GAMMA Obsidian 16 vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. GAMMA Obsidian 16 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
- 72Power76
- 86Control85
- 74Spin90
- 88Forgiveness77
- 86Sweet spot76
- 78Stability74
- 84Maneuverability98
- 68Pop79
- 86Touch85
- 84Consistency79
- 62Swing weight39
- 72Twist weight68
- 46Launch angle51
- 68Plow through47
- 86Softness82
GAMMA Obsidian 16 vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | GAMMA Obsidian 16 | Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $150 | $105 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.3 — better | 79.4 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.7 | 7.65 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 12.7 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 102 | 93 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.2 | 6.2 |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 15.8 | 15.9375 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured graphite composite | PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb | Polymer Honeycomb |
GAMMA Obsidian 16 verdict
The softest paddle in this group and one of the lightest-swinging. Softness 86 plus a 102 swing weight is a recipe for confident dinks — provided you accept a low power ceiling.
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
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is swing weight: GAMMA Obsidian 16 scores 62 against 39 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 — a 23-point gap. They are effectively level on control, touch, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 is $45 cheaper at $105.
Swing weight
GAMMA Obsidian 16 leads by 23 points (62 vs 39).
Plow through
GAMMA Obsidian 16 leads by 21 points (68 vs 47).
Spin
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 leads by 16 points (90 vs 74).
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
GAMMA Obsidian 16
GAMMA Obsidian 16 is the clearer pick at this level — forgiveness 88 vs 77, sweet spot 86 vs 76, consistency 84 vs 79. Twist weight 6.2 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Consistency
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 72. 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 72. Swing weight 93 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Maneuverability
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
GAMMA Obsidian 16
GAMMA Obsidian 16 is the clearer pick at this level — forgiveness 88 vs 77, softness 86 vs 82, twist weight 72 vs 68. Its 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core at 7.7 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Forgiveness
- Softness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
GAMMA Obsidian 16
Take GAMMA Obsidian 16 if you want swing weight (+23), plow through (+21), forgiveness (+11). Its swing weight of 102 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the GAMMA Obsidian 16 review →Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 if you want spin (+16), maneuverability (+14), pop (+11). 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 →GAMMA Obsidian 16 vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 FAQ
- Which is better, the GAMMA Obsidian 16 or the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.3 vs 79.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — GAMMA Obsidian 16 leads by 23 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7, at 93 kg·cm² swing weight against 102 for GAMMA Obsidian 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the GAMMA Obsidian 16 or the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 measures 76 on power against 72 for GAMMA Obsidian 16. 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?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16 at 86 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 Textured graphite composite face on GAMMA Obsidian 16. In practice a 16-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16, with 6.2 twist weight against 6.2. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and GAMMA Obsidian 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (88) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 costs $105, $45 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?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Textured graphite 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?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 86 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 at 7.65 oz against 7.7 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 GAMMA Obsidian 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. GAMMA Obsidian 16 leads on swing weight by 23 points; everything else is within 21 points. At $150 vs $105, 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.
- Obsidian 16 vs Radical Tour Ultra 16
- Obsidian 16 vs R1 Pulsar
- Obsidian 16 vs Tempest Wave V3
- Obsidian 16 vs Encore Pro EX
- 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
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: GAMMA Obsidian 16 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.