Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated 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
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin, forgiveness and hand speed on Paddle DNA against the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated, which costs $250.
Power
Too close to call
93 vs 92
Spin
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
94 vs 86
Control
Too close to call
86 vs 83
Forgiveness
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
84 vs 78
Hand speed
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
117 vs 123 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Too close to call
$249.99 at IQ 86.3 vs $250 at IQ 83.4
Overall pick: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 · $249.99 · IQ 86.3
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 93Power92
- 83Control86
- 86Spin94
- 78Forgiveness84
- 80Sweet spot86
- 87Stability88
- 70Maneuverability72
- 89Pop88
- 80Touch82
- 84Consistency86
- 82Swing weight80
- 84Twist weight86
- 60Launch angle60
- 91Plow through88
- 68Softness74
Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated 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 | Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated | RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $250 | $249.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 83.4 | 86.3 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.4 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 123 | 117 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.3 | 6.5 — better |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.6 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.3 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Textured carbon | CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup |
| Core material | Solid-span carbon (no honeycomb) | Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring |
Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated verdict
Gearbox's solid-span construction with a genuine power tune. It feels unlike any honeycomb paddle — firmer, more direct — and rewards players who already hit clean.
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 spin: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 94 against 86 for Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated — an 8-point gap. They are effectively level on control, plow through, maneuverability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($250 vs $249.99) that it should not break the tie.
Spin
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 8 points (94 vs 86).
Forgiveness
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 6 points (84 vs 78).
Sweet spot
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 6 points (86 vs 80).
Softness
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 6 points (74 vs 68).
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 a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 84 vs 78, sweet spot 86 vs 80, twist weight 86 vs 84. Twist weight 6.5 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- 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 — spin 94 vs 86, forgiveness 84 vs 78, control 86 vs 83. At 117 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Forgiveness
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.9 vs 86.8 on the weighted index). Pick on static weight — 8.4 oz on the GX2 Power Elongated, 7.9 oz on the Friction Pro Elongated V2.
- Spin
- Control
- Touch
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 68, forgiveness 84 vs 78, twist weight 86 vs 84. 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?
Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated
Take Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated if you prefer a 14 mm Solid-span carbon (no honeycomb) core — it gives up nothing measurable to RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2.
Read the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated review →RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want spin (+8), forgiveness (+6), sweet spot (+6). 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 →Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.3 vs 83.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, at 117 kg·cm² swing weight against 123 for Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated scores 93 for power against 92 for RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2. That comes from a 14 mm Solid-span carbon (no honeycomb) core swinging at 123 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 83. 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 86 for the Textured carbon face on Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated. In practice an 8-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, with the higher forgiveness score (84 vs 78). Its 6.5 twist weight against 6.3 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- They are within $0.009999999999990905 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated: 14 mm Solid-span carbon (no honeycomb) core with a Textured carbon 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?
- 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. Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 at 7.9 oz against 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (117 vs 123) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated to the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads on spin by 8 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $250 vs $249.99, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
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- GX2 Power Elongated vs Double Black Diamond Control
- GX2 Power Elongated vs Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
- GX2 Power Elongated 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.
- GX2 Power Elongated vs 2X Power Series
- GX2 Power Elongated vs Labs Project 006
- GX2 Power Elongated vs Pro XS 16
- GX2 Power Elongated vs Hyperion CFS 16
- 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 Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated and RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Gearbox GX2 Power Elongated 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.