Proton Series Two Project Flash 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, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Proton Series Two Project Flash, which costs $200.
Power
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
88 vs 84
Spin
Proton Series Two Project Flash
92 vs 88
Control
Too close to call
88 vs 86
Forgiveness
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
89 vs 84
Hand speed
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
107 vs 111 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
$109.99 at IQ 87.4 vs $200 at IQ 85.3
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.
- 84Power88
- 88Control86
- 92Spin88
- 84Forgiveness89
- 86Sweet spot90
- 84Stability89
- 80Maneuverability86
- 80Pop88
- 86Touch85
- 88Consistency87
- 70Swing weight65
- 80Twist weight87
- 50Launch angle59
- 80Plow through81
- 80Softness80
Proton Series Two Project Flash 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 Two Project Flash | Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $200 | $109.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 85.3 | 87.4 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 111 | 107 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.7 | 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 | Gritted raw carbon | QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano |
| Core material | Thermoformed polymer honeycomb | Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) |
Proton Series Two Project Flash verdict
The grittiest face Proton has made. Spin 92 puts it in the top tier of the database, and the hybrid shape keeps it usable at the kitchen line.
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 launch angle: Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 59 against 50 for Proton Series Two Project Flash — a 9-point gap. They are effectively level on control, touch, consistency, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is $90.01 cheaper at $109.99.
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).
Twist weight
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 7 points (87 vs 80).
Maneuverability
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 6 points (86 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 a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 89 vs 84, twist weight 87 vs 80, sweet spot 90 vs 86. Twist weight 7.4 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86 vs 87 on the weighted index). Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm and keep the $90.01.
- Maneuverability
- Forgiveness
- Power
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.3 vs 85.8 on the weighted index). Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm and keep the $90.01.
- Power
- Maneuverability
- Plow through
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 84, twist weight 87 vs 80. 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 Two Project Flash
Take Proton Series Two Project Flash if you want swing weight (+5), spin (+4). Its swing weight of 111 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Proton Series Two Project Flash review →Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm if you want launch angle (+9), pop (+8), twist weight (+7). 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 Two Project Flash
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Proton Series Two Project Flash vs Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the Proton Series Two Project Flash or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.4 vs 85.3), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — launch angle — 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 111 for Proton Series Two Project Flash. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Proton Series Two Project Flash or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 for power against 84 for Proton Series Two Project Flash. 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 Two Project Flash at 88 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?
- Proton Series Two Project Flash scores 92 for spin off its Gritted raw 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 6.7 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 Two Project Flash: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer honeycomb core with a Gritted raw 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?
- Proton Series Two Project Flash, 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. Proton Series Two Project Flash 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 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (107 vs 111) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Proton Series Two Project Flash to the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads on launch angle by 9 points; everything else is within 8 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.
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Spitfire Elongated 16mm
- Series Two Project Flash vs Vice V2 16
- Series Two Project Flash vs Magnus 3S 16
- Series Two Project Flash vs Coral Hybrid 16
- Series Two Project Flash vs Mod TA-15 3S 16
- Series Two Project Flash vs Series Four (Project Roadrunner)
- Series Two Project Flash vs Edge 18K V2
- Series Two Project Flash vs Series One Project Black
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 Two Project Flash vs Scorpeus Pro IV 16
- Series Two Project Flash vs Ruby Hybrid 16
- Series Two Project Flash vs Crush Control 16
- Series Two Project Flash vs Pursuit Ultra MX 6.0
- 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 Two Project Flash and Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Proton Series Two Project Flash and Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.