Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm wins this matchup for most players: it takes hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, which costs $249.99.
Power
Too close to call
92 vs 92
Spin
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
94 vs 90
Control
Too close to call
86 vs 85
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 84
Hand speed
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
112 vs 117 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
$169 at IQ 85.9 vs $249.99 at IQ 86.3
Overall pick: Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm · $169 · IQ 85.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
Estimated scores: the Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm Paddle DNA is our estimate from published specs, not a sourced profile.
- 92Power92
- 85Control86
- 90Spin94
- 86Forgiveness84
- 88Sweet spot86
- 84Stability88
- 80Maneuverability72
- 90Pop88
- 83Touch82
- 85Consistency86
- 72Swing weight80
- 82Twist weight86
- 60Launch angle60
- 83Plow through88
- 78Softness74
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm | RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $169 — better | $249.99 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 85.9 | 86.3 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 112 | 117 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 | 6.5 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.375 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.625 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.125 |
| Surface | T700 raw carbon fiber face | CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup |
| Core material | Gen 4 full-foam EPP core with EVA foam perimeter | Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring |
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm verdict
Friday's Gen 4 full-foam Aura Pro in the hybrid shape pairs a power-focused response with a quick published 112 swing weight. The published 6.4 twist weight is moderate, so it gives up some stability on paper to heavier all-court hybrids.
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
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is maneuverability: Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm scores 80 against 72 for RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 — an 8-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, sweet spot, pop, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm is $80.99000000000001 cheaper at $169.
Maneuverability
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm leads by 8 points (80 vs 72).
Swing weight
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 8 points (80 vs 72).
Plow through
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 5 points (88 vs 83).
Spin
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 4 points (94 vs 90).
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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.3 vs 85.8 on the weighted index). Take Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm and keep the $80.99000000000001.
- Stability
- Twist weight
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.8 vs 85 on the weighted index). Take Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm and keep the $80.99000000000001.
- Maneuverability
- Forgiveness
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.2 vs 86.8 on the weighted index). Take Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm and keep the $80.99000000000001.
- Spin
- Plow through
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — softness 78 vs 74, forgiveness 86 vs 84. Its 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam EPP core with EVA foam perimeter core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
Take Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm if you want maneuverability (+8), softness (+4). Its swing weight of 112 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm review →RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want swing weight (+8), plow through (+5), spin (+4). 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 →Where to Buy
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 FAQ
- Which is better, the Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.3 vs 85.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — maneuverability — Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm, at 112 kg·cm² swing weight against 117 for RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 92 for power.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 at 86 versus 85. 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 90 for the T700 raw carbon fiber face on Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm. In practice a 4-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 84). RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 actually carries the higher twist weight (6.5 vs 6.4), but Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm makes it back on sweet spot (88) and overall face stability.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm costs $169, $80.99000000000001 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?
- Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm: 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam EPP core with EVA foam perimeter core with a T700 raw carbon fiber 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.
- 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?
- Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both are listed at 7.9 oz, though swing weight differs (112 vs 117) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm to the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm leads on maneuverability by 8 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $169 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.
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2
- 11SIX24 Ultré Power 2 vs RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2
- Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm vs Coral Pro
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs CRBN-1X Power Series
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Coral Pro
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Q2 Elongated 16mm
- Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm vs Loco 16mm Hybrid
- Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm vs Loco 16mm Elongated
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm vs Q2 Elongated 16mm
- Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm vs Loco 2 Hybrid 16mm
- Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm vs Spitfire Elongated 16mm
- Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm vs Jade Elongated 16mm
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Ultré Power 2
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs 1X TruFoam Power
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Agassi Pro 16
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Hyperion Pro V 16
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 Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm and RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Friday Pickleball Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm 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.