RPM Pickleball

RPM sits at the spin-and-power end of what we stock, and it is the brand we get asked about most often by players who have just started losing points to somebody else's topspin. Every paddle on this page runs a raw carbon face built to grip the ball rather than a painted or fibreglass one that slides off it. That single decision is most of what you are buying. This page covers what separates the two RPM lines, how to choose a shape and a thickness, and who should not buy an RPM yet.

Two lines, doing two different jobs

The Q2 is the workhorse, and it is the widest shape range we carry from any brand. You can have it elongated (16mm or 14mm), widebody (16mm or 14mm), or hybrid in a curve top or a flat top. Being able to pick the head shape at this level of the market is unusual, and it means you can buy the paddle that fits your game instead of adapting your game to the paddle.

The Friction Pro V2 is the signature side, built around named players. The James Ignatowich Elongated 16mm is the one most people mean when they say Friction Pro. The Ryan Fu Elongated 14mm drops to a thinner core for quicker hands in a firefight. The Ella Oh Pink Edition runs the same 16mm build. The earlier Friction Pro Widebody 16mm stays on the wall for anyone who wants the bigger sweet spot, and the Blackout V2 Elongated 16mm is the understated one.

Shape and thickness, in plain terms

• Elongated buys you reach and leverage. The head is longer and narrower, weight sits further from your hand, and the swing weight goes up. Good for driving from the baseline and for a two-handed backhand. The sweet spot is smaller and sits higher on the face.
• Widebody buys you forgiveness. Shorter, wider head, bigger sweet spot, higher twist weight, so the face resists turning when you catch the ball off-centre. This is the doubles paddle.
• Hybrid lands between them. The curve top and flat top differ in where the mass sits near the tip, which changes the balance more than it changes the plan.
• 16mm holds the ball on the face longer: softer, more control on resets and drops, more forgiving. 14mm is stiffer and more direct: faster off the face, quicker hands, less touch.

If you are not sure, take a 16mm. Most players who buy 14mm because it sounds faster end up missing the control.

An honest warning before you buy

RPM paddles punish an off-centre hit. That is the trade you accept for a face this grippy and this stiff: the good shots are noticeably better and the bad ones are noticeably worse. If you are still finding the middle of the face, or your resets are floating, a Friday Aura will do more for your scoreline this season, and we would rather tell you that now than sell you a paddle you fight with. Have a look at our intermediate paddles if that sounds like you.

Looking after the face

Raw carbon works by friction, and friction wears. The grit that generates your topspin polishes flat over time, and it does so faster from keys, zips and the floor of your boot than from actually playing. A paddle cover is the cheapest thing you can do about it. Lead tape is the other tool worth knowing: a few grams at the tip raises swing weight and plough-through, a few grams at the throat keeps the paddle quick in the hands. Both live in paddle accessories.

Buying RPM in Australia

We are an authorised RPM dealer, stock is held in Sydney, and delivery is free over $150. Warranty claims come to Ben and Chris and we handle the manufacturer end ourselves, which is the part you do not get buying a paddle from an overseas marketplace. See delivery and warranty for the detail.

Common questions

Q2 or Friction Pro? The Q2 gives you the shape choice and is where we point most players. The Friction Pro V2 is the signature build for someone who already knows the shape they want.

Is RPM good for spin? It is the reason to buy one. If spin is what you are chasing, the whole spin category is worth a look first so you can compare.

How does the Q2 compare to a JOOLA Perseus? We put them side by side in Perseus Pro V against RPM Q2.

Where to go next

Our RPM buying guide walks the whole range. There are full reviews of the Q2, the Friction Pro V2 and the Pink Edition, plus head-to-heads against the Friction Pro V2 and the Selkirk Omni. Compare across the wall in professional paddles, power and all-court, or see every brand on the brands page.