RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Selkirk Vanguard Power Air
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
- 92Power92
- 86Control78
- 94Spin88
- 84Forgiveness71
- 86Sweet spot73
- 88Stability76
- 72Maneuverability79
- 88Pop93
- 82Touch74
- 86Consistency79
- 80Swing weight68
- 86Twist weight62
- 60Launch angle61
- 88Plow through84
- 74Softness58
Specs
| $250 | Price | $250 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 14 mm |
| 8 oz | Weight | 7.9 oz |
| 117 | Swing weight | 114 |
| 6.5 | Twist weight | 5.6 |
| elongated | Shape | elongated |
| CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup | Surface | Quadcarbon face |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.5 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 Vanguard Power Air verdict
Explosive acceleration and crisp feedback for players who create their own control. The air-dynamic throat cuts drag noticeably on fast swings.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is twist weight: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 86 against 62 for Selkirk Vanguard Power Air — a 24-point gap. They are effectively level on launch angle, power, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($250 vs $250) that it should not break the tie.
Twist weight
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 24 points (86 vs 62).
Softness
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 16 points (74 vs 58).
Forgiveness
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 13 points (84 vs 71).
Sweet spot
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 13 points (86 vs 73).
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air
Take Selkirk Vanguard Power Air if you want maneuverability (+7), pop (+5). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air review →RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want twist weight (+24), softness (+16), forgiveness (+13). 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 Vanguard Power Air vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.3 vs 78.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 24 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air, at 114 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 Selkirk Vanguard Power Air or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air measures 92 on power against 92 for RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2. That comes from a 14 mm X5 polypropylene core swinging at 114 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 78. 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 88 for the Quadcarbon face face on Selkirk Vanguard Power Air. In practice a 6-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 5.6. 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?
- They are within $0 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air: 14 mm X5 polypropylene core with a Quadcarbon face 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.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Selkirk Vanguard Power Air 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 Vanguard Power Air rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air at 7.9 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (114 vs 117) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air to the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads on twist weight by 24 points; everything else is within 16 points. At $250 vs $250, 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
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- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Pegasus Gen 3
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs CRBN-1X
- Vanguard Power Air vs Bantam TKO-C 14
- Vanguard Power Air vs CRBN-1X Power Series
- Vanguard Power Air vs CX14E Ultimate Power
- Vanguard Power Air vs Hyperion CFS 16
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Read the full reviews: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and Selkirk Vanguard Power Air. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.