RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. RPM Pickleball Q2 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm
93 vs 88
Spin
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
90 vs 78
Control
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
84 vs 80
Forgiveness
Too close to call
85 vs 84
Hand speed
Too close to call
114 vs 115 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$100 at IQ 81.9 vs $249.99 at IQ 85.1
Overall pick: RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm · $249.99 · IQ 85.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
Estimated scores: the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm Paddle DNA is our estimate from published specs, not a sourced profile.
- 93Power88
- 84Control80
- 90Spin78
- 85Forgiveness84
- 87Sweet spot84
- 84Stability86
- 76Maneuverability72
- 91Pop90
- 80Touch76
- 85Consistency80
- 76Swing weight76
- 80Twist weight84
- 62Launch angle62
- 85Plow through86
- 70Softness72
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm | Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $249.99 | $100 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 85.1 — better | 81.9 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 114 | 115 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 | 6.4 — better |
| 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 | Carbon fiber surface | FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture |
| Core material | Gen 4 full-foam core | X5+ honeycomb with FlexFoam perimeter |
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm verdict
RPM's Gen 4 full-foam Q2 trades the Friction Pro's honeycomb feel for a firmer, more powerful response. The published 114 swing weight is lighter than most elongated power paddles, while the 6.1 twist weight is on the low side for the shape.
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 Q2 Elongated 16mm scores 90 against 78 for Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on sweet spot, stability, softness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta is $149.99 cheaper at $100.
Spin
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 12 points (90 vs 78).
Power
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 5 points (93 vs 88).
Consistency
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 5 points (85 vs 80).
Control
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 4 points (84 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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.5 vs 83.4 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta and keep the $149.99.
- Consistency
- Sweet spot
- Control
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm is the clearer pick at this level — spin 90 vs 78, control 84 vs 80, maneuverability 76 vs 72. At 114 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Control
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm is the clearer pick at this level — spin 90 vs 78, power 93 vs 88, touch 80 vs 76. Swing weight 114 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Power
- Touch
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (75.9 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm
Take RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm if you want spin (+12), power (+5), consistency (+5). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm review →Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
Take Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta if you want twist weight (+4). Its swing weight of 115 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta review →Where to Buy
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta FAQ
- Which is better, the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm or the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.1 vs 81.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm, at 114 kg·cm² swing weight against 115 for Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm or the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm scores 93 for power against 88 for Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. That comes from a 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam core swinging at 114 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm at 84 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm scores 90 for spin off its Carbon fiber surface, against 78 for the FiberFlex+ fiberglass with ProSpin+ micro texture face on Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. In practice a 12-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm, with the higher forgiveness score (85 vs 84). Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta actually carries the higher twist weight (6.4 vs 6.1), but RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm makes it back on sweet spot (87) and overall face stability.
- 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm: 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam core with a Carbon fiber surface. 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm, 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 85 and sweet spot 87 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm at 7.8 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (114 vs 115) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta to the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads on spin by 12 points; everything else is within 5 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.
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Jade Elongated 16mm
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs J6CR
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Friction Pro Elongated V2
- AMPED Pro Air Invikta vs Vanguard Control Air Invikta
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs 1X TruFoam Power
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs GX2 Power Elongated
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs TruFoam Genesis 1
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Ultré Power 2
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Mach 2 Forza 16
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs R4 Pulsar
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Spitfire Elongated 16mm
- 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
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 Q2 Elongated 16mm and Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm and Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.