Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power 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
- 88Power85
- 81Control90
- 82Spin84
- 74Forgiveness88
- 76Sweet spot89
- 86Stability85
- 68Maneuverability84
- 88Pop84
- 76Touch88
- 81Consistency89
- 82Swing weight66
- 82Twist weight84
- 52Launch angle54
- 89Plow through74
- 58Softness86
Specs
| $210 | Price | $200 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 mm | Core | 14 mm |
| 8.4 oz | Weight | 7.7 oz |
| 123 | Swing weight | 105 |
| 6.5 | Twist weight | 6.9 |
| elongated | Shape | standard |
| Solid-span carbon | Surface | Textured carbon |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.25 in |
Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power verdict
A more livable Gearbox. It keeps most of the drive velocity of the Pro Power while adding enough stability to survive hands battles.
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 softness: Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 scores 86 against 58 for Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power — a 28-point gap. They are effectively level on power, spin, twist weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($210 vs $200) that it should not break the tie.
Softness
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 leads by 28 points (86 vs 58).
Maneuverability
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 leads by 16 points (84 vs 68).
Swing weight
Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power leads by 16 points (82 vs 66).
Plow through
Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power leads by 15 points (89 vs 74).
Which one should you buy?
Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power
Take Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power if you want swing weight (+16), plow through (+15), pop (+4). Its swing weight of 123 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power review →Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14
Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 if you want softness (+28), maneuverability (+16), forgiveness (+14). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 review →Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power or the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.3 vs 80.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 leads by 28 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 123 for Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power or the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14?
- Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power measures 88 on power against 85 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14. That comes from a 14 mm Coreless carbon core swinging at 123 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 at 90 versus 81. 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?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 scores 84 for spin off its Textured carbon face, against 82 for the Solid-span carbon face on Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power. 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 6.5. 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?
- They are within $10 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power: 14 mm Coreless carbon core with a Solid-span carbon face. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14: 14 mm Bantam polymer core core with a Textured carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power, 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 Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power avoids.
- 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. Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power 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 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 123) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power to the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 leads on softness by 28 points; everything else is within 16 points. At $210 vs $200, 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.
- CX14E Ultimate Power vs Hyperion CFS 16
- CX14E Ultimate Power vs CRBN-1X Power Series
- CX14E Ultimate Power vs Bantam TKO-C 14
- CX14E Ultimate Power vs Labs Project 006
- Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Magnus 3S 16
- Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Loco 16mm Standard
- 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: Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power and Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.