JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 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
- 88Power92
- 96Control86
- 92Spin94
- 86Forgiveness84
- 88Sweet spot86
- 90Stability88
- 73Maneuverability72
- 80Pop88
- 94Touch82
- 93Consistency86
- 74Swing weight80
- 88Twist weight86
- 51Launch angle60
- 86Plow through88
- 80Softness74
Specs
| $300 | Price | $250 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8.3 oz | Weight | 8 oz |
| 118 | Swing weight | 117 |
| 6.7 | Twist weight | 6.5 |
| hybrid | Shape | elongated |
| Raw Toray T700 carbon | Surface | CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.5 in |
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 verdict
The 2026 control flagship. The KineticFrame build stiffens the perimeter without adding face pop, so resets land shorter and drives stay predictable — at the highest price in the database.
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 touch: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 94 against 82 for RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, forgiveness, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is $50 cheaper at $250.
Touch
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 12 points (94 vs 82).
Control
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 10 points (96 vs 86).
Launch angle
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 9 points (60 vs 51).
Pop
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 8 points (88 vs 80).
Which one should you buy?
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 if you want touch (+12), control (+10), consistency (+7). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 review →RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want launch angle (+9), pop (+8), swing weight (+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 →JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 FAQ
- Which is better, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 86.3), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — touch — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, at 117 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 measures 92 on power against 88 for JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. That comes from a 16 mm Tri-Density 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 at 96 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 92 for the Raw Toray T700 carbon face on JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, with 6.7 twist weight against 6.5. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (86) 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 Perseus 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 Perseus 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 Perseus Pro V 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 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 unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 at 8 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (117 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 to the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads on touch by 12 points; everything else is within 10 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.
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Perseus CFS 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Perseus Pro IV 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs CRBN-3X Power Series
- 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: JOOLA Perseus 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.