RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm vs Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin, control, forgiveness and hand speed on Paddle DNA against the Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm, which costs $109.99.
Power
Too close to call
90 vs 90
Spin
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm
94 vs 88
Control
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm
89 vs 84
Forgiveness
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm
86 vs 82
Hand speed
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm
112 vs 116 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm
$109.99 at IQ 84.1 vs $269.99 at IQ 87.2
Overall pick: RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm · $269.99 · IQ 87.2
Paddle DNA head-to-head
Estimated scores: the RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm and Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm Paddle DNA is our estimate from published specs, not a sourced profile.
- 90Power90
- 89Control84
- 94Spin88
- 86Forgiveness82
- 88Sweet spot83
- 85Stability83
- 78Maneuverability77
- 86Pop88
- 88Touch85
- 89Consistency84
- 74Swing weight74
- 81Twist weight79
- 60Launch angle59
- 84Plow through85
- 82Softness80
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm vs Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm | Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $269.99 | $109.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 87.2 — better | 84.1 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 7.85 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 112 | 116 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.2 | 6.2 |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Proprietary SICmatrix surface | QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano |
| Core material | MPP floating full-foam core with soft EVA surround | Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) |
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm verdict
A spin- and touch-focused alternative to the Q2, not a universal upgrade. RPM lists a 112 swing weight and 6.2 twist weight. Our estimated DNA suggests a calmer soft game than the Q2, while the Q2 retains the stronger power/pop profile. Long-term SICmatrix grit retention has not been independently verified here.
Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm verdict
A lower-price elongated power design with listed swing weight 116, quicker handling than Cannon’s nominal 122, and similar twist-weight territory. Turbo Foam and QuadFiber target power with dwell and touch; our DNA is estimated, not a measured same-lab comparison.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is spin: RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm scores 94 against 88 for Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm — a 6-point gap. They are effectively level on touch, stability, pop, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm is $160 cheaper at $109.99.
Spin
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm leads by 6 points (94 vs 88).
Control
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm leads by 5 points (89 vs 84).
Sweet spot
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm leads by 5 points (88 vs 83).
Consistency
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm leads by 5 points (89 vs 84).
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
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — sweet spot 88 vs 83, forgiveness 86 vs 82, consistency 89 vs 84. Twist weight 6.2 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — spin 94 vs 88, control 89 vs 84, forgiveness 86 vs 82. At 112 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Control
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — spin 94 vs 88, control 89 vs 84, touch 88 vs 85. Swing weight 112 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Control
- Touch
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — softness 82 vs 80, forgiveness 86 vs 82, twist weight 81 vs 79. Its 16 mm MPP floating full-foam core with soft EVA surround core at 7.8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm
Take RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm if you want spin (+6), control (+5), sweet spot (+5). Its swing weight of 112 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm review →Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm
Take Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm if you prefer a 16 mm Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) core — it gives up nothing measurable to RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm.
Read the Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm review →Where to Buy
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm
Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm vs Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm or the Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm?
- RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.2 vs 84.1), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm leads by 6 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm, at 112 kg·cm² swing weight against 116 for Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm or the Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 90 for power.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm at 89 versus 84. 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?
- RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm scores 94 for spin off its Proprietary SICmatrix surface, against 88 for the QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano face on Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm. In practice a 6-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 82). Twist weight is identical at 6.2, so the gap comes from sweet-spot size and face stability rather than resistance to twisting.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm costs $109.99, $160 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?
- RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm: 16 mm MPP floating full-foam core with soft EVA surround core with a Proprietary SICmatrix surface. Spartus Spitfire Elongated 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both run a 5.5 in handle, long enough that neither forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm at 7.8 oz against 7.85 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (112 vs 116) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm to the RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm leads on spin by 6 points; everything else is within 5 points. At $269.99 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.
- Jade Elongated 16mm vs Q2 Elongated 16mm
- Spitfire Elongated 16mm vs Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
- Spitfire Elongated 16mm vs Pressure X 8E Elongated 16mm
- Spitfire Elongated 16mm vs Cannon XPP M1 Elongated 16mm
- Jade Elongated 16mm vs TruFoam Genesis 3
- Jade Elongated 16mm vs Coral Pro
- Jade Elongated 16mm vs CRBN-1X
- Jade Elongated 16mm vs Perseus Pro IV 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.
- Jade Elongated 16mm vs J2CR
- Jade Elongated 16mm vs Coral Pro
- Jade Elongated 16mm vs Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
- Jade Elongated 16mm vs Loco 2 Hybrid 16mm
- Spitfire Elongated 16mm vs Pressure X 8E Elongated 16mm
- Spitfire Elongated 16mm vs Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
- Spitfire Elongated 16mm vs Oni 16
- Spitfire Elongated 16mm vs Loco 16mm Hybrid
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 RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm and Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: RPM Pickleball Jade Elongated 16mm and Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.