CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (82.6 vs 79.4), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
87 vs 76
Spin
Too close to call
92 vs 90
Control
Too close to call
87 vs 85
Forgiveness
82 vs 77
Hand speed
93 vs 102 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$105 at IQ 79.4 vs $280 at IQ 82.6
Overall pick: CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage · $280 · IQ 82.6
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 87Power76
- 87Control85
- 92Spin90
- 82Forgiveness77
- 82Sweet spot76
- 75Stability74
- 93Maneuverability98
- 81Pop79
- 88Touch85
- 81Consistency79
- 53Swing weight39
- 65Twist weight68
- 53Launch angle51
- 63Plow through47
- 79Softness82
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage | Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $280 | $105 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 82.6 — better | 79.4 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 7.65 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 12.7 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 102 | 93 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 | 6.2 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16.2 | 15.9375 |
| Face width(in) | 7.8 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw T700 Carbon Fiber Face | PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber |
| Core material | TruFoam™ Floating Core | Polymer Honeycomb |
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage verdict
The Barrage is CRBN's power interpretation of the TruFoam platform: a 14 mm hybrid whose full-foam core keeps the ball on the face longer than any thermoformed build at this power level.
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 verdict
At 7.65 oz this is the lightest paddle in the database, and the 12.7 mm core makes it faster still. It is a hands-speed specialist, not a power tool.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is plow through: CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage scores 63 against 47 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 — a 16-point gap. They are effectively level on touch, twist weight, softness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 is $175 cheaper at $105.
Plow through
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads by 16 points (63 vs 47).
Swing weight
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads by 14 points (53 vs 39).
Power
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads by 11 points (87 vs 76).
Sweet spot
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads by 6 points (82 vs 76).
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
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage is a narrow pick at this level — sweet spot 82 vs 76, forgiveness 82 vs 77, consistency 81 vs 79. Twist weight 6.1 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage is a narrow pick at this level — power 87 vs 76, forgiveness 82 vs 77, touch 88 vs 85. At 102 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Power
- Forgiveness
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage is the clearer pick at this level — plow through 63 vs 47, power 87 vs 76, touch 88 vs 85. Swing weight 102 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Power
- Touch
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (77.3 vs 78.1 on the weighted index). Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 and keep the $175.
- Softness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage
Take CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage if you want plow through (+16), swing weight (+14), power (+11). Its swing weight of 102 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage review →Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 if you want maneuverability (+5). Its swing weight of 93 kg·cm² and 12.7 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 review →CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 FAQ
- Which is better, the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage or the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7?
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (82.6 vs 79.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads by 16 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7, at 93 kg·cm² swing weight against 102 for CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage or the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7?
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage scores 87 for power against 76 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7. That comes from a 14 mm TruFoam™ Floating Core swinging at 102 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage at 87 versus 85. 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?
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage scores 92 for spin off its Raw T700 Carbon Fiber Face, against 90 for the PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber face on Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage, with the higher forgiveness score (82 vs 77). Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 actually carries the higher twist weight (6.2 vs 6.1), but CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage makes it back on sweet spot (82) and overall face stability.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 costs $105, $175 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?
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage: 14 mm TruFoam™ Floating Core with a Raw T700 Carbon Fiber Face. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7: 12.7 mm Polymer Honeycomb core with a PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 82 and sweet spot 82 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 at 7.65 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (93 vs 102) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 to the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads on plow through by 16 points; everything else is within 14 points. At $280 vs $105, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs TruFoam Genesis 2
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs J6CR
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Bantam ALW-C 14
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs TruFoam Genesis 3
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Mod TA-15 3S 16
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Coral Hybrid 16
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Labs Project 007 Epic 14
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Scorpeus 14
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Labs Project 007 Epic 14
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage and Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage and Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.