RPM Q2 Hybrid Review: The Best Sweet Spot on a Power Paddle?

When the original RPM Q2 launched, I reviewed the 14mm widebody and gave it my first-ever 10/10. It combined top-tier power and pop with what I still consider one of the best sweet spots I have experienced.

RPM has now expanded the lineup with two 16mm hybrid shapes: the Q2 Hybrid Flat Top and Q2 Hybrid Curve Top. RPM sent me the Flat Top for this review, so my performance impressions apply specifically to that model.

You can watch my full RPM Q2 Hybrid review on YouTube or continue below for the written breakdown.

My name is Pickle Li. I'm a 5.0 pickleball player who has reviewed over 50 paddles, and I created MyPickleList, a community-driven paddle rating platform with more than 1,000 ratings.

Caveats & Disclosures

This is a first impressions review, not a long-term durability review. I played with the Q2 Hybrid for a few days, so I cannot personally confirm how the core or face will perform after months of regular use.

RPM sent me this paddle for review. If you decide to buy an RPM paddle, use code PICKLELI for 15% off through rpmpb.com/PICKLELI. Availability for the new hybrid shapes may vary.

Quick Specs & Shape Overview

The Q2 is RPM's Gen 4, full-foam power paddle developed with input from John Kew. The new hybrid release adds two profiles to the existing Q2 lineup:

• Q2 Hybrid Flat Top 16mm: the model tested here
• Q2 Hybrid Curve Top 16mm: a more rounded hybrid profile

Flat-top hybrids are becoming more common, and this was my first extended test of RPM's version. I am still deciding whether I generally prefer flat-top or curved-top hybrids, but I may be leaning toward the flat-top shape.

My paddle weighed 7.8 ounces in stock form, leaving plenty of room for customization without making it excessively heavy.

Pop

Like the 14mm Q2, the 16mm Hybrid is a very poppy paddle. The ball comes off the face quickly, and counters and flicks are clear strengths. There is enough response to surprise opponents without needing a large swing.

Compared with a Selkirk Boomstik, the Q2 provides a little more dwell time, but both sit on the hollow, highly responsive side of the feel spectrum. I did not notice a dramatic drop in pop moving from the 14mm Q2 to this 16mm version.

Control & Feel

The overall feel is remarkably close to the 14mm Q2 Widebody. The 14mm may respond a little faster, as expected from the thinner core, but the difference was smaller than I anticipated. Both have the hollow, poppy response that defines the Q2 lineup.

I had very little trouble transitioning to the 16mm Hybrid. More importantly, the response stayed consistent across the face. Even when I missed the center, I generally knew how the ball would react. That consistency matters to me because I do not hit the sweet spot perfectly on every shot.

The sweet spot is still the standout feature. In my opinion, the Q2 continues to have one of the best sweet spots available—even in stock form and in this narrower hybrid shape. I experienced very few edge hits, if any. That could come from the 16mm core, the shape, or a combination of both, but it felt extremely forgiving from the start. The stock 16mm Hybrid may even have been more forgiving than my 14mm Widebody before I added weight to it.

Resets can sit a little high because of the paddle's pop, but the response is predictable. For me, that made control more about dialing in the paddle than reacting to random hot spots.

The face also feels very gritty out of the box. It is not a completely new surface concept like Spartus's P1 texture or 11six24 HexGrit, but RPM uses a distinctive-looking weave with thicker, more widely spaced grooves than a typical raw carbon-fiber face. My older Q2 Widebody has lost some of its original texture after months of use, though it still performs very well. I need more time with the Hybrid before judging its long-term grit durability.

Power

I would put the 16mm Q2 Hybrid in the high-tier power category. It hits hard and produces easy pace, although I would not call it the single most powerful paddle I have tried.

The biggest surprise is how little the 16mm core changes the Q2's overall identity. It remains fast off the face and aggressive enough for counters, drives, and putaways. For the amount of power it provides, the sweet spot and forgiveness are what continue to separate it from many competing power paddles.

Flat Top vs. the 14mm Widebody

The difference between these two paddles is less dramatic than the specifications might suggest:

• The 14mm Widebody responds a little faster and provides the broadest shape.
• The 16mm Hybrid Flat Top preserves most of the pop while offering a more hybrid profile.
• Both provide a large, consistent sweet spot and a hollow, responsive feel.
• Shape may matter more than core thickness when choosing between them.

If you already like the Q2 but want something between RPM's widebody and elongated shapes, the Hybrid Flat Top fills that gap without sacrificing the characteristics that made the original Q2 successful.

Early Verdict

The 16mm Hybrid keeps most of what I loved about the original Q2. It weighed only 7.8 ounces stock, produced high-tier power, and delivered one of the best sweet spots I have used. I barely experienced any edge hits despite testing it without added weight.

The RPM Q2 Hybrid may be for you if:

• You want high-tier power without giving up a large sweet spot.
• You value predictable performance on imperfect contact.
• You want a Q2 shape between the widebody and elongated models.
• You prefer a light stock paddle with room to customize.
• You like a hollow, responsive feel with slightly more dwell than a Boomstik.

You may want to look elsewhere if:

• You want a soft, muted control paddle.
• You struggle to manage highly responsive paddles on resets.
• You want the absolute hardest-hitting paddle available regardless of forgiveness.

The 14mm and 16mm Q2s felt close enough that I would choose primarily by shape and preferred balance, not thickness alone. The Hybrid Flat Top is a forgiving power paddle that already feels complete in stock form.

Watch the full RPM Q2 Hybrid video review, then visit the Flat Top or Curve Top pages to compare community scores and add your own rating.

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