Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Both land on the same overall IQ score (86.3), so the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 wins this matchup for most players: it takes control, forgiveness, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, which costs $249.99.
Power
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
92 vs 85
Spin
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
94 vs 84
Control
90 vs 86
Forgiveness
88 vs 84
Hand speed
105 vs 117 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$200 at IQ 86.3 vs $249.99 at IQ 86.3
Overall pick: Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 · $200 · IQ 86.3
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 85Power92
- 90Control86
- 84Spin94
- 88Forgiveness84
- 89Sweet spot86
- 85Stability88
- 84Maneuverability72
- 84Pop88
- 88Touch82
- 89Consistency86
- 66Swing weight80
- 84Twist weight86
- 54Launch angle60
- 74Plow through88
- 86Softness74
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 | RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $200 — better | $249.99 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.3 | 86.3 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.7 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 117 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.9 — better | 6.5 |
| Shape | standard | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.9 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.375 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Textured carbon | CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup |
| Core material | Bantam polymer core | Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring |
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 verdict
The lightweight Bantam. At 7.7 oz it is one of the fastest paddles in the database through hands battles, and Paddletek's core keeps the feel soft rather than tinny.
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 verdict
The James Ignatowich signature build is an unapologetic attack paddle: 16.5 in of reach, a grippy CarbonBite face and a tri-density core that launches drives without giving up the sweet spot the first V2 lacked.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is swing weight: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 80 against 66 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 — a 14-point gap. They are effectively level on sweet spot, stability, consistency, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 is $49.99000000000001 cheaper at $200.
Swing weight
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 14 points (80 vs 66).
Plow through
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 14 points (88 vs 74).
Maneuverability
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 leads by 12 points (84 vs 72).
Softness
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 leads by 12 points (86 vs 74).
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 (87.5 vs 85.8 on the weighted index). Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 and keep the $49.99000000000001.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.7 vs 85 on the weighted index). Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 and keep the $49.99000000000001.
- Maneuverability
- Touch
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is a narrow pick at this level — plow through 88 vs 74, spin 94 vs 84, power 92 vs 85. Swing weight 117 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Spin
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 86 vs 74, forgiveness 88 vs 84. Its 14 mm Bantam polymer core at 7.7 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14
Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 if you want maneuverability (+12), softness (+12), touch (+6). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 review →RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want swing weight (+14), plow through (+14), spin (+10). Its swing weight of 117 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 review →Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 FAQ
- Which is better, the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both carry the same overall Paddle IQ score (86.3). The split is trait by trait — RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads on swing weight by 14 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 117 for RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 92 for power against 85 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14. That comes from a 16 mm Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring core swinging at 117 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 at 90 versus 86. Its 14 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?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 94 for spin off its CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup face, against 84 for the Textured carbon face on Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14. In practice a 10-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 84). Its 6.9 twist weight against 6.5 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 14 costs $200, $49.99000000000001 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 14: 14 mm Bantam polymer core with a Textured carbon face. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2: 16 mm Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring core with a CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 89 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 at 7.7 oz against 7.9 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (105 vs 117) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth switching between the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 and the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads on swing weight by 14 points; everything else is within 14 points. At $200 vs $249.99, 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.
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2
- 11SIX24 Ultré Power 2 vs RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2
- Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Bantam ALW-C 12.7
- Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Bantam TKO-C 14
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs CRBN-1X Power Series
- Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Pursuit Pro EX 16
- Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Vanguard 2.0 Invikta
- Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Model E Max V3
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 14 vs V-Sol Pro 16
- Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Ruby Hybrid 16
- Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Tenon
- Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Vision CGS 16
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Ultré Power 2
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs 1X TruFoam Power
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Agassi Pro 16
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Hyperion Pro V 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 14 and RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 and RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.