Spartus Apollo Review | Great Performance, Even Better Price 

Hi Frank. I've played more with a weighted Apollo and I still can't tell if I prefer it weighted or stock. I might try adding weight at the 12:00 position. I currently have 2 grams at 10:00, 2 grams at 2:00, 4 grams at 4:00-5:00 and 4 grams at 7:00-8:00. This paddle both weighted and stock has helped my kitchen game with how fast it is to maneuver and the nice level of controllable pop for putaway volleys.

@RC-tm8jo I have mine weighted on the sides 3 grams each side. It's hard to tell for me if it is better or not. Still very fast paddle and lots of pop. At the kitchen line I'm just letting the paddle do the work for me. It has enough pop to use the speed from the other person hitting ball back to return it with no problems. I have been asked about the spin on my serves and returns and it's mostly the paddle. Love it!

@FrankRollberg thanks- I agree about the paddle doing most of the work. That high twist weight really does make it feel so stable and off center hits still feel fine.

You mean a video on the importance of eye protection? Or a comparioson review of different eye protection products?

How do they compare? I have the Apollo… curious how it compares to the fatboy and M2F.

​@@juansantiago1441I agree with Chris that the M2F has more control than the Apollo, but the Apollo is super fun to play with! I just got the FatBoy and I will be playing with it hopefully this weekend. Just dinking around the garage brought a smile to my face though and the branding is always top notch!

@@jncgregg interested in Fatboy vs Apollo comparison… trying to justify the purchase if it’s that much better than the Apollo. B&B makes nice paddles but nothing ever really stands out for me performance wise. The branding is nice but that’s about it in my opinion.

@@juansantiago1441 you may be better off using Chris's promo code and getting another Apollo! Best value in the paddle space!

Please compare to FatBoy…I love the branding on it.

Yeah I new it would be a good one!!

@@matrixmulisha😂

He does...and it's terrifying to be on the other side of him with that paddle. 😂 It was even scarier when he was demoing the gen 3 Joola's.

Yes, standard shapes almost always have less plow through than an elongated shape. You can always fix this by adding lead/tungsten to the paddle though.

Negligible with a medium white on it. The thing is so dang quick at the net. A little more power for sure.

Yeah

Yes. They replaced all the first run ones for free.

100% yes

@mikeyis009 so whats the real difference in the two materials for a face material?

It's high up on his list. It might be next.

For the Apollo it was the standard white one. I usually prefer the small pink one though. I just didn't have a spare.

gen 3s are power paddles. this isnt a power paddle by any means. you'll be fine with this one.

1g per inch 2 inches above throat 5 inch strip on the sides 4 inch strip on top.

@@PickleballStudio what’s your opinion on a solid 4 in strip on top vs dividing the top tape in two pieces and placing them on top corners? Just curious if you tried different setups.

I didn't try doing that, but I think that could work well too.

​@@PickleballStudio What was your final weight with the new grip and three strips of weight?

@@PickleballStudio Hey Chris, have watched you and Will’s videos for over a year. Quit doing such a good job … going broke buying paddles. 😂 I played with Will the other day and I carried him … my story and I’m sticking with it. I told him to tell you to buy a Roman chair for back extensions for your back. It totally eliminated my lower back soreness in my mid 20s tennis, and for tennis years that followed. I am loving the Apollo … my first standard shape paddle. Ironically, not the best paddle for overheads. Setup: - replaced grip with Wilson Cushion-Aire Classic Sponge Tennis Grip, original grip very thin and I could feel edges of grip pallet … now good to go … I feel no paddle vibration … always remove band - 3g at 4,8,12 - 8 oz stock, wilson grip + overgrip +.3 oz, 9g head +.3 oz (8.6 static weight) This is the heaviest static weight for me so far, usually max at 8.4ish oz. I was thinking you guys (paddle reviewers) were discounting static weight too much, mainly because of quick reflex hand/paddle movements at kitchen before a swing or punch or block. But now not so sure … all kitchen hand speed seems quicker with Apollo than any previous paddles. So many tradeoffs with pickleball paddles that we never had to think about with tennis rackets. tennis world racket nerd stuff that might be good for your paddle videos: - racket replacement grips … maybe all China paddle original grips are paper thin - some tennis players stuff blu tack putty in handle for weight, but easier with racket trap door at end of butt cap because didn’t have to remove butt cap - racket handle shrink sleeves, could show another option to increase grip size

First look won't be done till July 5th.

It's advertised as a 5.5 in handle though. Everyone just measures it differently.

I was out playing with my Apollo when this dropped.

not sure who you are talking to but yes, the Spec section of this video mentions Wide body. are you saying Chris messed up somewhere and accidentally said standard shape?

I would put those into the same category. Very slight difference between wide and standard. Wide is just a standard variation.

@@lichee12 Yes, the first sentence of this video.

What happened with customer service?

They're having trouble giving away the Ballistas lol. I liked the Gladius Centurion a lot. I had an issue with it and they fixed it immediately. I've moved onto the Apollo and liking it a lot

​@PickleballStudio I had an issue with my Apollo it had an uneven surface on one side. It was a small almost unnoticeable difference that was hard to see except on camera but I noticed hitting on that side had more of that feedback you are talking about. The other side which was flat didn't have this issue and I felt like I got a good result nearly all the way to the edge of the paddle. So far Apollo has been good about it. I shipped it back which they paid for and when they receive it I should get a new one. Only downside is I don't have it to play with in between.

​@PickleballStudio update on the customer service. I got a new replacement for the paddle. A+ only gripe would be having to wait for them to receive it to send a replacement. That is pretty standard procedure, though and makes since.

You missed the entire joke. 😂 That had nothing to do with scoring against Amrik.

@@PickleballStudio ah yea I got it was about the reset lesson? but it was the middle of the night so i couldn’t articulate at all

Making a Kevlar paddle isn’t copying the Ruby

Definitely feels different than the Ruby

Casual

Ruby wasn’t even the first Kevlar paddle

Pickle ball apes was the first kevlar

What about it is ugly?

Ive heard so many reviewers say its ugly, I think its cool looking and it plays great.

IME, the PPE has a tiny sweet spot that's very high on the face. Really bad.

😂 good one bound to trigger a few people with this claim lol

@@waynekurtz660I just can’t mishit on the PPE even if I try!! 😂