RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16

The verdict

Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 scores 88 against 80 for RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm — an 8-point gap. They are effectively level on power, touch, forgiveness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm is $30.00999999999999 cheaper at $249.99.

• Twist weight

  Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads by 8 points (88 vs 80).

• Stability

  Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads by 6 points (90 vs 84).

• Pop

  RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 5 points (91 vs 86).

• Plow through

  Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads by 5 points (90 vs 85).

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.

Which one should you buy?

RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 FAQ

Which is better, the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm or the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16?

Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.2 vs 85.1), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads by 8 points.

Which one is faster at the kitchen line?

RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm, at 114 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm or the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16?

RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm scores 93 for power against 90 for Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16. 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 86 for the Raw carbon fiber face on Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16. In practice a 4-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.

Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?

Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 85). Its 7 twist weight against 6.1 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 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?

RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm: 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam core with a Carbon fiber surface. 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm 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 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (114 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.

Is it worth upgrading from the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm to the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16?

Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads on twist weight by 8 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $249.99 vs $280, 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.

• 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

• 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.

Read the full reviews: RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm and Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.