Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 vs Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 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
- 91Power90
- 79Control80
- 83Spin86
- 72Forgiveness84
- 74Sweet spot84
- 80Stability84
- 73Maneuverability76
- 92Pop88
- 72Touch74
- 78Consistency82
- 74Swing weight74
- 71Twist weight80
- 54Launch angle58
- 88Plow through84
- 56Softness62
Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 vs Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 | Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $180 | $180 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 78.6 | 82.6 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.2 | 8.1 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 115 | 113 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6 | 6.6 — better |
| Shape | standard | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.9 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Carbon fiber | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| Core material | Bantam power core | Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls |
Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 verdict
A pure pop paddle. Counters come off the face faster than almost anything in the database, and the trade-off is a firm, chatty feel on soft shots.
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 verdict
Six Zero finally built a power paddle. Pop 88 and power 90 at $180 undercut every flagship drive paddle in the database, and the DBD forgiveness DNA mostly survives the switch.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is forgiveness: Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 scores 84 against 72 for Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, maneuverability, touch, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($180 vs $180) that it should not break the tie.
Forgiveness
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 leads by 12 points (84 vs 72).
Sweet spot
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 leads by 10 points (84 vs 74).
Twist weight
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 leads by 9 points (80 vs 71).
Softness
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 leads by 6 points (62 vs 56).
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
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 is the clearer pick at this level — forgiveness 84 vs 72, sweet spot 84 vs 74, twist weight 80 vs 71. Twist weight 6.6 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 84 vs 72, spin 86 vs 83, maneuverability 76 vs 73. At 113 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Forgiveness
- Spin
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (82.5 vs 81.9 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — elongated on the Black Diamond Power 16, standard on the Bantam TKO-C 14.
- Spin
- Maneuverability
- Touch
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 62 vs 56, forgiveness 84 vs 72, twist weight 80 vs 71. Its 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls core at 8.1 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16
Take Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 if you want forgiveness (+12), sweet spot (+10), twist weight (+9). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 review →Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14
Take Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 if you want pop (+4), plow through (+4). Its swing weight of 115 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 review →Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 vs Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 FAQ
- Which is better, the Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 or the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (82.6 vs 78.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — forgiveness — Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16, at 113 kg·cm² swing weight against 115 for Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 or the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14?
- Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 measures 91 on power against 90 for Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16. That comes from a 14 mm Bantam power core core swinging at 115 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 at 80 versus 79. 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?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 scores 86 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon face, against 83 for the Carbon fiber face on Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14. In practice a 3-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16, with 6.6 twist weight against 6. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (84) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- They are within $0 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene with foam walls core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face. Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14: 14 mm Bantam power core core with a Carbon fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 84 and sweet spot 84 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 at 8.1 oz against 8.2 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (113 vs 115) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 to the Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16 leads on forgiveness by 12 points; everything else is within 10 points. At $180 vs $180, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a spin vs pop decision
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Read the full reviews: Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14 and Six Zero Black Diamond Power 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.