RPM Friction Pro V2 Paddle Review | PBuddy Gear Report 2026

On the Court: RPM Friction Pro V2 Review

The RPM Friction Pro 16mm Elongated V2 is built around one idea: spin. We took it through three weeks of league nights and weekend open play, and the grit on this face does not quit. If you live for topspin rollers and slice dinks that skid low, this paddle rewards a fast swing. It sits firmly in the elongated camp, so it plays long and reachy, more tennis racquet than control slab. Plenty of paddles chase spin. Few faces actually bite like this one.

Spin That Actually Grabs

The CarbonBite face is the whole story here. The consensus spin number lands around 2279 RPM, and on court that turns into shape you can watch. Topspin drives dive late and pull opponents off the baseline. Our slice serves stayed low and skiddy through three hours on hot courts. The grit feels coarse straight out of the wrapper, and it held its texture across our whole test window. This is the spin king of the current Gen 3 class, and it is not a close race.

Touch and Control

Spin paddles usually trade away soft hands. This one does not. The Tri-Density core and EVA foam ring give a large, stable sweet spot, so off-center contact still goes where you aim. Resets at the kitchen sit down soft enough to neutralize a banger. Dinks take a session to dial in because the face plays lively rather than plush. Once you trust it, the control is genuinely there, and hands battles at the line feel quick and predictable.

Power and Drive

The elongated shape and a 117 swing weight load real pace onto drives. Pop off the face is excellent, and putaways carry enough to end points. This is not a raw-power cannon, though. You will not feel the ball explode off the stringbed the way a thick foam power paddle delivers. The V2 trades a sliver of top-end power for control and that big sweet spot, which is the right call for an all-court attacker. If you want more straight-line punch from our own shelf, the Diadem Warrior v2 is the one to grab.