RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Selkirk Labs Project 006
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 forgiveness, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Selkirk Labs Project 006, which costs $280.
Power
Too close to call
93 vs 92
Spin
Too close to call
90 vs 87
Control
Too close to call
84 vs 84
Forgiveness
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
85 vs 80
Hand speed
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
114 vs 124 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
$249.99 at IQ 85.1 vs $280 at IQ 83.7
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.
- 93Power92
- 84Control84
- 90Spin87
- 85Forgiveness80
- 87Sweet spot82
- 84Stability89
- 76Maneuverability65
- 91Pop90
- 80Touch80
- 85Consistency83
- 76Swing weight86
- 80Twist weight82
- 62Launch angle63
- 85Plow through92
- 70Softness74
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Selkirk Labs Project 006 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 Labs Project 006 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $249.99 — better | $280 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 85.1 — better | 83.7 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 8.5 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 14 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 114 | 124 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 | 6.2 — better |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.7 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.75 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Carbon fiber surface | Raw carbon with Air Dynamic throat |
| Core material | Gen 4 full-foam core | Thermoformed polymer |
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 Labs Project 006 verdict
Selkirk's limited-run Labs build is unapologetically a power paddle. Plow-through and pop lead the field; touch play asks for a deliberate slower swing.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is maneuverability: RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm scores 76 against 65 for Selkirk Labs Project 006 — an 11-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, consistency, twist weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm is $30.00999999999999 cheaper at $249.99.
Maneuverability
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 11 points (76 vs 65).
Swing weight
Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads by 10 points (86 vs 76).
Plow through
Selkirk Labs Project 006 leads by 7 points (92 vs 85).
Forgiveness
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 5 points (85 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 (82.9 vs 84.5 on the weighted index). Take RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm and keep the $30.00999999999999.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — maneuverability 76 vs 65, forgiveness 85 vs 80, spin 90 vs 87. At 114 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Maneuverability
- Forgiveness
- Spin
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.6 vs 85.6 on the weighted index). Take RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm and keep the $30.00999999999999.
- Maneuverability
- Spin
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (77.1 vs 75.9 on the weighted index). Take RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm and keep the $30.00999999999999.
- Softness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Labs Project 006
Take Selkirk Labs Project 006 if you want swing weight (+10), plow through (+7), stability (+5). Its swing weight of 124 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Labs Project 006 review →RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
Take RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm if you want maneuverability (+11), forgiveness (+5), sweet spot (+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 →Where to Buy
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
Selkirk Labs Project 006
Selkirk Labs Project 006 vs RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Labs Project 006 or the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.1 vs 83.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — maneuverability — RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 11 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm, at 114 kg·cm² swing weight against 124 for Selkirk Labs Project 006. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Selkirk Labs Project 006 or the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm scores 93 for power against 92 for Selkirk Labs Project 006. 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 84 for control.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm scores 90 for spin off its Carbon fiber surface, against 87 for the Raw carbon with Air Dynamic throat face on Selkirk Labs Project 006. In practice a 3-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm, with the higher forgiveness score (85 vs 80). Selkirk Labs Project 006 actually carries the higher twist weight (6.2 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?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm 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?
- Selkirk Labs Project 006: 14 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw carbon with Air Dynamic throat face. RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm: 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam core with a Carbon fiber surface.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk Labs Project 006, at 5.75 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 Labs Project 006 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 Labs Project 006 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 8.5 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (114 vs 124) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Labs Project 006 to the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads on maneuverability by 11 points; everything else is within 10 points. At $280 vs $249.99, 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
- Labs Project 006 vs Luxx Control Air
- Labs Project 006 vs Labs Project 007 Epic 14
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs 1X TruFoam Power
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs GX2 Power Elongated
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs TruFoam Genesis 1
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
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- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Mach 2 Forza 16
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs R4 Pulsar
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Spitfire Elongated 16mm
- Labs Project 006 vs GX2 Power Elongated
- Labs Project 006 vs Cannon XPP M1 Elongated 16mm
- Labs Project 006 vs Hyperion Pro V 16
- Labs Project 006 vs Hyperion CFS 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 Labs Project 006 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm and Selkirk Labs Project 006. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.