Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 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, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3, which costs $150.
Power
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
88 vs 72
Spin
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
88 vs 80
Control
92 vs 86
Forgiveness
Too close to call
89 vs 86
Hand speed
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
107 vs 110 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
$109.99 at IQ 87.4 vs $150 at IQ 82.9
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
- 92Control86
- 80Spin88
- 86Forgiveness89
- 87Sweet spot90
- 82Stability89
- 81Maneuverability86
- 68Pop88
- 91Touch85
- 89Consistency87
- 56Swing weight65
- 76Twist weight87
- 58Launch angle59
- 66Plow through81
- 88Softness80
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 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 | Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 | Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $150 | $109.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 82.9 | 87.4 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 110 | 107 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 | 7.4 — better |
| Shape | standard | widebody |
| Face length(in) | 16 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.9 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Textured carbon | QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano |
| Core material | Tempest control core | Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) |
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 verdict
The reference control paddle for players who do not want the weight of a 20 mm build. Touch scores trail only the Luxx.
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 Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 — a 20-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, sweet spot, consistency, 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).
Plow through
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 15 points (81 vs 66).
Twist weight
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 11 points (87 vs 76).
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 a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 87 vs 76, stability 89 vs 82, forgiveness 89 vs 86. Twist weight 7.4 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — power 88 vs 72, spin 88 vs 80, maneuverability 86 vs 81. At 107 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Power
- Spin
- 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, plow through 81 vs 66, spin 88 vs 80. Swing weight 107 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Power
- Plow through
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.3 vs 83.7 on the weighted index). Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm and keep the $40.010000000000005.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3
Take Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 if you want softness (+8), control (+6), touch (+6). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 review →Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm if you want pop (+20), power (+16), plow through (+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
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 vs Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.4 vs 82.9), 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?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm, at 107 kg·cm² swing weight against 110 for Paddletek Tempest Wave V3. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 for power against 72 for Paddletek Tempest Wave V3. 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?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 at 92 versus 86. Its 16 mm core holds the ball on the face slightly longer, which is what makes resets and dinks land shorter.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 for spin off its QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano face, against 80 for the Textured carbon face on Paddletek Tempest Wave V3. In practice an 8-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 86). Its 7.4 twist weight against 6.1 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?
- Paddletek Tempest Wave V3: 16 mm Tempest control core with a Textured 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?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm, at 5.3 in of handle against 5.25 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. Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 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 (110 vs 107) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 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.
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- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs J2CR
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- 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 Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 and Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Paddletek Tempest Wave V3 and Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.