The Selkirk Boomstik redefined what pickleball players could expect from a power paddle.

Its insane power and massive sweet spot made it an instant hit; I immediately called it the best paddle I'd ever tested.

BUT, there was one big "but". For a lot of players, that power came at too high of a cost in control.

So in steps the Omni. It's built off of the same shape and foundation, but with subtle tweaks designed for players who want Boomstik-like performance without the "uncontrollable" power.

The question is: in search of better control, has Selkirk managed to maintain the magic of the Boomstik, or have they also nerfed the intangible qualities that make that paddle so special?

Specs and Design

The Omni's mold is identical to the Boomstik's, and it comes in the same Elongated and Widebody versions. The Elongated is 16.5 inches long, with a 5.8 inch handle and the Widebody is 16 inches long with a 5.6 inch handle. Both have a 16mm core and weigh between 7.9–8.2 ounces. The top sheet is also the same T700 carbon fibre with Selkirk's Infinigrit texture.

The key differences between the two, lie in the core's construction, and the adjustability of the MOI Tuning System.

Adjustable Weights

Unlike the Boomstik's fixed perimeter weighting, the Omni features removable 7.5 gram weights that can snap on anywhere around the edge guard. In stock form, these weights sit lower than on the Boomstik, which prioritizes hand speed and stability rather than leverage and plow-through. You can adjust them however you see fit, but after extensive testing, I preferred the paddle in stock form.

Core Construction

The biggest change between the Omni and the Boomstik is at their core (no pun intended). The Boomstik's core is made up of an EPP foam centre surrounded by a thick EVA foam ring, and that EVA's trampoline effect is what makes it so powerful.

The Omni has the same EPP foam in the centre, with a much thinner EVA ring surrounding it, and also features another layer of EPP foam between the two. This construction reduces trampoline effect and energy return, and adds some extra softness into the equation.

Feel and Sweet Spot

One shot with the Omni made it clear that it was very much cut from the same cloth as the Boomstik. It makes a similar booming sound with a similarly hollow feel off the paddle face.

Right off the bat, though, there are a few notable differences. Whereas the Boomstik is one of the stiffest full-foam paddles out there, the Omni is noticeably softer. It has that signature Gen 4 "chalkiness" that I've never felt on the Boomstik, and it has a longer dwell time with a less instantaneous pop.

This softness should theoretically add some control, which I'll talk about in the next section, but I also found it to be a little bit too muted. The Boomstik is also muted, but because it's so firm, you don't need much feedback since the ball exits so quickly. Because the ball dwells longer on the paddle, I would have preferred to be a little more connected to my shots.

I brought out a J2CR for this play test because it's one of the best feeling Gen 4s, and it has an unmistakably "richer" feel during dwell time. The difference is there, but of course, this is a subtle sensation that may not matter for those of you who don't need too much feedback, but it's worth pointing out.

Sweet Spot

The sweet spot on the Omni is massive although not quite as big as the Boomstik's. That paddle is essentially all sweet spot, whereas there is a more notable drop off in playability on off centre shots with the Omni. This is probably due to the softer core; it's not quite as rock solid around the edges so you will feel the paddle flutter a little more during miss hits.

It is important to relativize, though. There are no paddles that compare to the Boomstik in terms of sweet spot size, so compared to the rest of the competition, the Omni is exceptional.

Control

My experience with control on the Omni needs to be split between an objective section and my subjective opinions.

Objectively the Omni is a better control paddle than the Boomstik. It's softer, so it absorbs more of the ball's energy which makes it easier to control and less instantaneously punishing. Dinks, drops, and resets were very easy to hit, I could flow through my shots without getting stiff and worrying that I would send the ball flying. For players who found the Boomstik too hot, this is a perfect paddle to try. It's still on the firmer side so not as controlled as the very best control paddles, but it's a great hybrid design that still maintains the Boomstik's DNA, as it should.

Now for the subjective part, I'm still more confident with control on the Boomstik, for a few key reasons.

First of all, I've been using that paddle for the better part of a year, so I've learned how to soften up my hands when hitting any sort of touch shot. Beyond that, though, I do find the Boomstik to be more consistent.

Yes, it adds power, but it adds a consistent amount of power every time. Once you figure out your depth, the paddle gives you immense trust that every shot is going to come off the way it should.

The softer, muted response off the Omni makes it feel a little more ambiguous. While I did get to a point where I was confident enough to hit with good control, I still never dialled it in all the way. I'm not against a softer paddle, but when they're soft like this, I do prefer more feedback so that I have a better understanding of where the ball is going to go every time.

So, at least for me, the Boomstik is more consistent, but the Omni is easier to control. It'll come down to personal preference for most players, but it's also important to note that the Omni is still much more of a power paddle than it is a control paddle. It's relatively stiff, and adds more power than it soaks up, so it'll never match paddles like the Genesis in terms of pure control.

 

Power

You probably knew this was coming, but the Omni is noticeably less powerful than the Boomstik. It simply doesn't provide the same pop and power, but again, few paddles do. Compared to other paddles, it's still incredibly powerful; similar to the Honolu CR series, and a slight notch higher than the Bread & Butter Loco.

I'd even go as far as to say that, compared to the Boomstik, the drop off in power isn't all that consequential for 90% of shots. The only time you'll miss it is in those moments where the Boomstik really bails you out, either in hands battles or when you have to instantly react to a speedup. The Omni performs well in these situations, but the Boomstik is in a league of its own.

Spin

I was very excited about the Omni's potential soft spin performance but I ended up a little bit disappointed. Because it's softer, I expected it to modulate spin more effectively than the Boomstik, which it does, but I'd still take the Boomstik in most situations.

Because the Boomstik is so firm and responsive, it works as a perfect conductor of spin from your technique into the ball. You can't really guide a spinny drop, but you can crank the paddle face as quickly as you feel you need to generate the necessary arch.

The Omni absorbs some of that energy, reducing the amount of RPMs you can put into the ball, but it's also quite muted in feel so I lose modulation through my stroke. Soft spin shots are really difficult and require a high level of connection to the paddle and I didn't quite find that during my play test.

Otherwise, top-end spin is elite compared to most other paddles on the market. Rolled volleys, drives, and serves are easy to hit, and you certainly won't feel like you're lacking any spin.

Who is the Omni for?

The Omni does exactly what it should: bridge the gap between the overpowered nature of the Boomstik, and the rest of the paddles on the market.

It's made for players who tested the Boomstik and liked most of its playability, but couldn't adapt to its extreme power. The Omni delivers 90% of that paddle's performance ceiling with a much easier learning curve. Intermediate to advanced players who want a power paddle that doesn't compromise too much on the control side of pickleball should absolutely give it a shot.

I wouldn't recommend it to players who prioritize control, however. The trampoline effect is still in full force, so properly soft paddles will be better for your game.

While I don't think it will be more popular than the Boomstik, I do think it's the perfect alternative and opens up the design to a wider range of players. The Boomstik is still king at the top end of playability, but the Omni packs that into a more subdued package that will surely make it one of the best paddles of the year.

If you are interested in trying the Selkirk Omni paddles, come visit us in-store for a demo, or you can check them out online.