Selkirk LABS Boomstik vs RPM Friction Pro Widebody
Selkirk LABS Boomstik Elongated vs RPM Friction Pro Widebody 16mm: both are 16mm foam-assisted paddles built for advanced power and spin, but they chase power from opposite ends of the frame. The Boomstik is Selkirk's $549 elongated statement paddle: a fully foam BoomCore wrapped in Multi-Strata T700 carbon, with the highest swing weight here at 118, which is plow-through power and reach from the baseline. The Friction Pro Widebody is RPM's $350 forgiving doubles paddle: a widebody frame with the lowest swing weight at 109 for quicker hands, the highest twist weight at 7.3 for the most stable head, and a published 2300+ RPM spin figure. Want reach and heavy plow-through off the baseline? The Boomstik is the pick. Want quicker hands at the kitchen, the most forgiving head, and $199 saved? The Friction Pro Widebody is the one. Every real spec is below, then our honest take on who each suits.
We stock both at Pickld. Here is the honest read.
Selkirk Boomstik vs RPM Friction Pro Widebody: specs side by side
| Spec | Selkirk LABS Boomstik Elongated | RPM Friction Pro Widebody 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Price (RRP) | $549.00 | $350.00 |
| Weight | 227 to 235 g (8.0 to 8.3 oz) | 224 g (7.9 oz) |
| Swing weight | 118 | 109 |
| Twist weight | 7.2 | 7.3 |
| Spin | Not published | 2300+ RPM |
| Core | BoomCore: PureFoam with EVA Power Ring | Tri-density honeycomb plus EVA foam |
| Face | Multi-Strata T700 carbon fibre | CarbonBite carbon fibre |
| Core thickness | 16 mm | 16 mm |
| Shape | Elongated | Widebody |
| Grip | 5.8 in handle, 4.25 in circumference | 5.25 in length, 4.125 in circumference |
| Generation | Not published | Gen 3 |
| Skill tier | Intermediate, Professional | Professional |
| Play style | Power, Spin | Power, Spin |
| Availability at Pickld | Currently sold out; the product page is the live figure | In stock (limited); the product page is the live figure |
| Warranty | Selkirk manufacturer warranty (handled by Pickld) | RPM manufacturer warranty (handled by Pickld) |
Specs are the manufacturer figures we hold on each product page. Where a number is not published by the maker, we say so rather than guess. Availability moves, so the product page is always the live answer.
How they actually play
Selkirk LABS Boomstik Elongated
The Boomstik is the premium paddle here, and the more aggressive one. Selkirk builds it as a fully foam BoomCore with an EVA Power Ring, wrapped in a Multi-Strata T700 carbon face, in an elongated 16mm frame. It carries the highest swing weight of the two at 118, so it plows through the ball and holds pace on drives and put-aways, and the elongated outline adds reach on wide balls and at the baseline. Selkirk tunes it with an MOI Tuning System for stability, and it lists Intermediate to Professional. At 227 to 235 g it is the heavier head, which is where the plow-through comes from. What you pay $549 for is the foam BoomCore power, the T700 face and the elongated reach. It is the pick if you drive from the baseline and want that reach and plow-through, and the price is within range.
RPM Friction Pro Widebody 16mm
The Friction Pro Widebody is RPM's most forgiving doubles paddle, and for $199 less it goes the other way on almost every lever. Its swing weight of 109 is the lower of the two, so the head is quicker in fast hands battles at the kitchen. Its twist weight of 7.3 is the higher figure, so it is the most stable head on off-centre contact, which is exactly what a widebody shape is built for: a broader sweet spot and more margin for error. The core is a tri-density honeycomb plus EVA foam, the face is RPM's CarbonBite carbon, and it publishes a 2300+ RPM spin figure where the Boomstik does not publish one. It is a Gen 3 build, listed Professional, and at 224 g it is the lighter, quicker paddle. If your game lives at the net and you value forgiveness and quick hands over reach, this is the one.
The verdict: which should you buy?
- Pick the Selkirk LABS Boomstik if you drive from the baseline and want plow-through power (118 swing weight, the heavier foam head) and the extra reach of an elongated frame, and the $549 price is within your budget.
- Pick the RPM Friction Pro Widebody 16mm if your game is at the kitchen and you want quicker hands (109 swing weight), the most forgiving head here (7.3 twist weight), a published 2300+ RPM spin figure, and $199 saved.
And who each one is not for
Skip the Boomstik if you play mostly doubles at the net and value forgiveness and hand speed. Its 118 swing weight is slower to reset in fast exchanges, and the Friction Pro Widebody gives you a more stable head and quicker hands for $199 less.
Skip the Friction Pro Widebody if you want reach and plow-through from the baseline. The widebody frame is shorter and lighter in swing, so it gives up the elongated reach and the heavier drive that the Boomstik is built for.
Both are genuine advanced power and spin paddles that suit different spots on the court. To see the wider bracket, browse our professional paddles, power paddles and spin paddles collections. Not sure on shape or weight? Browse the full paddle range.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Selkirk LABS Boomstik and the RPM Friction Pro Widebody 16mm?
Both are 16mm foam-assisted power and spin paddles, but they solve power differently. The Boomstik is a $549 elongated Selkirk with a fully foam BoomCore, a Multi-Strata T700 carbon face and the higher swing weight at 118, built for plow-through power and reach from the baseline. The Friction Pro Widebody is a $350 RPM with the lower swing weight at 109 for quicker hands, the higher twist weight at 7.3 for a more stable head, and a published 2300+ RPM spin figure, built as a forgiving doubles paddle.
Which paddle is more forgiving?
The RPM Friction Pro Widebody is the more forgiving of the two, with a twist weight of 7.3 versus the Boomstik's 7.2 and a widebody shape that spreads the sweet spot wider. Higher twist weight means the head resists rotating on an off-centre hit, so contact away from the middle stays truer.
Which paddle has more power?
The Boomstik is built for more plow-through power. Its swing weight of 118 is the higher of the two and its foam BoomCore in an elongated frame drives the ball with more mass behind it, which suits baseline drives and put-aways. The Friction Pro Widebody trades some of that plow-through for quicker hands and forgiveness.
Is the RPM Friction Pro Widebody worth almost $200 less than the Boomstik?
For a net-focused doubles player, often yes. The Friction Pro Widebody gives you the quicker head, the more stable face and a published spin figure for $199 less. What the Boomstik adds for the extra money is the elongated reach and the heavier plow-through power off the baseline, so the answer depends on where you play and how you generate power.