Selkirk AMPED Control - S2.

The Gavler Review.

Selkirk AMPED Control - S2 Review: The Value Entry Into Selkirk's Lineup

The Selkirk AMPED Control - S2 ranks ninth on Gavler's Best Pickleball Paddles list with an 8.4, and it closes out the roster as exactly what a rank-9 value pick should be: the most forgiving paddle Selkirk makes, priced at roughly half of the brand's flagship. Gavler's own verdict gets straight to the point: "Selkirk's value control paddle — the most forgiving shape the brand makes, at roughly half a flagship's price." This isn't the paddle for a player chasing maximum spin or power. It's the paddle for someone who wants Selkirk's build quality, a genuinely huge margin for error, and a price that doesn't require a second mortgage on their pickleball habit.

What it is

The S2 shape is Selkirk's widest, most forgiving frame — a 15.75-by-8-inch body that trades handle length for face area. At 4.65 inches, the handle is shorter than Selkirk's Epic model, which is the direct mechanical reason the face can be as wide as it is: less handle, more paddle. That trade is deliberate. A shorter handle limits how comfortably you can execute a two-handed backhand, but it maximizes the surface you actually hit the ball with, and for players who mishit toward the edges more than they'd like to admit, that surface area is the whole appeal.

Instead of a raw carbon face, the S2 uses Selkirk's textured FiberFlex+ fiberglass over a 16mm X5 polypropylene honeycomb core. That's a deliberate material choice, not a cost-cutting one: fiberglass gives a softer, more connected feel at contact than carbon typically does, and the thick core keeps the paddle stable and controlled rather than lively and unpredictable. It's offered in lightweight (about 7.55 oz) and midweight (about 8.15 oz) builds, and it's USAPA-approved for sanctioned play.

In use

The paddle's whole identity is built around that sweet spot. Pickleball Central's assessment of the shape is direct: "The S2 shape has the largest sweet spot of all Selkirk paddle shapes — amplified power with reliable consistency." That's a meaningful claim inside Selkirk's own catalog specifically, not a generic marketing line — Selkirk makes several shapes across several price tiers, and the S2 is the one built to forgive off-center contact rather than reward pinpoint placement.

The handle-and-face trade-off shows up directly in how the paddle plays. One review of the shape put it plainly: "The slightly shorter handle gives more control, the larger face more power, and the FiberFlex surface great touch." That's consistent with what the spec sheet promises — a wider hitting area married to a softer fiberglass face should produce exactly that blend of control and touch, at the cost of the reach a longer handle would give a two-handed player.

Where the S2 is honest about its limits is spin. A fiberglass face simply doesn't generate the same bite that raw carbon can, and the FiberFlex+ surface is tuned for touch and consistency rather than maximum rotation. For a control-and-consistency player, that's a fair trade. For a player whose entire game is built around heavy topspin, it's a real ceiling.

Strengths

• The largest sweet spot in Selkirk's entire lineup — genuinely forgiving on off-center contact, which matters most to players still building consistency.
• FiberFlex+ fiberglass delivers a soft, connected feel at roughly half the price of Selkirk's carbon-faced flagships.
• A thick 16mm X5 honeycomb core keeps the paddle stable and controlled rather than twitchy.
• Two weight options (about 7.55 oz lightweight, about 8.15 oz midweight) let players tune feel to their swing speed and any arm-fatigue concerns.
• USAPA-approved for tournament and league play, with Selkirk's brand reliability behind it.

The trade-offs — who should skip it

• You want maximum spin. Fiberglass tops out below raw carbon on spin generation — a dedicated spin player will feel the ceiling here faster than a control-and-consistency player will.
• You rely on a two-handed backhand. The 4.65-inch handle is shorter than Selkirk's Epic shape specifically to make room for the wider face; that trade works against two-handed shots.
• You want Selkirk's top-tier performance. This is explicitly the value tier of the AMPED Control line — the brand's pricier paddles use different materials and are built for a different level of competitive play.

How it compares

At rank 1 on the same list, the JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16 sits at the opposite end of the spectrum — a pro-signature, carbon-faced paddle built for players who've already outgrown forgiveness in favor of spin and precision. The S2 isn't trying to compete there; it's the paddle for the player who isn't at that level yet, or who never wants to be and just wants a reliable, comfortable frame. Closer in spirit, the Onix Evoke Premier at rank 8 is another wide, forgiving composite paddle at a similar price point — the two are a reasonable head-to-head for a shopper deciding between Selkirk's and Onix's take on the same "big sweet spot, budget-friendly" formula, with the Evoke Premier's 16x8 widebody shape against the S2's slightly narrower but similarly forgiving 15.75x8 frame.

The Gavler verdict

An 8.4, with an 85 expert consensus against an 82 community rating — a value-tier control score that reflects real strengths rather than a compromise pick. Reviewers consistently single out the oversized sweet spot and the forgiving, connected feel of the FiberFlex+ face; the gap to the carbon-faced paddles higher on this list comes down to a fiberglass face's lower spin ceiling and a shorter handle that limits two-handed play. For a new-to-competitive player who wants Selkirk's build quality and the most forgiving shape the brand sells — without paying flagship prices — the AMPED Control - S2 is one of the smartest buys on Gavler's list.

Common Questions

Is the Selkirk AMPED Control - S2 worth it in 2026?

Yes, for a specific buyer: it ranks ninth on Gavler's Best Pickleball Paddles list with an 8.4, and it's Selkirk's value control paddle — the most forgiving shape the brand makes, at roughly half the price of a flagship. If you want Selkirk's build quality and a huge sweet spot without spending $200-plus, it's one of the better-value control paddles on the list.

What's the difference between the Selkirk AMPED S2 and the AMPED Control - S2?

They're the same S2 shape and price tier — Selkirk migrated the original AMPED S2 SKU into its current AMPED Control line, so the AMPED Control - S2 is the product's current-catalog name. The shape, the wide 15.75-by-8-inch body, and the control-paddle positioning carry over.

Does the Selkirk AMPED Control - S2 have a big sweet spot?

It has the largest sweet spot in Selkirk's lineup. The wide S2 body is built specifically to be forgiving, which is why Gavler and other reviewers point to it as a strong option for a player moving up from a beginner paddle into more competitive play.

Is fiberglass or carbon fiber better for a pickleball paddle face?

Neither is universally better — they trade off differently. Fiberglass, like the S2's FiberFlex+ face, gives a softer, more connected feel and a lower price, but tops out below raw carbon on spin generation. Carbon faces generate more spin but typically cost more and can feel stiffer. The right choice depends on whether you prioritize touch and price or maximum spin.

What size handle does the Selkirk AMPED Control - S2 have?

4.65 inches, with a 4.25-inch grip — shorter than Selkirk's Epic model. That's the trade-off for the S2's wider face: more sweet spot, less room for a two-handed backhand.