Selkirk Labs Project 003 Review
The Selkirk Labs Project 003 has been my favorite paddle since I started using it in July 2022. This paddle has a lot of great things going for it and one potential flaw that can be fixed. So let's talk about it.
If you aren't familiar with Selkirk Labs already, this is a separate branch of Selkirk where they do R&D paddles and release them during development to receive feedback and improve it for the official launch. So you're getting access to be part of the testing period and try paddles before the mass launch. At the time of writing this, all Labs paddles cost $333.
Specs:
The 003 comes in multiple shapes that are standard with Selkirk. The S2, Epic, and Invikta. The only difference between these is the shape and nothing internally.
Handle lengths:
Invikta 5.35" (feels closer to 5.50". Invikta handles are usually 5.25")
Epic 5.25"
S2 4.50"
Length & width
Invikta 16.4" x 7.5" (elongated shape)
Epic 15.85" x 7.85" (standard shape)
S2 15.6" x 8.25" (wide shape)
The Epic is the standard shape, while the S2 is a wider version with an even shorter handle. The Invikta is elongated, and my personal choice of shape.
Here are the rest of the specs:
Thickness: 20mm
Weight: 7.6-8.1oz
Grip circumference: 4.25"
Face: Carbon fiber
Edge: No edge guard
Core: Polymer
Balance: Shifted toward the handle
Swing weight:
Invikta: 105
Epic: 95
both are very low swing weights.
Spin:
You know, it's really funny to me because, at the start of this year, when the Vanguard 2.0 came out, I talked about how it was such a small improvement that it was barely noticeable and still kept Selkirk in a low tier for spin. With the 002, 003, and the Power Air, spin is no longer an issue. The 003 Invikta came in at 1800 RPM flat, which is the second-highest result I've ever seen. Whether it's a drive, roll volley, roll dink, or slice, the spin feels exceptional and is one of the best-selling points of the paddle. I have used the Epic 003 for two months and the Invikta 003 for the last three months and retested the spin to see if there was a drop after extensive use. My Invikta came down to 1624 from 1800. Despite the drop, this is still a very high tier for spin.
Control & Power
The most stand-out feature about the 003 is that it is the thickest paddle on the market, coming in at 20mm. Previously the thickest paddle was the Diadem Warrior at 19mm. Because it is so thick, it is incredibly soft, making it amazing for resets, dinking, and blocks at the net. The paddle can absorb a lot of the energy and make it feel very soft coming off the face. Resets are my absolute favorite on this paddle. I hardly have to think to play defense with this paddle.
Now, since the paddle is so great for the soft game, you can imagine you sacrifice a lot of power, which is the biggest complaint about the this paddle.
The 003 is the polar opposite of the Selkirk Labs Project 002 or Vanguard Power Air. You're basically swinging a pillow when using the 003. To fix this, I added a full ounce of lead tape, running up the throat and into the sides of the paddle. This took the weight from about 7.8oz to 8.9oz. Because this paddle is so light out of the box, adding this much lead doesn't make it feel that heavy. It also helps that the paddle is balanced towards the handle. This makes it very easy to customize the paddle without making it too heavy. After making this change, I found the paddle had adequate power. It did not make it a power paddle, but it made a noticeable difference for drives, counter punches, and put-away shots. Before the lead tape, it is okay but not worth $333. If you are not someone who likes to use lead tape, I would not recommend purchasing this paddle. Adding lead tape to this paddle is an absolute must.
My lead tape placement. I used 1/2” strip lead tape at 2 grams per inch.
I enjoy using the 003 for singles, but I don't think I'd recommend it to most people. Cat and mouse is much easier for me to play with a softer paddle, so the 003 makes my game at the net easier than paddles like the Power Air. Having a more aggressive power-oriented paddle for singles is probably better for the average person.
Sweet spot:
The sweet spot is much improved on the 003 compared to the 002. In my 002 review, I said it was one of the smallest sweet spots I had ever used. The 003 is a different story. Before adding the lead tape, I thought the sweet spot was okay, but on off-center shots, the paddle would rotate in my hand slightly and feel very different from the sweet spot. The lead tape helped make the roll off of the sweet spot feel much better. It feels more solid and doesn't rotate in my hand when hit off-center now.
Closing thoughts:
Selkirk hit a home run with the 003. In my first week of testing it, I wasn't sure I would love it, but after the lead tape and spending more time with it, I think Selkirk came out with a quality paddle to fill another area in the market. The 003 feels like an extremely refined version of the Vanguard 2.0 paddles but thicker. You get a great soft game and far superior spin to the 2.0 line. If you like to play the soft game, want great spin, and need a very light paddle, the 003 fits the bill perfectly. If you aren't a fan of using lead tape to improve paddles, I would stay away from this. One of my friends bought the S2 003 and returned it because he didn't like it. After testing my Invikta with lead tape, he immediately bought a new one because he loved my setup.
I've used both the 003 Epic and 003 Invikta for a few months (003 has been my primary paddle since July), and they've both held up great. I much prefer the 003 Invikta as it has a new 5.35" (closer to 5.50") handle, which makes the two-handed backhand easier to perform.
This paddle is great for someone who likes to keep the ball in play, set your partner up to finish the point, and wants a great paddle for defense. However, this is absolutely not your paddle if you're looking for a paddle to give you more power.
In terms of value, I don’t think the 003 is the best value out there. If price is not an issue, then I think this is an amazing paddle. Other great soft paddles are the Electrum Model E 16mm, Joola Hyperion 16mm (very heavy though), and SLK Halo Control XL if you’re on a tighter budget.
Be sure to check out our video review if you would like to see what our testers thought of the paddle as well.
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