Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Pickleball Paddle

The Vanguard Power Air is the paddle Selkirk built for players who already know what they want from a paddle and are happy paying for the last 5% of performance. The Air Dynamic Throat is the headline, and yes, you genuinely feel less drag through the swing on a hard third-shot drive, especially when you are paddling with the elongated shape on a stretched forehand.

The QuadFlex Hybrid carbon face delivers a cleaner bite on the ball than most polymer-cored 16mm paddles I have hit with. Spin generation on a topspin roll at the kitchen line is exceptional, and put-away pace from the back of the court is well above the JOOLA Hyperion at half the price. The 220-235g weight range gives you flexibility to add lead tape if you want even more plough-through, though most owners will leave it stock.

Where it falls down is on touch. Dinks and resets feel a fraction firmer than a softer T700 paddle like the CRBN, and the elongated head means the sweet spot is concentrated rather than spread, so a 3.0-3.5 player will get punished on mishits.

This is for the 4.5+ DUPR player who is comfortable with elongated shapes, plays mostly singles or aggressive doubles, and is replacing a paddle that has become their tournament regular. UK availability is patchy, mainly through Pickleball England partner retailers and Total Pickleball, and you should expect £170-£220 with bag included if you watch for sales.

• 4 1/4 inch grip suits most UK players, oversize is rare here
• Polymer X5 honeycomb keeps it legal for international tournaments
• Genuinely better swing speed than the previous Vanguard 2.0