Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm 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
88 vs 85
Spin
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
88 vs 84
Control
90 vs 86
Forgiveness
Too close to call
89 vs 88
Hand speed
Too close to call
105 vs 107 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
$109.99 at IQ 87.4 vs $200 at IQ 86.3
Overall pick: Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm · $109.99 · IQ 87.4
Paddle DNA head-to-head
Estimated scores: the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm Paddle DNA is our estimate from published specs, not a sourced profile.
- 85Power88
- 90Control86
- 84Spin88
- 88Forgiveness89
- 89Sweet spot90
- 85Stability89
- 84Maneuverability86
- 84Pop88
- 88Touch85
- 89Consistency87
- 66Swing weight65
- 84Twist weight87
- 54Launch angle59
- 74Plow through81
- 86Softness80
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm 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 | Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $200 | $109.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.3 | 87.4 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.7 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 107 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.9 | 7.4 — better |
| Shape | standard | widebody |
| Face length(in) | 16 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.9 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.375 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Textured carbon | QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano |
| Core material | Bantam polymer core | Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) |
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.
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm verdict
The 16 × 8-inch Standard/Widebody offers a broader face and lower manufacturer-listed swingweight than the Elongated. Choose its geometry for compact handling and off-center coverage; choose Elongated for extra reach. Estimated Paddle DNA is not a measured power, control or spin result.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is plow through: Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 81 against 74 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 — a 7-point gap. They are effectively level on power, touch, twist weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is $90.01 cheaper at $109.99.
Plow through
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 7 points (81 vs 74).
Softness
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 leads by 6 points (86 vs 80).
Launch angle
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 5 points (59 vs 54).
Control
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 leads by 4 points (90 vs 86).
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 88.4 on the weighted index). Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm and keep the $90.01.
- Stability
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.7 vs 87 on the weighted index). Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm and keep the $90.01.
- Spin
- Power
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84 vs 85.8 on the weighted index). Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm and keep the $90.01.
- 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 a narrow pick at this level — softness 86 vs 80. Its 14 mm Bantam polymer core at 7.7 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14
Take Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 if you want softness (+6), control (+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 →Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Take Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm if you want plow through (+7), launch angle (+5), spin (+4). Its swing weight of 107 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm review →Where to Buy
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14
Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm FAQ
- Which is better, the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 or the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.4 vs 86.3), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads by 7 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 107 for Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm. 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 Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 for power against 85 for Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14. That comes from a 16 mm Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) core swinging at 107 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?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm scores 88 for spin off its QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano face, against 84 for the Textured carbon face on Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14. In practice a 4-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm, with the higher forgiveness score (89 vs 88). Its 7.4 twist weight against 6.9 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm costs $109.99, $90.01 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. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm: 16 mm Generation 4 Turbo Foam (EPP) core with a QuadFiber carbon layup with PermaGritNano face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm, 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?
- Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 89 and sweet spot 90 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 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 107) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 to the Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm leads on plow through by 7 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $200 vs $109.99, 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 14 vs Bantam ALW-C 12.7
- Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Bantam TKO-C 14
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Spitfire Elongated 16mm
- 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
- Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Loco 16mm Standard
- Bantam ALW-C 14 vs Mach 1 Forza 16
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
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs J2CR
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Aura Pro Hybrid 16mm
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Loco 16mm Standard
- Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm vs Tenon
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 Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14 and Spartus Spitfire Standard/Widebody 16mm. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.