The Selkirk Boomstik (you'll see it spelled Selkirk Boomstick just as often) has been the paddle Aussie players keep asking us about since it dropped in the US — and it's now landed on our shelves. This is our honest, player-tested review of the Selkirk LABS Boomstik Elongated: what it is, who it's for, how it actually plays at the kitchen and off the baseline, the specs that matter, and whether the AUD $549 is money well spent. Short version up top, the detail underneath.
The quick verdict
The Boomstik is the most powerful elongated paddle Selkirk has built, and it's one of the most powerful paddles we stock full stop. It pairs a foam BoomCore with a Multi-Strata T700 carbon face, and the numbers back the name up: a 118 swing weight (that's genuinely heavy through the swing) and a 7.2 twist weight (that's a huge, forgiving sweet spot). Translation — it hits an absolute ton and it doesn't punish you when you catch the ball off-centre.
Who it's for: intermediate-to-advanced players (roughly DUPR 3.5+) who win points from the baseline and want plow-through power with spin. Who it's not for: anyone chasing a light, whippy hands-battle paddle, or a beginner still finding the middle of the face. If that's you, scroll down to the alternatives — we'll point you somewhere better.
If you already know you want it, here it is: the Selkirk LABS Boomstik Elongated, in stock and dispatching from Sydney.
What the Selkirk Boomstik actually is
The Boomstik came out of Selkirk LABS — Selkirk's experimental line, where they test the ideas that don't fit the mainstream range yet. The whole point of the Boomstik was power. Selkirk built it around what they call a BoomCore: a PureFoam core wrapped with an EVA Power Ring around the perimeter. Foam cores flex more through contact than a traditional honeycomb, which is what gives the ball that long, catapult-like launch off the face. The EVA ring firms up the edges so the frame stays stable while the middle does the work.
Over the top sits a Multi-Strata T700 carbon fibre face — a layered carbon weave with real bite for spin — and it's all built on a 16mm, elongated frame. Selkirk also fits the MOI Tuning System: removable perimeter weights that let you shift how head-heavy the paddle feels, so you can dial the swing weight up for more power or down for quicker hands. It's the same tuning idea that runs through Selkirk's current Omni line, and it's genuinely useful rather than a gimmick.
Put plainly: this is a paddle engineered to end points, not grind them out.
How the Boomstik plays
We've had it on court, so here's the honest read across the four things that actually decide whether you'll like a paddle.
Power
This is the headline and it delivers. That 118 swing weight is high — most modern paddles sit in the 108–115 range — so the Boomstik carries real mass through contact. Your drives come off heavier, your counter-attacks hurt, and third-shot drives from the baseline get there with pace to spare. If you like taking the ball early and putting it away, this paddle rewards you. The flip side is honest to note: a heavier swing weight asks more of your shoulder over a long session, and it's a touch slower to reset in a fast hands battle than a lighter control paddle.
Spin
The Multi-Strata T700 carbon face grips the ball well. Topspin thirds dip and kick, and you can shape rolls at the kitchen with confidence. It's not a spin-first specialist the way RPM's paddles are built to be — the Boomstik's priority is clearly power — but there's more than enough surface texture here to play a modern spin game. Heavy topspin dinks and rolling volleys are well within its range.
Control and feel
Foam-core power paddles used to trade away all their touch. The Boomstik doesn't fully escape that — this is a power stick first — but the PureFoam core gives a longer dwell time on the ball than you'd expect, which helps on resets. Soft hands at the kitchen line take a little more concentration than they would on a dedicated control paddle, but resets and blocks are absolutely playable once you've got a few sessions in. Where it shines is the aggressive block-to-counter: absorb, then punish.
Sweet spot and forgiveness
This is the quietly brilliant part. A 7.2 twist weight is high, and twist weight is the spec that tells you how forgiving a paddle is on off-centre hits. On the Boomstik, balls you catch out toward the edge still come off with pace and stay on line, rather than fluttering away weakly. For a paddle this powerful, being this forgiving is unusual — it's what makes the Boomstik playable for a wider range of players than its power number suggests.
