Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Six Zero Quartz Control
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Six Zero Quartz Control 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
- 76Power78
- 85Control93
- 90Spin90
- 77Forgiveness91
- 76Sweet spot92
- 74Stability90
- 98Maneuverability82
- 79Pop72
- 85Touch92
- 79Consistency91
- 39Swing weight68
- 68Twist weight90
- 51Launch angle50
- 47Plow through72
- 82Softness89
Specs
| $105 | Price | $190 |
|---|---|---|
| 12.7 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 7.65 oz | Weight | 7.9 oz |
| 93 | Swing weight | 108 |
| 6.2 | Twist weight | 7.2 |
| standard | Shape | standard |
| PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber | Surface | Raw carbon friction |
| 5.25 in | Handle | 5.25 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.
Six Zero Quartz Control verdict
A control build in the Double Black Diamond tradition, only lighter and quicker. Twist weight and sweet spot are the standouts; power is deliberately mid-pack.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is swing weight: Six Zero Quartz Control scores 68 against 39 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 — a 29-point gap. They are effectively level on power, launch angle, spin, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 is $85 cheaper at $105.
Swing weight
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 29 points (68 vs 39).
Plow through
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 25 points (72 vs 47).
Twist weight
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 22 points (90 vs 68).
Sweet spot
Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 16 points (92 vs 76).
Which one should you buy?
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 if you want maneuverability (+16), pop (+7). 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 →Six Zero Quartz Control
Take Six Zero Quartz Control if you want swing weight (+29), plow through (+25), twist weight (+22). Its swing weight of 108 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Six Zero Quartz Control review →Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Six Zero Quartz Control FAQ
- Which is better, the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 or the Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Six Zero Quartz Control carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (88 vs 79.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — Six Zero Quartz Control leads by 29 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7, at 93 kg·cm² swing weight against 108 for Six Zero Quartz Control. 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 Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Six Zero Quartz Control measures 78 on power against 76 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7. That comes from a 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core swinging at 108 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Six Zero Quartz Control at 93 versus 85. 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?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 scores 90 for spin off its PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber face, against 90 for the Raw carbon friction face on Six Zero Quartz Control. In practice a 0-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Six Zero Quartz Control, with 7.2 twist weight against 6.2. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Six Zero Quartz Control carries the higher forgiveness score (91) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 costs $105, $85 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. Six Zero Quartz Control: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw carbon friction face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7, at 5.25 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?
- Six Zero Quartz Control is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 91 and sweet spot 92 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Six Zero Quartz Control 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 7.9 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (93 vs 108) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 to the Six Zero Quartz Control?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Six Zero Quartz Control leads on swing weight by 29 points; everything else is within 25 points. At $105 vs $190, 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
- Quartz Control vs Magnus 3S 16
- Quartz Control vs Double Black Diamond Control
- Quartz Control vs Pursuit MX 6.0
- Quartz Control vs Bantam ALW-C 14
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 Six Zero Quartz Control. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.