SELKIRK Boomstik Review

Introduction

I finally broke down and spent the money to see whether the hype surrounding the Selkirk Boomstik was justified.

At my club, a lot of players own one, and I’ve heard everything from “it’s the best paddle on the market” to “it’s overrated.” Rather than rely on opinions, I wanted to find out for myself.

The Common Consensus

Before buying the Boomstik, these were the four claims I heard repeatedly:

  1. It is one of the premier power-and-spin paddles on the market.
  2. It has an enormous sweet spot.
  3. The EVA Power Ring prevents core crush and helps the paddle maintain consistent performance over time.
  4. It is loud.

After my initial testing, I can immediately confirm claim #4—it is definitely loud. The sound is distinctive and unlike most thermoformed paddles.

As for the sweet spot, off-center hits were surprisingly forgiving, suggesting that claim #2 may also have merit. It’s too early for me to evaluate the long-term durability benefits of the EVA Power Ring, and I’ll need more court time before making a judgment about its power and spin potential.

Moment of Inertia (MOI) Tuning System

Selkirk’s marketing can leave the impression that the removable side weights allow you to tune the paddle’s swing weight by repositioning them.

That isn’t the case.

The weights can be removed or replaced with different weight options, but they cannot be moved higher or lower on the paddle. In other words, you can change the overall weight, but you cannot alter the weight distribution by relocating the inserts.

Technical Specifications

  • Weight: 8.0–8.3 oz (my paddle weighs 8.3 oz)
  • Grip Length: 5.8″
  • Grip Circumference: 4.25″
  • Swing Weight: 118 (relatively low)
  • Twist Weight: 7.2 (high)
  • Length: 16.5″
  • Width: 7.45″
  • Face Material: Three-layer Multistrata T700 Carbon
  • Core Thickness: 16 mm
  • Core Material: BoomCore
  • Sweet Spot Rating: 9

The “Sweet Spot Rating” is a new specification for me. I haven’t seen other manufacturers publish a numerical sweet spot rating, so it’s difficult to compare directly.

BoomCore

What exactly is BoomCore?

According to Selkirk, BoomCore is built using PureFoam, a cellular structure consisting of gas bubbles trapped within a solid material. Based on the limited information available, it appears conceptually similar to the Super Critical foam used by Hudef.

If that comparison is accurate, it could be a positive indicator for long-term durability. However, Selkirk hasn’t released enough technical information for me to draw any firm conclusions.

Performance

Overall, the Boomstik is an excellent all-around paddle. It performed well in every area of the game, including:

  • Dinking
  • Serving
  • Groundstrokes
  • Volleys
  • Net play

I didn’t notice a dramatic increase in raw power compared to paddles like the Loco or the FLIK. That may be because I’m not a player who relies on overpowering opponents.

Where the Boomstik truly separated itself was in two shots:

  • Resets from the transition zone
  • Third-shot drops

The paddle seemed unusually forgiving on both. Miss-hits still tended to produce playable balls, making these difficult touch shots noticeably easier to execute.

That said, many players below the 4.0 level don’t consistently use these shots as part of their game. If that’s you, the Boomstik’s biggest strengths may not be fully utilized.

For players who already rely on transition resets and third-shot drops, however, this paddle offers a meaningful advantage.

Bottom Line

The Selkirk Boomstik is an impressive, well-rounded paddle with excellent touch, a generous sweet spot, and outstanding performance on resets and third-shot drops. While I didn’t experience dramatically more power than several competing paddles, I came away impressed by its consistency and forgiveness.

It is undeniably expensive, but Selkirk’s lifetime warranty helps justify the investment. If you’re an intermediate-to-advanced player looking for a premium paddle—and especially if your game emphasizes soft shots, resets, and drops—the Boomstik deserves serious consideration.

Discounts?

Nope. No one gets one, it seems. But if you use the code ADV-GREGORYH at checkout, you get a $40 credit towards new purchases at Selkirk. I am going to use mine to explore their shoes.

Comments

A short while after I posted this blog page, I heard from two of our shorter ladies at our club.

Both said that, at 4 feet, 11 1/2 inch, and 5 feet, 1/2 inch, the Boomstik gave them more power than they had physically been able to produce before. So, I guess if you need more power, this might be the paddle for you.