Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) 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 forgiveness, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner), which costs $175.
Power
Too close to call
88 vs 85
Spin
Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner)
95 vs 88
Control
Too close to call
88 vs 86
Forgiveness
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
89 vs 82
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 $175 at IQ 85.6
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.
- 85Power88
- 88Control86
- 95Spin88
- 82Forgiveness89
- 84Sweet spot90
- 83Stability89
- 84Maneuverability86
- 82Pop88
- 86Touch85
- 88Consistency87
- 68Swing weight65
- 82Twist weight87
- 57Launch angle59
- 78Plow through81
- 80Softness80
Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) 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 | Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) | Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $175 | $109.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 85.6 | 87.4 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.9 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 15 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 110 | 107 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.3 | 7.4 — better |
| Shape | elongated | widebody |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.375 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.375 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Aerospace bi-directional carbon with exposed aramid weave | QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano |
| Core material | Nomex and polypropylene hybrid honeycomb | Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) |
Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) verdict
The exposed Kevlar weave is the story: it grips the ball like a fresh grit face but, unlike sprayed textures, it is the material itself, so the spin number does not decay over a season.
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 spin: Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) scores 95 against 88 for Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm — a 7-point gap. They are effectively level on power, swing weight, plow through, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is $65.01 cheaper at $109.99.
Spin
Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) leads by 7 points (95 vs 88).
Forgiveness
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 7 points (89 vs 82).
Sweet spot
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 6 points (90 vs 84).
Stability
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 6 points (89 vs 83).
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 — forgiveness 89 vs 82, sweet spot 90 vs 84, stability 89 vs 83. Twist weight 7.4 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (87.1 vs 87 on the weighted index). Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm and keep the $65.01.
- Spin
- Control
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.3 vs 85.8 on the weighted index). Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm and keep the $65.01.
- Spin
- Control
- Touch
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 — forgiveness 89 vs 82, twist weight 87 vs 82. Its 16 mm Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner)
Take Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) if you want spin (+7). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 15 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) review →Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm if you want forgiveness (+7), sweet spot (+6), stability (+6). 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
Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner)
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) vs Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.4 vs 85.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) leads by 7 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm, at 107 kg·cm² swing weight against 110 for Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner). Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 for power against 85 for Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner). 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?
- Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) at 88 versus 86. Its 15 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?
- Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) scores 95 for spin off its Aerospace bi-directional carbon with exposed aramid weave face, against 88 for the QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano face on Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm. In practice a 7-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 82). Its 7.4 twist weight against 6.3 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, $65.01 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?
- Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner): 15 mm Nomex and polypropylene hybrid honeycomb core with an Aerospace bi-directional carbon with exposed aramid weave 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?
- Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner), at 5.375 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. Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) 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 Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) to the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) leads on spin by 7 points; everything else is within 7 points. At $175 vs $109.99, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
- Series Four (Project Roadrunner) vs Series One Project Black
- Series Four (Project Roadrunner) vs Perseus Pro V 16
- Series Four (Project Roadrunner) vs Double Black Diamond Control
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Spitfire Elongated 16mm
- Series Four (Project Roadrunner) vs CRBN-3X Power Series
- Series Four (Project Roadrunner) vs Series Two Project Flash
- Series Four (Project Roadrunner) vs Vice V2 16
- Series Four (Project Roadrunner) vs Infinity Ruby 16
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Series Four (Project Roadrunner) vs Series Two Project Flash
- Series Four (Project Roadrunner) vs Ruby Hybrid 16
- Series Four (Project Roadrunner) vs Vice V2 16
- Series Four (Project Roadrunner) vs Scorpeus Pro IV 16
- 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
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) and Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Proton Series Four (Project Roadrunner) and Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.