Quick Answer: The Selkirk LUXX Control Air with InfiniGrit is Selkirk’s current flagship control paddle — a 19mm X7 Thikset Honeycomb core under a proprietary InfiniGrit surface, listed at $279.99 and widely sold for $199.99. It’s USA Pickleball certified and available in two shapes (Epic and Invikta), and it’s a genuine top-tier control paddle for players who win with touch and resets, not a budget pick.
The LUXX Control Air is mentioned across a dozen roundups and comparisons on this site as Selkirk’s control benchmark, but until now it never had its own dedicated review. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s 2026 Single Sport Report, pickleball reached roughly 24.3 million U.S. players in 2025, and a growing share are intermediate-to-advanced players upgrading into exactly this tier of control-focused paddle. We broke down the current InfiniGrit generation’s specs, how it differs from the outgoing raw-carbon version, and who should actually spend $200 on it.
Selkirk LUXX Control Air specs at a glance
| Spec | LUXX Control Air (InfiniGrit) |
|---|---|
| Face material | InfiniGrit surface (layered epoxy embossed over raw carbon) |
| Core | 19mm X7 Thikset Honeycomb |
| Weight | 7.9–8.3 oz |
| Shapes | Epic (standard) or Invikta (elongated) |
| Throat/handle | EVA foam-filled (previously hollow) |
| USA Pickleball approved | Yes — USAP certified |
| Price | $199.99 (list $279.99) |
| Rating | ★★★★½ |
What we liked
Selkirk LUXX Control Air with InfiniGrit
- The InfiniGrit surface is Selkirk's answer to raw carbon's durability problem — the company says it lasts 3x longer than a traditional raw-carbon face while still generating up to 2,000 RPM of spin, so you're not trading spin for longevity.
- The 19mm X7 Thikset Honeycomb core is thick and soft, soaking up pace for the kind of predictable, controlled dinks and resets that give this paddle its name.
- New EVA foam in the throat and handle (the older version was hollow there) noticeably dampens vibration, which matters for players managing tennis elbow or general arm fatigue.
- Two shapes at the same price — Epic for the widest sweet spot, Invikta for extra reach — let buyers match the shape to their game without paying a premium for either.
- USA Pickleball certified, so it's legal for sanctioned play straight out of the box.
Queue up an audiobook for the drive to the courts — start your free Audible trial and get your new paddle broken in before the weekend games. For the full current Selkirk lineup, see our best Selkirk pickleball paddle roundup.
What holds it back
- Price. At $199.99–$279.99, the LUXX Control Air sits at the top of the market — a lot to spend compared to a value paddle like the Vatic Pro Prism Flash.
- Control-first profile isn’t for everyone. Players who prioritize pace and put-aways over touch may prefer Selkirk’s own Vanguard Power Air, which shares the same build philosophy but is tuned for power instead.
- Generation confusion. Because Selkirk kept the “LUXX Control Air” name across a spec refresh (20mm raw ProSpin carbon → 19mm InfiniGrit), it’s easy to compare prices or reviews against the outgoing version by mistake — always confirm you’re looking at the current InfiniGrit listing.
LUXX Control Air vs. Vatic Pro Prism Flash: flagship control vs. value
| Selkirk LUXX Control Air | Vatic Pro Prism Flash | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 (list $279.99) | ~$85 |
| Face | InfiniGrit surface (embossed raw carbon) | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| Core | 19mm X7 Thikset Honeycomb | Thermoformed, foam-injected |
| Best for | Control-first players wanting flagship touch | Budget-conscious players wanting a real thermoformed paddle |
| USA Pickleball approved | Yes | Yes |
The LUXX Control Air and the Prism Flash sit at opposite ends of the price spectrum but both deliver genuine control-leaning performance — the difference is engineering depth and long-term durability at the top of the price range, not a gap between “real” and budget carbon. See how both stack up against the full field in our best pickleball paddle for control guide.
Who should buy the LUXX Control Air
- Control-first players who win with dinks, resets and placement rather than raw pace, and don’t mind paying flagship pricing for the softest, most forgiving feel in Selkirk’s lineup.
- Players managing arm fatigue or tennis elbow who’ll benefit from the EVA-foam-dampened throat/handle and the thick, energy-absorbing 19mm core.
- Anyone comparing Selkirk to JOOLA at the top of the market — see our Selkirk vs. JOOLA comparison for a direct head-to-head.
- Skip it if: budget is the priority — the Vatic Pro Prism Flash or our best budget pickleball paddle roundup deliver most of the same thermoformed-carbon control feel for a fraction of the price.
The bottom line
The Selkirk LUXX Control Air with InfiniGrit earns its flagship price with genuine engineering: a durable, spin-friendly InfiniGrit surface, a soft 19mm X7 Thikset Honeycomb core, foam-dampened throat and handle, and full USA Pickleball certification — in a shape (Epic or Invikta) to match your game. At $199.99–$279.99 it’s not for every player, but for control-first buyers who want Selkirk’s current top-tier build, it delivers. See how it ranks against the rest of the field in our best pickleball paddle for control guide, or against the full Selkirk lineup in our best Selkirk pickleball paddle roundup.