The AMPED Pro Air Epic is a real control paddle for $100, and only 20 paddles I've tested have more control. It's a 16mm honeycomb widebody with a fiberglass face, and Selkirk released it in May 2024. It plays stiff, it keeps your dinks and resets low, and it gives you clearly more pop at the net than the average 16mm honeycomb widebody. What it doesn't give you is pace on a full swing, since it scored 42 out of 100 for power. The other thing that sets it apart is Selkirk's lifetime warranty, and no paddle I've tested with a lifetime warranty has more control. So the Epic is worth it if you play the soft game and want a paddle that's covered for good. If you want the most control or forgiveness for your money, the 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean beats it for $10.01 less with its code. As of October 22, 2026, Selkirk sells the Epic for $100, marked down from $200. If you buy one, the code INF-STSPICKLEBALL adds a $20 Selkirk gift card to your order. The code doesn't lower the price of the paddle. I earn a commission when you use my codes.
Pros and cons
Pros
- The Epic scored 86 out of 100 for control, and only 20 paddles I've tested have more.
- No paddle I've tested with a lifetime warranty has more control, and only one other paddle I've tested has a lifetime warranty at $100 or less.
- The Epic scored 71 out of 100 for pop, clearly more than the average 16mm honeycomb widebody, which scores 61, so counters and punch volleys still have some pace.
Cons
- The Epic scored 42 out of 100 for power, and only 39 paddles I've tested score lower. Drives and serves take a full swing.
- Its sweet spot scored 81 out of 100, about the same as the average widebody's 83, and both 11SIX24 Pegasus paddles below have clearly bigger ones for $10.01 less with their code.
- The 5.25 inch handle is short for a two-handed backhand.
- Selkirk doesn't take exchanges on the Epic, and only three of its ten colors were in stock on October 22, 2026.
Quick answers
Is the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Epic a control paddle?
Yes. Selkirk sells the Epic as a blend of power and control, but my numbers put it in control. Its control score of 86 is clearly more than the average widebody's 76, and only 15 widebodies I've tested have more control. Power goes the other way. The Epic's power score of 42 is far less than the average widebody's, which is about 65.
AMPED Pro Air Epic or Invikta?
The Epic, unless you need the reach. Selkirk sells the same paddle in an elongated shape called the Invikta, at the same $100, and the two shapes play very differently. The Epic has far more control, 86 out of 100 against 40 on the Invikta, and a far bigger sweet spot, 81 against 33. The Invikta has a little more power, 49 against 42, and a little more pop, 78 against 71. Swing weight is how heavy the paddle feels when you swing it, and lower means faster hands. The Epic swings far lighter, with a swing weight of 109.2 against 120.9 on the Invikta.
Is the AMPED Pro Air Epic good for beginners?
It works, but it's not the one I'd hand a beginner. The Epic's control score of 86 keeps the ball in play, but its sweet spot of 81 out of 100 is only average for a widebody. The 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean is No. 1 on my beginners list. It has a little more control, 95 against 86, and a clearly bigger sweet spot, 93 against 81, for $10.01 less with its code.
Is the AMPED Pro Air Epic USA Pickleball approved?
Yes. It's approved by USA Pickleball, which added the AMPED Pro Air Epic to its approved paddle list on March 24, 2024, so it's legal in USA Pickleball sanctioned events. Selkirk's page doesn't list UPA-A approval. UPA-A keeps the paddle list used for pro tour events like the PPA Tour, and in January 2025 it put the Epic on its provisional approval list.
Stiff and direct, with an average swing
So, the Epic plays stiff. The face doesn't give much at contact, so the ball comes off quick and direct instead of sinking in. It's a different feel from the soft, dense control paddles on my list, like the Pickleball Apes Harmony V or Selkirk's own SLK Dauntless. If you like a firm, direct response, you'll like that. If you want a paddle that soaks the ball up, you won't.
Neither the swing nor the stability stands out. The Epic's swing weight of 109.2 is about the same as the average widebody's 108.8, so it gets into position at the kitchen as fast as the average widebody. Twist weight is how much the face resists twisting when you miss the center. The Epic measured a twist weight of 6.81, close to the average widebody's 6.92.
Selkirk also cuts an open throat into the paddle, a gap between the handle and the face, and Selkirk says it helps the paddle move through the air.
Easy to keep low, hard to finish points with
How its spin stacks up against other widebodies you can buy
Less spin than most widebodies, 38 RPM below the average
The top three for spin
- 1Honolulu J3CR Crystal Blue2,436
- 211SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean 22,37561 RPM behind
- 3RPM Q2 Widebody2,36967 RPM behind
- 36Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Epic2,235201 RPM behind
Drives, serves and put-aways
This is where the Epic comes up short. It scored 42 out of 100 for power, far less than the average widebody, and only 39 paddles I've tested score lower for power. The honeycomb core doesn't add much pace on a long swing, so drives, serves and put-aways only go as fast as you swing them. You can still win points from the baseline, but you have to place the ball, not overpower anyone with it.
