Selkirk LABS Project Boomstik Elongated 16mm Review
If you’ve been hunting for a true power paddle in 2025, you’ve probably noticed a pattern: a lot of paddles can hit hard… but not all of them stay consistent over time, and not all of them are easy to control when the point turns into a chaotic hands battle at the kitchen.
That’s where the Selkirk LABS Project Boomstik Elongated 16mm comes in.
This paddle isn’t trying to be subtle. It’s not aiming for “soft and plush.” The Boomstik is designed for one main purpose: give aggressive players a fast, heavy ball — without that annoying feeling that performance changes after a break-in period.
Below is a real-world style breakdown of what the Boomstik does best, what it demands from you, and who should (and shouldn’t) buy it.
Quick verdict (read this first)
Buy the Boomstik if you win points with pressure.
Think: big serves, heavy drives, punch volleys, and fast counters that make opponents feel late.
Skip it if you want a buttery-soft touch paddle.
You can play soft with it, but it’s not the paddle that gives you “free finesse.”
What the Boomstik is (and what it’s not)
The Boomstik is an elongated 16mm power paddle built around Selkirk’s BoomCore concept — a foam-core approach paired with perimeter tuning to improve stability and sweet spot.
In plain terms:
It wants to add speed to your ball.
It wants to feel stable on imperfect contact.
It wants to keep that personality over time.
It’s not a paddle you pick because you want a muted “pillow” feel on dinks. You pick it because you want a paddle that feels like it has a second gear when you decide to step on the gas.
The on-court feel: the thing people notice immediately
Let’s talk about the one thing that comes up over and over in conversations about this paddle:
It’s loud.
Boomstik has a crisp, high-feedback impact. Some players describe it as “hollow” in the way many explosive power paddles feel — not in a cheap way, but in a “this paddle is built to launch the ball” way.
If you love that kind of feedback, Boomstik is addictive.
If you hate loud paddles and prefer a soft, muted thud… you might not vibe with it on day one.
Performance breakdown (how it actually plays)
1) Power: “put-away” energy
Boomstik is at its best when you’re doing any of these:
Driving hard from the baseline
Speeding up out of the air
Countering at the kitchen
Punch-volleying to finish points
The paddle rewards a confident swing. You don’t have to swing 110% to get depth — the ball comes off quick, and it stays heavy through the court.
Best for: aggressive doubles, singles players who attack with drives, and anyone who likes ending points before they turn into dink marathons.
2) Spin: heavy shape without feeling “slippery”
For a power paddle, Boomstik’s spin is a big part of why it feels playable.
When you’re driving, it’s easier to create that “dip” that keeps the ball from sailing long. When you roll at the kitchen, you can shape the ball instead of just blasting it flat.
The key difference here is spin confidence: you can swing fast and still feel like the ball is biting and dropping.
3) Control and soft game: you can… but it demands touch
Here’s the honest part.
Boomstik is not the paddle that makes your soft game instantly better.
Drops: doable, but you need to relax your hand and trust your shape
Dinks: fine once adjusted, but the paddle’s natural liveliness can pop the ball if you’re tense
Resets: surprisingly solid because the paddle is stable, but you still need a calm block
If you already have good touch, you’ll adapt fast. If your current problem is “my dinks float up” or “my resets fly,” Boomstik will expose that quickly.
4) Sweet spot and forgiveness: better than you’d expect for elongated power
Elongated paddles can sometimes feel unforgiving high on the face or toward the edges. Boomstik’s stability tuning helps it feel more forgiving than many “pure banger” builds.
That matters most in real points when contact isn’t perfect:
late hands battles
off-balance counters
stretched volleys
Boomstik’s personality is basically: stable first, explosive second — and that’s a good combo for aggressive players.
5) Maneuverability: stable, not ultra-whippy
Boomstik isn’t slow, but it leans more toward stability than ultra-light whip speed.
If your style is all about tiny, fast wrist flicks and lightning acceleration, you might prefer something more head-light.
If your style is “absorb and punch back with authority,” Boomstik feels right.
Who should buy the Boomstik?
You’ll love it if you…
Play an attacking game: serve + drive + counter + speed-up
Want a paddle that feels explosive but still stable
Like crisp feedback and a “power paddle” sound
Prefer an elongated shape for reach and leverage (especially two-hand backhands)
You should probably skip it if you…
Want a soft, muted, plush feel on dinks
Rely on control-first play and hate pop
Are still building touch fundamentals and struggle with pop-ups
Buying tip: where to get the best overall deal
If you’re ready to buy, here’s the simple move:
Check Pickleball Central first.
Not just because of inventory — but because it’s often the easiest place to get the best overall value (pricing + buyer perks + returns + rewards), especially on premium paddles.
If you want the Boomstik, go to Pickleball Central, search “Selkirk LABS Project Boomstik Elongated 16mm”, and grab it there — especially if you’re trying to stack the best deal with buyer-friendly perks.
Final thoughts
The Boomstik is for players who want their paddle to feel like a weapon — not a paintbrush.
If you’re the kind of player who smiles when your drive makes your opponent block late… if you love punching volleys and ending points with pressure… the Boomstik is exactly that vibe.
But if your favorite part of pickleball is soft hands, delicate dinks, and slow-building patterns — you might want something more control-focused.
Either way, if you’re going to invest in a premium paddle, do it smart: check Pickleball Central and grab the best deal available before stock moves.
