SKILLTREEPickleball gear / Mitchell Masterson
RPM / MY THREE PICKS
Find your RPM.
I own and play all three stock. Here’s which one I’d reach for—and why.
Featured picks
Prices and MM14 offer checks are dated October 12, 2026. Estimates exclude tax and shipping; confirm the current offer, availability, and exact configuration at checkout.
Shown: Friction Pro V2 14mm Hybrid Flat Top
My all-around favorite
V214 mm Flat Top Hybrid
Soft-shot pocketing, with pop for counters.
Q2 has more pop. Jade is my long-term pick.
Shop V2 at RPM ↗MM14
15% off at RPM checkout. Current eligibility applies.
- Configuration
- 14 mm Flat Top Hybrid
- Length × width
- 16.3 × 7.7 in
- Weight
- 7.8 oz
Pokémon Comparison · PikachuCharacter comparison · BETA
Ron
Bit rude to aim everything at me.
The one that stays in the bag while everything else auditions for the job.
For me, this V2 is familiar, cherished, and the paddle I keep coming back to.
Full review, specifications, and comparisons
Touch, counters, and all-around fit
Friction Pro V2 14 mm Flat Top Hybrid
The one I keep coming back to.
My trusted honeycomb hybrid, shown in the 14 mm Flat Top Hybrid configuration I own.
Pocketing without giving up pop
The ball pockets for the soft shots while retaining the pop I need to put it away on counters and volleys. For me, the V2 beats the Pro IV across the board. I would choose Q2 for maximum pop and Jade for durability and long-term use.
Manufacturer specs & measurements
Specs · manufacturer source
| Specification | Paddle Manufacturer ↗RPM |
|---|---|
| Configuration | 14 mm Flat Top Hybrid |
| Length × width | 16.3 × 7.7 in |
| Handle length | 5.5 in |
| Grip circumference | 4.125 in |
| Weight | 7.8 oz |
| Swing weight | 109 |
| Twist weight | 6.7 |
| Spin rate | Not listed |
| Grit durability | No tier listed |
Compare V2’s strengths and tradeoffs
Why V2 stays in the bag · played stock
Shown: Q2 16mm Hybrid Flat Top
My maximum-pop pick
Q216 mm Flat Top Hybrid
Big finishing response without giving up control.
Give yourself time to dial in the soft game.
Shop Q2 at RPM ↗MM14
15% off at RPM checkout. Current eligibility applies.
- Configuration
- 16 mm Flat Top Hybrid
- Length × width
- 16.3 × 7.7 in
- Weight
- 7.8 oz
Pokémon Comparison · MetagrossCharacter comparison · BETA
Bellatrix
Big power. Wicked laugh. Finds your defense adorable.
Powerful, special, and worth the investment.
That is how I think about the Q2: give yourself time to learn it, and its power becomes a weapon you can actually use.
Full review, specifications, and comparisons
Power, pop, and the learning curve
Q2 16 mm Flat Top Hybrid
The power pick. Put in the reps.
My full-foam power choice, shown in the 16 mm Flat Top Hybrid configuration I own.
Maximum pop, with an adjustment period
Elite power with high but controllable pop. It reminded me of a lighter Boomstik with better spin.
Manufacturer specs & measurements
Specs · manufacturer source
| Specification | Paddle Manufacturer ↗RPM |
|---|---|
| Configuration | 16 mm Flat Top Hybrid |
| Length × width | 16.3 × 7.7 in |
| Handle length | 5.5 in |
| Grip circumference | 4.125 in |
| Weight | 7.8 oz |
| Swing weight | 110.5 |
| Twist weight | 6.5 |
| Spin rate | Not listed |
| Grit durability | No tier listed |
Compare Q2’s strengths and tradeoffs
When Q2 is the better fit · played stock
Shown: Jade 14mm Elongated
My spin + long-term pick
Jade14 mm Elongated
The best spin I’ve experienced, with usable power.
Powerful, but not my maximum-power choice.
Shop Jade at RPM ↗MM14
15% off at RPM checkout. Current eligibility applies.
- Configuration
- 14 mm Elongated
- Length × width
- 16.5 × 7.5 in
- Weight
- 7.7 oz
Pokémon Comparison · GardevoirCharacter comparison · BETA
Hermione
She did the homework. Now you’re being tested.
Full review, specifications, and comparisons
Spin, durability, and the move to foam
Jade 14 mm Elongated
Spin first. Still plenty of paddle.
The spin-focused foam paddle in my shortlist, shown in the 14 mm elongated configuration I own.
Spin first, without extreme power
The best spin I’ve experienced. Powerful like the V2, without sitting at the extreme end of power. I think players coming from Gen 3 or honeycomb paddles would find it an approachable transition into foam.
Manufacturer specs & measurements
Specs · manufacturer source
| Specification | Paddle Manufacturer ↗RPM |
|---|---|
| Configuration | 14 mm Elongated |
| Length × width | 16.5 × 7.5 in |
| Handle length | 5.5 in |
| Grip circumference | 4.125 in |
| Weight | 7.7 oz |
| Swing weight | 112 |
| Twist weight | 6.0 |
| Spin rate | Not listed |
| Grit durability | Tier 1 (manufacturer claim) |
Compare Jade’s strengths and tradeoffs
Why choose Jade · played stock
Other offerings & configurations
Browse the three featured families at RPM
V2 family at RPM ↗MM14
15% off at RPM checkout. Current eligibility applies.
MM14
15% off at RPM checkout. Current eligibility applies.
