RPM has quietly become one of Australia’s hero paddle brands. Walk into a club night anywhere from Mona Vale to Hornsby and you’ll see them in the bags of players who’ve already cycled through a JOOLA Perseus, a Six Zero Double Black Diamond and at least one Selkirk. What keeps them coming back to RPM is the same thing every time: the spin signature. RPM’s CarbonBite carbon face grips the ball harder than almost anything else in the price band, and once you’ve felt your topspin drives dip three feet inside the baseline, switching back is genuinely difficult.
The catch is that RPM’s core paddles come in two distinct families: the Q2 line (four variants) and the Friction Pro V2 signature paddles (two variants). That makes six paddles in this guide. They look similar on a spec sheet. They play very differently in the hand. This is the guide we wish existed when we started carrying the brand.
Quick context on price: every paddle in this guide sits at $357.50 or $358 at full price. What surrounds the paddle matters as much as the number: Australian stock that ships from Sydney, AU warranty handling and free AU shipping over $150. Browse the full RPM range if you want the at-a-glance view.
What sets RPM apart from JOOLA and Six Zero
Three things, in order of importance.
The spin number. RPM lists its Q2 and Friction Pro paddles at around 2,300 RPM of spin. The gap to other brands isn’t huge on paper, but it’s real on court. Topspin drives shape harder, slices bite lower, third-shot drops with shape land more reliably inside the kitchen.
The construction philosophy. RPM is two generations into thinking about cores. The Friction Pro V2 uses a Gen 3 tri-density honeycomb with an EVA perimeter foam ring. The Q2 jumps to a fully moulded EPP foam core, no honeycomb at all, co-designed with engineer John Kew. Both deliver firm, predictable feel; the Q2’s foam build is the more sophisticated of the two and reads as the next-generation paddle.
The signature roster. James Ignatowich (top-10 world ranked) and Ryan Fu (rising APP/MLP pro) both compete with their signature Friction Pros. Unlike some signature paddles that are barely-rebadged stock builds, the V2 incorporates direct input from both players into the carbon layup and foam ring. The Q2 took a different path (engineer-led, not player-led), which suits a doubles-heavy Australian audience looking for stability and forgiveness more than tour-style aggression.
The Q2 platform: four variants explained
The Q2 is RPM’s 2026 flagship platform. Same core construction (full-mould EPP foam, TPU perimeter inserts, CarbonBite surface), four shape and thickness combinations. Think of it as four ways to ask the same question: how much reach do you want, and how fast do you want the paddle to swing?
RPM Q2 16mm Widebody: the safe pick
The 16mm core delivers more dwell time on the face, which means softer hands at the kitchen and more controlled drives. The widebody 8.0″ shape keeps the sweet spot centred, ideal for doubles play where most contact happens in the middle of the face. It weighs 223 g (7.9 oz) with a swing weight of 107, so hands stay quick at the net. If you’re unsure which Q2 to start with and you’re a club doubles player, this is the one. Shop the Q2 16mm Widebody ($357.50).
RPM Q2 16mm Elongated: reach + control
Same 16mm core, but the 16.5″ elongated frame trades a smaller sweet spot for extended reach. You get an extra inch of length for high volleys, line drives and singles coverage. If you find yourself stretched on lobs or want more leverage on your serve, this is the Q2 for you. Be honest about your hand-eye though. Elongated frames are less forgiving on off-centre contact. Shop the Q2 16mm Elongated ($357.50).
RPM Q2 14mm Widebody: fast hands, centred sweet spot
Drop the core to 14mm and the paddle gets faster: quicker swing, sharper pop, livelier rebound. The widebody face still keeps mishits forgiving. This is the Q2 for doubles players who want the firm Q2 feel but with more punch in hands-battle exchanges at the net. When it is on special it is the best-value paddle in this guide. Shop the Q2 14mm Widebody.
RPM Q2 14mm Elongated: the sharpest tool
14mm core and a 16.5″ elongated frame. The most aggressive paddle in the Q2 family: built for players who attack the net, drive the third and look to put balls away rather than reset. If your DUPR is north of 4.0 and you play singles or aggressive doubles, this is the one. Shop the Q2 14mm Elongated ($357.50).
The Friction Pro V2: Ignatowich and Ryan Fu signatures
The Friction Pro V2 is the player-driven side of the RPM lineup. Same CarbonBite face, same elite spin numbers, but a Gen 3 tri-density honeycomb core with an EVA foam perimeter ring instead of the Q2’s full-foam build. The V2 update from V1 refined the Axial Carbon Layup and widened the effective sweet spot: the foam ring around the perimeter is the headline change and you can feel it on mishits.
