JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Paddletek Bantam TKO-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 wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin, control and forgiveness on Paddle DNA against the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14, which costs $180.
Power
Too close to call
91 vs 88
Spin
92 vs 83
Control
96 vs 79
Forgiveness
86 vs 72
Hand speed
115 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$180 at IQ 78.6 vs $300 at IQ 89.1
Overall pick: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 · $300 · IQ 89.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 88Power91
- 96Control79
- 92Spin83
- 86Forgiveness72
- 88Sweet spot74
- 90Stability80
- 73Maneuverability73
- 80Pop92
- 94Touch72
- 93Consistency78
- 74Swing weight74
- 88Twist weight71
- 51Launch angle54
- 86Plow through88
- 80Softness56
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 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 | JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 | Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $300 | $180 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 89.1 — better | 78.6 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.2 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 14 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 118 | 115 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.7 — better | 6 |
| Shape | hybrid | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw Toray T700 carbon | Carbon fiber |
| Core material | KineticFrame foam-injected polymer | Bantam power 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 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 softness: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 scores 80 against 56 for Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 — a 24-point gap. They are effectively level on power, launch angle, plow through, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 is $120 cheaper at $180.
Softness
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 24 points (80 vs 56).
Touch
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 22 points (94 vs 72).
Control
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 17 points (96 vs 79).
Twist weight
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 17 points (88 vs 71).
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 — forgiveness 86 vs 72, sweet spot 88 vs 74, twist weight 88 vs 71. Twist weight 6.7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 is the clearer pick at this level — control 96 vs 79, touch 94 vs 72, forgiveness 86 vs 72. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Touch
- Forgiveness
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 — touch 94 vs 72, control 96 vs 79, spin 92 vs 83. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Touch
- Control
- Spin
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 — softness 80 vs 56, forgiveness 86 vs 72, twist weight 88 vs 71. Its 16 mm KineticFrame foam-injected polymer core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 if you want softness (+24), touch (+22), control (+17). 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 TKO-C 14
Take Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 if you want pop (+12). Its swing weight of 115 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 review →JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 vs Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 FAQ
- Which is better, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 or the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (89.1 vs 78.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads by 24 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14, at 115 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 TKO-C 14?
- Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 scores 91 for power against 88 for JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16. 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 at 96 versus 79. 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 83 for the Carbon fiber face on Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14. In practice a 9-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 72). Its 6.7 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, $120 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 TKO-C 14: 14 mm Bantam power core with a Carbon fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5 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 TKO-C 14 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 at 8.2 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (115 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 to the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 leads on softness by 24 points; everything else is within 22 points. At $300 vs $180, 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 TKO-C 14 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 and Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.