Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. 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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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 76Power76
- 85Control82
- 90Spin74
- 77Forgiveness84
- 76Sweet spot85
- 74Stability77
- 98Maneuverability82
- 79Pop79
- 85Touch76
- 79Consistency80
- 39Swing weight52
- 68Twist weight70
- 51Launch angle64
- 47Plow through64
- 82Softness82
Specs
| $105 | Price | $80 |
|---|---|---|
| 12.7 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 7.65 oz | Weight | 7.8 oz |
| 93 | Swing weight | 106 |
| 6.2 | Twist weight | 5.9 |
| standard | Shape | hybrid |
| PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber | Surface | Fiberglass composite |
| 5.25 in | Handle | 5 in |
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 SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 verdict
A genuinely balanced sub-$100 paddle. Nothing about it is elite, but nothing is a liability either, which is rare at this price.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is plow through: Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 scores 64 against 47 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 — a 17-point gap. They are effectively level on control, stability, twist weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 is $25 cheaper at $80.
Plow through
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads by 17 points (64 vs 47).
Spin
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 leads by 16 points (90 vs 74).
Maneuverability
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 leads by 16 points (98 vs 82).
Swing weight
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads by 13 points (52 vs 39).
Which one should you buy?
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 if you want spin (+16), maneuverability (+16), touch (+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 →Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
Take Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 if you want plow through (+17), swing weight (+13), launch angle (+13). Its swing weight of 106 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 review →Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 FAQ
- Which is better, the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 or the Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (79.4 vs 78.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads by 17 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7, at 93 kg·cm² swing weight against 106 for Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0. 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 SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 measures 76 on power against 76 for Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0. 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 82. 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 74 for the Fiberglass composite face on Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0. In practice a 16-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7, with 6.2 twist weight against 5.9. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 carries the higher forgiveness score (84) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 costs $80, $25 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 SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0: 16 mm Rev-Core polymer core with a Fiberglass composite face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7, at 5.25 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 84 and sweet spot 85 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 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 7.8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (93 vs 106) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 to the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads on plow through by 17 points; everything else is within 16 points. At $105 vs $80, 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.
- 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
- SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs Signature Carbon STR
- SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs Prism Flash
- SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs Essentials 16
- SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs Ben Johns Signature Pro
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 and Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.