RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16
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 spin and value on Paddle DNA against the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16, which costs $280.
Power
Too close to call
92 vs 90
Spin
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
94 vs 86
Control
Too close to call
86 vs 84
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 84
Hand speed
Too close to call
117 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
$249.99 at IQ 86.3 vs $280 at IQ 85.2
Overall pick: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 · $249.99 · IQ 86.3
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 92Power90
- 86Control84
- 94Spin86
- 84Forgiveness86
- 86Sweet spot88
- 88Stability90
- 72Maneuverability72
- 88Pop86
- 82Touch78
- 86Consistency84
- 80Swing weight80
- 86Twist weight88
- 60Launch angle58
- 88Plow through90
- 74Softness70
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 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 Labs 008 Project 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $249.99 — better | $280 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.3 — better | 85.2 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 8.4 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 117 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.5 | 7 — better |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.25 |
| Surface | CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup | Raw carbon fiber |
| Core material | Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring | Foam-injected polymer |
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 Labs 008 Project 16 verdict
A Labs release built for plow-through. Twist weight 88 and stability 90 are among the highest pairings in the database — it simply does not twist on off-center hits.
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 86 for Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 — an 8-point gap. They are effectively level on power, control, forgiveness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is $30.00999999999999 cheaper at $249.99.
Spin
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 8 points (94 vs 86).
Touch
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 4 points (82 vs 78).
Softness
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 4 points (74 vs 70).
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 86.9 on the weighted index). Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and keep the $30.00999999999999.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 94 vs 86, touch 82 vs 78, control 86 vs 84. At 117 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Touch
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 94 vs 86, touch 82 vs 78, power 92 vs 90. 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 77.6 on the weighted index). Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and keep the $30.00999999999999.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want spin (+8), touch (+4), softness (+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 →Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16
Take Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 if you prefer a 16 mm Foam-injected polymer core — it gives up nothing measurable to RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2.
Read the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 review →RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 or the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.3 vs 85.2), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, at 117 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16. 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 Labs 008 Project 16?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 92 for power against 90 for Selkirk Labs 008 Project 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?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 at 86 versus 84. 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 86 for the Raw carbon fiber face on Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16. In practice an 8-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 84). Its 7 twist weight against 6.5 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 costs $249.99, $30.00999999999999 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 Labs 008 Project 16: 16 mm Foam-injected polymer core with a Raw carbon fiber face.
- 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?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 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 less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 at 7.9 oz against 8.4 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 Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 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 8 points; everything else is within 4 points. At $249.99 vs $280, 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
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- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs CRBN-1X Power Series
- 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
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
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
- Labs 008 Project 16 vs 1X TruFoam Power
- Labs 008 Project 16 vs CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
- Labs 008 Project 16 vs Mach 2 Forza 16
- Labs 008 Project 16 vs Ultré Power 2
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 Labs 008 Project 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.