JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14
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.
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Quick answer
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 86.3), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
88 vs 85
Spin
92 vs 84
Control
96 vs 90
Forgiveness
Too close to call
88 vs 86
Hand speed
105 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$200 at IQ 86.3 vs $300 at IQ 89.1
Overall pick: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 · $300 · IQ 89.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 88Power85
- 96Control90
- 92Spin84
- 86Forgiveness88
- 88Sweet spot89
- 90Stability85
- 73Maneuverability84
- 80Pop84
- 94Touch88
- 93Consistency89
- 74Swing weight66
- 88Twist weight84
- 51Launch angle54
- 86Plow through74
- 80Softness86
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 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 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $300 | $200 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 89.1 — better | 86.3 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 7.7 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 14 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 118 | 105 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.7 | 6.9 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.375 |
| Surface | Raw Toray T700 carbon | Textured carbon |
| Core material | KineticFrame foam-injected polymer | Bantam polymer core |
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 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
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is plow through: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 86 against 74 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on power, launch angle, forgiveness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 is $100 cheaper at $200.
Plow through
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 12 points (86 vs 74).
Maneuverability
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 leads by 11 points (84 vs 73).
Spin
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 8 points (92 vs 84).
Swing weight
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 8 points (74 vs 66).
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 (89.2 vs 87.5 on the weighted index). Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 and keep the $100.
- Stability
- Twist weight
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (88.4 vs 86.7 on the weighted index). Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 and keep the $100.
- Spin
- Control
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is a narrow pick at this level — plow through 86 vs 74, spin 92 vs 84, touch 94 vs 88. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Spin
- Touch
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 86 vs 80, forgiveness 88 vs 86. Its 14 mm Bantam polymer core at 7.7 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 if you want plow through (+12), spin (+8), swing weight (+8). 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 14
Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 if you want maneuverability (+11), softness (+6), pop (+4). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 review →JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 FAQ
- Which is better, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 or the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 86.3), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14, at 105 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 14?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 88 for power against 85 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14. 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 90. 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 84 for the Textured carbon face on Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14. In practice an 8-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 86). Its 6.9 twist weight against 6.7 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 14 costs $200, $100 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 14: 14 mm Bantam polymer core with a Textured carbon 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?
- 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. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 at 7.7 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 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 12 points; everything else is within 11 points. At $300 vs $200, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 and Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 and Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.