Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (87.1 vs 79.4), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
95 vs 76
Spin
Too close to call
91 vs 90
Control
Too close to call
85 vs 84
Forgiveness
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
88 vs 77
Hand speed
93 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$105 at IQ 79.4 vs $332.99 at IQ 87.1
Overall pick: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 · $332.99 · IQ 87.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 76Power95
- 85Control84
- 90Spin91
- 77Forgiveness88
- 76Sweet spot89
- 74Stability92
- 98Maneuverability66
- 79Pop90
- 85Touch80
- 79Consistency85
- 39Swing weight82
- 68Twist weight92
- 51Launch angle58
- 47Plow through93
- 82Softness72
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 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 | Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $105 — better | $332.99 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.4 | 87.1 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.65 | 8.25 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 12.7 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 93 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.2 | 7.2 — better |
| Shape | standard | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 15.9375 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.45 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 5.8 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber | Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit |
| Core material | Polymer Honeycomb | BoomCore PureFoam with EVA Power Ring |
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.
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 verdict
The highest power score in the database, and the twist weight (7.2) to back it up. The MOI tuning system lets you dial the balance, but nothing turns a 118 swing weight into a fast-hands paddle.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is plow through: Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 93 against 47 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 — a 46-point gap. They are effectively level on control, spin, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 is $227.99 cheaper at $105.
Plow through
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 46 points (93 vs 47).
Swing weight
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 43 points (82 vs 39).
Maneuverability
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 leads by 32 points (98 vs 66).
Twist weight
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 24 points (92 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
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 92 vs 68, sweet spot 89 vs 76, stability 92 vs 74. Twist weight 7.2 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Sweet spot
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.4 vs 83.6 on the weighted index). Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 and keep the $227.99.
- Maneuverability
- Touch
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 is the clearer pick at this level — plow through 93 vs 47, power 95 vs 76, spin 91 vs 90. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Power
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (78.1 vs 80 on the weighted index). Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 and keep the $227.99.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 if you want maneuverability (+32), softness (+10), touch (+5). 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 →Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
Take Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 if you want plow through (+46), swing weight (+43), twist weight (+24). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 review →Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 or the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.1 vs 79.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads by 46 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7, at 93 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16. 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 Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 95 for power against 76 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7. That comes from a 16 mm BoomCore PureFoam with EVA Power Ring core swinging at 118 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 84. 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?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 scores 91 for spin off its Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit face, against 90 for the PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber face on Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7. In practice a 1-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 77). Its 7.2 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, $227.99 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. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16: 16 mm BoomCore PureFoam with EVA Power Ring core with a Multistrata T700 carbon with InfiniGrit face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16, at 5.8 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 89 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 8.25 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 Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 leads on plow through by 46 points; everything else is within 43 points. At $105 vs $332.99, 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.
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Bantam ALW-C 14
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Labs Project Boomstik Widebody 16
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Perseus Pro V 16
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Coral Pro
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Perseus CFS 16
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs GX2 Power Elongated
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs CRBN-3X Power Series
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Scorpeus 14
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
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- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Ultré Power 2
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs 1X TruFoam Power
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Hyperion Pro V 16
- Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 vs Labs 008 Project 16
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 Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 and Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 and Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.