Spartus Apollo Pickleball Paddle Review
Spartus Apollo Pickleball Paddle Review: Unleashing Superior Spin and Power
If you’re serious about your pickleball game, you’ve probably heard the buzz around the Spartus Apollo Pickleball Paddle. I had the chance to test this paddle extensively, and let me tell you, it lives up to the hype. The Spartus Apollo stands out as the first widebody paddle with a Kevlar face, combining excellent spin, power, and control. It’s not just another paddle; it’s a tool that can significantly elevate your performance on the court.
Specifications
- Weight: 8.1 ounces
- Dimensions: 15.9 x 8.1 inches
- Thickness: 16 mm
- Material: 100% DuPont Kevlar face, polymer core
- Handle Length: 5.5 inches
- Grip Circumference: 4.125 inches
Performance Analysis
- Control/Feel: 9/10
- Power: 9/10
- Spin: 10/10
- Pop: 8.9/10
- Forgiveness: 9.5/10
- Maneuverability: 10/10
Spartus Apollo Pickleball Paddle: In-Depth Review
Design & Build Quality
The Spartus Apollo is crafted with a 100% DuPont Kevlar face and a polymer core, ensuring durability and performance. The paddle’s thermoformed construction with edge foam provides a large sweet spot and added power. The pronounced handle edges and ergonomic design allow for a comfortable grip, enhancing control and precision.
Spartus Apollo Pickleball Paddle: On-Court Performance
Control
This paddle excels in control, allowing precise shots and excellent touch for dinks and resets. The Kevlar face offers a plush feel while maintaining power, making drops and dinks feel effortless and accurate.
Power
Despite its widebody design, the Spartus Apollo delivers impressive power, especially on drives and serves. The low swing weight allows for quick swings and powerful shots, making it easy to generate consistent power.
Spin
The gritty surface generates up to 2300 RPMs, making it one of the top paddles for spin. This feature enhances shot shaping and allows for aggressive forehand and backhand rolls from below the net.
Pop
The paddle’s responsiveness ensures a good pop, making it agile and effective at the net. The pop feels like an upgrade from other top paddles, offering more power without being harsh.
Forgiveness
Its large sweet spot and high twist weight offer excellent forgiveness on off-center hits. The stability of the paddle ensures that even mishits feel solid, allowing for consistent performance.
Maneuverability
With a swing weight of 108, this paddle is very light, allowing quick hand movements and fast reactions. This feature is particularly beneficial in hand battles and quick exchanges at the net.
Spartus Apollo Pickleball Paddle: Playing Experience
From the moment I picked up the Spartus Apollo, I could feel a difference. The balance and weight felt perfect in my hand, making it easy to maneuver during intense rallies. The first few hits confirmed its excellent pop, which gives each shot a satisfying punch. I particularly enjoyed how the paddle handled during dinks and resets; the control was impeccable, and the ball went exactly where I intended. The gritty Kevlar surface is exceptional for generating spin, allowing me to execute aggressive spins and drops with ease.
One of the standout features for me was the paddle’s forgiveness. Even on off-center hits, the ball maintained its trajectory and power, which is crucial during fast-paced exchanges at the net. The paddle’s light swing weight significantly improved my hand speed, giving me an edge in quick exchanges. Adding an overgrip enhanced the feel, making the handle even more comfortable during long playing sessions. During my play sessions, I noticed an immediate improvement in my serves and forehand rolls, thanks to the paddle’s spin potential.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- High spin capability
- Great control and power balance
- Large sweet spot
- Lightweight and maneuverable
- Affordable price
Cons:
- Lower reach due to widebody design
- Grip design could be improved
Player Feedback
Players have praised the Spartus Apollo for its exceptional spin and control. Many appreciate its lightweight design, which enhances maneuverability and quick reactions. The paddle’s handle has been noted for its ergonomic design, making it comfortable to grip and allowing for precise shots, but is a bit skinny (add a Hesacore grip). The Kevlar face provides a good balance of power and pop, making it a favorite among players of all skill levels.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the Spartus Apollo is more than just a paddle— After playing numerous matches with it, I can confidently say it offers superb spin, control, and power at an affordable price. This paddle is perfect for players who value balanced performance and high maneuverability at a great price. Compared to other paddles like the Sword and Shield J3K and Volair Mach 2 Forza, the Spartus Apollo excels in spin and pop. If you’re looking to step up your game with a versatile and high-performing paddle, the Spartus Apollo is the way to go. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, this paddle will not disappoint.
