Selkirk Vanguard Control Air 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, forgiveness, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta, which costs $200.
Power
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
88 vs 74
Spin
Too close to call
88 vs 86
Control
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
95 vs 86
Forgiveness
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
89 vs 80
Hand speed
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
107 vs 116 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
$109.99 at IQ 87.4 vs $200 at IQ 83.6
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.
- 74Power88
- 95Control86
- 86Spin88
- 80Forgiveness89
- 82Sweet spot90
- 84Stability89
- 72Maneuverability86
- 66Pop88
- 94Touch85
- 90Consistency87
- 74Swing weight65
- 78Twist weight87
- 44Launch angle59
- 82Plow through81
- 88Softness80
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air 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 Control Air Invikta | Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $200 | $109.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 83.6 | 87.4 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 19.05 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 116 | 107 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.2 | 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 | Quadcarbon woven carbon fiber | QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano |
| Core material | X5 polypropylene honeycomb | Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) |
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta verdict
The softest premium elongated paddle in the database. The thick Quadcarbon build absorbs pace so completely that resets from mid-court land in the kitchen almost by default.
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 pop: Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 against 66 for Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta — a 22-point gap. They are effectively level on consistency, spin, plow through, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is $90.01 cheaper at $109.99.
Pop
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 22 points (88 vs 66).
Launch angle
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 15 points (59 vs 44).
Power
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 14 points (88 vs 74).
Maneuverability
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 14 points (86 vs 72).
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 80, sweet spot 90 vs 82, twist weight 87 vs 78. Twist weight 7.4 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- 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 72, power 88 vs 74, forgiveness 89 vs 80. At 107 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Maneuverability
- Power
- Forgiveness
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 — power 88 vs 74, maneuverability 86 vs 72, spin 88 vs 86. Swing weight 107 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Power
- Maneuverability
- 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 $90.01.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta
Take Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta if you want control (+9), touch (+9), swing weight (+9). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 19.05 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta review →Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm if you want pop (+22), launch angle (+15), power (+14). 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 Control Air Invikta
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.4 vs 83.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — pop — Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 22 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm, at 107 kg·cm² swing weight against 116 for Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 for power against 74 for Selkirk Vanguard Control Air 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 Control Air Invikta at 95 versus 86. Its 19.05 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 86 for the Quadcarbon woven carbon fiber face on Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta. 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 6.2 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?
- Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta: 19.05 mm X5 polypropylene honeycomb core with a Quadcarbon woven 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?
- 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 Control Air 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 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (107 vs 116) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Vanguard Control Air Invikta to the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads on pop by 22 points; everything else is within 15 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.
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs AMPED Pro Air Invikta
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Spitfire Elongated 16mm
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Kinetic Pro Flight
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Tempest Pro C 16
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Pursuit MX 6.0
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Quartz Control
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Luxx Control Air
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs GX2 Integra XL
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 Control Air Invikta vs LUXX Control Air Invikta
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Tempest Pro C 16
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Pursuit MX 6.0
- Vanguard Control Air Invikta vs Pursuit Pro EX 16
- 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 Control Air Invikta and Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Selkirk Vanguard Control Air 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.