RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
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.
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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 92Power88
- 86Control80
- 94Spin78
- 84Forgiveness84
- 86Sweet spot84
- 88Stability86
- 72Maneuverability72
- 88Pop90
- 82Touch76
- 86Consistency80
- 80Swing weight76
- 86Twist weight84
- 60Launch angle62
- 88Plow through86
- 74Softness72
Specs
| $250 | Price | $100 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8 oz | Weight | 8 oz |
| 117 | Swing weight | 115 |
| 6.5 | Twist weight | 6.4 |
| elongated | Shape | elongated |
| CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup | Surface | FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5 in |
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.
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta verdict
Fiberglass instead of carbon means more pop and less bite. At $100 the Pro Air Invikta is the cheapest way into elongated Selkirk power, as long as you do not need a raw-carbon spin number.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is spin: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 94 against 78 for Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta — a 16-point gap. They are effectively level on sweet spot, stability, pop, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta is $150 cheaper at $100.
Spin
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 16 points (94 vs 78).
Control
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 6 points (86 vs 80).
Touch
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 6 points (82 vs 76).
Consistency
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 6 points (86 vs 80).
Which one should you buy?
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want spin (+16), control (+6), touch (+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 →Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
Take Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta if you prefer a elongated face and a 5 in handle — it gives up nothing measurable to RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2.
Read the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta review →RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta FAQ
- Which is better, the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 or the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.3 vs 81.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 16 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta, at 115 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 Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 measures 92 on power against 88 for Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. 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?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 at 86 versus 80. 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 78 for the FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture face on Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. In practice a 16-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, with 6.5 twist weight against 6.4. 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?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta costs $100, $150 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 core with EVA foam ring core with a CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup face. Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta: 16 mm X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter core with a FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, at 5.5 in of handle against 5 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?
- 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. 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 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (117 vs 115) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta 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 16 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $250 vs $100, 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.
- 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
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Oni 16
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs GX2 Power Elongated
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Evoke Premier
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Read the full reviews: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.