JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2

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 90 for JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 — a 4-point gap. They are effectively level on control, forgiveness, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is $50.00999999999999 cheaper at $249.99.

• Spin

  RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 4 points (94 vs 90).

• Maneuverability

  RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 4 points (72 vs 68).

• Plow through

  JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 leads by 4 points (92 vs 88).

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.

Which one should you buy?

JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 FAQ

Which is better, the JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?

RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.3 vs 86.1), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 4 points.

Which one is faster at the kitchen line?

RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, at 117 kg·cm² swing weight against 124 for JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.

Which paddle has more power, the JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?

JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 scores 93 for power against 92 for RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2. That comes from a 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core swinging at 124 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.

Which one gives more control and touch?

JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 at 88 versus 86. 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 Raw Toray T700 carbon face on JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16. In practice a 4-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.

Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?

RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, with the higher forgiveness score (84 vs 82). Twist weight is identical at 6.5, so the gap comes from sweet-spot size and face stability rather than resistance to twisting.

Is the price difference worth it?

RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 costs $249.99, $50.00999999999999 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?

JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16: 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 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. JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 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 124) is what you feel mid-rally.

Is it worth upgrading from the JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 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 4 points; everything else is within 4 points. At $300 vs $249.99, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.

Also worth comparing

Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.

• Hyperion Pro V 16 vs TruFoam Genesis X
• Hyperion Pro V 16 vs Agassi Pro 16
• Hyperion Pro V 16 vs Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 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

Top alternatives to both

Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.

Read the full reviews: JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 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.