Friday Aura Pro Elongated Review
This is Friday's first full-foam paddle, and it's an ambitious build for a debut: an EPP core, an EVA foam band, a rubber "Elastech" layer between the two, and a blow-molded T700 carbon fiber frame running down into the handle.
Spin RPM comes in at 2,275, a scaled score of 83 out of 100, Good, though spin durability tests at Tier 4 on the raw carbon fiber surface.
KewCOR lands at 0.419, a firepower score of 82 out of 100, comfortably inside Power territory, sitting right between the Luzz Inferno (0.405) and the Bread & Butter Loco Hybrid (0.423).
Retail is $169, or $159 with code JOHNKEW.
There's a lot going on under the hood here. At the center sits an EPP foam core, surrounded by an EVA foam band, with a rubber strip Friday calls "Elastech" sandwiched between the two. Wrapping all of that is a blow-molded T700 carbon fiber frame that runs the full perimeter and down into the handle, paired with a coarse peel-ply surface. Not a simple build, and it shows in how the paddle plays.
Static weight is 7.9 ounces on a 16.46 by 7.48 inch Elongated face with a 5.43 inch handle, at 16mm thickness. Swing weight comes in light for an elongated at 115.1, a scaled score of 49, right at the database average. Twist weight measures 6.1, just a touch below average (scaled 48), solid for how light this paddle swings. That combination gives good hand speed and maneuverability without giving up too much stability, and there's room to add weight if you want to customize it further.
| Shape / Build | Elongated, Gen 4 |
| Surface | Peel Ply, Coarse |
| Layup | T700 Carbon Fiber |
| Core | Full-Foam EPP + EVA + Elastech rubber layer |
| Length × Width | 16.46″ × 7.48″ |
| Handle Length | 5.43″ |
| Static Weight | 7.9 oz |
| Swing Weight | 115.1 |
| Twist Weight | 6.1 |
| Balance Point | 24.1 cm |
| Certification | USAP Certified |
| Warranty | 6 months |
KewCOR is a controlled firepower metric: how efficiently the paddle transfers energy back into the ball, measured with a ball cannon.
KewCOR comes in at 0.419, a firepower score of 82 out of 100, squarely inside Power territory, between the Luzz Inferno (0.405) and the Bread & Butter Loco Hybrid (0.423). Power and pop are well balanced too, scaled 82 and 81 respectively, so neither one overpowers the other.
Spin RPM measures 2,275, a scaled score of 83, Good. Spin durability tests at Tier 4, the lowest tier, consistent with a raw T700 carbon fiber, coarse peel-ply surface: expect that spin number to fade with wear faster than paddles built on a coated or textured grit surface.
On the Feel Map, Aura Pro Elongated plots in the hollow, stiff quadrant, close to the 11SIX24 Ultré Power 2 but noticeably softer. That lines up with what John felt on court, and he credits the Elastech rubber layer sandwiched between the EPP core and EVA band for that slightly more cushioned response on contact. It's on the opposite side of the map from the Six Zero Coral Pro-Elongated, which reads dense and soft by comparison; if you've hit with a Coral Pro, expect this to feel like a different category of paddle entirely.
Between the EPP core and the EVA foam band, Friday adds a thin rubber strip they call Elastech. It's a likely part of why this paddle reads slightly softer than similarly stiff-hollow paddles like the 11SIX24 Power 2 series: a similar full-foam platform, but with an extra rubber layer working to take some of the edge off contact.
On court, the performance lines up closely with what the lab data shows. This is definitely a power paddle, but the pop doesn't feel overly jumpy or uncontrollable. There's still a bit of a learning curve if you're coming from a control or all-court paddle, though it's not extreme.
The feel profile is interesting: it plots in the stiff-hollow quadrant, but there's something else layered in that softens it just a bit. It reminds John a little of the 11SIX24 Power 2 series, just slightly softer, and he thinks that rubber Elastech layer is playing a role, giving the paddle a more unique, pleasant response on contact.
The sweet spot is very generous, right up there with some of the better Gen-4 paddles like the Loco: that blow-molded frame seems to really help stabilize the face and keep the response consistent. Spin is excellent too. It's easy to shape the ball, which helps offset some of that higher firepower.
The 4 paddles in the database with the closest overall performance profile, scored across spin, dimensions, weight/balance, power, pop, KewCOR, and feel profile.
Who it's for
- Players who like to play aggressively and want a real power paddle, but don't want to completely sacrifice control and feel: the spin and sweet spot help keep things manageable.
- Budget-minded players. At $159 after code, this is a strong value for the level of performance on offer.
- Players who already like the 11SIX24 Power 2 series feel but want something a touch softer.
- Players who like the overall vibe Friday brings to the sport: more fun, more approachable, and this paddle fits right into that.
Who it's NOT for
- Players who want Tier 1 or Tier 2 spin durability. This tests at Tier 4 on its raw carbon fiber surface.
- Players coming straight from a control or all-court paddle who aren't ready for a real (if not extreme) learning curve.
- Players who want a full year warranty out of the box. This ships with 6 months, though Friday's 99-day return policy is unusually generous if you change your mind.
Overall, this is an impressive first foam paddle from Friday. It's clear they put a lot of effort into the design and engineering, and it shows: this doesn't feel like a first attempt at a foam paddle. It's the combination of a pleasant feel, a predictable power curve, a large sweet spot, and strong spin that makes it stand out in a crowded field of well-performing full-foam paddles right now, and that's before even factoring in the price. At $159 with code JOHNKEW, this is likely to make a lot of players happy.