11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 vs RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (85.1 vs 82.3), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
93 vs 92
Spin
Too close to call
90 vs 90
Control
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
84 vs 78
Forgiveness
Too close to call
85 vs 82
Hand speed
Too close to call
114 vs 116 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$200 at IQ 82.3 vs $249.99 at IQ 85.1
Overall pick: RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm · $249.99 · IQ 85.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
Estimated scores: the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm Paddle DNA is our estimate from published specs, not a sourced profile.
- 92Power93
- 78Control84
- 90Spin90
- 82Forgiveness85
- 82Sweet spot87
- 84Stability84
- 74Maneuverability76
- 90Pop91
- 72Touch80
- 80Consistency85
- 76Swing weight76
- 80Twist weight80
- 60Launch angle62
- 88Plow through85
- 60Softness70
11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 vs RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 | RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $200 — better | $249.99 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 82.3 | 85.1 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 7.8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 116 | 114 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.6 — better | 6.1 |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.4 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Raw carbon fiber | Carbon fiber surface |
| Core material | Thermoformed polypropylene with foam | Gen 4 full-foam core |
11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 verdict
A pure drive paddle. Power 92, pop 90 and plow-through 88 put it in the top tier for pace, and spin 90 means those drives still dip inside the baseline.
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm verdict
RPM's Gen 4 full-foam Q2 trades the Friction Pro's honeycomb feel for a firmer, more powerful response. The published 114 swing weight is lighter than most elongated power paddles, while the 6.1 twist weight is on the low side for the shape.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm scores 70 against 60 for 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 — a 10-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, plow through, maneuverability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 is $49.99000000000001 cheaper at $200.
Softness
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 10 points (70 vs 60).
Touch
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 8 points (80 vs 72).
Control
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 6 points (84 vs 78).
Sweet spot
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 5 points (87 vs 82).
Which one is right for your level?
Each call below re-weights the Paddle DNA traits that matter at that level, so the winner can differ from the overall pick.
Beginner
New to 3.0 — still building a consistent contact point
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — sweet spot 87 vs 82, consistency 85 vs 80, forgiveness 85 vs 82. Twist weight 6.1 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Consistency
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — control 84 vs 78, touch 80 vs 72, consistency 85 vs 80. At 114 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Touch
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — touch 80 vs 72, control 84 vs 78, maneuverability 76 vs 74. Swing weight 114 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Touch
- Control
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm is the clearer pick at this level — softness 70 vs 60, forgiveness 85 vs 82. Its 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam core at 7.8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
11SIX24 Vantage Power 16
Take 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 if you prefer a 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene with foam core — it gives up nothing measurable to RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm.
Read the 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 review →RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
Take RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm if you want softness (+10), touch (+8), control (+6). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm review →Where to Buy
11SIX24 Vantage Power 16
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 vs RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 or the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.1 vs 82.3), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 10 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm, at 114 kg·cm² swing weight against 116 for 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 or the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm scores 93 for power against 92 for 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16. That comes from a 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam core swinging at 114 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm at 84 versus 78. Its 16 mm core holds the ball on the face slightly longer, which is what makes resets and dinks land shorter.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 90 for spin.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm, with the higher forgiveness score (85 vs 82). 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 actually carries the higher twist weight (6.6 vs 6.1), but RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm makes it back on sweet spot (87) and overall face stability.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 costs $200, $49.99000000000001 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on whether you actually use the traits it trades away — check the head-to-head DNA bars above before paying up.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene with foam core with a Raw carbon fiber face. RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm: 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam core with a Carbon fiber surface.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both run a 5.5 in handle, long enough that neither forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 85 and sweet spot 87 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm at 7.8 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (114 vs 116) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 to the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads on softness by 10 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $200 vs $249.99, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
- Vantage Power 16 vs Black Diamond Power 16
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Jade Elongated 16mm
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs J6CR
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Friction Pro Elongated V2
- Vantage Power 16 vs Pro XS 16
- Vantage Power 16 vs Cannon XPP M1 Elongated 16mm
- Vantage Power 16 vs CRBN-1X Power Series
- Vantage Power 16 vs Vanguard Power Air
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Vantage Power 16 vs Black Diamond Power 16
- Vantage Power 16 vs Cannon XPP M1 Elongated 16mm
- Vantage Power 16 vs R4 Pulsar
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Mach 2 Forza 16
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs R4 Pulsar
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Spitfire Elongated 16mm
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 and RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: 11SIX24 Vantage Power 16 and RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.