JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 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
- 88Power76
- 96Control85
- 92Spin90
- 86Forgiveness77
- 88Sweet spot76
- 90Stability74
- 73Maneuverability98
- 80Pop79
- 94Touch85
- 93Consistency79
- 74Swing weight39
- 88Twist weight68
- 51Launch angle51
- 86Plow through47
- 80Softness82
Specs
| $300 | Price | $105 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 12.7 mm |
| 8.3 oz | Weight | 7.65 oz |
| 118 | Swing weight | 93 |
| 6.7 | Twist weight | 6.2 |
| hybrid | Shape | standard |
| Raw Toray T700 carbon | Surface | PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.25 in |
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
Measured on the same 15-trait test, 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 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 measures 88 on 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 6.7 twist weight against 6.2. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (86) as a result.
- 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. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 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 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.
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
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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.