Friday Aura Pro Review: Can Friday Make a Competitive Paddle?

Friday has always been known for budget paddles.

At first they made solid paddles with a bunch of graphics — in my opinion targeting lower-level players who cared more about how their paddle looked.

But ever since those early models, Friday seems to be pushing into more competitive territory.

I have their Aura Pro here — the pro version of one of their newer lineups. Let's see how it plays.

Intro

My name is Pickle Li. I'm a 5.0 pickleball player and I've reviewed over 50 paddles on this channel. I created MyPickleList, which does community-driven paddle ratings, and there are currently over 1,000 ratings.

Caveats & Disclosures

Reminder: This is a first impressions review, not a full review.

I played with this for a few days, so I can't speak to long-term durability.

This is a gen 4 paddle — full foam core — so it shouldn't core crush, making it on the more durable side.

I'll be rating this paddle on MyPickleList at the end of this write-up, so stay tuned for that.

Shout out to Jeff in my Discord for sending me this paddle. I really appreciate it.

Use code PICKLELI for $5 off at fridaypickle.com.

Quick Specs Overview

The Aura and Aura Pro are Friday's introduction to the gen 4 market — full foam core instead of traditional honeycomb.

• Aura: elongated or widebody
• Aura Pro: elongated, hybrid, or widebody
• Thickness: 16mm on all versions

I have the widebody Aura Pro here.

The Aura is marketed more as an all-court paddle; the Aura Pro leans power.

• My sample weight: ~8 oz with an overgrip (could be slightly lighter stock)
• Setup: Stock the whole time

On-Court First Impressions

Pop

Above average in pop — nothing crazy, but enough for counters and aggressive play.

Things don't pop up excessively, but it's also a noticeable step down vs your high-tier power options.

Control & Feel

Poppy yet more solid — not as hollow as Boomstiks, RPM Q2s, or Luzz Infernos.

More similar to Gherkin Draco-type feel — a bit of softness compared to other poppier paddles.

I enjoyed the feel overall. Pretty intuitive; no real trouble adjusting.

Sweet spot: Above average and good overall. I did notice more dead spots closer to the handle — the ball still went back over, but there was an obvious feel difference vs the middle. Better than dying or missing, but not top-tier sweet spot.

Grit: I got this paddle used, so not sure how much wear was on the face. Grit feel isn't super rough, but still has a bit vs a super smooth carbon fiber face.

Spin: About average for good paddles — nothing crazy, but got the job done.

Power

Mid-tier power — never really wowed me with firepower, but that felt intentional.

Enough power to get the job done. A good level if you don't want to overthink over-hitting, which can happen with high-tier power paddles.

Verdict & MyPickleList

MyPickleList is a site I built for community-driven paddle ratings — a quick way to see how a paddle stacks up without reading long reviews. We have 300+ members and 1,000+ ratings; more ratings make it better, so please join if you haven't.

If you're in the Atlanta area, Premier Racquet Sports in Dunwoody is running $20 gift cards when you rate and comment on 5 paddles on the site.

Back to the review.

This was my first Friday paddle ever. I think Friday made a really good paddle in the Aura Pro — mid-tier power with nice feel and control, a good sweet spot, and great for players who want something aggressive but not too powerful.

Rating: 9/10 (Aura Pro widebody)

There are so many good paddles out there that all play well, and the Aura Pro competes with all of them. It really comes down to slight personal preferences — which is a good thing.

Pricing note: The Aura Pro kind of deviates from Friday's budget lineup. It retails around $189 before a code, which puts it above budget in my opinion. It comes with a hat, overgrips, edge tape, and a paddle cover — not sure how much value that adds for more advanced players who already have that stuff.

At $189 before a code, it now competes with a bunch of other great paddles out right now. At a more budget price point, I think it would be more popular.

Overall great paddle — I enjoyed it and it played well stock the whole time, which is always a good sign. Worth a try if you can demo it and see if you like it more than the other great options out there.

Great first experience with Friday. Historically a budget brand, but they can make good paddles too.

Thanks for reading. Join the MyPickleList community on site and Discord — we talk paddles, gear, and pickleball tips daily. If you caught this as a video too, like and subscribe there; it helps a lot. See you next time.

Shop Friday → (code PICKLELI, $5 off)