RPM Friction Pro V2 16mm Elongated: James Ignatowich signature
This is the paddle Ignatowich actually competes with. 16mm core for control and dwell, elongated frame for reach and leverage. It weighs 224 g (7.9 oz) with a swing weight of 117. Built for power-baseline players who want elite spin without losing touch at the kitchen. We’ve covered it in depth in our full Friction Pro V2 review. Shop the Ignatowich signature ($358).
RPM Friction Pro V2 14mm Elongated: Ryan Fu signature
Ryan Fu chose the 14mm elongated shape because it mirrors a tennis racquet: long, precise and loaded for power. Same Axial Carbon Layup and EVA foam ring as the Ignatowich, but the 14mm core delivers faster rebound and sharper pop. Swing weight 113. This is the V2 for players with a tennis background or anyone who wants the V2’s signature feel with more aggression baked in. Shop the Ryan Fu signature ($358).
Q2 vs Friction Pro V2: head-to-head
The spec sheets are almost identical: same CarbonBite face, similar spin numbers around 2,300 RPM, similar price band. The difference is feel, and it comes down to core construction.
| Q2 (4 variants) | Friction Pro V2 (2 variants) | |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Full-mould EPP foam | Gen 3 tri-density honeycomb + EVA ring |
| Feel | Firmer, more connected, predictable flex | Softer dwell, slightly more “pop” on impact |
| Spin | Around 2,300 RPM | 2,300+ RPM |
| Sweet spot | Wide, TPU perimeter inserts | Wide, EVA foam ring |
| Best for | Players who want next-gen foam-core feel | Players who prefer traditional honeycomb pop |
| Pro link | Engineer-led (John Kew) | Player-led (Ignatowich, Ryan Fu) |
| Price | $357.50 | $358 |
Honest take: the Q2 is the more interesting paddle from an engineering standpoint: full-foam cores are where the premium end of the market is heading, and RPM are ahead of most brands on it. The Friction Pro V2 is the safer pick if you’ve played a lot of honeycomb paddles and want the spin upgrade without re-learning your hands. Neither is wrong. Most players will find the Q2 reads as a slightly “tighter” paddle, while the V2 reads as slightly more forgiving on touch shots.
Pick by playstyle
If you don’t want to read six product pages back-to-back, here’s the short version.
Power-driver (you swing hard, you attack the net)
- First pick: RPM Q2 14mm Elongated: fastest rebound, longest reach, most aggressive Q2.
- Alternative: RPM Friction Pro V2 14mm Elongated (Ryan Fu): same shape, softer dwell, honeycomb feel.
Control-and-spin (you shape the ball, you reset, you build the point)
- First pick: RPM Friction Pro V2 16mm Elongated (Ignatowich): 16mm dwell + elite spin, the most-used RPM on tour.
- Alternative: RPM Q2 16mm Elongated: firmer feel, same reach, slightly more predictable on resets.
All-court club doubles (you play three nights a week and want one paddle that does everything)
- First pick: RPM Q2 16mm Widebody: centred sweet spot, soft hands, the safest of the six.
- Alternative: RPM Q2 14mm Widebody: the same centred sweet spot with faster hands, and often on special.
Singles or hybrid singles/doubles
- First pick: RPM Q2 14mm Elongated or RPM Friction Pro V2 14mm Elongated: both give you reach for the run and rebound for the put-away.
Pricing and what comes with it
The Q2 16mm Widebody and both Q2 Elongated options are $357.50. The two Friction Pro V2 signatures are $358. Prices can move, so the number on the product page is always the one to trust.
What you get around the paddle:
- Australian-stocked: every paddle in this guide ships from Sydney, not from an overseas drop-shipper.
- Free AU shipping over $150: every RPM in this guide qualifies.
- 30-day returns: you have 30 days from the day your paddle arrives to request a return.
- AU warranty handling: RPM paddles are covered by RPM’s manufacturer warranty against manufacturing defects, and we handle the claim with RPM on your behalf. You don’t have to chase anyone overseas.
The bottom line
RPM’s lineup is genuinely well-thought-out: the Q2 and Friction Pro V2 cover the same spin-led performance band from two different construction angles, and the four-variant Q2 platform lets you pick reach and rebound independently. For most Australian club doubles players, the Q2 16mm Widebody is the safest first RPM. For tour-style attacking players, it’s the Q2 14mm Elongated or the Ignatowich Friction Pro V2. Singles and hybrid players land on a 14mm Elongated regardless of family.
If you’ve been waiting to try the brand, this is a good moment: all six variants in this guide are in stock as we write this. If you’re already an RPM player and weighing the V1 Friction Pro vs the V2 upgrade, our Friction Pro V2 review walks through the differences in detail. And if you want the direct head-to-head on the Q2 specifically vs the V2, our Q2 review covers that ground.
Browse the full range of RPM pickleball paddles at Pickld, Australian-stocked, with free AU shipping over $150.
Ben & Chris
Pickld · Authorised RPM dealer · Sydney
