GAMMA Obsidian 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, spin and value on Paddle DNA against the GAMMA Obsidian 16, which costs $150.
Power
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
88 vs 72
Spin
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
88 vs 74
Control
Too close to call
86 vs 86
Forgiveness
Too close to call
89 vs 88
Hand speed
102 vs 107 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
$109.99 at IQ 87.4 vs $150 at IQ 80.3
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.
- 72Power88
- 86Control86
- 74Spin88
- 88Forgiveness89
- 86Sweet spot90
- 78Stability89
- 84Maneuverability86
- 68Pop88
- 86Touch85
- 84Consistency87
- 62Swing weight65
- 72Twist weight87
- 46Launch angle59
- 68Plow through81
- 86Softness80
GAMMA Obsidian 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 | GAMMA Obsidian 16 | Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $150 | $109.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.3 | 87.4 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.7 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 102 | 107 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.2 | 7.4 — better |
| Shape | standard | widebody |
| Face length(in) | 15.8 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Textured graphite composite | QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb | Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) |
GAMMA Obsidian 16 verdict
The softest paddle in this group and one of the lightest-swinging. Softness 86 plus a 102 swing weight is a recipe for confident dinks — provided you accept a low power ceiling.
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 pop: Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 against 68 for GAMMA Obsidian 16 — a 20-point gap. They are effectively level on consistency, swing weight, maneuverability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is $40.010000000000005 cheaper at $109.99.
Pop
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 20 points (88 vs 68).
Power
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 16 points (88 vs 72).
Twist weight
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 15 points (87 vs 72).
Spin
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 14 points (88 vs 74).
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 — twist weight 87 vs 72, stability 89 vs 78, sweet spot 90 vs 86. Twist weight 7.4 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is the clearer pick at this level — spin 88 vs 74, power 88 vs 72, maneuverability 86 vs 84. At 107 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Power
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is the clearer pick at this level — power 88 vs 72, spin 88 vs 74, plow through 81 vs 68. Swing weight 107 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Power
- Spin
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84 vs 83.7 on the weighted index). Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm and keep the $40.010000000000005.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
GAMMA Obsidian 16
Take GAMMA Obsidian 16 if you want softness (+6). Its swing weight of 102 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the GAMMA Obsidian 16 review →Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm if you want pop (+20), power (+16), twist weight (+15). 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
GAMMA Obsidian 16
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
GAMMA Obsidian 16 vs Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the GAMMA Obsidian 16 or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.4 vs 80.3), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — pop — Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 20 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16, at 102 kg·cm² swing weight against 107 for Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the GAMMA Obsidian 16 or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 for power against 72 for GAMMA Obsidian 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?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 for spin off its QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano face, against 74 for the Textured graphite composite face on GAMMA Obsidian 16. In practice a 14-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm, with the higher forgiveness score (89 vs 88). Its 7.4 twist weight against 6.2 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, $40.010000000000005 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?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Textured graphite composite 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?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm, at 5.3 in of handle against 5 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. GAMMA Obsidian 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16 at 7.7 oz against 7.9 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (102 vs 107) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the GAMMA Obsidian 16 to the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads on pop by 20 points; everything else is within 16 points. At $150 vs $109.99, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
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- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Loco 16mm Standard
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Tenon
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put GAMMA Obsidian 16 and Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: GAMMA Obsidian 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.