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Paddletek
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
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.
From Paddletek
The Bantam EXL-C continues a legacy of elite-level performance. It provides a combination of forgiveness, power, spin, and flexibility. PT-700 unidirectional raw carbon fiber is combined with our more forgiving Bantam core to give serious players power, control, and spin capability. This combination along with its light/medium weight makes the EXL-C a versatile paddle for performance-minded players.
Official Paddletek product page →Cross-shopping? Most buyers weigh the Bantam ALW-C 12.7 against the JOOLA Scorpeus 14 — see them side by side, or browse every Paddletek paddle.
- Core
- 12.7 mm
- Weight
- 7.65 oz
- Swing wt
- 93
- Twist wt
- 6.2
- Shape
- standard
- Surface
- PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber
- Grip
- 5.25 in
- Released
- 2025
Pros
- Lightest build we track
- Wide standard shape is forgiving
- PT-700 raw carbon face for spin
Cons
- Needs lead tape to feel stable against hard hitters
- Low plow-through on drives
AI verdict — generated from measured specs
Last updated: July 2026
Should you buy the Bantam ALW-C 12.7?
The Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 scores 79.4/100 on our IQ index, built from all 15 Paddle DNA traits. Its signature is maneuverability (98/100, 99th percentile of the database), backed by spin at 90 and pop at 79. The 12.7 mm Polymer Honeycomb core and PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber face at 7.65 oz put it in the placement-first — you win points by out-positioning people bracket.
Where it gives ground is plow through (47) and stability (74). With a 93 kg·cm² swing weight and a 5.25 in handle it suits beginner/intermediate players, one-handed backhands, hands battles at the kitchen. Skip it if your contact point still moves around the face; you rely on raw put-away pace.
Closest paddles by DNA: JOOLA Scorpeus 14 ($100), Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 14 ($130), Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid ($110). If budget matters, the Vatic Pro Prism Flash lands within 0 IQ points for $31 less. Overall: a reasonable pick in its price band rather than a category leader — buy it for the specific trait it wins on.
- Best for
- beginner/intermediate players, one-handed backhands, hands battles at the kitchen
- Playing style
- placement-first — you win points by out-positioning people
- Avoid if
- your contact point still moves around the face; you rely on raw put-away pace
Community consensus
What other players say about the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Verbatim excerpts from public discussion and independent reviews, plus the themes they add up to. These are other people's opinions, not ours, and every quote links back to where it was written.
No sourced community excerpts are published for this paddle yet. We only quote text we can link back to.
Who should buy the Bantam ALW-C 12.7?
- One-handed backhand players who want more face for the same length
- Topspin-heavy players rolling and dipping every ball
- Players who live in hands battles at the kitchen line
- Newer players wanting one paddle to grow into
- Power-first players who win points on raw put-away pace
- Two-handed backhand players — the handle is short for it
AI paddle match
If you like the Bantam ALW-C 12.7, you'll probably like…
Each pick is the database's best answer to one specific question, ranked by how far it moves the needle versus the Bantam ALW-C 12.7.
- Better controlJOOLA Perseus Pro V 16Control 96 vs 85, touch 94 vs 85IQ 89.1 · $300
- More powerSelkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16Power 95 vs 76, pop 90 vs 79IQ 87.1 · $332.99
- Better valueVERSIX Strike 4FIQ 69.7 at $15 — $90 less than the Bantam ALW-C 12.7IQ 69.7 · $15
- Similar feelJOOLA Scorpeus 14Closest DNA profile in the database to the Bantam ALW-C 12.7IQ 81.2 · $100
- More spinCRBN CRBN-2X SquareSpin 96 vs 90 off a Raw T700 carbon peel-ply faceIQ 87.3 · $229
- More forgivingSix Zero Quartz ControlForgiveness 91 vs 77, sweet spot 92 vs 76IQ 88 · $190
Bantam ALW-C 12.7 head-to-head comparisons
The matchups people actually cross-shop, each with a full 15-trait breakdown.
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Scorpeus 14Cross-shopped at the same price
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Labs Project 007 Epic 14Premium step up
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs V7 HybridCross-shopped at the same price
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Perseus 14Cross-shopped at the same price
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs SLK Halo XL ControlCross-shopped at the same price
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 HybridCross-shopped at the same price
Paddle DNA™ — all 15 traits
Every trait normalised 0-100 against the full database, so these numbers mean the same thing on any paddle page. How we measure →
Key attributes
DNA match — paddles within 5% of the Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Our similarity engine ranks the whole database by average DNA deviation. Tighten or widen the band to see how far you have to travel to save money or gain a trait.
Paddle DNA™ match
Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7
IQ 79.4 · $105
3 paddles within 5% of the Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Ranked by DNA deviation
- +5 swing weight+5 plow through+4 control+3 stability
+5 swing weight · Higher IQ score (81.2 vs 79.4)
- +17 plow through+11 swing weight+10 stability-6 maneuverability
+17 plow through · -6 maneuverability · Higher IQ score (82 vs 79.4)
- +17 plow through+16 swing weight+7 control-7 pop
+17 plow through · -7 pop · Higher IQ score (80.6 vs 79.4)
Best alternatives to the Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Each pick beats the Bantam ALW-C 12.7 on one specific thing — price, power, control or forgiveness.
Similar paddles to the Bantam ALW-C 12.7
Closest matches by player level, hand weight and price — the paddles most players cross-shop against the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7.
