Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta 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, spin, forgiveness, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta, which costs $180.
Power
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
88 vs 82
Spin
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
88 vs 82
Control
90 vs 86
Forgiveness
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
89 vs 84
Hand speed
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
107 vs 120 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
$109.99 at IQ 87.4 vs $180 at IQ 84.7
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.
- 82Power88
- 90Control86
- 82Spin88
- 84Forgiveness89
- 84Sweet spot90
- 88Stability89
- 70Maneuverability86
- 76Pop88
- 90Touch85
- 90Consistency87
- 78Swing weight65
- 84Twist weight87
- 48Launch angle59
- 86Plow through81
- 84Softness80
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta 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 | Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta | Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $180 | $109.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.7 | 87.4 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.4 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 19.8 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 120 | 107 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.5 | 7.4 — better |
| Shape | elongated | widebody |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.375 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.125 |
| Surface | FiberFlex fiberglass | QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano |
| Core material | X5 polypropylene honeycomb | Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) |
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta verdict
Selkirk's long-running Invikta shape in the softer Vanguard 2.0 build. Touch 90 and consistency 90 with 86 plow-through make it a drive-and-reset paddle for patient players.
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 70 for Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta — a 16-point gap. They are effectively level on consistency, twist weight, stability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is $70.01 cheaper at $109.99.
Maneuverability
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 16 points (86 vs 70).
Swing weight
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta leads by 13 points (78 vs 65).
Pop
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 12 points (88 vs 76).
Launch angle
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 11 points (59 vs 48).
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 — sweet spot 90 vs 84, forgiveness 89 vs 84, twist weight 87 vs 84. Twist weight 7.4 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
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 70, spin 88 vs 82, power 88 vs 82. At 107 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Maneuverability
- Spin
- Power
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is a narrow pick at this level — maneuverability 86 vs 70, power 88 vs 82, spin 88 vs 82. Swing weight 107 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Maneuverability
- Power
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84 vs 83.7 on the weighted index). Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm and keep the $70.01.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta
Take Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta if you want swing weight (+13), touch (+5), plow through (+5). Its swing weight of 120 kg·cm² and 19.8 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta review →Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm if you want maneuverability (+16), pop (+12), launch angle (+11). 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
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.4 vs 84.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — maneuverability — Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 16 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm, at 107 kg·cm² swing weight against 120 for Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 for power against 82 for Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta. 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?
- Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta at 90 versus 86. Its 19.8 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?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 for spin off its QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano face, against 82 for the FiberFlex fiberglass face on Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta. In practice a 6-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 84). Its 7.4 twist weight against 6.5 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, $70.01 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?
- Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta: 19.8 mm X5 polypropylene honeycomb core with a FiberFlex fiberglass 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?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm, at 5.3 in of handle against 5.25 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. Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta 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 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (107 vs 120) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta to the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads on maneuverability by 16 points; everything else is within 13 points. At $180 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.
- Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Luxx Control Air
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Spitfire Elongated 16mm
- Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Bantam ALW-C 14
- Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Pursuit Pro EX 16
- Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Model E Max V3
- Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Quartz Hybrid 16
- Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Evoke Pro Carbon 16
- Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Double Black Diamond Control V2
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs LUXX Control Air Invikta
- Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Pursuit Pro EX 16
- Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs Model E Max V3
- Vanguard 2.0 Invikta vs 2X TruFoam Genesis
- 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 Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta and Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Selkirk Vanguard 2.0 Invikta and Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.