Spin sits right in the middle for a widebody. The Epic read 2,235 RPM in my spin test, for a spin score of 59 out of 100, which is about the same spin as the average widebody's 2,273 RPM. So a topspin drive dips about as much as it would off the average widebody.
Speed-ups and counters
Pop is the pace you get off short swings at the net, and this is where the Epic surprises for a control paddle. It scored 71 out of 100 for pop. That's a little less than the average widebody, which scores about 79, but it's clearly more than the average 16mm honeycomb widebody, which scores 61. So a punch volley or a counter has some pace on it, even though a full drive doesn't.
Dinks, resets and third-shot drops
This is why you buy an Epic. Control is my score from the same ball-machine dink, drop and reset drills every paddle gets, and the Epic scored 86 for control, clearly more than the average widebody's 76. The stiff honeycomb build doesn't add pace on its own, so when the other team drives the ball at you, a soft block comes off the Epic slow and short. Dinks stay low if you keep them smooth.
The pop is the one thing to manage. A punch comes off the face with some pace, so a reset you push can carry further than you meant.
Mishits
The Epic is about as forgiving as the average widebody. Its sweet spot scored 81 out of 100, about the same as the average widebody's 83. That's enough forgiveness for a control paddle, but it's the one area where the paddles around it at this price do better. The Pegasus Jelly Bean's sweet spot scored 93 out of 100 and the Pegasus Power's scored 97, so both are clearly bigger.
How it feels in your hand next to other widebodies you can buy
About average in your hands, about average when you miss the middle
How heavy the paddle feels when you swing it. A lower number swings quicker.
About average swing weight for a widebody.
How much the paddle fights twisting when you miss the middle. A higher number is steadier.
About average twist weight for a widebody.
How its sweet spot stacks up against other widebodies you can buy
An average-size sweet spot for a widebody
Both rings are sized to their score.
A honeycomb core under a fiberglass face
The Epic is built on what Selkirk calls its X5+ honeycomb core, a 16mm polypropylene honeycomb with foam injected around the perimeter. On top is a fiberglass face Selkirk calls FiberFlex+, with a painted-on texture Selkirk calls ProSpin+. Selkirk calls its edgeless build Aero-DuraEdge.
The fiberglass face is what makes the Epic play differently from other honeycomb paddles. Next to the average 16mm honeycomb widebody, the Epic has clearly more pop, 71 against 61, and a little less power, 42 against 50. Control and sweet spot come out about the same, 86 against about 84 for control and 81 against about 85 for sweet spot. Fiberglass faces are known for pop, and the honeycomb core under this one keeps long swings modest, so you get more pace on short swings and less on full ones.
Selkirk lists the Epic at 7.8 to 8.2 oz, 15.75 inches long and 8 inches wide, with a 4.25 inch grip and a 5.25 inch handle. It lists the swing weight at 111, give or take 2, and the twist weight at 6.57, give or take 0.3. I measured a swing weight of 109.2 and a twist weight of 6.81, so both land inside Selkirk's ranges.
The warranty is Selkirk's limited lifetime warranty. It covers workmanship and manufacturer defects for the life of the paddle once you register it, it's for US buyers, and it doesn't transfer to a new owner after you register. Selkirk also takes returns for a full refund within 30 days.
Owners like the balance of power and control
The AMPED Pro Air has been on sale since May 2024, so owners have had it about two and a half years. As of October 22, 2026, Selkirk's page shows 632 owner reviews with an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars. Those reviews mix the Epic and the Invikta, and most of them don't say which shape the owner has.
What owners talk about most in the newest reviews, from August to September 2026, is the mix of power and control, and owners also say it's light and quick to swing.
The complaint that comes up most is control. In reviews from 2026, mostly from newer players, owners said the paddle was hard to control or had too much pop. Most of those reviews don't name the shape, and my numbers point at the Invikta there, since its control score of 40 is far below the Epic's 86. Owners also split on weight. Two owners in August 2026 wanted it heavier, and two owners in 2024 found it heavier or more head-heavy than they expected.
As of October 22, 2026, I haven't found a defect that three or more owners report on the Epic.
$100 at Selkirk, with no exchanges
On October 22, 2026, Selkirk's site listed the Epic at $100, marked down from $200. Only three of its ten colors were in stock, Red, Purple and Blue. Green, Gray, Holderness, Winter Berry, Atmosphere, Pine and PPA were sold out. The same page says Selkirk doesn't take exchanges on the Epic, because it calls it a limited edition. So pick your color carefully, since you'd have to return the paddle for a refund and buy it again to swap.
The code INF-STSPICKLEBALL doesn't take money off. It adds a $20 Selkirk gift card to your order, so the Epic is $100 with or without the code. The gift card only spends at Selkirk, so every price gap on this page compares paddle prices only.
