JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
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
- 93Power92
- 88Control86
- 90Spin94
- 82Forgiveness84
- 84Sweet spot86
- 89Stability88
- 68Maneuverability72
- 88Pop88
- 84Touch82
- 87Consistency86
- 82Swing weight80
- 87Twist weight86
- 58Launch angle60
- 92Plow through88
- 72Softness74
Specs
| $300 | Price | $250 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8.4 oz | Weight | 8 oz |
| 124 | Swing weight | 117 |
| 6.5 | Twist weight | 6.5 |
| elongated | Shape | elongated |
| Raw Toray T700 carbon | Surface | CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.5 in |
JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 verdict
The elongated sibling to the Perseus Pro V, and the drive paddle of the pair. Extra reach and plow-through turn third-shot drives into finishable balls, but hand speed at the kitchen is the trade.
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 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 cheaper at $250.
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 should you buy?
JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16
Take JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 if you want plow through (+4). Its swing weight of 124 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 review →RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want spin (+4), maneuverability (+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 →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 measures 93 on 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?
- JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16, with 6.5 twist weight against 6.5. 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?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 costs $250, $50 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 core with EVA foam ring core with a CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16, 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 JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 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. JOOLA Hyperion Pro V 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 at 8 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 $250, 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 Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
- Hyperion Pro V 16 vs Pegasus Gen 3
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Ultré Power 2
- 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: 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.