RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (87.2 vs 86.3), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
92 vs 90
Spin
Too close to call
94 vs 94
Control
Too close to call
89 vs 86
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 84
Hand speed
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm
112 vs 117 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
$249.99 at IQ 86.3 vs $269.99 at IQ 87.2
Overall pick: RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm · $269.99 · IQ 87.2
Paddle DNA head-to-head
Estimated scores: the RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm Paddle DNA is our estimate from published specs, not a sourced profile.
- 92Power90
- 86Control89
- 94Spin94
- 84Forgiveness86
- 86Sweet spot88
- 88Stability85
- 72Maneuverability78
- 88Pop86
- 82Touch88
- 86Consistency89
- 80Swing weight74
- 86Twist weight81
- 60Launch angle60
- 88Plow through84
- 74Softness82
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 | RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $249.99 — better | $269.99 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.3 | 87.2 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 7.8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 117 | 112 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.5 — better | 6.2 |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.125 |
| Surface | CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup | Proprietary SICmatrix surface |
| Core material | Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring | MPP floating full-foam core with soft EVA surround |
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.
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm verdict
A spin- and touch-focused alternative to the Q2, not a universal upgrade. RPM lists a 112 swing weight and 6.2 twist weight. Our estimated DNA suggests a calmer soft game than the Q2, while the Q2 retains the stronger power/pop profile. Long-term SICmatrix grit retention has not been independently verified here.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm scores 82 against 74 for RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 — an 8-point gap. They are effectively level on control, stability, consistency, so those traits should not decide the purchase. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is $20 cheaper at $249.99.
Softness
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm leads by 8 points (82 vs 74).
Maneuverability
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm leads by 6 points (78 vs 72).
Touch
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm leads by 6 points (88 vs 82).
Swing weight
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 6 points (80 vs 74).
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 86.2 on the weighted index). Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and keep the $20.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — maneuverability 78 vs 72, touch 88 vs 82, control 89 vs 86. At 112 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Maneuverability
- Touch
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.8 vs 87.9 on the weighted index). Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and keep the $20.
- Touch
- Maneuverability
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — softness 82 vs 74, forgiveness 86 vs 84. Its 16 mm MPP floating full-foam core with soft EVA surround core at 7.8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want swing weight (+6), twist weight (+5), plow through (+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 →RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm
Take RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm if you want softness (+8), maneuverability (+6), touch (+6). Its swing weight of 112 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm review →Where to Buy
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 or the RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm?
- RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.2 vs 86.3), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm, 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 RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 or the RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 92 for power against 90 for RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm. 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?
- RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm at 89 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 94 for spin.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 84). RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 actually carries the higher twist weight (6.5 vs 6.2), but RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm makes it back on sweet spot (88) and overall face stability.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 costs $249.99, $20 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?
- 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. RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm: 16 mm MPP floating full-foam core with soft EVA surround core with a Proprietary SICmatrix surface.
- 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 Jade Elongated 16mm 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 less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm at 7.8 oz against 7.9 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (112 vs 117) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 to the RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm leads on softness by 8 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $249.99 vs $269.99, 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
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Coral Pro
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Q2 Elongated 16mm
- Jade Elongated 16mm vs Q2 Elongated 16mm
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs J2CR
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs TruFoam Genesis 3
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- 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
- Jade Elongated 16mm vs J2CR
- Jade Elongated 16mm vs Coral Pro
- Jade Elongated 16mm vs Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
- Jade Elongated 16mm vs Loco 2 Hybrid 16mm
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 RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.