MM14
15% off at RPM checkout. Current eligibility applies.
THE REST OF THE LINEUP
More options. Less scrolling.
More shapes and thicknesses, with direct RPM shopping links.
Original Friction Pro$249.99 · Details & options +
Original Friction Pro
Understand the original before choosing.
The original Friction Pro remains in the catalog alongside the newer families. Compare its exact dimensions and current price with V2 before assuming that the older release is a lower-cost option.
Same price. Different generation.
At the listed $249.99, the original Friction Pro is not a budget alternative to V2. Compare the exact shape and thickness before choosing: the original listings here offer a 14 mm elongated and 14 or 16 mm widebody.
Shape & setup
Exact shape, thickness, and setup comparisons
GET THE GEOMETRY RIGHT
The model is only half the decision.
A thickness or shape change can matter as much as switching families. Use these questions to narrow the exact version.
Reach or room for error?
An elongated shape is worth comparing if reach is your priority. A widebody trades some length for a broader face. The hybrid options sit between those familiar shapes.
RPM’s published Q2 dimensions illustrate the trade: elongated is 16.5 × 7.5 inches; widebody is 16 × 8 inches. Hybrid measurements should be checked on their own product pages.
What feels heavy to you?
Static weight is what the scale says. Swing weight describes resistance during the swing; twist weight describes resistance to rotating on an off-center hit. Compare the same measurement method and the exact configuration.
14 mm or 16 mm?
Do not assume a thinner option is automatically faster, more powerful, or better for your hands. Face construction, mass distribution, and core design all contribute. Start with your current paddle’s thickness and compare the change deliberately.
Flat Top or Curve Top?
Those are separate hybrid options in the Q2 lineup. The V2 Flat Top Hybrid is the one I singled out for ball feel. My note is about that shape, not a blanket verdict on every hybrid.
The Flat Top Hybrids already have my preferred dimensions. Added weight trades faster handling for more stability.
Before you order
Offer qualifications and ordering questions
BEFORE YOU ORDER
A few practical answers.
RPM Q2 vs V2: which would I choose?
I choose the Q2 16 mm Flat Top Hybrid for maximum pop. The V2 14 mm Flat Top Hybrid is my familiar all-around choice: pocketing for soft shots, with the pop I want for counters and volleys. Both have my ideal stock dimensions; these comparisons refer to those exact configurations.
Where does the RPM Jade fit beside Q2 and V2?
The Jade 14 mm Elongated has the best spin I have experienced. It has plenty of power without being my maximum-pop pick, and it is my choice of these three when durability and long-term use are the priority.
Does MM14 work on RPM paddles?
The public ambassador offer is 15% off. I verified MM14 in RPM’s cart on October 12, 2026: a $269.99 Jade was reduced to $229.50 before taxes, shipping, and optional services. That check does not establish stacking or every possible exclusion.
Can I stack MM14 with another offer?
Stacking has not been verified. Compare your available offers in RPM’s checkout rather than assuming that discounts combine.
Am I buying from Skilltree or RPM?
You buy directly from RPM. These links take you to RPM’s own product pages; Skilltree does not collect payment or fulfill these orders.
What should I check about shipping, returns, and approval?
Check the exact product’s availability and preorder timing, RPM’s return and warranty terms, and the relevant approval list for your competition. Shipping dates and approval status can change. Read RPM’s return policy and warranty terms.
Keep MM14 handy for 15% off at checkout.
MM14
15% off at RPM checkout. Current eligibility applies.
Sources & disclosure
Sources, manufacturer averages, and disclosure
SOURCES & DISCLOSURE
Know what each claim is based on.
- RPM’s current catalog — model listings, prices, and product photography.
- RPM’s paddle specifications — manufacturer specifications, separate from independent tests.
- Johnkew’s database and comparison lab — external testing to consult by exact configuration.
- Mitchell’s impressions — personal experience with the three named configurations, all played stock.
- MM14 — active ambassador offer verified through Shopify Collabs and an RPM public-cart check.
My reviews cover the three featured paddles I own and play stock. Manufacturer specifications and listed USD prices were checked October 12, 2026; specifications are listed averages, not measurements of my paddles. RPM sets current prices, code eligibility, availability, shipping, and returns. This is my personal buying guide, not an independent review or RPM’s official site. I earn commission on qualifying MM14 or referral-link purchases.
More details
Independent testing & interpretation
CHECK THE TESTING
A second perspective, from the lab.
Spin and surface-wear results answer different questions: how much spin a paddle starts with, and how well the surface retains it. Swingweight helps explain resistance to swinging; twistweight helps explain resistance to twisting on off-center contact. Use those measures to weigh handling, stability, and retained spin against the priorities in the paddle comparisons above.
Initial spin and retained spin are different.
A new face’s spin number tells one part of the story. Accelerated surface-wear testing asks how much spin remains after controlled wear. It does not predict an exact number of months of use.
Compare like with like.
Swingweight, twistweight, and configuration-specific results belong to the measured model. A surface-durability tier can inform another shape in the same family when the surface is verified to be the same; identify that shared-surface basis instead of presenting it as a separate measurement.
Open the original measurements.
The source links provide the underlying measurements and methods. The comparisons above explain what those results mean for the choice, while distinguishing measured specifications, shared-surface durability evidence, and playing preferences.
Open Johnkew’s paddle database ↗MM14
15% off at RPM checkout. Current eligibility applies.
Filter Brand to RPM, then select the matching shape and thickness. Skilltree does not claim affiliation with or endorsement by Johnkew.