Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Rally Flare Graphite
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin, control and hand speed on Paddle DNA against the Rally Flare Graphite, which costs $50.
Power
Too close to call
76 vs 74
Spin
90 vs 72
Control
85 vs 76
Forgiveness
84 vs 77
Hand speed
93 vs 100 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$50 at IQ 75.7 vs $105 at IQ 79.4
Overall pick: Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 · $105 · IQ 79.4
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 76Power74
- 85Control76
- 90Spin72
- 77Forgiveness84
- 76Sweet spot84
- 74Stability68
- 98Maneuverability90
- 79Pop86
- 85Touch74
- 79Consistency74
- 39Swing weight46
- 68Twist weight66
- 51Launch angle68
- 47Plow through54
- 82Softness74
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Rally Flare Graphite specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 | Rally Flare Graphite |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $105 | $50 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.4 — better | 75.7 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.65 | 7.5 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 12.7 | 11 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 93 | 100 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.2 — better | 5.8 |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 15.9375 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.135 |
| Surface | PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber | Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture |
| Core material | Polymer Honeycomb | Polymer honeycomb |
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.
Rally Flare Graphite verdict
A $50 carbon-faced paddle with a thin 11 mm core: poppy, light and easy to swing. It is a starter paddle, and the thin core shows the moment you try to reset a hard drive.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is spin: Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 scores 90 against 72 for Rally Flare Graphite — an 18-point gap. They are effectively level on power, twist weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Rally Flare Graphite is $55 cheaper at $50.
Spin
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 leads by 18 points (90 vs 72).
Launch angle
Rally Flare Graphite leads by 17 points (68 vs 51).
Touch
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 leads by 11 points (85 vs 74).
Control
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 leads by 9 points (85 vs 76).
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 (75.8 vs 76.6 on the weighted index). Take Rally Flare Graphite and keep the $55.
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 90 vs 72, control 85 vs 76, touch 85 vs 74. At 93 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Control
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 90 vs 72, touch 85 vs 74, control 85 vs 76. Swing weight 93 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Touch
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 82 vs 74, twist weight 68 vs 66. Its 12.7 mm Polymer Honeycomb core at 7.65 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 if you want spin (+18), touch (+11), control (+9). 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 →Rally Flare Graphite
Take Rally Flare Graphite if you want launch angle (+17), sweet spot (+8), forgiveness (+7). Its swing weight of 100 kg·cm² and 11 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Rally Flare Graphite review →Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Rally Flare Graphite FAQ
- Which is better, the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 or the Rally Flare Graphite?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (79.4 vs 75.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 leads by 18 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7, at 93 kg·cm² swing weight against 100 for Rally Flare Graphite. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 or the Rally Flare Graphite?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 scores 76 for power against 74 for Rally Flare Graphite. That comes from a 12.7 mm Polymer Honeycomb core swinging at 93 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 at 85 versus 76. Its 12.7 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 ALW-C 12.7 scores 90 for spin off its PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber face, against 72 for the Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture face on Rally Flare Graphite. In practice an 18-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Rally Flare Graphite, with the higher forgiveness score (84 vs 77). Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 actually carries the higher twist weight (6.2 vs 5.8), but Rally Flare Graphite makes it back on sweet spot (84) and overall face stability.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Rally Flare Graphite costs $50, $55 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 ALW-C 12.7: 12.7 mm Polymer Honeycomb core with a PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber face. Rally Flare Graphite: 11 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Rally Flare Graphite, at 5.3 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Rally Flare Graphite is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 84 and sweet spot 84 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?
- Rally Flare Graphite at 7.5 oz against 7.65 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (100 vs 93) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Rally Flare Graphite to the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 leads on spin by 18 points; everything else is within 17 points. At $105 vs $50, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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Guides featuring these paddles
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Read the full reviews: Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 and Rally Flare Graphite. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.