{
  "id": "spartus-spitfire",
  "url": "https://pointcast.xyz/paddles/spartus-spitfire",
  "brand": "Spartus",
  "model": "Spitfire",
  "year": 2026,
  "launch": {
    "date": "2026-07-01",
    "precision": "day",
    "label": "Jul 1 · store listing went live"
  },
  "lifecycle": "current",
  "listPriceUsd": 99,
  "listPriceLabel": null,
  "build": "foam",
  "buildLabel": "Full foam (Gen 4)",
  "thickness": "",
  "shapes": "",
  "pro": null,
  "summary": "John Kew led a newsletter with it: the features of a $220 paddle, internal weighting included, at $99.",
  "construction": "Mixed-density foam core with an EVA band and internal 3 g weights at 3 and 9 o'clock. PermaGrit durable face.",
  "core": {
    "layers": [
      "Generation 4 'Turbo Foam' EPP floating foam core",
      "EVA foam band (mixed foam densities)",
      "internal 3 g weights at 3 and 9 o'clock"
    ],
    "face": "QuadFiber four-layer layup (carbon fiber with fiberglass per Pickleball Effect) with PermaGritNano peel-ply grit",
    "edge": "",
    "source": "https://pickleballeffect.com/equipment-reviews/spartus-spitfire/"
  },
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "Spitfire Elongated 16mm",
      "shape": "elongated",
      "lengthIn": 16.5,
      "widthIn": 7.5,
      "handleIn": 5.5,
      "thicknessMm": 16,
      "weightOz": "7.65-8.05",
      "sw": 117,
      "tw": 6.18,
      "specSource": "https://gospartus.com/products/spitfire-elongated"
    }
  ],
  "status": {
    "usap": "yes",
    "usapSource": "https://equipment.usapickleball.org/paddle-list/?gv_search_view=11045&filter_5=Spartus&filter_55=&mode=all",
    "upaa": "no",
    "upaaSource": "https://upaa.unitedpickleball.com/approved-paddles/",
    "quiet": false,
    "patent": "none-known",
    "investigation": null,
    "lifecycle": "current"
  },
  "certNote": "USAP listed a second shape, the Spitfire Standard, on Aug 25.",
  "timeline": [
    {
      "date": "2026-05-20",
      "precision": "day",
      "kind": "approval",
      "text": "USA Pickleball lists Spartus 'Spitfire Elongated'.",
      "source": "https://equipment.usapickleball.org/paddle-list/?gv_search_view=11045&filter_5=Spartus&filter_55=&mode=all"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-06-29",
      "precision": "day",
      "kind": "teaser",
      "text": "John Kew newsletter previews the $99 Spitfire ahead of a July release.",
      "source": "https://johnkewpickleball.beehiiv.com/p/johnkew-newsletter-the-99-spartus-spitfire-our-new-paddle-comparison-lab"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-07-01",
      "precision": "day",
      "kind": "launch",
      "text": "Spitfire Elongated listing published on gospartus.com at $109.99 (Shopify published_at).",
      "source": "https://gospartus.com/products/spitfire-elongated.json"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-07-27",
      "precision": "day",
      "kind": "variant",
      "text": "Pickleball Effect publishes its Spitfire review (Tier 1 grit durability, 94% Ra retention).",
      "source": "https://pickleballeffect.com/equipment-reviews/spartus-spitfire/"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-08-25",
      "precision": "day",
      "kind": "approval",
      "text": "USA Pickleball lists a second shape, 'Spitfire Standard'.",
      "source": "https://equipment.usapickleball.org/paddle-list/?gv_search_view=11045&filter_5=Spartus&filter_55=&mode=all"
    }
  ],
  "labs": [
    {
      "lab": "John Kew",
      "kind": "review",
      "url": "https://johnkewpickleball.beehiiv.com/p/johnkew-newsletter-the-99-spartus-spitfire-our-new-paddle-comparison-lab"
    },
    {
      "lab": "Pickleball Effect",
      "kind": "review",
      "url": "https://pickleballeffect.com/equipment-reviews/spartus-spitfire/"
    },
    {
      "lab": "Pickleball Effect",
      "kind": "database-entry",
      "url": "https://pickleballeffect.com/paddles/spartus-spitfire-elongated/"
    }
  ],
  "colorways": [],
  "madeIn": null,
  "warranty": "180 day limited warranty",
  "notes": "Brand lists swingweight 116 / twistweight 6.2 and 7.85 oz ±0.2; the 117 / 6.18 here are Pickleball Effect's measurements (John Kew measured 117.8 / 6.14). John Kew's prototype test put grit durability at Tier 3 while Pickleball Effect rated production Tier 1. Only the elongated is on sale; a 'Spitfire Standard' was USAP-listed 2026-08-25.",
  "productUrl": "https://gospartus.com/products/spitfire-elongated",
  "sources": [
    "https://johnkewpickleball.beehiiv.com/p/johnkew-newsletter-the-99-spartus-spitfire-our-new-paddle-comparison-lab"
  ],
  "confidence": "medium",
  "image": "https://pointcast.xyz/images/og/paddles/spartus-spitfire.png"
}