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR84% match
- Player level
- beginner / intermediate
- Weight
- 8 oz(+0.35 vs Bantam ALW-C 12.7)
- Price
- $110(+$5)
- JOOLA Essentials 1682% match
- Player level
- beginner / intermediate
- Weight
- 7.9 oz(+0.25 vs Bantam ALW-C 12.7)
- Price
- $89(-$16)
- Engage Encore Pro EX80% match
- Player level
- beginner / intermediate
- Weight
- 7.8 oz(+0.15 vs Bantam ALW-C 12.7)
- Price
- $130(+$25)
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.080% match
- Player level
- beginner / intermediate
- Weight
- 7.8 oz(+0.15 vs Bantam ALW-C 12.7)
- Price
- $80(-$25)
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Signature Carbon STR
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Essentials 16
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs Encore Pro EX
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 vs SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
Same playing profile (within 8% DNA)
JOOLA Scorpeus 1414 mm · standard · 7.8 oz · SW 96$10081
Selkirk Labs Project 007 Epic 1414 mm · standard · 8.4 oz · SW 100$13082
Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid15.2 mm · hybrid · 8 oz · SW 103$11081
CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage14 mm · hybrid · 8 oz · SW 102$28083- 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
Want a different matchup? Compare any two paddles or browse the full paddle database.
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More from Paddletek
One of the original US manufacturers, best known for the Bantam and Tempest lines and their proprietary polymer cores.
Bantam ALW-C 12.7 — frequently asked questions
- Is the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 good for beginners?
- Yes. Forgiveness measures 77/100 and the sweet spot 76/100, both high enough that off-centre contact still produces a playable ball. At $105 it is more paddle than most beginners need, but it will not hold you back.
- Is the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 worth the price?
- At $105 it sits in the 23th percentile of the database for cost and the 21th for IQ score. If those numbers do not line up for you, the Vatic Pro Prism Flash at $74 is the value alternative we point people to.
- How does the Bantam ALW-C 12.7 compare to the Scorpeus 14?
- They are close on DNA. The Bantam ALW-C 12.7 reads power 76 / control 85 / spin 90 against 74 / 89 / 90 for the Scorpeus 14, at $105 versus $100. Our full head-to-head breaks down every trait.
- Is the 12.7 mm better than the 16 mm version?
- A 14 mm core returns energy faster, so drives and speed-ups come off harder with less effort. The 16 mm build gives up some of that pop for dwell time and softer hands. Pick 14 mm for pace, 16 mm for touch.
- Is the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 approved for tournament play?
- Sanctioned play requires the model to appear on USA Pickleball's official approved-equipment list. Paddletek submits its retail models for approval, but approval is per model and configuration, so check the current USAP list for the exact Bantam ALW-C 12.7 build before you enter a sanctioned event. We do not list approval status we have not verified.
- Does the Bantam ALW-C 12.7 have good spin?
- Spin measures 90/100 — the 49th percentile of our database — off a PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber face. That is top-tier: enough bite for heavy topspin drives and rolls.
- Is the Bantam ALW-C 12.7 head heavy?
- Swing weight is 93 kg·cm² and twist weight 6.2. That is light and fast through the swing path, which favours hands battles over plow-through. Static weight is 7.65 oz.
- Does the Bantam ALW-C 12.7 benefit from lead tape?
- Yes — at 93 kg·cm² there is room to add. Tape at 3 and 9 o'clock raises twist weight and stability with the smallest hit to hand speed; tape at 12 adds power and plow-through but slows the paddle noticeably. Any added weight can affect tournament legality if it changes the paddle beyond the approved configuration.
- What is the best overgrip for the Bantam ALW-C 12.7?
- The stock handle is 5.25 in long with a 4.25 in circumference. A thin tacky overgrip adds roughly 1/16 in of circumference and a few grams above the balance point — the cheapest way to fine-tune fit. If your hand is larger than the 4.25 in stock size, build up with an under-wrap first rather than stacking overgrips.
- What should I replace the Bantam ALW-C 12.7 with when it wears out?
- Face wear shows up as lost spin long before the core dies. The straight replacement is another Bantam ALW-C 12.7; if you want to change something, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 adds control (96 vs 85) and the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 adds power (95 vs 76).
- Who is the Bantam ALW-C 12.7 best for?
- Players recovering from arm injury or fighting slow hands. Skill levels we would put on it: beginner, intermediate. Handle length of 5.25 in suits one-handed backhands; two-handers will find it short.
- What shape and size is the Bantam ALW-C 12.7?
- standard shape, 15.9375 in long by 8 in wide, 12.7 mm Polymer Honeycomb core, PT-700 Raw Carbon Fiber face, 7.65 oz. Released 2025.
- Is the Bantam ALW-C 12.7 good for two-handed backhands?
- Less so. At 5.25 in your top hand will sit partly on the throat. Two-handers should look for 5.3 in or longer.
- Bantam ALW-C 12.7 or Bantam ALW-C 14?
- Both are Paddletek. The Bantam ALW-C 12.7 reads IQ 79.4 at $105; the Bantam ALW-C 14 reads IQ 86.3 at $200. The clearest split is power (76 vs 85).
- How does PickleballLookup score the Bantam ALW-C 12.7?
- The IQ score of 79.4 is a weighted composite of the 15 Paddle DNA traits, normalized across every paddle in the database so the number means the same thing on any page. Performance traits carry the most weight; descriptive traits like swing weight carry none. Full methodology is published.
Bantam ALW-C 12.7 on video
Reviewed by
Alex Zubarev
Founder, PickleballLookupAlex built the Paddle DNA™ database behind PickleballLookup — 15 normalized traits measured against every paddle in the catalog. Every page on this site is generated from that data and editorially reviewed before publication.
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Last updated July 2026 · How we score paddles