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Selkirk’s two most-discussed paddles right now are the LABS Project Boomstik ($333) and the SLK ERA Power ($200). Both are power-oriented, both use advanced core construction, and both have legitimate pro-level performance. But they serve very different players, and picking the wrong one is a $200+ mistake. Here’s how they actually compare.
Quick Comparison
| Spec | Boomstik | ERA Power |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $333 | $200 |
| Core | BoomCore (full foam + EVA power ring) | Dynamic Fusion (polypropylene + EVA foam) |
| Face | Carbon fiber with InfiniGrit | 3-layer fiberglass + T700 raw carbon |
| Thickness | 16mm | 16mm |
| Power profile | Explosive, foam-driven pop | Heavy, consistent plow-through |
| Control | Requires discipline in soft game | Reliable at the kitchen |
| Sweet spot (widebody) | Very large | Large |
| Core durability | No core crush (full foam) | No core crush (honeycomb) |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime | 1 year |
| Where to Buy | Selkirk.com — enter code ADV-NSMYTH as a discount code at checkout | |
Power
The Boomstik wins this outright. Selkirk claims 14% more exit speed over the ERA Power, and the difference is perceptible in direct head-to-head use. The BoomCore — full foam with an EVA power ring — creates explosive energy release that arrives faster at the face than the ERA’s Dynamic Fusion construction. On baseline drives, overhead smashes, and put-aways, the Boomstik generates more pace.
The ERA Power is not slow. It hits harder than most all-court paddles and gives you enough firepower to compete at 4.5. What it doesn’t have is the Boomstik’s foam-core pop — that short, explosive release that makes aggressive drives noticeably heavier. Against 5.0+ opponents where ball speed creates direct pressure, the Boomstik’s extra pace matters more.
Control
The ERA Power wins this decisively. The Dynamic Fusion core keeps the paddle predictable in the soft game — dinks go where you put them, third-shot drops land with margin, and resets absorb pace without kicking the ball back up at awkward angles. The ERA doesn’t fight you when you need touch.
The Boomstik is harder to play soft with. The full foam core wants to drive the ball — that’s its design. During dinking exchanges against 4.5–5.0 opponents, the Boomstik requires more discipline to keep shots low and controlled. You can do it, but you’re working against the paddle rather than with it. Pop-ups happen more. Resets are less consistent.
This is the central trade-off between these two paddles. The Boomstik gives you more power; it costs you control. How much that matters depends entirely on your game.
Spin
This is essentially even. Both paddles feature textured surfaces rated at 2000+ RPM (InfiniGrit on the Boomstik, Raw Spin Tech on the ERA Power). Both generate enough spin to shape serves, create dipping topspin drives, and hold slice shape. Both have maintained their texture performance through sustained use without concerning degradation.
If there’s a marginal advantage, the InfiniGrit surface on the Boomstik has demonstrated slightly better long-term durability in testing — but both outperform uncoated raw carbon surfaces that lose bite faster. For most players, spin is not the differentiator here.
Value
The ERA Power wins clearly. You’re getting pro-level performance — multiple tour pros including Rachel Rohrabacher, Catherine Parenteau, and Jack Sock play it — at $200. The Boomstik is $133 more for a paddle that’s specialized for one type of player and harder to use in a balanced doubles game.
The Boomstik makes sense as a value proposition only if you’re the specific player it was built for: 4.5+ skill level, attack-heavy style, willing to work on soft game discipline to use an explosive paddle. For that player, the no-core-crush guarantee, the larger sweet spot, and the extra pace add up. For everyone else, you’re overpaying for a tool you won’t fully utilize.
Verdict
For 90% of competitive players, the ERA Power is the right choice. It delivers enough power to play aggressively, handles the soft game reliably, and does it for $133 less. The Boomstik is a specialist paddle — excellent at what it does, but genuinely harder to play a complete doubles game with.
Buy the Boomstik if: you’re 4.5+, you attack relentlessly, soft game is not your primary weapon, and the price doesn’t bother you.
Buy the ERA Power if: you want balanced power and control, you play competitive doubles, or you’re not sure which paddle fits your game yet.
Enter code ADV-NSMYTH as a discount code at checkout at Selkirk.com for either paddle.