Selkirk LUXX Control Air with InfiniGrit Invikta 19mm Review

Construction and what changed from the original LUXX

The current LUXX Control Air is not simply a new surface on the 2023 paddle. The core is 19 mm, one millimeter thinner than the original 20 mm version. It remains a polypropylene honeycomb design rather than a full-foam core. Selkirk adds perimeter foam, EVA foam in the throat and part of the handle, an open aerodynamic throat and an edgeless molded frame. The practical objective is clear: preserve the original LUXX's soft control while adding a little flex, rebound and vibration damping. That objective is only partly achieved. The new paddle is livelier than its predecessor, but it remains one of the least explosive premium paddles in the market. The meaningful upgrade is not raw pace; it is the combination of better spin, slightly easier offense and the same muted touch identity. The face uses Selkirk's proprietary Florek Carbon Fiber under an applied InfiniGrit texture. It should not be described as exposed peel-ply raw carbon. Selkirk claims up to 2,000 RPM and three times the spin durability of raw carbon, but only the first part is broadly consistent with current fresh-paddle observations. The durability multiplier remains a manufacturer claim.

Weight, balance, swing weight and hand speed

Static weight alone makes the Invikta look easy to manage: the listed range is 7.9-8.3 oz, and current independent samples landed around 8.0-8.1 oz. The more important number is swing weight. Selkirk lists an average swing weight of 113. Two independent stock samples measured approximately 118 and 119. A five-to-six-point difference is large enough to change how the paddle feels in fast exchanges. At 113, it belongs in the quick elongated class. At 118-119, it is moderate and can feel late during reactive counters, especially for a player coming from a true low-swing-weight control paddle. The open throat and edgeless outline reduce visible bulk, so the paddle can still move smoothly through a full stroke. That does not make every sample fast at the kitchen. Buyers should treat the official 113 as a listed average, not a guarantee. Customization creates another trade-off. Two documented perimeter-weight setups moved stock measurements from roughly 118/5.8 and 119/5.9 in swing/twist weight to about 122.3/6.8 and 123/6.5. The paddle becomes more planted and more forgiving, but also slower. The LUXX has enough static-weight headroom for tuning; it does not have unlimited swing-weight headroom.

Control, drops, dinks and resets

Control is the reason to choose this paddle. The 19 mm core and soft face response take speed out of incoming balls without making every contact feel dead. Dinks are easy to keep low, third-shot drops have a generous height margin, and transition-zone resets benefit from the paddle's ability to absorb pace. The response is especially useful for players who do not want to fight a springy face. The ball stays on the paddle long enough to make angle and depth changes feel deliberate. On blocks, the muted rebound lowers the risk of sending a hard drive long when the face angle is slightly open. This does not mean the LUXX automatically fixes technique. The paddle is most precise when contact stays in its central zone. One current evaluation found a much smaller high-output sweet spot than the other reports, and that inconsistency matters. The safest conclusion is that the LUXX offers elite centered-contact control, while its off-center directional margin is good rather than exceptional.

Power, pop, drives and counters

The thinner core and added foam give the new LUXX more life than the original, but its identity has not changed. It remains a low-power, low-pop paddle. Players with developed mechanics can hit heavy topspin drives because the elongated shape supplies reach and the surface supplies shape. The paddle does not add much free speed on a compact motion. Counters, backhand punches and put-aways require a fuller acceleration than they do with Selkirk's OMNI, Boomstik or most modern power-oriented paddles. This makes the LUXX coherent for a control player and frustrating for anyone buying it as a balanced all-court paddle. Added perimeter weight can improve plow-through and raise the power ceiling, but it cannot turn the 19 mm LUXX into a power paddle. The gain comes with slower hands.

Spin and InfiniGrit surface behavior

InfiniGrit is a clear performance improvement over the original LUXX surface. Current reports consistently describe more bite on topspin drops, rolls, serves and slices. One testing approach placed spin in the low 2,000s, close to Selkirk's claim of up to 2,000 RPM. That is strong enough to make the paddle more offensive without relying on raw power. Topspin helps drives dip, roll volleys clear the net with margin, and shaped drops land shorter. The surface does not need to feel aggressively sandpaper-like to grip the ball because the soft core also contributes dwell time. Long-term confidence is lower. Selkirk's three-times-longer spin claim comes from its own abrasion testing, while independent long-duration evidence for this exact 19 mm version is still limited. The prior LUXX generation developed a reputation for surface wear in some long-term reports, but those observations cannot be transferred directly to InfiniGrit. The correct position is promising fresh-paddle spin, unresolved real-world retention.

