Engage Encore Pro EX vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Engage Encore Pro EX 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 12.7 wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, spin, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Engage Encore Pro EX, which costs $130.
Power
76 vs 70
Spin
90 vs 74
Control
Too close to call
88 vs 85
Forgiveness
89 vs 77
Hand speed
93 vs 105 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$105 at IQ 79.4 vs $130 at IQ 80.9
Overall pick: Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 · $105 · IQ 79.4
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power76
- 88Control85
- 74Spin90
- 89Forgiveness77
- 90Sweet spot76
- 80Stability74
- 84Maneuverability98
- 66Pop79
- 86Touch85
- 85Consistency79
- 50Swing weight39
- 74Twist weight68
- 68Launch angle51
- 60Plow through47
- 90Softness82
Engage Encore Pro EX 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 | Engage Encore Pro EX | Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $130 | $105 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 — better | 79.4 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 7.65 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 12.7 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 93 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.9 | 6.2 — better |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 15.9375 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Fiberglass composite | PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber |
| Core material | Control core | Polymer Honeycomb |
Engage Encore Pro EX verdict
A soft, light, extremely forgiving paddle that has quietly become the default recommendation for players over 60.
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 launch angle: Engage Encore Pro EX scores 68 against 51 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 — a 17-point gap. They are effectively level on control, touch, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 is $25 cheaper at $105.
Launch angle
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 17 points (68 vs 51).
Spin
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 leads by 16 points (90 vs 74).
Sweet spot
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 14 points (90 vs 76).
Maneuverability
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 leads by 14 points (98 vs 84).
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
Engage Encore Pro EX
Engage Encore Pro EX is the clearer pick at this level — sweet spot 90 vs 76, forgiveness 89 vs 77, stability 80 vs 74. Twist weight 5.9 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 90 vs 74, maneuverability 98 vs 84, power 76 vs 70. At 93 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Maneuverability
- Power
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 90 vs 74, maneuverability 98 vs 84, power 76 vs 70. Swing weight 93 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Maneuverability
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Engage Encore Pro EX
Engage Encore Pro EX is the clearer pick at this level — softness 90 vs 82, forgiveness 89 vs 77, twist weight 74 vs 68. Its 16 mm Control core at 7.8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Engage Encore Pro EX
Take Engage Encore Pro EX if you want launch angle (+17), sweet spot (+14), plow through (+13). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Encore Pro EX review →Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 if you want spin (+16), maneuverability (+14), pop (+13). 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 →Engage Encore Pro EX vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 FAQ
- Which is better, the Engage Encore Pro EX or the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7?
- Engage Encore Pro EX carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.9 vs 79.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — launch angle — Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 17 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7, at 93 kg·cm² swing weight against 105 for Engage Encore Pro EX. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Engage Encore Pro EX or the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 scores 76 for power against 70 for Engage Encore Pro EX. That comes from a 12.7 mm Polymer Honeycomb core swinging at 93 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Engage Encore Pro EX at 88 versus 85. Its 16 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?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 scores 90 for spin off its PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber face, against 74 for the Fiberglass composite face on Engage Encore Pro EX. In practice a 16-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Engage Encore Pro EX, with the higher forgiveness score (89 vs 77). Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 actually carries the higher twist weight (6.2 vs 5.9), but Engage Encore Pro EX makes it back on sweet spot (90) and overall face stability.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 costs $105, $25 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?
- Engage Encore Pro EX: 16 mm Control core with a Fiberglass composite 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?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7, at 5.25 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Engage Encore Pro EX is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 89 and sweet spot 90 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 7.8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (93 vs 105) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 to the Engage Encore Pro EX?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Engage Encore Pro EX leads on launch angle by 17 points; everything else is within 16 points. At $130 vs $105, 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 Engage Encore Pro EX and Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Engage Encore Pro EX 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.