The specs
Everything below is straight off the paddle — no marketing rounding.
| Spec | Selkirk LABS Boomstik Elongated |
|---|---|
| Price (AU) | AUD $549.00 (inc GST) |
| Core | BoomCore — PureFoam with EVA Power Ring |
| Core thickness | 16 mm |
| Face | Multi-Strata T700 Carbon Fibre |
| Shape | Elongated |
| Average weight | 8.1–8.4 oz |
| Swing weight | 118 |
| Twist weight | 7.2 |
| Handle length | 5.8 in |
| Grip circumference | 4.25 in |
| Perimeter system | MOI Tuning System (removable weights) |
Who should buy the Boomstik — and who shouldn't
Buy it if you're:
- An intermediate-to-advanced player (DUPR ~3.5+) who wins from the baseline with drives and counters.
- Coming off a control paddle and wanting to add a genuine power gear to your bag.
- A bigger swinger who wants plow-through and doesn't mind a heavier paddle through the stroke.
- After a power paddle that's still forgiving — the 7.2 twist weight makes it far kinder than most power sticks.
Look elsewhere if you're:
- A beginner still finding the centre of the face — the extra power will run away from you before your control catches up. Start with something lighter and more neutral.
- A hands-battle specialist who lives at the kitchen and wants the fastest possible reset — a lower-swing-weight control paddle will serve you better.
- Sensitive to arm fatigue over long sessions; a 118 swing weight is a commitment.
Boomstik vs Omni vs RPM Q2 — where it sits
We stock three elongated foam-core paddles that get cross-shopped constantly, so here's the honest positioning.
- Selkirk Boomstik ($549) — the power pick. Highest swing weight (118) and highest twist weight (7.2) of the three. Buy it for the biggest power ceiling and the most forgiving face. → Selkirk Boomstik Elongated
- Selkirk Omni Elongated ($449) — the all-court Selkirk. ReactCore foam with the same MOI tuning, but a more balanced, do-everything feel. Buy it if you want Selkirk's touch and adjustability without going all-in on power.
- RPM Q2 16mm Elongated ($357.50) — the value spin pick. Swing weight 114, twist weight 6.1, and a spin-first CarbonBite face. Buy it if spin and dollar-for-dollar value matter more to you than outright power, or you want to keep some cash in your pocket.
If you want the fuller Selkirk picture, browse the whole Selkirk paddles collection, or see everything built to hit hard in our power pickleball paddles collection.
Buying the Selkirk Boomstik in Australia
A quick note on the Aussie side of things, because it's where we can genuinely help.
- Australian-stocked, in stock now. The Boomstik has been in and out of stock at Australian retailers all year. Ours is on the shelf and dispatches same-day from our Sydney warehouse if you order before 2pm AEST.
- Price: AUD $549.00 including GST. Free shipping over $150, so delivery's on us.
- Warranty handled locally. If anything goes wrong, we run the manufacturer claim for you — no posting a paddle back to the US.
- Not sure it's the one? Hit reply on any Pickld email or drop us a note through the site. Ben and Chris answer support ourselves, and we'll tell you straight if the Omni or the Q2 is a better fit for your game.
FAQ
Is the Selkirk Boomstick legal in tournaments? Yes — the Selkirk LABS Boomstik is a USA Pickleball–approved paddle, so it's legal for sanctioned tournament play. You can confirm any paddle's status on the official USA Pickleball approved equipment list. It gets asked a lot because the Boomstik hits so hard players assume it can't be legal — it is.
How much does the Selkirk Boomstik cost in Australia? AUD $549.00 including GST at Pickld, with free shipping over $150 and same-day Sydney dispatch.
Is it "Boomstik" or "Boomstick"? Selkirk officially spells it Boomstik (one k, no c), but most players search "Boomstick" — it's the same paddle either way.
How long will the Boomstik last? Like any foam-core paddle, the face texture gradually smooths with heavy use, which softens spin over time before power. Selkirk's carbon faces have a good durability reputation, and the Multi-Strata T700 weave holds up well for regular club play. Rotate an overgrip and store it out of a hot car and it'll serve you a long time.
Boomstik or Omni — which Selkirk should I get? Get the Boomstik if power is your priority and you play from the baseline. Get the Omni Elongated if you want a more balanced all-court paddle with the same Selkirk tuning and a softer touch at the kitchen.
Pickld carries the brands featured here, including Selkirk and RPM. Our picks are based on hands-on play, customer order data and verified product specs — not affiliate incentives.
Any questions the review didn't cover — the Boomstik for your specific game, when the next stock lands, whether to size the grip up — just hit reply. Happy to talk it through.
Ben + Chris Pickld — Sydney
