Diadem Vice V2 16 vs Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, forgiveness and value on Paddle DNA against the Diadem Vice V2 16, which costs $170.
Power
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
88 vs 84
Spin
92 vs 88
Control
Too close to call
86 vs 86
Forgiveness
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
89 vs 84
Hand speed
Too close to call
107 vs 108 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
$109.99 at IQ 87.4 vs $170 at IQ 84.2
Overall pick: Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm · $109.99 · IQ 87.4
Paddle DNA head-to-head
Estimated scores: the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm Paddle DNA is our estimate from published specs, not a sourced profile.
- 84Power88
- 86Control86
- 92Spin88
- 84Forgiveness89
- 84Sweet spot90
- 82Stability89
- 82Maneuverability86
- 80Pop88
- 84Touch85
- 86Consistency87
- 66Swing weight65
- 78Twist weight87
- 50Launch angle59
- 78Plow through81
- 78Softness80
Diadem Vice V2 16 vs Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Diadem Vice V2 16 | Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $170 | $109.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.2 | 87.4 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 108 | 107 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.5 | 7.4 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | widebody |
| Face length(in) | 16.3 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.125 |
| Surface | 18K gritted carbon | QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano |
| Core material | Thermoformed polymer honeycomb | Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) |
Diadem Vice V2 16 verdict
Diadem's 18K weave is the grippiest face under $200. Spin 92 with a 108 swing weight is a rare pairing — you can rip topspin and still win hands battles.
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm verdict
The 16 × 8-inch Standard/Widebody offers a broader face and lower manufacturer-listed swingweight than the Elongated. Choose its geometry for compact handling and off-center coverage; choose Elongated for extra reach. Estimated Paddle DNA is not a measured power, control or spin result.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 87 against 78 for Diadem Vice V2 16 — a 9-point gap. They are effectively level on plow through, softness, touch, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is $60.010000000000005 cheaper at $109.99.
Twist weight
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 9 points (87 vs 78).
Launch angle
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 9 points (59 vs 50).
Pop
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 8 points (88 vs 80).
Stability
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 7 points (89 vs 82).
Which one is right for your level?
Each call below re-weights the Paddle DNA traits that matter at that level, so the winner can differ from the overall pick.
Beginner
New to 3.0 — still building a consistent contact point
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is the clearer pick at this level — sweet spot 90 vs 84, twist weight 87 vs 78, forgiveness 89 vs 84. Twist weight 7.4 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.6 vs 87 on the weighted index). Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm and keep the $60.010000000000005.
- Maneuverability
- Forgiveness
- Power
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.7 vs 85.8 on the weighted index). Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm and keep the $60.010000000000005.
- Power
- Plow through
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 87 vs 78, forgiveness 89 vs 84, softness 80 vs 78. Its 16 mm Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Diadem Vice V2 16
Take Diadem Vice V2 16 if you want spin (+4). Its swing weight of 108 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Diadem Vice V2 16 review →Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm if you want twist weight (+9), launch angle (+9), pop (+8). Its swing weight of 107 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm review →Where to Buy
Diadem Vice V2 16
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Diadem Vice V2 16 vs Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the Diadem Vice V2 16 or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.4 vs 84.2), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 9 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm, at 107 kg·cm² swing weight against 108 for Diadem Vice V2 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Diadem Vice V2 16 or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 for power against 84 for Diadem Vice V2 16. That comes from a 16 mm Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) core swinging at 107 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 86 for control.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- Diadem Vice V2 16 scores 92 for spin off its 18K gritted carbon face, against 88 for the QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano face on Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm. In practice a 4-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm, with the higher forgiveness score (89 vs 84). Its 7.4 twist weight against 6.5 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm costs $109.99, $60.010000000000005 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on whether you actually use the traits it trades away — check the head-to-head DNA bars above before paying up.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Diadem Vice V2 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer honeycomb core with an 18K gritted carbon face. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm: 16 mm Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) core with a QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Diadem Vice V2 16, at 5.4 in of handle against 5.3 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 89 and sweet spot 90 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Diadem Vice V2 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both are listed at 7.9 oz, though swing weight differs (108 vs 107) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Diadem Vice V2 16 to the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads on twist weight by 9 points; everything else is within 9 points. At $170 vs $109.99, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
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Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
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- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs J2CR
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Loco 16mm Standard
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Tenon
Top alternatives to both
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Diadem Vice V2 16 and Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Diadem Vice V2 16 and Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.