PaddleSetups
Sources checkedPPA TourRecord checked

What paddle does James Ignatowich use?

Shoes
Pending

The short answer

RPM says the Friction Pro 16mm Elongated is James Ignatowich’s competition paddle of choice; The Kitchen reported in April 2026 that he had left the pro tour. The paddle generation, latest match use, weight, tape, grip, overgrip and shoes are pending.

James Ignatowich won four PPA Tour titles and co-founded the paddle brand RPM Pickleball; The Kitchen reported in April 2026 that he had left the pro tour.

Current equipment

What is on the record now?

A sponsor deal or product page tells you the brand and model, not the exact match paddle, weight, or tape. Each field below shows its own source and date.

Paddle Confirmed

RPM Friction Pro 16mm Elongated

via RPM Friction Pro V2 16mm Elongated; generation played unverified

Brand-reported: RPM is his own company. Its product page calls this model his competition paddle of choice without naming the original or V2 generation; it is not a recent match sighting. He was reported in April 2026 to have left the pro tour.

RPM’s 16mm Elongated Friction Pro. The current shop sells the V2 version; the original 16mm Elongated is no longer listed.

Shape
Elongated
Core
16mm
Variant
Generation (original or V2) pending
RPM Friction Pro V2 16mm Elongated product page Brand page · checked Oct 21, 2026 RPM Pro Team - James Ignatowich Brand page · checked Oct 21, 2026 The Kitchen: PBallers Episode 1 with James Ignatowich Article · Apr 7, 2026
Shoes

Shoes

Pending

Pending: no player-specific source establishes this field.

Checked Oct 21, 2026

Pending: Retail specs, handle, playing weight, weight added, tape placement, grip build, overgrip, apparel . Checked Oct 21, 2026
Retail specs

Pending

Pending: no player-specific source establishes this field.

Checked Oct 21, 2026

Handle

Pending

Pending: no player-specific source establishes this field.

Checked Oct 21, 2026

Playing weight

Pending

Pending: no player-specific source establishes this field.

Checked Oct 21, 2026

Weight added

Pending

Pending: no player-specific source establishes this field.

Checked Oct 21, 2026

Tape placement

Pending

Pending: no player-specific source establishes this field.

Checked Oct 21, 2026

Grip build

Pending

Pending: no player-specific source establishes this field.

Checked Oct 21, 2026

Overgrip

Pending

Pending: no player-specific source establishes this field.

Checked Oct 21, 2026

Apparel

Pending

Pending: no player-specific source establishes this field.

Checked Oct 21, 2026

Tape placement for James Ignatowich's current paddle is pending. See the 9 other pros with sourced setups in the pro lead and tungsten tape guide.

Tournament record

Best recorded results, past 3 years

Official results with the event, division, partner or team, date and source kept together.

  1. SilverPPA Tour · Open Pro

    Pickleball Central Sacramento Vintage Open

    Men's Doubles · with Augustus Ge

    PPA Tour tournament history, Pickleball Central Sacramento Vintage Open Article · checked Oct 21, 2026

    Official history lists silver in Men's Doubles with Augustus Ge; Finals date 2025-09-28.

  2. SilverPPA Tour · Open Pro

    Veolia Milwaukee Open

    Men's Doubles · with CJ Klinger

    PPA Tour tournament history, Veolia Milwaukee Open Article · checked Oct 21, 2026

    Official history lists silver in Men's Doubles with CJ Klinger; Finals date 2024-11-17.

  3. SilverPPA Tour · Open Pro

    Picklr Utah Open

    Men's Doubles · with Matt Wright

    PPA Tour tournament history, Picklr Utah Open Article · checked Oct 21, 2026

    Official history lists silver in Men's Doubles with Matt Wright; Finals date 2024-08-25.

  4. SilverPPA Tour · Open Pro

    Picklr Utah Open

    Mixed Doubles · with Anna Bright

    PPA Tour tournament history, Picklr Utah Open Article · checked Oct 21, 2026

    Official history lists silver in Mixed Doubles with Anna Bright; Finals date 2024-08-25.

  5. SilverPPA Tour · Open Pro

    Veolia Sacramento Open

    Mixed Doubles · with Anna Bright

    PPA Tour tournament history, Veolia Sacramento Open Article · checked Oct 21, 2026

    Official history lists silver in Mixed Doubles with Anna Bright; Finals date 2024-06-09.

  6. SilverPPA Tour · Open Pro

    Vizzy Atlanta Open

    Mixed Doubles · with Anna Bright

    PPA Tour tournament history, Vizzy Atlanta Open Article · checked Oct 21, 2026

    Official history lists silver in Mixed Doubles with Anna Bright; Finals date 2024-05-19.

  7. SilverPPA Tour · Open Pro

    Selkirk Red Rock Open

    Mixed Doubles · with Anna Bright

    PPA Tour tournament history, Selkirk Red Rock Open Article · checked Oct 21, 2026

    Official history lists silver in Mixed Doubles with Anna Bright; Finals date 2024-04-28.

  8. SilverPPA Tour · Open Pro

    Desert Ridge Open

    Mixed Doubles · with Anna Bright

    PPA Tour tournament history, Desert Ridge Open Article · checked Oct 21, 2026

    Official history lists silver in Mixed Doubles with Anna Bright; Finals date 2024-02-04.

  9. SilverPPA Tour · Open Pro

    The Masters

    Mixed Doubles · with Anna Bright

    PPA Tour tournament history, The Masters Article · checked Oct 21, 2026

    Official history lists silver in Mixed Doubles with Anna Bright; Finals date 2024-01-14.

  10. SilverPPA Tour · Open Pro

    Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships

    Mixed Doubles · with Anna Bright

    PPA Tour tournament history, Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships Article · checked Oct 21, 2026

    Official history lists silver in Mixed Doubles with Anna Bright; Finals date 2023-11-12.

Window: Nov 9, 2023 to Nov 9, 2026. Selected verified results, ordered by finish and then date. This record may not cover every tournament appearance. Tournament results do not establish which paddle was used.

Change history

What changed, and when?

Each sponsor or gear change, with its date and source.

Sep 17, 2025

Sponsor · sponsor switch

RPM (his own paddle brand)

Selkirk RPM (his own paddle brand)

Date is the article’s publication date reporting the RPM launch; the exact Selkirk end date is not stated.

James Ignatowich Launches His Own Paddle Brand, RPM Article · Sep 17, 2025, updated Oct 7, 2025

Questions fans ask

James Ignatowich setup FAQs

Who is James Ignatowich?

James Ignatowich won four PPA Tour titles and co-founded the paddle brand RPM Pickleball; The Kitchen reported in April 2026 that he had left the pro tour.

James Ignatowich - PPA Tour profile Tour profile · checked Oct 21, 2026 RPM Pickleball - Meet the Founders Brand page · checked Oct 21, 2026 The Kitchen: PBallers Episode 1 with James Ignatowich Article · Apr 7, 2026
Researched and edited byMatthew·Read the verification method