Review: Selkirk Invikta Amped X5 Fiberflex Paddle

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Hey Pickle People, here’s another review!

The Selkirk Invikta Amped X5 Fiberflex is a paddle I have been dying to try for the longest time. This is a staple of many pickleball regulars and is considered one of the premier long faced paddles. This paddle is used by many pros in national tournaments and for good reason. I had the chance to use this paddle recently and loved the experience. In this in depth review, I try to give my fair opinion of the paddle and tell you what you need to know before buying one for yourself or for another fellow pickleballer.

Power: 9/10

One thing that 99% of all pickleball players love is the pop of an amazingly placed, devastating, unreturnable kill shot. This paddle really delivers both the power and control. In terms of power, there is definitely a noticeable difference when the ball comes off the paddle. You can really feel the power of a well hit ball. One thing I have just gotten used to is the size and shape of the paddle face. The sweetspot is a little different due to the elongated paddle face, but it actually extends your reach and extends your power shot range. This can be a game changer for those who need just a little more reach and still want to hit for great power.

Control: 8/10

A paddle with this much pop should not have this much control. Selkirk really amazes me every time I use one of their paddles. I find that the face of the paddle feels almost like a stringed racket in the way you can really feel the face of the paddle striking the ball. You can dictate the spin the ball has coming off the paddle and because of the elongated face you can hit shots with some ridiculous top spin. I also found I had more confidence hitting harder serves because of the feel of the paddle. It is a bit hard to explain, but if you have not played with a Selkirk, I would recommend at least trying it out, because I bet you will not be disappointed.

Forgiveness: 8/10

One thing many of the less expensive paddles lack is forgiveness when either mishitting a shot, when you are returning a difficult hard shot to the body, or a shot that looked like it was out of reach. This paddle is extremely forgiving in terms of shots not hit squarely on the sweet spot will still have a great chance of going where you want it to go. One thing that does need to be noted is that because this paddle is thinner, the sweet spot is thinner, therefore, if you miss left or right it might be a bit harder to hit a nice ball if its close or short to the body. All things considered, I was smiling from ear to ear during play due to the performance and I noticed the forgiveness of the paddle with the extended face.

Overall: 25/30

• Great control and power combination

• Extended reach

• Can hit confidently from all around the court

I honestly think this might be the best long faced paddle on the market at the moment. A quick second might be the Gamma Compass, but the Invikta seems to have more control and a better mesh with its power. Selkirk has always had some very polished and well rounded paddles and the Invikta is one of the best examples of that polished feel. You will really feel a difference if you have been using a beginner paddle or a mid tier paddle. I really loved the feel of the sweet spot and after getting used to the longer face the extended reach is something that can make an immediate difference in your game. One thing to keep in mind, when switching from a standard face to this paddle, there might be a slight learning curve. It does take some time to get used to the shape and the weight distribution.

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Specs:

• Weight Range: 7.3-7.8 (Light Weight)

• Weight Range: 7.9 – 8.4 oz. (Standard Weight)

• Grip Circumference: 4" (Small) or 4 1/4" (Medium) Actual grip sizes may vary up to 1/8".

• Grip Manufacturer: Selkirk ComfortGrip

• Handle Length: 5 1/4

• Paddle Length: 16 1/2"

• Paddle Width: 7.375

• Face: FiberFlex unidirectional face (fiberglass)

Hereis the Amazon link if you wanted to check the paddle out!

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