JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16 vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Both land on the same overall IQ score (86.3), so the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Too close to call. The two split the scored categories and land on the same overall Paddle IQ score (86.3), so pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
92 vs 86
Spin
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
94 vs 90
Control
90 vs 86
Forgiveness
Too close to call
84 vs 84
Hand speed
112 vs 117 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Too close to call
$249.99 at IQ 86.3 vs $250 at IQ 86.3
Overall pick: Too close to call · both score IQ 86.3
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 86Power92
- 90Control86
- 90Spin94
- 84Forgiveness84
- 86Sweet spot86
- 86Stability88
- 80Maneuverability72
- 82Pop88
- 88Touch82
- 90Consistency86
- 70Swing weight80
- 82Twist weight86
- 52Launch angle60
- 82Plow through88
- 80Softness74
JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16 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 | JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16 | RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $250 | $249.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.3 | 86.3 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.1 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 112 | 117 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.6 — better | 6.5 |
| Shape | hybrid | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.3 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.4 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Raw Toray T700 carbon | CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup |
| Core material | Propulsion Core 4 | Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring |
JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16 verdict
The Perseus formula in a shorter, faster body. Control 90 and spin 90 with a 112 swing weight makes this the easiest Gen 4 JOOLA to swing.
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 swing weight: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 80 against 70 for JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16 — a 10-point gap. They are effectively level on stability, forgiveness, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($250 vs $249.99) that it should not break the tie.
Swing weight
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 10 points (80 vs 70).
Maneuverability
JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16 leads by 8 points (80 vs 72).
Launch angle
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 8 points (60 vs 52).
Power
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 6 points (92 vs 86).
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 (85.8 vs 85.8 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — hybrid on the Scorpeus Pro IV 16, elongated on the Friction Pro Elongated V2.
- Consistency
- Control
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.7 vs 85 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — hybrid on the Scorpeus Pro IV 16, elongated on the Friction Pro Elongated V2.
- Maneuverability
- Touch
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.3 vs 86.8 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — hybrid on the Scorpeus Pro IV 16, elongated on the Friction Pro Elongated V2.
- Power
- Plow through
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16
JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 80 vs 74. Its 16 mm Propulsion Core 4 core at 8.1 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16
Take JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16 if you want maneuverability (+8), touch (+6), softness (+6). Its swing weight of 112 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16 review →RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want swing weight (+10), launch angle (+8), power (+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 Scorpeus Pro IV 16 vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 FAQ
- Which is better, the JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16 or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both carry the same overall Paddle IQ score (86.3). The split is trait by trait — RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads on swing weight by 10 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16, 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 JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16 or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 92 for power against 86 for JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16. That comes from a 16 mm Tri-Density honeycomb 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 Scorpeus Pro IV 16 at 90 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 Scorpeus Pro IV 16. In practice a 4-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 84 on forgiveness despite twist weights of 6.6 and 6.5.
- 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?
- JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16: 16 mm Propulsion Core 4 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?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.4 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Forgiveness (84) and sweet spot (86) are identical, so a developing player can start on either — decide on price and handle feel.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 at 7.9 oz against 8.1 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (117 vs 112) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth switching between the JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16 and the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads on swing weight by 10 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $250 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
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs CRBN-1X Power Series
- Scorpeus Pro IV 16 vs Mod TA-15 3S 16
- Scorpeus Pro IV 16 vs 2X TruFoam Genesis
- Scorpeus Pro IV 16 vs Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
- Scorpeus Pro IV 16 vs TruFoam Genesis 2
- Scorpeus Pro IV 16 vs Agassi Pro 16
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Scorpeus Pro IV 16 vs Series Two Project Flash
- Scorpeus Pro IV 16 vs Mod TA-15 3S 16
- Scorpeus Pro IV 16 vs V-Sol Pro 16
- Scorpeus Pro IV 16 vs R3 Pulsar
- 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 JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 16 and RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: JOOLA Scorpeus Pro IV 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.