Selkirk LUXX Control Air InfiniGrit Epic Paddle Review

Buy Now
Use code INF-PDOW

Is the Selkirk LUXX Control Air with InfiniGrit Worth It?

Yes, if control is how you win points. This Selkirk LUXX Control Air InfiniGrit review covers a USAP approved paddle built on a 19mm X7 Thikset honeycomb core with a Florek carbon fiber face and Selkirk’s InfiniGrit surface treatment. It is a control paddle in the truest sense: soft, precise, and slow. See the detailed review below.

What Reviewers Approve Of & Agree On

The spin surface is the real story. InfiniGrit is a bonded texture rather than the peel-ply finish used on most raw carbon faces, and independent lab testing measured it at 1,165 RPM, which testers described as matching and in some cases exceeding raw carbon. Selkirk claims the surface lasts roughly three times longer than embossed epoxy peel-ply texture and can reach up to 2,000 RPM. Treat the 1,165 figure as the measured number and the 2,000 as the manufacturer ceiling.

Touch at the kitchen line is where it earns the price. The 19mm core paired with a flex foam perimeter absorbs pace instead of returning it. Verified buyers describe drops that land shorter than expected, dinks that sit down, and resets that survive rallies where a stiffer paddle would pop the ball up.

The build quality is the most refined Selkirk makes. Three-hundred-sixty degree proto molding, EVA foam injection, and an Aero-DuraEdge edgeless design give it a finished feel that separates it from paddles half the price, and it carries a limited lifetime warranty on workmanship and manufacturing defects.

What Reviewers Disagree On

Whether the price is defensible. Independent testing found control paddles at roughly half the sale price that serve recreational players about as well. Supporters point to the surface technology, the build, and the warranty. Skeptics point out that none of that shows up as a scoreboard difference at 3.5.

How long the grit actually lasts. Selkirk’s durability claim is central to the paddle’s pitch, and testers have been open that long-term results were still being gathered. The warranty is explicit that natural breakdown or fading of textures over extended use is not covered, so the surface is a wear item no matter how much longer it lasts.

Where This Paddle May Fall Short For Some

Power. Exit velocity lands around the 8.85th percentile, which is low by design and low in practice. If your game is driving the third shot or ending points from the baseline, you will feel like you are pushing the ball. That is not a defect. It is the trade this paddle makes on purpose.

Off-center forgiveness. Twist weight sits near the 16.39th percentile, below average for a paddle in this class. Clean contact rewards you; mishits do not hold their line the way they would on a wider, more stable frame. This is a paddle for players with repeatable contact.

How It Compares

Against thermoformed power paddles, this is the opposite philosophy and the comparison is not close in either direction. Against other premium control paddles, the differentiator is the surface, not the feel. Against budget control paddles, the honest read is that a 3.5 player will not see a scoreboard difference, while a 4.5 player who lives at the kitchen line probably will. My honest take: buy this because you already know you are a control player, not to become one.

Which Shape Should You Get?

Both shapes share the same core, face, and weight range. The Epic is the traditional shape at 15.85 inches long and 7.85 inches wide with a 5.25 inch handle, and it is the more forgiving of the two. The Invikta is elongated at 16.4 inches long and 7.5 inches wide with a 5.35 inch handle, adding reach and leverage at the cost of an even smaller sweet spot. If off-center stability is already the weak point here, the Epic is the safer pick for most players.

Check It Out Here
Use code INF-PDOW

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Selkirk LUXX Control Air USAP approved?

Yes. It is approved for USA Pickleball sanctioned tournament play in both the Epic and Invikta shapes.

How thick is the core?

Nineteen millimeters, using Selkirk’s X7 Thikset honeycomb with a flex foam perimeter. That thickness is the main reason the paddle plays soft and absorbs pace at the net.

What is InfiniGrit and how is it different from raw carbon?

It is a bonded surface texture rather than the peel-ply finish found on most raw carbon faces. Selkirk states it lasts about three times longer than embossed epoxy peel-ply texture. Independent lab testing measured 1,165 RPM, comparable to and sometimes above raw carbon.

How much does it weigh?

Between 7.9 and 8.3 ounces depending on the unit, with a 4.25 inch medium grip circumference.

Is it good for beginners?

Not really. The low power output and below-average off-center stability both assume you already make clean, repeatable contact. A beginner would be better served by something more forgiving and considerably cheaper.

Does the warranty cover the grit wearing down?

No. The limited lifetime warranty covers workmanship and manufacturing defects, and it specifically excludes normal wear and tear along with natural breakdown or fading of textures over extended use. Chips to edgeless paddles are also excluded.

Is it worth the price over a cheaper control paddle?

That depends on your level. It lists at $279.99 and is frequently on sale for $200, and independent testing found comparable control at roughly half that for recreational play. The premium buys construction, the surface technology, and the lifetime warranty rather than a large performance gap.

Is there a discount code?

Yes. Use code INF-PDOW at checkout to get Bonus Credits.

Still comparing paddles? Browse every category in the Pickler Junction gear directory. Pickler Junction may earn a commission if you purchase through links in our directory.