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USA Pickleball Approval
USA Pickleball is the national governing body for the sport of pickleball, responsible for the regulation, testing and approval of paddles. All RPM Pickleball Paddles are USA Pickleball approved, meaning they are at the highest standard while remaining legal for all levels of play of your favorite sport.
RPM Pickleball was founded by a team of athletes, engineers, and relentless competitors obsessed with pushing the limits of performance.
Frustrated by gear that couldn’t keep up, we built what we wished existed: pro-level paddles forged from cutting-edge materials, shaped by science, and tested by the best. Our founders aren’t just product designers — they’re innovators on a mission to give players everywhere the edge they deserve.
Meet the minds behind the tech that’s tilting the game in your favor.
James Ignatowich
Co-founder / CEO & Lead Engineer
As co-founder and CEO of RPM Pickleball, James Ignatowich channels his on-court intensity into building a company that sets new standards for performance equipment. While James’s success on the professional pickleball tour brought RPM into the spotlight, it’s his passion for materials science that truly engineered the paddle players know and love today.
Through meticulous prototyping and materials testing, James ensures every paddle reflects the demands of modern pickleball at its highest level. His focus is on blending elite player experience with innovative design so players at every level benefit from the same advantages he relies on in match play.
Equally driven off the court, James is committed to growing RPM into a global leader in pickleball equipment. His vision is rooted in empowering players everywhere to reach their potential with gear that performs at the pace of the game’s rapid growth.
James also brings a business mindset to RPM’s growth. Having built a strong personal brand through sponsorships, media, and community engagement, he understands how storytelling and visibility fuel the sport’s rapid expansion. By combining his entrepreneurial drive with his experience as a top professional, James is positioning RPM not only as a leader in paddle design but also as a trusted voice in the broader pickleball movement.
marwan Abaza
President & Head of R&D
Marwan Abaza is the co-founder and technical force behind RPM Pickleball’s paddle innovation. A lifelong student of racket sports, Marwan was raised in a family of tennis professionals and went on to compete at the Division 1 level for Bucknell University. His deep understanding of performance dynamics—honed through years on the court—forms the foundation of his paddle engineering philosophy.
After graduating, Marwan spent four years at Citi’s Investment Bank, where he developed a sharp eye for spotting inefficiencies in complex systems. Bridging that insight with his engineering mindset, he began focusing on the performance, compliance, and design gaps plaguing today’s pickleball paddle market. This fusion of high-level athletic experience and analytical problem-solving sparked the creation of RPM Pickleball. Recognizing an opportunity to reshape the standard for what players should expect from their gear, he set out to lead a new era of paddle innovation through RPM Pickleball.
Currently, Marwan is pursuing a Master’s degree in Computational Data Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology, further deepening his expertise in materials analysis, predictive modeling, and product optimization. His mission is to bring data-driven, athlete-tested paddle design to the forefront of the game.
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Meet Team RPM PRO
James Ignatowich
Meet James Ignatowich — PPA Champion, Co-Founder, and CEO of RPM. As one of the most decorated players in pickleball today, James brings the same intensity and precision he shows on court to leading RPM off it.
With 30 PPA medals, including 4 golds, and wins over every player in the top 20 — including Ben Johns (3x) and Anna Leigh Waters.
Known for his fiery competitiveness and relentless drive, James has quickly become one of pickleball’s most recognizable stars.
Beyond the medals, he’s committed to growing the sport worldwide and inspiring the next generation of athletes.
Age - 25
Height - 6'3" / 190.5 cm
Signature Paddle - RPM Friction Pro 16mm
DUPR Ratings
- Singles: 6.564
- Doubles: 6.588
Ryan Fu
Meet Ryan Fu — Boston native, former #1 New England tennis player, and now a rising star on the pro pickleball tour.
After competing for Michigan and earning his MBA at Bryant, Ryan made the leap into pickleball and quickly broke into the world’s top 50.
With his quick hands, competitive drive, and love for the game, Ryan is ready to make waves on the PPA Tour — and we’re proud to have him on our team.
Age - 25
Height - 6'0" / 182 cm
Signature Paddle - RPM Friction Pro 14mm
DUPR Ratings
- Singles: 5.858
- Doubles: 6.107
Jared Cohen
Meet Jared Cohen — top-tier pickleball player and coach out of Jacksonville, FL.
Jared leads as head pro at Picklerage and runs his own “Cohen Academy” training hub, where players of all levels come to sharpen their game.
Off the court, he drives sales at RPM and loves spending time with his wife, newborn son, and two pups. A die-hard sports fan and lover of great food, Jared brings the same energy to life as he does to the court.
Always pushing to grow the game, he’s as dedicated to building the pickleball community as he is to competing.
Age - 32
Height - 5'6" / 167 cm
Signature Paddle - RPM Friction Pro 14mm
DUPR Ratings
- Singles: 5.45
- Doubles: 5.38
Sam Kim
Meet Sam Kim - pickleball coach at the Boston Pickle Club.
As a young athlete, he has won many tournaments in New England.
He is balancing his coaching role with travel across the country to compete professionally.
Age - 23
Height - 5'7" / 170 cm
Signature Paddle - RPM Friction Pro 16mm
DUPR Ratings
- Singles: 5.54
- Doubles: 5.83
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Paddles
RPM Friction Pro Elongated (14mm) Paddle
The RPM Friction Pro pickleball paddles reimagine everything you can do on the court, fueling your game with unparalleled spin, elite power, and the biggest sweet spot on the market.
The Friction Pro’s elongated shape offers extended reach for high balls, volley attacks, and singles play. This shape emulates tennis racquet play, with heightened power for next-level drives. With a thinner 14MM core, this high-performance paddle delivers immense power generation and faster rebound speed, paired with elite maneuverability.
RPM Friction Pro Elongated (16mm) Paddle
The RPM Friction Pro pickleball paddles reimagine everything you can do on the court, fueling your game with unparalleled spin, elite power, and the biggest sweet spot on the market.
The Friction Pro’s elongated shape offers extended reach for high balls, volley attacks, and singles play. This shape emulates tennis racquet play, with heightened power for next-level drives. With a thicker 16MM core, this high-performance paddle delivers increased stability and plush shock absorption, with elite power that feels controllable.
RPM Friction Pro Widebody (14mm) Paddle
The RPM Friction Pro pickleball paddles reimagine everything you can do on the court, fueling your game with effortless power, groundbreaking speed, and unrivalled spin.
The Friction Pro’s Widebody shape guarantees a larger sweet spot, enhancing pop and forgiveness on off-balanced mishits. It offers supreme control and maneuverability in the air, enhancing hand speed and volleys—perfect for doubles specialists. This shape also offers our lowest swing weights, resulting in a lighter feel and increased responsiveness for firefights at the kitchen line.
RPM Friction Pro Widebody (16mm) Paddle
The RPM Friction Pro pickleball paddles reimagine everything you can do on the court, fueling your game with effortless power, groundbreaking speed, and unrivalled spin.
The Friction Pro’s Widebody shape guarantees a larger sweet spot, enhancing pop and forgiveness on off-balanced mishits. It offers supreme control and maneuverability in the air, enhancing hand speed and volleys—perfect for doubles specialists. This shape also offers our lowest swing weights, resulting in a lighter feel and increased responsiveness for firefights at the kitchen line.
