Spartus P1 Hybrid Review (2026): Permagrit, Spin Durability, and the 8/10 Verdict

What the experts say

Chris Olson, Pickleball Studio (8/10)

The headline framing on Permagrit:

"The Spartus P1 introduces a major innovation that they are calling Permagrit. This is their attempt at designing a texture that will give players longer lasting spin. Grit longevity has been one of the biggest issues in the Pickleball market, and Spartus thinks they have the solution."

On where the grit comes from:

"Spartus has said that the Permagrit is applied here in the states, and not in China, which is why the paddles are able to say assembled in the US on them. Lastly, they have stated that the grit is made up of ceramic hybrid materials."

On construction (which is shared with the Bread & Butter Loco):

"The construction of the P1 to my knowledge, is identical to a Bread & Butter Loco, though, they really don't play that similar in my opinion. So, this means it is an EPP foam core, EVA ring around the edges, and then a carbon fiber, fiberglass carbon fiber face lay up."

The spin-durability data (the reason this paddle matters)

This is the section where Olson's review separates from typical paddle coverage. Pickleball Studio has been logging individual games (not hours) on each paddle they test and rerunning RPM and surface-roughness measurements throughout. The numbers on Permagrit:

"At the time of posting this review, our Spartus P1 has the equivalent of 84 games on it between actual games and drill sessions, and still has nearly a 0% drop in surface roughness."

The comparison points he gives, all from the same testing protocol:

"Remember, raw carbon fiber sees 5-10% drop in one session, and after about 100 games on my Loco, it has seen a 20% decrease in roughness. My mixed partner's C45 saw a 19.8% drop in surface roughness."

And the actual RPM measurements (the real-world spin output):

"Now for RPM tests, the Spartus P1 started out at 2044 RPM, and then retesting after 84 games, it was 2017 RPM. I also took a brand new, completely unused P1 on the same day that I tested the used one, and the new one got 2068 RPM, so as you can see, the results were very similar."

Translation: a used P1 with 84 games on it generates almost the same spin as a brand-new one. By contrast, the Loco dropped from 2048 RPM to 1697 RPM over a similar window, a 17% spin loss. That is the durability gap Permagrit is selling, and unlike most "long-lasting texture" claims it has measurements behind it.

Olson's own caveat on the testing:

"I am not saying that the Spartus P1 has grit that is literally indestructible and is never going to wear down, and more long term testing needs to be done to see how it's going to continue to hold up and make sure that there are no surprises."

How it plays (compared to the Loco it's built like)

The P1 shares the EPP-foam-plus-EVA-ring construction of the Loco, but Olson is firm that they don't feel the same in play:

"The P1 on ball contact feels a lot more dense, while the Loco feels stiffer, hollow, and is quite loud on impact, which is something that the P1 doesn't really have."

Where the P1 sits in the power hierarchy:

"As it sits right now, I would place the Spartus P1 above something like a J2NF, but below a Loco for both pop and power. Overall, I'd place it pretty firmly in the mid tier power category."

The standout shot category:

"Not even close, the area that is the most standout, is at the kitchen line. I feel like you get so much better spin than most raw carbon fiber paddles, which is likely due to the surface friction being a little bit higher. It just feels like the ball doesn't want to slip off the face the same way that it does on a regular raw carbon fiber paddle. So for dinking, rolls at the kitchen, and hybrid drops from the baseline, the P1 really felt like it stood out compared to other paddles on the market."

On the sweet spot and customization:

"I tried this paddle both weighted with 5 gram slyce slyders at 3 and 9, as well as stock, and I honestly preferred the paddle stock. This is one of the first paddles in quite some time that I didn't feel needed any weight for how I like to play."

And the bottom-line wrap:

"We've seen multiple companies claim long lasting textures, but this is the first one that I have seen truly hold and take a beating, and that to me, is genuinely exciting."

What players say

On the Spartus brand product page, the curated owner aggregate is 4.9 out of 5 across 75 reviews at time of writing. Note this is the brand's own product page, which is a curated marketing surface (Spartus controls which reviews appear and can suppress negatives), so treat the number as a directional signal rather than an unbiased score. Spartus is direct-to-consumer only with no Amazon distribution, so an unbiased third-party aggregate is not yet available. The verbatim reviews surfaced on the brand page do tell a consistent story though:

On the spin and texture (the most cited theme):

"I love the new paddle with permagrit. I am left handed and the spin is fantastic. A very good combination of power and control."

"Best spin for the buck. Slightly head heavy but doable. Texture is amazing."

"Love the long lasting grit and the power. Feels solid with forgiveness but not over cushiony which I did not want."

Direct comparison from a Vatic Pro upgrade:

"For context, I am upgrading from a Vatic Pro Prism Carbon Fiber 16mm to the Spartus P1, and the power gain is quite noticeable. Although the P1's swing weight is considered on the heavier side among all Gen 4 paddles, it is still an upgrade compared to the Vatic Pro Prism, and I find that I am able to get more touch on dinks than I did previously."

On the handle and feel:

"The handle grip feels incredible, soft but solid and grippy. The grit on the paddle is incredible as well, sleek design, simple, looks great, feels great, performs very well."

The signal here: the surfaced reviews echo Olson's framing (long-lasting grit, dense feel, head-heavy hybrid) without prompting. The 4.9/5 aggregate is from the brand's own product page so it overstates buyer satisfaction relative to a true unbiased third-party sample, but the directional read (positive owners) is consistent with the surfaced reviews. The one consistent post-launch issue surfaced in comment threads is loose edge guards, which Spartus has publicly said they are addressing.

Where the P1 fits

For shape comparison: the P1 is hybrid-only at time of writing. If you're choosing between full-foam paddles, our Bread & Butter Loco review covers the closest construction sibling (same EPP+EVA+fiberglass-carbon layup, different texture). For thermoformed control paddles in a similar price range, the Six Zero Sapphire sits in a different category. The P1's differentiator is Permagrit, not the core construction.

Who should buy it

Players who want a power paddle whose grit will not visibly degrade in 1-2 months. Players who shape the ball at the kitchen line and rely on spin to keep dinks unattackable. Players who prefer a dense, quiet feel over a hollow, loud one (the opposite preference would steer you to the Loco).

Who should not buy it

Players who want maximum raw power; the Loco and Boomstik will hit harder. Players who prefer lighter hybrids; the P1's 117 swing weight is above-average for the hybrid category. Players who only buy from Amazon (Spartus is direct-only as of this review). Players who want a Gen 3 hollow-feel paddle.

About this review

This is an aggregated review built around Pickleball Studio's 8/10 verdict, with verbatim quotes from Chris Olson's full-length review. The Permagrit spin-durability story is the reason this paddle matters; the on-court playability is competitive but not category-leading. Owner reactions in the players-say section are pulled verbatim from the Spartus product page (4.9/5 across 75 verified reviews at time of writing). We have not personally played this paddle.

Sources

• Chris Olson, Pickleball Studio: Spartus P1 Hybrid Review (8/10)
• Pickleball Studio on YouTube: Spartus P1 Hybrid Review
• Spartus P1 Hybrid product page