I have now spent around 10 hours with the Spartus Spitfire Elongated, and I think this is going to be one of the easiest foam paddles to recommend around the $100 price point.
The paddle is now available on the Spartus website: Link. The retail price is $109.99, but code GOOD10 brings it down to approximately $99 before tax. At that price, you are getting a full-foam paddle with excellent spin, manageable pop, and a surface that has held up very well through my first 10 hours.
The Spitfire is marketed as a power paddle, but after playing with it for several sessions, I think its biggest strength is actually the balance it offers between power, control, and a softer foam feel.
My Measurements and Setup
My paddle came in at:
- 7.9 oz
- 116 swing weight
- 6.2 twist weight
Despite those manageable numbers, it felt a little bit head-heavy than I personally prefer.
I first tried adding a 9g coin at the bottom of the handle to counterbalance it, but I never really got along with that setup. The weight felt too concentrated in one spot.
I eventually removed the stock grip and added 4.5g of lead tape along each side of the handle. I then reinstalled the stock grip and added an overgrip.
That setup worked much better for me.
My final build came in around 8.3 oz, and the paddle felt more balanced and connected in my hand. The Spitfire also has a relatively thin handle, so the lead tape and overgrip helped improve both the balance and grip size.
Feel and Sound
The Spitfire has some of the familiar thonky character you get from MPP-style paddles, but it is not as deeply thonky as the Pakle Fuse or Enhance MPP Turbo.
I would place the feel somewhere between those paddles and the 11SIX24 Power 2.
There is still noticeable hollow sound feedback, which is typical of many EPP paddles, but the actual impact feels soft rather than stiff.
That is something I really like.
A lot of foam paddles on the market feel stiff and hollow. The Spitfire feels softer and hollower, which gives you useful feedback without feeling harsh or overly rigid.
The paddle also softened up noticeably after my third session. Once it broke in, the sound became slightly deeper and more thonky, and the overall response felt more connected.
Low Pop Is the Biggest Strength
The most impressive part of the Spitfire for me is the manageable pop.
It is noticeably less poppy than the 11SIX24 Power 2 and Enhance EPP Turbo. That really helps around the kitchen.
Dinks stay controlled, resets are easier, and blocks do not immediately jump off the face. I never felt like I had to constantly soften my hands to keep the ball from flying long.
I generally prefer paddles that feel low-pop and connected, such as the Thrive Ignite, and the Spitfire gives me a similar level of confidence in the soft game.
It still has enough juice for counters and put-aways, but it is much easier to control than many current foam paddles.
Power
In terms of overall power, I would place it close to the 11SIX24 Power 2.
It has enough power for serves, drives, overheads, and put-aways, but it is not as powerful as Pakle Fuse, Luzz Inferno, and Enhance MPP Turbo.
Those paddles provide more effortless depth and a heavier ball.
The Spitfire requires a little more effort to generate maximum pace, but that is also part of why it feels easier to control at the kitchen.
I would describe it as controlled power rather than effortless power.
Spin and PermaGritNano
Spin is excellent.
The original Spartus PermaGrit surface felt more tacky. The new PermaGritNano surface feels much more like a traditional peel-ply texture.
When you run your fingers across the face, you can clearly feel the peaks in the grit.
That texture translates well on court. Topspin drives dip hard, rolls are easy to shape, and serves generate plenty of movement.
After around 10 hours, the grit is still holding up very well. I have not noticed any meaningful reduction in texture or spin yet.
Ten hours is still early, so I will continue monitoring the surface over a longer period, but the initial durability looks promising.
Stability and Weighting
I tested my Pickle Clips in several positions, but honestly, I do not think the Spitfire necessarily needs extra perimeter weight for doubles.
It already feels stable enough through the middle of the face, and adding too much weight could take away from its manageable swing weight.
However, players who want more plow-through, especially for singles, could add 3g Pickle Clips at 3 and 9 o’clock.
That should widen the sweet spot and improve stability on off-centre contact.
This setup also makes more sense after adding weight to the handle. Once the paddle is counterbalanced, you have more room to add weight around the sides without making it excessively head-heavy.
Shape and Handle
The Spitfire currently only comes in an elongated shape.
Personally, I wish Spartus had released the hybrid first.
I hold my paddle fairly low on the handle rather than choking up, so I usually prefer hybrid shapes. They feel quicker, provide more width through the hitting area, and suit my grip position better.
The elongated Spitfire is still very playable, but it is not my ideal shape.
Spartus plans to release a flat-top hybrid version, and that is the model I am genuinely excited about. If it keeps the same low pop, soft feel, and PermaGritNano surface in a quicker shape, it could be an even better fit for my game.
Final Thoughts
After 10 hours, I think the Spitfire is best described as a soft, spin-heavy, low-pop foam paddle with controlled power.
It is not as deeply thonky or powerful as the Pakle Fuse or Enhance MPP Turbo, but it offers much better control around the kitchen.
It sits somewhere between those MPP-style paddles and the 11SIX24 Power 2 in terms of feel and performance.
My stock paddle felt a little bit head-heavy, but adding lead along both sides of the handle completely changed the balance for me. At around 8.3 oz, my final setup felt more connected and comfortable.
The spin is excellent, the grit is holding up well, and the lower pop makes dinks, resets, and blocks much easier to manage.
At approximately $99 with code GOOD10, I think the Spartus Spitfire is one of the better full-foam values available right now.
It may not be the most powerful paddle in its category, but for players who prefer soft feel, strong spin, manageable pop, and predictable control, it is absolutely worth considering.