hit two-handed backhands. The InfiniGrit LUXX is the only paddle here with a published swingweight: 113 average.

On Court With Both: Five Weeks of Selkirk vs JOOLA

I ran this comparison in blocks. One week on a Selkirk, one week on a JOOLA, then swap, with the same drilling partner and the same outdoor balls every time. I kept notes after each session, the same way I review padel rackets.

Week 1: LUXX Control Air, Jack Sock Signature

I started with the Selkirk LUXX Control Air Invikta 20mm Jack Sock Signature ($219). Quiet, plush and very stable. Dink rallies felt almost lazy, in a good way, because the ball kept dying in the kitchen. Hard drives into my body were easy to absorb. The downside was on attackable balls: I had to swing properly to finish, because the thick core does not give you free pace.

Week 2: JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus

Switching to the JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus ($219) was the biggest jump of the test. The ball comes off quicker and the textured face lets you roll dinks with real topspin. Counters in fast exchanges felt crisp. My resets from mid-court needed more care in the first two sessions, since the Perseus gives back more energy than the LUXX.

Week 3: Selkirk Vanguard Power Air

The Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invikta in Rose/Navy ($219) is the paddle I would put against the Perseus for pure attack. It felt a little more explosive on flat drives and slightly less grippy on rolled dinks. If I had to describe the difference in one line: the Vanguard hits harder, the Perseus hits spinnier.

Week 4: JOOLA Simone Jardim Hyperion

The JOOLA Simone Jardim Hyperion ($219) sat between the LUXX and the Perseus in feel. It shares the Perseus spec sheet, yet on my resets it played a touch more forgiving. For a spin-minded player who still wants help on soft shots, it was the JOOLA I preferred.

Week 5: InfiniGrit LUXX vs JOOLA Pro Carbon

To close, I paired the Selkirk LUXX Control Air InfiniGrit Invikta 19mm in Blue ($219) with the JOOLA Pro Carbon Paddle Edition B ($219). The InfiniGrit gave the most spin of anything I hit in the test while keeping the calm LUXX feel. The Pro Carbon Edition B felt solid and controlled, a sensible JOOLA for players who do not need a signature model.

Arm comfort was good across the board. After 90-minute sessions, none of the six paddles left my forearm tired, which I cannot say for every padel racket I review.

Selkirk vs JOOLA: Who Should Pick Which

1. You pop up dinks and drops under pressure: pick Selkirk, specifically the LUXX Control Air Invikta 20mm. The thick core is the most forgiving option in this comparison.
2. You already hit topspin and want more: pick the Selkirk LUXX InfiniGrit if you like a calm feel, or the JOOLA Perseus if you like a livelier one.
3. You win points with pace from the baseline: pick the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air. It is the hardest-hitting paddle here.
4. You play all-court and like to take the ball early: pick the JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus.
5. You want spin with forgiveness: pick the JOOLA Simone Jardim Hyperion.
6. You hit a two-handed backhand: lean JOOLA, since its 5.5 in handle is a little longer than the LUXX's 5.35 in.
7. You want to spend less than $219: neither brand's paddles here fit, so look at the CRBN range in my CRBN pickleball paddle guide.

Whichever you choose, finish the setup: one thin overgrip, a protective bag such as the Pickleball Paddle Bag in Black ($19.99), and a month of play before you judge. For single-model deep dives, see my Selkirk LUXX Control Air review and my JOOLA Perseus review, and for the whole market, my best pickleball paddle picks.

Where to Buy Selkirk and JOOLA Paddles

You can shop both sides of this comparison in our Selkirk paddles and JOOLA paddles collections, or browse every pickleball paddle including the lower-priced CRBN paddles. Both brands arrive as genuine stock, never replicas, and each order is checked before dispatch and tracked to your door. Our US-based online store holds 221 frames and bags and delivers worldwide.

Orders are processed in 1 to 3 business days. Shipping is free and tracked on orders over $99 and $9.95 below that, so any paddle in this comparison ships free. If a paddle is unused and still in its packaging, you can send it back within 30 days under our shipping and returns policy. A free overgrip 3-pack and frame protector go in the box with every racket above $150. Overgrips and covers in accessories are 15% off automatically when you buy three or more, and the discount code page confirms there is no code needed. If you split your time between courts, my padel vs pickleball guide is worth a read. Email helppadelnox@outlook.com with any question.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Selkirk or JOOLA better for beginners?

For most beginners, Selkirk has the edge because the LUXX Control Air Invikta 20mm is built around a thick, forgiving core. It keeps dinks and drops low while you learn. JOOLA's signature paddles reward a brushing, spin-heavy swing that newer players have not built yet. If a beginner insists on JOOLA, the Simone Jardim Hyperion felt the more forgiving of the two in my testing.

Selkirk LUXX vs JOOLA Perseus: which should I buy?

Buy the Selkirk LUXX Control Air if your game is built on patience, dinks and resets. Its 20 mm X7 core is calm and very stable. Buy the JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus if you prefer to attack, counter and roll the ball with topspin. Both list 7.9 to 8.3 oz and both cost $219 at Padelnox, so the choice is purely about playing style.

Do Selkirk and JOOLA paddles cost the same at Padelnox?

Yes. Every Selkirk LUXX, Vanguard and LABS paddle and every JOOLA paddle we stock is $219. The only Selkirk below that is the SLK Control XL at $129. All of them clear the $99 free tracked shipping threshold, and there is no coupon code to hunt for because our standing offers, such as 15% off three or more accessories, apply automatically at checkout.