REVIEWS
IN THE KNOW : EQUIPMENT
SELKIRK PROJECT 003 EPIC PADDLE REVIEW
By Jack Bandel
Look / Cosmetics : 4.5 / 5 Familiar Selkirk “ S ” logo across the front , but you ’ ll immediately notice something extremely different — there is a “ smile ” shaped cutout at the bottom of the paddle ( more on this later ). This is an early release , so there may be more color choices , but mine was black with the red Selkirk “ S ” across most of the paddle face . Same traditional Epic shape as seen in previous models , but this paddle is now 20mm thick , which makes it the thickest paddle out there . Also new is Selkirk ’ s “ Aero-DuraEdge ” edgeless technology . Folks , this paddle is packed with new tech ! You also get a super-plush case to protect your paddle and a metal authenticity card .
Serves / Returns / Groundstrokes : 4.5 / 5 First thing I noticed was how light it felt through the air . I had to add a little swing speed to get my serves and drives deep so I feel this paddle leans more toward control than power , but there ’ s still a decent amount of pop there . Since it feels so light through the air , it ’ s easy to swing fast , so it ’ s not much of an issue . Hard drives really dipped quickly , and I was getting lots of spin also on hard , low slices . The overall feel of this paddle is something very different from other Selkirk paddles and took a little getting used to , but so far I ’ m very impressed !
Touch / Feel / Spin : 4.75 / 5 Here is where I was quite surprised . I was expecting the thick core to provide lots of control , which it does , but the spin is crazy with this paddle . Not sure if it ’ s the surface , which doesn ’ t feel grittier than normal , or the faster swing speed due to the cutout , but spin was noticeably higher than any other Selkirk paddle I ’ ve tried . The thick core makes dinking very reliable , with no unexpected “ flyers ” that end up back in your face . Nice , responsive and soft feel off the face and the paddle feels very quick and light on fast exchanges at the net . This paddle really shines for control players who like to get everything back and force their opponents into a mistake .
Sound / Sweet Spot / Playability : 4.5 / 5 Still looking for faults with this paddle and they are tough to find . This may be the most forgiving “ pro level ” paddle I ’ ve ever tried . This means anyone who likes this Epic shape will be able to transition to this paddle very quickly . The sweet spot feels huge , and even though there ’ s no edge guard it ’ s still pretty stable . Like all recent Selkirk paddles , the sound isn ’ t offensive , and the thickness gives it a pleasing sound . Also , I was expecting the cutout to cause some issues , but it was rare that it did , and it seems to provide some flex to the paddle .
Summary : 4.6 / 5 One word — wow ! Selkirk ’ s team has really outdone themselves here with all the new tech they have put into this paddle . As close to perfect a doubles paddle as I have seen to date . Only thing I would mention is that this is primarily a control paddle , so if you need extra put-away power or play mostly singles , then this wouldn ’ t be for you . There is a nice balance of power and control with lots of spin in a light package for the “ all around ” type of player . It ’ s also quite forgiving and easy to use , so that also broadens its user market . It really has no weaknesses that I saw , but the hefty price might be seen as one by some . If this paddle has durability to match its initial quality , then I believe it would be a worthwhile investment for serious players and pro athletes who want the best .
For more information , find the Pickleball Paddle Reviews group on Facebook . Paddle manufacturers : If you ’ d like your products to be reviewed , email Jack Bandel at
jackbandel @ gmail . com .