Model: Vanguard Control

Manufacturer: Selkirk Sport

Paddle Type: Control

Spin: Very High

Player Level: Beginner - Advanced

Thickness: 16mm

Weight Options: Lightweight and Midweight

Surface: Raw Carbon Fiber

Dinks and Drops – This is the Vanguard Control’s bread and butter. The soft response paired with the gritty surface let me shape my drops with confident strokes without concern of the ball flying too far, but I would expect that out of any modern control paddle. Where the paddle really stood out to me was at the kitchen line where I had a blast hitting aggressive roll and cut dinks from any position with confidence.

Speed ups and attacks – While the aggressive player may shrug off a total control paddle like this, those who like to disguise attacks and play a deceptive game will love the feel of carving out attacks from surprising positions. I was amazed at how fun it was to attack above my opponent’s shoulder only to see the ball bend back inside the line for a winner. For the player hoping to learn how to attack effectively, Vanguard Control has enough forgiveness and spin to keep the ball in the court and out of the net more often. The paddle is incredibly soft though, and you’ll have to bring your own pace to pressure your opponents as you rise in skill level.

Serves and Drives – As expected, the Vanguard Control didn’t bring much pace to the party, but I found each model to be maneuverable enough to generate a higher-than-average swing speed giving me access to great spin. While my drives lacked the oomph I get with modern thermoformed paddles, I found success hitting a hybrid drop/drive that dipped hard at my opponent’s feet and earned a few pop ups. Players with good mechanics will have access to aggressive drives, but newer players will likely find more success dropping the ball and getting to the kitchen where the paddle shines.

Counters and blocks – I was prepared to be underwhelmed by the Vanguard Control’s performance in hands battles, but the team at Selkirk did a fantastic job balancing stability with maneuverability. I always felt like I had enough time to get to the ball, and even when I was late, the off-center performance of these paddles still got the ball back over the net. The soft feel turned most of my blocks into resets, but the swingweight of these paddles was low enough for me to whip topspin rolls back at my opponents if I was feeling more offensive.

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