CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Two spin-first elongated paddles bought by the same aggressive singles player. Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 90Power92
- 80Control86
- 92Spin94
- 73Forgiveness84
- 74Sweet spot86
- 79Stability88
- 69Maneuverability72
- 89Pop88
- 76Touch82
- 80Consistency86
- 84Swing weight80
- 72Twist weight86
- 59Launch angle60
- 91Plow through88
- 64Softness74
CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series | RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $199 — better | $249.99 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.9 | 86.3 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.5 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 124 | 117 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6 | 6.5 — better |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Raw T700 carbon | CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup |
| Core material | Power polymer | Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring |
CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series verdict
CRBN's spin formula bolted to a thin, hot core. Serves and drives leave the face quickly, and the paddle asks a lot of your reset technique in return.
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 verdict
The James Ignatowich signature build is an unapologetic attack paddle: 16.5 in of reach, a grippy CarbonBite face and a tri-density core that launches drives without giving up the sweet spot the first V2 lacked.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is twist weight: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 86 against 72 for CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series — a 14-point gap. They are effectively level on maneuverability, plow through, power, so those traits should not decide the purchase. CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series is $50.99000000000001 cheaper at $199.
Twist weight
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 14 points (86 vs 72).
Sweet spot
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 12 points (86 vs 74).
Forgiveness
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 11 points (84 vs 73).
Softness
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 10 points (74 vs 64).
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 Friction Pro Elongated V2
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is the clearer pick at this level — sweet spot 86 vs 74, forgiveness 84 vs 73, twist weight 86 vs 72. Twist weight 6.5 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 84 vs 73, control 86 vs 80, touch 82 vs 76. At 117 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Forgiveness
- Control
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is a narrow pick at this level — touch 82 vs 76, control 86 vs 80, power 92 vs 90. Swing weight 117 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Touch
- Control
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 74 vs 64, forgiveness 84 vs 73, twist weight 86 vs 72. Its 16 mm Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want twist weight (+14), sweet spot (+12), forgiveness (+11). Its swing weight of 117 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 review →CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series
Take CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series if you want swing weight (+4). Its swing weight of 124 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series review →RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series FAQ
- Which is better, the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 or the CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.3 vs 79.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 14 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, at 117 kg·cm² swing weight against 124 for CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 or the CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 measures 92 on power against 90 for CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series. That comes from a 16 mm Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring core swinging at 117 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 at 86 versus 80. 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?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 94 for spin off its CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup face, against 92 for the Raw T700 carbon face on CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, with 6.5 twist weight against 6. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 carries the higher forgiveness score (84) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series costs $199, $50.99000000000001 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?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2: 16 mm Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring core with a CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup face. CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series: 14 mm Power polymer core with a Raw T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 84 and sweet spot 86 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 at 7.9 oz against 8.5 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (117 vs 124) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series to the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads on twist weight by 14 points; everything else is within 12 points. At $249.99 vs $199, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a hand speed vs plow through decision
Browse every head-to-head that splits on the same trade-off:
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- CRBN-1X Power Series vs Hyperion CFS 16
- CRBN-1X Power Series vs Pro XS 16
- CRBN-1X Power Series vs CX14E Ultimate Power
- CRBN-1X Power Series vs Bantam TKO-C 14
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Ultré Power 2
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Hyperion Pro V 16
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Pegasus Gen 3
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs CRBN-1X
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: CRBN CRBN-1X Power Series and RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.