Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 vs Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Quick answer
Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (78.6 vs 78.1), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
91 vs 90
Spin
Too close to call
83 vs 82
Control
Too close to call
79 vs 76
Forgiveness
Too close to call
74 vs 72
Hand speed
Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14
110 vs 115 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$180 at IQ 78.6 vs $200 at IQ 78.1
Overall pick: Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 · $180 · IQ 78.6
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 90Power91
- 76Control79
- 82Spin83
- 74Forgiveness72
- 76Sweet spot74
- 78Stability80
- 82Maneuverability73
- 90Pop92
- 70Touch72
- 76Consistency78
- 70Swing weight74
- 72Twist weight71
- 60Launch angle54
- 80Plow through88
- 54Softness56
Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 vs Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 | Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $200 | $180 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 78.1 | 78.6 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8.2 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 14 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 110 | 115 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.3 — better | 6 |
| Shape | hybrid | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.375 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw carbon fiber | Carbon fiber |
| Core material | Thermoformed polypropylene honeycomb | Bantam power core |
Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 verdict
Holbrook's power build is a conventional 14 mm thermoformed hybrid with the pop numbers to match. You are paying partly for the cosmetics, but the construction is honest.
Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 verdict
A pure pop paddle. Counters come off the face faster than almost anything in the database, and the trade-off is a firm, chatty feel on soft shots.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is maneuverability: Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 scores 82 against 73 for Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 — a 9-point gap. They are effectively level on control, forgiveness, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 is $20 cheaper at $180.
Maneuverability
Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 leads by 9 points (82 vs 73).
Plow through
Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 leads by 8 points (88 vs 80).
Launch angle
Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 leads by 6 points (60 vs 54).
Swing weight
Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 leads by 4 points (74 vs 70).
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 (75 vs 75.2 on the weighted index). Take Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 and keep the $20.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (78.3 vs 78.9 on the weighted index). Take Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 and keep the $20.
- Maneuverability
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81.9 vs 80.6 on the weighted index). Take Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 and keep the $20.
- Plow through
- Control
- Touch
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (63.1 vs 62.7 on the weighted index). Take Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 and keep the $20.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14
Take Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 if you want plow through (+8), swing weight (+4). Its swing weight of 115 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 review →Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14
Take Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 if you want maneuverability (+9), launch angle (+6). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 review →Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 vs Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 FAQ
- Which is better, the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 or the Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14?
- Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (78.6 vs 78.1), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — maneuverability — Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 leads by 9 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14, at 110 kg·cm² swing weight against 115 for Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 or the Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14?
- Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 scores 91 for power against 90 for Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14. That comes from a 14 mm Bantam power core swinging at 115 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 at 79 versus 76. 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 TKO-C 14 scores 83 for spin off its Carbon fiber face, against 82 for the Raw carbon fiber face on Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14. In practice a 1-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14, with the higher forgiveness score (74 vs 72). Its 6.3 twist weight against 6 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 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 TKO-C 14: 14 mm Bantam power core with a Carbon fiber face. Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14: 14 mm Thermoformed polypropylene honeycomb core with a Raw carbon fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14, at 5.375 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?
- Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 74 and sweet spot 76 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 at 8 oz against 8.2 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (110 vs 115) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 to the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 leads on maneuverability by 9 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $180 vs $200, 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.
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Power Pro X 14 vs Warrior Edge 14
- Power Pro X 14 vs CX14H Ultimate Power
- Power Pro X 14 vs Perseus Pro V 14
- Bantam TKO-C 14 vs CX14H Ultimate Power
- Bantam TKO-C 14 vs Vanguard Power Air
- Bantam TKO-C 14 vs CRBN-1X Power Series
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 Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 and Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Holbrook Pickleball Power Pro X 14 and Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.