Selkirk
Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2
Power-minded players who want a wide face and quick hands
$100.99at Selkirk
Dan’s Take
Both of these are built for power, but they get there in very different ways. The VANGUARD is a short, wide paddle with a thin 13 mm core and a very short 4.375 in handle, all about quick hands and pop at the kitchen. The V-Sol Pro V7 is a 16 mm foam-core elongated paddle that tops our power scale (10) and keeps more control (8.5 vs 7.5).
Buyer ratings are close: 4.7 from 850+ on Selkirk's site and 4.8 from 750+ on Vatic Pro's. If you want reach and the stronger overall score, I'd go with the V7. If you want a wide face and fast hands and don't mind giving up some control, the VANGUARD fits.
By Dan · Based on each brand’s published specs and buyer ratings, October 2026. We don’t play-test paddles.
Vatic Pro
Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7
Power players who want elongated reach and a foam core for less
$109.99at Vatic Pro
Ratings Head to Head
Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7
Power910
Control7.58.5
Spin99.5
Sweet spot98.5
Research score8.69.1
Which Suits Your Game?
| Player type | Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2 | Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 |
|---|---|---|
| Beginners | 8.5 | 8.8 |
| Touch players | 8.3 | 8.9 |
| Power hitters | 8.8 | 9.4 |
| Spin players | 8.8 | 9.3 |
Weighted from the four ratings. How these are weighted
Key Differences
- The biggest gap is power: the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 rates 10 to the Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2’s 9.
- Control goes to the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 (8.5 vs 7.5).
- Spin goes to the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 (9.5 vs 9).
- Sweet spot goes to the Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2 (9 vs 8.5).
- Different shapes: the Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2 is standard and the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 is elongated.
- Core thickness: 13 mm for the Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2 against 16 mm for the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7. The thinner Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2 should give more pop; thicker cores lean toward control.
- Weight: the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 is the heavier of the two, by about 0.4 oz on average.
The Verdict
Pick the Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2 if you want a bigger sweet spot and a lighter feel.
Go with the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 if you want more power, more control and more spin, especially if you’re a beginner or a touch player.
Specs Side by Side
| Spec | Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2 | Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 7.7–8.1 oz | 8.2–8.5 oz |
| Shape | Standard | Elongated |
| Length | 15.75 in | 16.5 in |
| Width | 8 in | 7.5 in |
| Core thickness | 13 mm | 16 mm |
| Core | Polymer honeycomb | Floating EPP foam core with EVA foam perimeter ring |
| Face | QuadFlex hybrid (fiberglass + carbon fiber) with ProSpin+ texture | Raw Toray T700 carbon fiber with heat-compressed texturing |
| Handle length | 4.375 in | 5.3 in (long-handle version 5.6 in) |
| Grip size | 4.25 in | 4.125 in |
| Price | $100.99 (list $250) | $109.99 |
| USA Pickleball approved | Yes | Yes |
Specs as published by each manufacturer. Prices are checked daily on each brand’s own store; the checkout price is final.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, the Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2 or the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7?
On our spec-based scale the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 scores higher (9.1 vs 8.6). By player type, the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 suits beginners, touch players, power hitters and spin players better.
Which has more power, the Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2 or the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7?
The Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 rates higher for power on our scale (10 vs 9).
Which is better for beginners, the Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2 or the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7?
The Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 scores higher for beginners (8.8 vs 8.5), mainly from its sweet spot and control ratings.
Are the Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2 and Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 approved for tournament play?
Yes. Both are on the USA Pickleball approved paddle list.
More Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2 vs Volair SHIFT WB
- Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2 vs Onix Hype X Pro Raw Carbon
- Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2 vs Selkirk LUXX Control Air with InfiniGrit (Epic)
- Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2 vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Epic
- Selkirk VANGUARD Power Air S2 vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 vs Onix Hype X Pro Raw Carbon
Next Step
Compare More Paddles
Line up to four paddles side by side on the same research scale.