AMPED Pro Air Epic or 11SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean?
The Pegasus Jelly Bean is the paddle I'd weigh against the Epic first. It's a 16mm honeycomb widebody too, and it's $99.99, or $89.99 with the code STSPICKLEBALL. So it's $0.01 less at list and $10.01 less with its code.
On my scores, the Jelly Bean is the better soft-game paddle. It has a little more control, 95 out of 100 against 86, and a clearly bigger sweet spot, 93 against 81. Spin comes out about the same, 2,250 RPM against 2,235. The Jelly Bean also swings a little lighter, with a swing weight of 106.9 against 109.2, and its 5.75 inch handle has room for two hands.
The Epic wins on pace at the net. It has clearly more pop, 71 against 58, and a little more power, 42 against 36. It also has the lifetime warranty, and the Jelly Bean's warranty is one year. Both are approved by USA Pickleball.
So if your game is dinks and resets and you miss the center sometimes, get the Jelly Bean and save the $10.01. If you want a control paddle that still counters with some pace, or you want it covered for life, get the Epic.
Where I'd look instead, for more power, less money or more pace
Two paddles you might pick instead
How it stacks up against the Pegasus Power and the Harmony V
A paddle only wins a score when it leads by 5 points or more.
AMPED Pro Air EpicWidebody · $100.00
Pegasus PowerWidebody · $89.99The Pegasus Power hits harder, spins more and has a bigger sweet spot. Pop and control are about the same. The Pegasus Power costs about $10 less.
AMPED Pro Air EpicWidebody · $100.00
Harmony VWidebody · $71.99The AMPED Pro Air Epic has more pop. The Harmony V hits harder, spins more, has a bigger sweet spot and is more controllable. The Harmony V costs about $28 less.
11SIX24 Pegasus Power, $99.99, or $89.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. If you want the Epic's control with real power, this is the one. It's $10.01 less with its code, and control comes out about the same, 88 out of 100 against 86. It has far more power, 64 against 42, more spin, 2,301 RPM against 2,235, and a clearly bigger sweet spot, 97 against 81. Pop is about the same. It swings a little heavier, with a swing weight of 111.8 against 109.2, and its 5.5 inch handle is a little longer. What you give up is the warranty, since 11SIX24 covers it for six months, and on October 22, 2026, only the Teal color was in stock. It's USA Pickleball approved.
Pickleball Apes Harmony V, $79.99, or $71.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. On a tight budget, this is the one I'd get. It's $28.01 less with its code, and it has a little more control, 92 against 86, a little bigger sweet spot, 90 against 81, and clearly more power, 52 against 42. Spin is about the same, and it swings a little lighter, with a swing weight of 106.0 against 109.2. What you give up is pop, since it has far less, 44 against 71. It's a dense, plush 16.5mm honeycomb paddle, it's USA Pickleball approved, and the warranty is one year. It fits soft-game players who don't need help in hands battles.
Bread & Butter Loco Standard, $149.25, or $134.33 with code STSPICKLEBALL. If you want to keep a lot of control and add real pace, this is the step up. It's $49.25 more at list, or $34.33 more with its code. It has far more power, 77 against 42, clearly more pop, 82 against 71, more spin, 2,301 RPM against 2,235, and a clearly bigger sweet spot, 95 against 81. You give up a little control, 79 against 86, and the swing weight is about the same. It's a full foam paddle, it's USA Pickleball approved, and the warranty is one year. It's the pick for players who want to finish points without giving up their soft game.
Get the Epic if you win with touch and want it covered for life, and skip it if you need pace
If your points come from dinks, drops and resets, and you want a paddle with a lifetime warranty for $100, the Epic is a good buy. Only 20 paddles I've tested have more control, and no paddle I've tested with a lifetime warranty has more. Its pop of 71 out of 100 also gives you clearly more pace at the net than the average 16mm honeycomb widebody.
Skip the Epic if you win with drives and put-aways, because it scored 42 out of 100 for power, and the Pegasus Power gives you about the same control with far more power for $10.01 less with its code. Skip it if you want the most forgiving paddle for the money, because the Pegasus Jelly Bean has a clearly bigger sweet spot and a little more control for less. And if you hit a two-handed backhand, the Epic's 5.25 inch handle will feel short.
Testing details
- Tested
- August 20, 2026
- Power and pop
- 20 full serves for power and 20 punch volleys for pop, every ball speed read on a Stalker radar gun.
- Spin
- 20 more serves on the radar. I drop the outliers and average the rest, which gave this paddle 2,235 RPM.
- Swing and twist weight
- Measured on a Briffidi SW1 swing weight machine.
- Sweet spot and control
- The same dinks, drops, resets and drives off a Titan ONE ball machine, for every paddle.
- The scores
- Out of 100, with the same tests for every paddle. The top paddles I've tested score 100.
- Published
- Scores from
- My database, updated October 21, 2026. How I test
No. 1
No. 2
