RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 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 Elongated 16mm wins this matchup for most players: it takes value on Paddle DNA against the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm, which costs $249.99.
Power
Too close to call
93 vs 90
Spin
Too close to call
90 vs 88
Control
Too close to call
84 vs 84
Forgiveness
Too close to call
85 vs 82
Hand speed
Too close to call
114 vs 116 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm
$109.99 at IQ 84.1 vs $249.99 at IQ 85.1
Overall pick: Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm · $109.99 · IQ 84.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
Estimated scores: the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm and Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm Paddle DNA is our estimate from published specs, not a sourced profile.
- 93Power90
- 84Control84
- 90Spin88
- 85Forgiveness82
- 87Sweet spot83
- 84Stability83
- 76Maneuverability77
- 91Pop88
- 80Touch85
- 85Consistency84
- 76Swing weight74
- 80Twist weight79
- 62Launch angle59
- 85Plow through85
- 70Softness80
RPM Pickleball Q2 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm | Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $249.99 | $109.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 85.1 — better | 84.1 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 7.85 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 114 | 116 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 | 6.2 — better |
| 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 | Carbon fiber surface | QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano |
| Core material | Gen 4 full-foam core | Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) |
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm verdict
RPM's Gen 4 full-foam Q2 trades the Friction Pro's honeycomb feel for a firmer, more powerful response. The published 114 swing weight is lighter than most elongated power paddles, while the 6.1 twist weight is on the low side for the shape.
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 softness: Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm scores 80 against 70 for RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm — a 10-point gap. They are effectively level on power, forgiveness, pop, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm is $140 cheaper at $109.99.
Softness
Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm leads by 10 points (80 vs 70).
Touch
Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm leads by 5 points (85 vs 80).
Sweet spot
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm leads by 4 points (87 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
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — sweet spot 87 vs 83, forgiveness 85 vs 82, stability 84 vs 83. Twist weight 6.1 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.5 vs 84.1 on the weighted index). Take Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm and keep the $140.
- Forgiveness
- Power
- Spin
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.6 vs 85.5 on the weighted index). Take Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm and keep the $140.
- Power
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm
Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — softness 80 vs 70. Its 16 mm Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) core at 7.85 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
Take RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm if you want sweet spot (+4). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm review →Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm
Take Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm if you want softness (+10), touch (+5). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm review →Where to Buy
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm
Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm
RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm or the Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.1 vs 84.1), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm leads by 10 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm, at 114 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm or the Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm scores 93 for power against 90 for Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm. That comes from a 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam core swinging at 114 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 84 for control.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm scores 90 for spin off its Carbon fiber surface, against 88 for the QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano face on Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm, with the higher forgiveness score (85 vs 82). Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm actually carries the higher twist weight (6.2 vs 6.1), but RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm makes it back on sweet spot (87) and overall face stability.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm costs $109.99, $140 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm: 16 mm Gen 4 full-foam core with a Carbon fiber 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 85 and sweet spot 87 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm at 7.8 oz against 7.85 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (114 vs 116) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm to the RPM Pickleball Q2 Elongated 16mm?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm leads on softness by 10 points; everything else is within 5 points. At $249.99 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.
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Jade Elongated 16mm
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs J6CR
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Friction Pro Elongated V2
- 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
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs 1X TruFoam Power
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs GX2 Power Elongated
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs Mach 2 Forza 16
- Q2 Elongated 16mm vs R4 Pulsar
- 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 Q2 Elongated 16mm and Spartus Spitfire Elongated 16mm in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: RPM Pickleball Q2 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.