Comparable Paddles
Q&A
What makes the Spartus Apollo unique?
Its 100% DuPont Kevlar face and widebody design offer unparalleled spin and control.
Is this paddle suitable for beginners?
Yes, its large sweet spot and forgiveness make it suitable for players of all levels.
How does the paddle perform in terms of power?
Despite being control-oriented, the Spartus Apollo pickleball paddle delivers impressive power, especially in drives and serves.
Visit the Spartus website to purchase this paddle for $129.99 $117 using code PICKLETIP.
This paddle offers a perfect blend of control and power. I’ve tried many paddles, but the Apollo really stands out with its superb hand speed and impressive spin. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an upgrade!
As a female player, I found the Apollo to be quick in hand and perfect for both power and control. It’s balanced well and helps in hands battles, making me feel more confident against stronger players. Highly recommended!
This paddle is an easy recommendation. It has incredible twist weight, top-tier spin, and a large sweet spot. The only downside is keeping the face clean, but it’s a minor issue compared to its performance.
Although I was disappointed with the packaging, the paddle itself is amazing. The Apollo has great control, power, and a huge sweet spot. I’m very happy with its performance despite the poor shipping experience.
Worth the wait! The Apollo is amazing, with phenomenal spin and a huge sweet spot. It’s shorter than my previous paddle but makes up for it with its swing weight and power. I’m thrilled with my purchase!
The Apollo is a great paddle with tons of spin and quick hand speed. It has become my go-to paddle, and I would definitely recommend it to others.
The Spartus Apollo has taken my game to the next level. Its low swing weight and amazing control have helped me win more hand battles at the net. This paddle is definitely a standout.
The Apollo is well-tuned for control, with a wide body and large sweet spot. It lacks a bit of power compared to others, but its precision and control make it a great paddle.
Coming from the Mach 2 Forza, the Apollo offers more pop and better spin right out of the box. It’s a serious value paddle with plenty of performance, and I haven’t experienced any core crushing issues so far.
After playing with the Apollo for about two weeks, I love it. The wide body shape and gritty surface allow for more spin and control. This paddle is a steal for the price, and I plan on purchasing another one.
The wide body of the Apollo looks funny, but the huge sweet spot makes resets and blocks easier. It has great pop and power, and I’m very happy with it.
The Spartus Apollo is the best paddle I’ve used. It has great control, power, and pop. The high twist weight and low swing weight make it easy to play with, and it has become my main paddle.
This paddle has exceeded my expectations! The spin and control are phenomenal. I was hesitant at first, but the Apollo has become my favorite paddle.
The Apollo is awesome, offering more spin and power than the Mach 2 Forza at a lower cost. I’m very happy with its performance and would highly recommend it to others.
The Apollo is easy to endorse as a must-buy paddle. It does everything well, with a large sweet spot, good pop, and top-tier spin. The low cost makes it a no-brainer purchase.
After several games, I found the Apollo to be a great paddle for control and resets. It took some getting used to, but it’s now my preferred paddle for most shots.
The Apollo is poppier than my previous paddle and has good control. It’s a bit stiffer, but overall, I like it and think it’s a great addition to my game.
The Apollo paddle has an excellent feel and predictability. It’s well-balanced and has a huge sweet spot. This paddle has been well received by all my friends that has tried it.
The Apollo beats the Ruby in terms of spin and sweet spot. My serves and drives have improved significantly, and my wife loved it so much she wants one too!