Court Report • Paddle Review • June 1, 2026
RPM Friction Pro 16mm Elongated V2
The grittiest face we have hit all year, wrapped in a 16mm elongated frame that resets soft and forgives misses.
Performance Scorecard
Specs
| Shape | Elongated |
| Core | Tri-Density Polymer 16mm |
| Face | CarbonBite Carbon Fiber (Textured) |
| Weight | 7.9 oz |
| Swing Wt | 117 |
| Twist Wt | 6.5 |
| Handle | 5.5" |
| Length | 16.5" |
| Price | $249.99 |
On the Court
First Swing
We ran the Friction Pro 16mm Elongated V2 across three courts around Cary over two weeks, indoor and out. The first thing that registers is the face. It is rough. Drag a finger across it and you feel the grit pull. That texture is the whole story of this paddle, and it backs up the hype on the very first topspin drive.
The Spin Story
This face grabs the ball and holds it. Topspin drives load up and dive late, dropping inside the baseline when they have no business landing. Slices skid low and stay nasty. Kick serves jump sideways off the bounce. The grit lets you shape shots that a smoother paddle just floats. Across reviewers and across our own sessions, the consensus is the same: spin is the reason this paddle exists, and it is elite.
At the Kitchen Line
The 16mm core earns its keep here. Dinks sit down where you aim. The extra dwell time lets you carve angles instead of poking the ball back flat. Resets absorb hard drives and drop soft into the kitchen. On a fast exchange at the line, the face stays quiet and predictable. NC humidity made the outdoor grip slick by mid-session, but the paddle itself never lost the plot. Control is a genuine top-two strength.
Power And The Trade-Off
Drives carry real weight. This is a clear step up from the first Friction Pro, with more pop on putaways and enough pace to end points off a short ball. But the 16mm build makes a choice. It trades peak power for dwell, stability, and a bigger sweet spot. If you want the hardest-hitting RPM, the 14mm version is firmer and faster off the face. This one is built for the player who would rather shape the ball than blast it.
Who Plays This
This paddle fits the spin-first grinder. You shape every drive, you carve your dinks, and you win points by making the ball do things across the net. The elongated frame and 117 swing weight reward a full, committed swing over twitchy hand speed. If your game is built on quick-hands firefights or you want a feather-light head, this is not your match. But if you live for grit and touch, the Friction Pro 16mm is one of the best spin paddles on the market right now.
The Rundown
Pros
- Spin that bites the court: The CarbonBite face grabs the ball like nothing else in this price bracket. Topspin drives dive late and kick serves jump off the bounce. This is the headline reason to buy.
- Control rides right behind it: The 16mm core gives you real dwell time. Dinks sit where you aim them and resets land soft off hard drives. You shape the ball instead of fighting it.
- A real power bump over V1: There is more pop on tap than the original Friction Pro. Putaways carry and counters cut through. The face rewards a committed swing.
- Forgiving for an elongated: The 16mm build trades a touch of pop for stability and a wider sweet spot. Off-center contacts stay composed instead of twisting in your hand.
- Long 5.5-inch handle: Two-handed backhand players get room to stack both hands. The extra length also opens up leverage on the flick.
- 15% off softens the sticker: The PICKLEBUDDY code knocks the $249.99 down to about $212. That closes the gap on the premium-tier competition fast.
Cons
- Premium at $249.99: You pay flagship money for flagship grit. The performance backs it up, but the wallet still notices before the coupon.
- Not the fastest head: Swing weight sits at 117 in an elongated frame. In a fast hands battle at the line, lighter paddles get to the ball a half-beat quicker.
- The 14mm hits harder: If raw power tops your list, the firmer 14mm version pops more off the face. This 16mm chooses dwell and forgiveness over peak pace.
- Aggressive grit wears your supply: A face this rough chews through balls and eats a little arm on long sessions. Bring fresh ones and stretch before you play.
If You Play Like…
You are a 3.5+ spin-first player who shapes every ball. You drive with topspin, carve your dinks, and win points by making the net a problem for the other side. You swing with commitment and you want a face that rewards it. This paddle was built for you. If you are a quick-hands player who lives in firefights at the line, or you want a light, whippy head that hits harder out of the box, look at the firmer RPM Friction Pro 14mm or the JOOLA Hyperion 3 instead.
The RPM Friction Pro 16mm Elongated V2 is a spin monster with the control to back it up. The CarbonBite face is the grittiest in its class, and the 16mm core keeps your dinks and resets honest. It is not the cheapest paddle and it is not the fastest in the hand, but for a spin-first player who shapes every ball, it is an easy buy, especially with 15% off.
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