Spartus Apollo Review | Great Performance, Even Better Price
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- Опубликовано: 16 июл 2024
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Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:21 - Specs
0:35 - Vibrations
1:30 - Two-handed backhand dinks
2:26 - Quick twist weight explainer
4:45 - The rubber band theory + lead tape setup
7:01 - Comparison to J3K
8:51 - Who is the Apollo for?
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I am an older lady without a lot of strength. I was using the Selkirk Omega Max. I got the Apollo and love it. I agree that the higher twist weight number did not translate into actual play. I felt my shots sometimes were not stable , if that makes sense. I added 3 grams of weight tape from the throat up through the bottom curve (sorry, not great with the proper terminology). That made a huge difference. I also use a hesacore grip and thin over grip which really help me keep a consistent grip. I noticed a huge difference with the Apollo with being faster and I am able to get a lot of shots that I couldn’t get before. I am not really big on putting spin on the ball, but I am starting to that naturally with this paddle. I like the pop. My serve has really improved and is a lot more powerful when I started using this paddle. Overall, it is great! I will use it for a long time. Thanks for your review on this great value paddle.
I love mine. The pop was aggressive at first but once it's broken in the paddle feels a lot more balance.
The Apollo is my favorite paddle I've ever tried. I like it so much I have 3 of them now. If you prioritize hands battles, it is so quick to maneuver and has great pop. I was actually surprised that it actually has good power on serves and drives.
The Apollo allows me to hit tennis like top spin forehands! The paddle bites ball really good! I have mine loaded with lead tape! My old Mach 1 Forzda lost the ability to bite the ball.
This is my paddle of choice at the moment. Love it.
You can literally bounce the ball in the air on the Apollo logo repeatedly with a 3 of 10 grip. It’s incredible
Just added 3g at 10 and 2 last night. Outstanding power and stability. Doesn’t feel any slower at the net. Deep serves and drives all day long!
Love this paddle! Great spin, lots of pop and great control.
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.
I had a similar tungsten setup as you used on my M2F 14. I replaced it with the .5 gram per inch around the whole paddle head and liked it better. The weight is similar in total to what you have.
Great video. I love the plush feel of the Mach 2 Forza, I just keep coming back to it. Would be awesome to see a video reviewing eye protection.
You mean a video on the importance of eye protection? Or a comparioson review of different eye protection products?
The polo is very Andre Agassi in his glory days. Solid drip Chris.
Been loving this paddle. Wanted to add some weight and interested what different peoples setups are. How much weight did you add in those 3 spots?
Love the review! I am also running the Apollo, M2F, and the FatBoy and I love the different options that are not power paddles! I really hope the paddle nerd community can help squash the UPA-A attempt at a monopoly! Brands like Selkirk, Onix and Gearbox were great to progress the game forward until they weren't...
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.
I have been playing this paddle for about a month. It’s low swing weight and high twist weight make it very quick. Mine had NO vibrations. ZERO. Maybe you should have them send you another to try.
Chris, will you be reviewing the ProXR wide body for comparison as well?
Chris I need you to review the new proxr paddles please 🙏🏻
Can you please do a review on the Omega Raptor and Raptor X?? I think it's a hidden gem also!
Nice video. How is this compared to Hudef APEX Pro?
What if you just move the band further down where there's no perceivable gap? Wouldn't that get rid of the extra vibration?
How does this compare to the Mach 2 Forza 14mm? I know you compared it to 16mm.
Are you going to do the new Ruby and BD 14mm review before they release tmw?
Which one is most similar to the dbd (remember the best paddle ever) ? I’m a solid 4.0, which would help me improve the most?
But vibrates out of the box! Wow great paddle?! When modified the vibration is acceptable?
after you set it all up, what was the paddle weight ?
How it compare with theJ2k and Swice Slice Pro?
Reviewers always conflate "sweet spot" with "stability". Higher twist weight always improves stability, even if it doesn't always correlate with improved sweet spot because the latter is also highly influenced by how robustly the paddle is built, it's shape, the core and face materials, etc.
Excellent. Now make a 14mm version.
How does it compare to the Fat boy? 😎
That forehead eye protection woooooo wweee
Amrik plays with a Black Ace!?!?!? As if he doesn't have enough power on his own. And I love to see that Aizec finds a way into every one of your videos these days. You'd better watch your back Chris.
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.
i was waiting for a knew review
Yeah I new it would be a good one!!
@@matrixmulisha😂
I only recently got the muvn gruvn 13s, first standard shape paddle, does the shape really have less plow through on drives compared to enlongated ones
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.
I noticed the hesacore adds some static weight. Does the hesacre increase swing weight?
Negligible with a medium white on it.
The thing is so dang quick at the net.
A little more power for sure.
3:23 what are they except M2F?
Great vid! What kind of heaacore did you put on??
For the Apollo it was the standard white one.
I usually prefer the small pink one though. I just didn't have a spare.
Did they fix the delamination issues and the multi piece handle?
Yeah
Yes. They replaced all the first run ones for free.
Can you use an eraser on kevlar like carbon fiber?
100% yes
@mikeyis009 so whats the real difference in the two materials for a face material?
This or the J2K?
Can we expect a j2k review?
It's high up on his list. It might be next.
Nice review! And unfortunately we may not have access within 2 years after newly proposed $$$ barrier to entry for paddle manufacturers. Also just realized the youtube reviewers will have less content creation too! Stupid proposal and just corporate greed... business as usual.
After the whole gen 3 joola fiasco, buying the paddle to have it be banned in the same month. I’m very cautious of buying any new paddles now if usap can just ban anything whenever they want.
gen 3s are power paddles. this isnt a power paddle by any means. you'll be fine with this one.
where's the proxr paddle review?
First look won't be done till July 5th.
Can you provide details of your tungsten setup?
1g per inch tape?
1inch above the throat and 4 or 5 inch strip?
And on top ?
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
Wish they had a 14mm
I wish they'd stop with the short handles, or at least make it taper up to make it 5.5-5.6".
It's advertised as a 5.5 in handle though. Everyone just measures it differently.
Pizza Pizza
My week 1 grit was very nice but it definitely declines like everyone's grit does. I kinda think I need to keep it cleaner than my other carbon fiber paddles
1st
I was out playing with my Apollo when this dropped.
The Apollo is a wide body not standard shape.
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.
Bro I hate how much better the J3K looks in my eyes. I bought the Apollo and love how it plays but hate how it looks and it’s driving me nuts seeing other standard shape paddles that are square and have a better taper. 😢
Had a Spartus Ballista, was an ok paddle but not impressed with the customer service
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.
lmao of course when you score a good one on Amrik you have to let the entire world know.
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
One ugly paddle. Can’t do it.
What about it is ugly?
Ive heard so many reviewers say its ugly, I think its cool looking and it plays great.
Everyone wants to copy the ruby...
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
Yeah I mean look at the GB PPE which has TW of 5 and biggest sweet spot in the game 🫠
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!! 😂