Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin and value on Paddle DNA against the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14, which costs $200.
Power
Too close to call
85 vs 82
Spin
90 vs 84
Control
Too close to call
90 vs 88
Forgiveness
Too close to call
88 vs 88
Hand speed
105 vs 109 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$170 at IQ 85.7 vs $200 at IQ 86.3
Overall pick: Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 · $170 · IQ 85.7
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 85Power82
- 90Control88
- 84Spin90
- 88Forgiveness88
- 89Sweet spot88
- 85Stability84
- 84Maneuverability82
- 84Pop80
- 88Touch86
- 89Consistency88
- 66Swing weight68
- 84Twist weight82
- 54Launch angle50
- 74Plow through78
- 86Softness82
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 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 14 | Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $200 | $170 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.3 — better | 85.7 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.7 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 109 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.9 — better | 6.8 |
| Shape | standard | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16 | 16.2 |
| Face width(in) | 7.9 | 7.6 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.375 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured carbon | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| Core material | Bantam polymer core | Thermoformed polypropylene honeycomb |
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.
Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 verdict
The Ruby formula in a hybrid shape. Spin 90 with a 109 swing weight is a rare combination — you get grip on the ball without losing the hands battle.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is spin: Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 scores 90 against 84 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 — a 6-point gap. They are effectively level on power, control, maneuverability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 is $30 cheaper at $170.
Spin
Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 leads by 6 points (90 vs 84).
Pop
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 leads by 4 points (84 vs 80).
Launch angle
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 leads by 4 points (54 vs 50).
Plow through
Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 leads by 4 points (78 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 86.5 on the weighted index). Take Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 and keep the $30.
- 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 (86.7 vs 86.3 on the weighted index). Take Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 and keep the $30.
- Power
- Control
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84 vs 84.4 on the weighted index). Take Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 and keep the $30.
- Spin
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 86 vs 82, twist weight 84 vs 82. Its 14 mm Bantam polymer core at 7.7 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14
Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 if you want pop (+4), launch angle (+4), softness (+4). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 review →Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16
Take Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 if you want spin (+6), plow through (+4). Its swing weight of 109 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 review →Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 or the Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.3 vs 85.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 leads by 6 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 109 for Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 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 14 or the Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 scores 85 for power against 82 for Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16. That comes from a 14 mm Bantam polymer core swinging at 105 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 at 90 versus 88. 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?
- Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 scores 90 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon face, against 84 for the Textured carbon face on Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14. In practice a 6-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 88 on forgiveness despite twist weights of 6.9 and 6.8.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 costs $170, $30 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. Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene honeycomb core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16, 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?
- 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. Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 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 109) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 to the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 leads on spin by 6 points; everything else is within 4 points. At $200 vs $170, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 and Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 and Six Zero Ruby Hybrid 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.