JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 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
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, control and forgiveness on Paddle DNA against the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7, which costs $105.
Power
88 vs 76
Spin
Too close to call
92 vs 90
Control
96 vs 85
Forgiveness
86 vs 77
Hand speed
93 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$105 at IQ 79.4 vs $300 at IQ 89.1
Overall pick: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 · $300 · IQ 89.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 88Power76
- 96Control85
- 92Spin90
- 86Forgiveness77
- 88Sweet spot76
- 90Stability74
- 73Maneuverability98
- 80Pop79
- 94Touch85
- 93Consistency79
- 74Swing weight39
- 88Twist weight68
- 51Launch angle51
- 86Plow through47
- 80Softness82
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 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 | JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 | Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $300 | $105 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 89.1 — better | 79.4 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 7.65 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 12.7 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 118 | 93 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.7 — better | 6.2 |
| Shape | hybrid | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 15.9375 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw Toray T700 carbon | PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber |
| Core material | KineticFrame foam-injected polymer | Polymer Honeycomb |
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 verdict
The 2026 control flagship. The KineticFrame build stiffens the perimeter without adding face pop, so resets land shorter and drives stay predictable — at the highest price in the database.
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: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 86 against 47 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 — a 39-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, softness, pop, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 is $195 cheaper at $105.
Plow through
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 39 points (86 vs 47).
Swing weight
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 35 points (74 vs 39).
Maneuverability
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 leads by 25 points (98 vs 73).
Twist weight
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 20 points (88 vs 68).
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
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 88 vs 68, sweet spot 88 vs 76, stability 90 vs 74. Twist weight 6.7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Sweet spot
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is a narrow pick at this level — control 96 vs 85, power 88 vs 76, consistency 93 vs 79. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Power
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the clearer pick at this level — plow through 86 vs 47, power 88 vs 76, touch 94 vs 85. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Power
- Touch
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 88 vs 68, forgiveness 86 vs 77. Its 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 if you want plow through (+39), swing weight (+35), twist weight (+20). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 review →Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 if you want maneuverability (+25). 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 →JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 FAQ
- Which is better, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 or the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 79.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 39 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7, at 93 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 or the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 88 for power against 76 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7. That comes from a 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core swinging at 118 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 at 96 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 92 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 77). Its 6.7 twist weight against 6.2 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 ALW-C 12.7 costs $105, $195 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16: 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, 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 JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 88 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 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (93 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 to the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads on plow through by 39 points; everything else is within 35 points. At $300 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.
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Perseus CFS 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs Perseus Pro IV 16
- Perseus Pro V 16 vs CRBN-3X Power Series
- 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.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 and Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 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.