Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Review: S2 Tested & Rated 2026

Selkirk built its name on control-first paddles. The Vanguard Power Air is the opposite bet—a hybrid QuadFlex face over a foam core, tuned for pop and spin over touch, at a price ($99.99) that undercuts almost everything else in Selkirk’s lineup. I tested the S2 shape over three sessions against paddles costing three times as much, and it’s not a fair fight.

Full testing methodology and every other advanced-level paddle I’ve reviewed is in my best paddles for advanced players guide — the Power Air sits at #10 on that list.

Quick Verdict: The Selkirk Vanguard Power Air S2 is the closest thing to $300-paddle engineering at a $99.99 price — real QuadFlex stiffness, real spin, real Selkirk build quality. You give up edge stability on off-center hits and get a shorter handle than the rest of Selkirk’s lineup. For a budget-conscious advanced player who wants power and spin without specializing, it’s the best value in Selkirk’s current catalog.

Who This Paddle Is For

Advanced players (4.0+) who want power and spin without paying for it, and who don’t mind giving up a little stability on mishits to get there. If you’re a two-handed backhand player or you like extra room in the handle, know going in that the S2’s grip runs short — the Epic and Invikta shapes (below) address that if handle length matters to you.

This isn’t a beginner or intermediate paddle. If you’re newer to the game, start with my intermediate paddles guide instead — a paddle built to reward clean mechanics will punish the mishits you’re still working out.

On-Court Performance

Drives

This is where the Power Air earns its name. The QuadFlex face — two layers of Fiberflex sandwiched with two layers of Quantum+ carbon — gets you real stiffness in both directions, which is exactly where cheaper hybrid paddles usually fall apart: they flex where you don’t want flex, and the ball goes soft mid-drive. That doesn’t happen here. Drives carry pace all the way through the shot.

Dinks and Resets

Solid, not exceptional. The FlexFoam perimeter takes some sting out of fast resets, but this isn’t a paddle built to pocket the ball the way a dual-density foam core (like the Bread & Butter Loco) does. You can dink with it comfortably; you’re not going to out-touch a control-first paddle with it.

Serves

The same stiffness that helps drives helps serves — you get real pace without needing a full wind-up. If you serve deep and hard, this paddle rewards that swing.

Feel, Pop & Power

Everything else in this price range I’ve tested feels like a budget paddle. This doesn’t. After three sessions, I stopped expecting the drop-off that usually shows up on sub-$100 paddles — the pop is close to what I’m getting out of paddles carrying a $300 price tag, just with a smaller margin for error. Where it gives ground to the Boomstik and the Pro V is edge stability on off-center contact — you feel noticeably more twist on a mishit than you do with the top-tier paddles on my advanced list. That’s the trade you’re making at a third of the cost, and it’s a fair one.

Spin & Ball Contact

The Quantum+ carbon layers grip the ball well — this rated 8.8/10 for spin in my testing, right up with paddles costing significantly more. Topspin bites cleanly off the face, and slice shots hold their angle through contact rather than skidding. This is a paddle that rewards a real spin swing, not one that manufactures spin for you.

Swing Weight & Maneuverability

Sits in the midweight class — not the fastest-handling paddle I’ve tested (that’s the Loco or the RPM Friction Pro), but not sluggish either. It moves fine through hand battles at the net without feeling like you’re fighting the paddle back into position between shots.

Grip & Comfort

This is the one real complaint, and I’m not the only one flagging it — Amazon reviewers say the same thing. The handle runs short at 4 1/8″ circumference. If you play with two hands on your backhand or just like extra room to choke up or down, it’s noticeably tighter than what you’ll get on the Boomstik or a Pro V. Not a dealbreaker, but know it going in — if handle length is a priority, Selkirk’s Epic and Invikta shapes (below) run longer.

Durability

Three sessions isn’t long enough to give you a real durability verdict, and I won’t pretend otherwise — that’s a gap I’ll close as I put more hours on it. What I can tell you: Selkirk backs this with the same warranty support across their lineup, and the QuadFlex construction hasn’t shown any early delamination or face smoothing in my testing window so far. I’ll update this section once I’ve logged real hours past the 40-hour mark.

Value for Money

This is where the Power Air separates itself. At $99.99 (23% off Selkirk’s $129.99 list price as of this review), you’re getting real Selkirk engineering — QuadFlex face, FlexFoam perimeter, ThroatFlex — at less than a third of what the Boomstik costs. You’re not getting Boomstik-level edge stability, and you shouldn’t expect to. But dollar-for-dollar, this is the best value paddle currently in Selkirk’s catalog.

Shape Variants: S2 vs. Epic vs. Invikta

The Vanguard Power Air comes in three shapes, all built on the same QuadFlex construction — I tested the S2, which has the shortest handle and largest face of the three. Epic and Invikta trade some face area for a longer handle, similar to how JOOLA’s Agassi and Perseus shapes split the same underlying tech across different balance points. If the S2’s short handle is a dealbreaker for you, Epic or Invikta is the fix — I’ll add tested specs and on-court notes for both here once I’ve logged sessions on each; check Selkirk’s current listing for exact current dimensions in the meantime, since shape specs have changed across Selkirk’s product generations.

Worth knowing if you’re comparing: Selkirk also sells a separate Vanguard Control line (including an Invikta Control shape) — a different tuning built for touch over pace, not just a shape variant of the Power Air. I haven’t tested it yet, so I won’t rate it here, but if you read this review and thought “I want the spin without giving up as much control,” that’s the model to look at next.

How It Compares

vs. Selkirk Labs Boomstik: The Boomstik is the better paddle, full stop — more edge stability, a longer warranty story, and a face that holds texture longer. It’s also $233 more. If you’re not tournament-serious yet, the Power Air gets you 80% of the performance at a third of the price. Full breakdown in my Selkirk Boomstik review.

vs. Bread & Butter Loco: The Loco wins on touch and kitchen control; the Power Air wins on raw pace and price. If your game lives at the net in soft exchanges, the Loco fits better. If you’re looking to end points from the baseline, the Power Air does that job cheaper.

Buy It If / Pass If

Final Verdict

The Selkirk Vanguard Power Air S2 is the rare budget paddle that doesn’t feel like a compromise on power or spin — you’re trading edge stability and handle length, not core performance. For an advanced player who doesn’t need tournament-grade stability on every mishit, it’s the best-value paddle in Selkirk’s current lineup, full stop. Want to see how it stacks up against every other paddle I’ve tested at the advanced level? Check my full advanced paddles guide.

FAQs

Is the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air worth it?

Yes, for advanced players on a budget. At $99.99, it delivers power and spin close to paddles three times the price. You give up some edge stability in return — a fair trade if you’re not playing sanctioned tournaments.

What’s the difference between the Vanguard Power Air S2, Epic, and Invikta?

Shape and handle length, not core technology. All three run the same QuadFlex face and foam core. The S2 has the shortest handle and largest face; Epic and Invikta trade face area for more handle room.

Is the Vanguard Power Air different from the Vanguard Control?

Yes — different tunings, not shape variants of each other. Power Air is built for pace and spin; Vanguard Control is Selkirk’s touch-first version. I haven’t tested the Control line yet.

Is the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air good for beginners?

No. It’s built to reward clean mechanics, not to correct for inconsistent contact. If you’re newer to the game, start with a more forgiving intermediate paddle.