RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. 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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Quick answer
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, spin and control on Paddle DNA against the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta, which costs $100.
Power
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
92 vs 88
Spin
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
94 vs 78
Control
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
86 vs 80
Forgiveness
Too close to call
84 vs 84
Hand speed
Too close to call
115 vs 117 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$100 at IQ 81.9 vs $249.99 at IQ 86.3
Overall pick: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 · $249.99 · IQ 86.3
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
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta 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 | Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $249.99 | $100 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.3 — better | 81.9 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 117 | 115 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.5 — better | 6.4 |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.25 |
| Surface | CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup | FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture |
| Core material | Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring | X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter |
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
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, 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 $149.99 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 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
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is a narrow pick at this level — consistency 86 vs 80, sweet spot 86 vs 84, control 86 vs 80. Twist weight 6.5 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Consistency
- Sweet spot
- Control
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 94 vs 78, control 86 vs 80, touch 82 vs 76. At 117 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Control
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 94 vs 78, touch 82 vs 76, power 92 vs 88. Swing weight 117 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Touch
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (78.9 vs 77.5 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta and keep the $149.99.
- Softness
- Twist weight
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 5 in handle and a 16 mm X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter core — 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 scores 92 for power against 88 for Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. 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 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 84 on forgiveness despite twist weights of 6.5 and 6.4.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta costs $100, $149.99 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. 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. Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 at 7.9 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 $249.99 vs $100, 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
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Vanguard Control Air Invikta
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs J2CR
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs TruFoam Genesis 3
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs TruFoam Genesis 1
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Coral Pro
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
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs R4 Pulsar
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Black Diamond Power 16
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Mach 2 Forza 16
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Vantage Power 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 RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta in context against the rest of the database.
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.