Sweet spot, forgiveness and off-center stability

The LUXX is more forgiving in feel and depth control than its stock twist-weight number suggests. The thick core and perimeter foam keep many imperfect contacts soft and playable, particularly on resets. That is why several players describe a broad or comfortable sweet spot. Directional stability is a different question. A stock twist weight around 5.8-6.0 is modest for an elongated premium paddle. Contact toward the side can rotate the face more than it does on a high-twist-weight widebody or a heavily perimeter-weighted elongated paddle. One current review also reported a steep drop in output away from a small central zone. These observations are not mutually exclusive. The LUXX can feel comfortable on a mishit while still losing depth or direction. Its usable center is strong; its outer-face uniformity is less convincing. Perimeter tape can improve this weakness, but the scorecard evaluates the stock paddle.

Feel, feedback and vibration

The LUXX has one of the most distinctive soft responses in the premium market. Impact feels plush, damped and slightly rubbery rather than crisp, hollow or metallic. EVA foam in the throat and handle reduces the sharp vibration that can reach the hand on imperfect contact, while the thick honeycomb core softens rebound. Players who use touch and pace absorption as tactical tools are likely to value this feel. Players who want precise, high-frequency feedback may find it too muted. A clean center hit and a mild mishit can feel closer together than they do on a firmer paddle, even when the ball outcome is different. Comfort here refers to perceived impact character only. It should not be interpreted as an injury-prevention or medical claim.

Durability and maintenance

Three durability questions remain separate. First, surface life is not yet proven. InfiniGrit may retain bite better than the original coating, but current independent evidence does not validate a threefold advantage over raw carbon. Second, the edgeless perimeter is exposed to court contact. Selkirk's warranty explicitly excludes chips to the top or sides of edgeless paddles and normal texture fading. Protective edge tape is therefore practical, especially for players who scrape low balls. Third, the textured finish extends into the throat area. Some two-handed players report abrasion where the upper hand contacts that surface. A removable, non-abrasive wrap at the contact point is a lower-risk solution than sanding or permanently altering the paddle. Any modification should remain outside the legal striking surface and be checked against current warranty and tournament rules.

Best fit and player profile

The LUXX Control Air Invikta fits a narrower player profile than its premium positioning suggests. It makes the most sense for an intermediate or advanced doubles player who: • creates enough paddle-head speed without help from a hot face; • prioritizes drops, dinks, resets, blocks and shaped placement; • wants elongated reach without the stiff response of many power paddles; • values a muted, plush impact feel; and • is willing to measure or tune the paddle if stock stability is insufficient. It can also suit a physically strong player who wants a control platform for aggressive spin. The paddle is less convincing for a beginner buying a first premium paddle: the control is accessible, but the price is high and the lack of free power can make baseline depth harder.

Limitations and who should avoid it

Consider another paddle if your game depends on compact power, rapid counters or effortless put-aways. The LUXX will not supply those qualities at the level of a modern power or aggressive all-court design. It is also a weak fit for buyers who want published dynamic specifications to predict the exact paddle they receive. The gap between the listed 113 swing weight and measured 118-119 samples is too large to ignore. Two-handed players should check the short 5.35-inch handle and textured throat before committing. Value-focused buyers should be especially cautious: at $280, the LUXX charges for feel, construction, warranty and brand support rather than objective dominance across power, stability and spin.

Comparisons with other Selkirk and control paddles

Current LUXX 19mm vs original LUXX 20mm

The current paddle adds better fresh-paddle spin, a little more pop and a foam-filled throat and handle. The original is softer and even more power-limited. The upgrade is meaningful for spin and usability, not a transformation into an all-court power paddle. Long-term InfiniGrit retention is still less certain than the immediate improvement.

LUXX Control Air vs Selkirk OMNI Elongated 16mm

The OMNI is the more aggressive all-court option. It offers adjustable perimeter mass, greater power and a firmer, livelier response, but usually carries more swing-weight burden and costs $300. The LUXX is the better choice for soft-game control and impact comfort; the OMNI is better for players who want offense without leaving Selkirk's foam-assisted feel.

LUXX Control Air vs Selkirk LABS Project Boomstik

The Boomstik sits at the opposite end of the spectrum: much more free power, stronger put-away pace and greater inherent stability, but a more demanding launch and a substantially higher price. Choose the LUXX to reduce speed and extend rallies; choose the Boomstik to end them.

LUXX Control Air vs SLK Halo Control XL

The Halo Control XL is the more economical and conventional control choice, with an edge guard and a slightly more two-hand-friendly handle. The LUXX offers a more sophisticated damped feel, stronger fresh-paddle spin, premium warranty coverage and a distinctive open-throat design. The performance gap is not large enough to make the LUXX an automatic value winner.