Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 86Power85
- 87Control90
- 86Spin84
- 88Forgiveness88
- 89Sweet spot89
- 87Stability85
- 77Maneuverability84
- 82Pop84
- 85Touch88
- 86Consistency89
- 76Swing weight66
- 86Twist weight84
- 62Launch angle54
- 80Plow through74
- 86Softness86
Specs
| $180 | Price | $200 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 14 mm |
| 8.1 oz | Weight | 7.7 oz |
| 111 | Swing weight | 105 |
| 6.8 | Twist weight | 6.9 |
| standard | Shape | standard |
| Carbon–fiberglass–carbon face | Surface | Textured carbon |
| 5.25 in | Handle | 5.25 in |
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard verdict
The forgiving Loco. Widening the face lifts sweet spot and twist weight and drops the swing weight below the other two shapes, at the cost of some reach and drive.
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 verdict
The lightweight Bantam. At 7.7 oz it is one of the fastest paddles in the database through hands battles, and Paddletek's core keeps the feel soft rather than tinny.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is swing weight: Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard scores 76 against 66 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 — a 10-point gap. They are effectively level on control, touch, consistency, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard is $20 cheaper at $180.
Swing weight
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard leads by 10 points (76 vs 66).
Launch angle
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard leads by 8 points (62 vs 54).
Maneuverability
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 leads by 7 points (84 vs 77).
Plow through
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard leads by 6 points (80 vs 74).
Which one should you buy?
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14
Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 if you want maneuverability (+7). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 review →Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard
Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard if you want swing weight (+10), launch angle (+8), plow through (+6). Its swing weight of 111 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard review →Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard FAQ
- Which is better, the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 or the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.3 vs 85.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard leads by 10 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 111 for Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 or the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard measures 86 on power against 85 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14. That comes from a 16 mm Full foam dual-density core core swinging at 111 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 at 90 versus 87. Its 14 mm core holds the ball on the face slightly longer, which is what makes resets and dinks land shorter.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard scores 86 for spin off its Carbon–fiberglass–carbon face face, against 84 for the Textured carbon face on Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14, with 6.9 twist weight against 6.8. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 carries the higher forgiveness score (88) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard costs $180, $20 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on whether you actually use the traits it trades away — check the head-to-head DNA bars above before paying up.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14: 14 mm Bantam polymer core core with a Textured carbon face. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard: 16 mm Full foam dual-density core core with a Carbon–fiberglass–carbon face face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14, at 5.25 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 89 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 at 7.7 oz against 8.1 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 111) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard to the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard leads on swing weight by 10 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $200 vs $180, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Loco 16mm Standard vs Mach 1 Forza 16
- Loco 16mm Standard vs Nova R1
- Loco 16mm Standard vs Oni 16
- Loco 16mm Standard vs TruFoam Genesis 2
- Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Magnus 3S 16
- Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Mach 1 Forza 16
- Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Pursuit MX 6.0
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard and Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.