Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. 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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Quick answer
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (86.3 vs 85.7), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
86 vs 85
Spin
Too close to call
86 vs 84
Control
Too close to call
90 vs 87
Forgiveness
Too close to call
88 vs 88
Hand speed
105 vs 111 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard
$180 at IQ 85.7 vs $200 at IQ 86.3
Overall pick: Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 · $200 · IQ 86.3
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
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard | Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $180 — better | $200 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 85.7 | 86.3 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.1 | 7.7 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 14 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 111 | 105 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 | 6.9 — better |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.9 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.375 |
| Surface | Carbon–fiberglass–carbon face | Textured carbon |
| Core material | Full foam dual-density core | Bantam polymer core |
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
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, 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 is right for your level?
Each call below re-weights the Paddle DNA traits that matter at that level, so the winner can differ from the overall pick.
Beginner
New to 3.0 — still building a consistent contact point
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (87.5 vs 87.4 on the weighted index). Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard and keep the $20.
- Consistency
- Control
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.7 vs 84.7 on the weighted index). Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard and keep the $20.
- Maneuverability
- Control
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84 vs 83.8 on the weighted index). Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard and keep the $20.
- Maneuverability
- Touch
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.2 vs 86.5 on the weighted index). Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard and keep the $20.
- Twist weight
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 scores 86 for power against 85 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14. That comes from a 16 mm Full foam dual-density 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, 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 88 on forgiveness despite twist weights of 6.9 and 6.8.
- 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 with a Textured carbon face. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard: 16 mm Full foam dual-density core with a Carbon–fiberglass–carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both run a 5.25 in handle.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Forgiveness (88) and sweet spot (89) are identical, so a developing player can start on either — decide on price and handle feel.
- 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.
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard and Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 in context against the rest of the database.
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.