Proton Series One Project Black 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 One Project Black, which costs $200.
Power
Too close to call
88 vs 86
Spin
Too close to call
90 vs 88
Control
Too close to call
86 vs 86
Forgiveness
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
89 vs 80
Hand speed
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
107 vs 117 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
$109.99 at IQ 87.4 vs $200 at IQ 83.8
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.
- 86Power88
- 86Control86
- 90Spin88
- 80Forgiveness89
- 82Sweet spot90
- 86Stability89
- 72Maneuverability86
- 82Pop88
- 82Touch85
- 84Consistency87
- 76Swing weight65
- 86Twist weight87
- 54Launch angle59
- 86Plow through81
- 68Softness80
Proton Series One Project Black 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 One Project Black | Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $200 | $109.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 83.8 | 87.4 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 117 | 107 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 7 | 7.4 — better |
| Shape | elongated | widebody |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Raw carbon fiber | QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano |
| Core material | Thermoformed unibody with foam walls | Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) |
Proton Series One Project Black verdict
A thermoformed unibody built around stability. The foam walls push twist weight to the top of our scored range, which is why off-center drives still land deep.
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 maneuverability: Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 86 against 72 for Proton Series One Project Black — a 14-point gap. They are effectively level on stability, touch, consistency, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is $90.01 cheaper at $109.99.
Maneuverability
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 14 points (86 vs 72).
Softness
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 12 points (80 vs 68).
Swing weight
Proton Series One Project Black leads by 11 points (76 vs 65).
Forgiveness
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 9 points (89 vs 80).
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 — forgiveness 89 vs 80, sweet spot 90 vs 82, stability 89 vs 86. 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
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — maneuverability 86 vs 72, forgiveness 89 vs 80, touch 85 vs 82. At 107 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Maneuverability
- Forgiveness
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.4 vs 85.8 on the weighted index). Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm and keep the $90.01.
- Maneuverability
- Touch
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is the clearer pick at this level — softness 80 vs 68, forgiveness 89 vs 80, twist weight 87 vs 86. Its 16 mm Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) core at 7.9 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Proton Series One Project Black
Take Proton Series One Project Black if you want swing weight (+11), plow through (+5). Its swing weight of 117 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Proton Series One Project Black review →Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm if you want maneuverability (+14), softness (+12), forgiveness (+9). 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 One Project Black
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Proton Series One Project Black vs Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the Proton Series One Project Black or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.4 vs 83.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — maneuverability — Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 14 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm, at 107 kg·cm² swing weight against 117 for Proton Series One Project Black. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Proton Series One Project Black or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 for power against 86 for Proton Series One Project Black. 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?
- Proton Series One Project Black scores 90 for spin off its Raw carbon fiber face, against 88 for the QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano face on Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm. In practice a 2-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 80). Its 7.4 twist weight against 7 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, $90.01 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 One Project Black: 16 mm Thermoformed unibody with foam walls core with a Raw carbon fiber 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 One Project Black, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.3 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Proton Series One Project Black avoids.
- 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 One Project Black rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm at 7.9 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (107 vs 117) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Proton Series One Project Black to the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads on maneuverability by 14 points; everything else is within 12 points. At $200 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 One Project Black vs Series Four (Project Roadrunner)
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Spitfire Elongated 16mm
- Series One Project Black vs Edge 18K V2
- Series One Project Black vs Loco 2 Hybrid 16mm
- Series One Project Black vs Pegasus Gen 3
- Series One Project Black vs Series Two Project Flash
- Series One Project Black vs Agassi Pro 16
- Series One Project Black vs Mach 2 Forza 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 One Project Black vs Agassi Pro 16
- Series One Project Black vs Mach 2 Forza 16
- Series One Project Black vs Ruby
- Series One Project Black vs R4 Pulsar
- 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 One Project Black and Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Proton Series One Project Black and Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.