PaddleTek Bantam TKO & ALW-C Review
PaddleTek taught an old dog new tricks.
Forget the hype beast releases of foam cores and as-designed crushing. Meet the most boring release that I’m most excited about.
The PaddleTek Bantam Series revamps the gen 1 paddles you learned to play on and turns them into a reliable cannon. On paper, they’re nothing to write home about, but on court, is a different story.
Specs
Price: $229.99 (Code: PBSTUDIO to bring it down to $207)
Thickness: 12.7mm, 14.3mm
Core: Polymer
Face: Carbon Fiber + Fiberglass
Handle: 5.0” (ALW-C), 5.25” (TKO-C), 5.75” (TKO-CX)
Grip: 4”-4.375” (ALW-C), 4.25” (TKO-C/CX)
Spin: 2020-2098 RPM
Static Weight: Selectable, 7.8-8.2oz
Swing Weight:
ALW-C
12.7mm: 104
14.3mm: 105
TKO-C
12.7mm: 112
14.3mm: 118
TKO-CX
12.7mm: 121
14.3mm: 122
Twist Weight:
ALW-C
12.7mm: 6.71
14.3mm: 6.69
TKO-C
12.7mm: 6.27
14.3mm: 6.60
TKO-CX
12.7mm: 7.10
14.3mm: 7.11
Warranty: Lifetime
Tech: Raw Carbon Fiber, Fiberglass Layer, Tennis-Style Butt Cap, USA Made
Naming Scheme and Handles
This paddle is available in two different shapes - one designed with Christian Alshon and the other with Anna Leigh Waters. Both have the -C tag to signify the raw Carbon fiber texture.
Bantam TKO-C or Technical Knockout (Alshon)
Bantam ALW-C (Waters)
The TKO line has an additional variant with the -CX tag. This stands for Extended because of the longer 5.75” handle (specifically for those who use two-handed backhands).
That’s not to say the TKO-C isn’t amenable to two-handers. The useable handle area is longer than advertised and plays closer to a 5.5” handle when overgripped. Personally, the TKO-C handle feels perfectly fine for my two-handed backhands.
TKO-C 12.7mm (left), ALW-C 12.7mm (middle), TKO-CX 12.7mm (right)
Customization
Besides the handle length, the only difference between the TKO-C and TKO-CX is how customizable they are. The TKO-CX already has steel weighted beads internal to the core edges.
PaddleTek chose to add concentrated weight at 3 and 9 o’clock to increase stability with head/perimeter weighting. While a nice touch, spreading the weight more would have opened up the sweet spot better.
If you’re someone who likes to customize, then TKO-C is your choice. It starts at a lower swing weight and has plenty of leeway to increase stability. Unless you specifically NEED that 5.75” handle, most people will be better off with the TKO-C models.
the weighted balls placed at 3-9 only in the TKO-CX models
Weights and putty removed from the TKO-CX
Power
Across all models, these have considerable pop and power when compared to its gen 1 brethren and even thermoformed gen 2’s. That’s likely due to the fiberglass layer added to the raw carbon fiber.
If you want the most pop and power out of them, then the TKO-CX 12.7mm is your go-to. It’s nearly identical to the ALW-C but in a different shape and just a touch more power.
While the power of the Bantam aren’t to the insane levels of the new Gearbox Pro Power, Joola Gen 3, or Vatic Pro Oni, it’s not far behind. I’d say the Bantam ranks in the top 3-5 of pop overall. Its biggest strength lie in the drives and hand battles. The extra pop makes it easy to get ahead in firefights and end them before your opponents. One thing to note, these sound very loud and aggressive when hitting. It’s almost a loud snap or crack for big swings.
Control
As always, with added power, control will suffer. The extra pop takes some getting used to especially for resets and drops, but it’s not the same level as foam-injected cores. If you’re coming from the Gearbox or Joola, then you won’t have trouble adapting to the Bantam. But for all other paddles, the transition exists. Overall, the feel off the face is crisp and you can feel the ball wanting to jump. It’s exciting to play with and the feel fits my preferences.
12.7mm vs. 14.3mm
So how do you choose between the two available thicknesses?
If you want power almost to the level of the Gearbox or Joola, then 12.7mm will get you there. Aggressive doubles, singles, or higher level players will enjoy this option.
If you want a mix of high power with a touch more control, then you want to stick to the thicker 14.3mm. It’s a great bridge between a regular gen 1 and the upper limits currently on the market. It has the pop and power, without letting you go off the rails.
The ALW-C
This is an extremely appealing paddle for women.
You can choose a smaller grip size.
12.7mm: 4.0” or 4.25”
14.3mm: 4.125” or 4.375”
The weight is selectable from 7.5 to 7.8oz.
The swing weight is very low making it a very light and fast paddle in the hand.
Sweet spot is better due to the shape.
You can customize this paddle to your heart’s content.
The ALW-C features a wider shape, faster hand speed, and plenty of pop/power. If hand speed is #1 for you, then this is the paddle you want.
Personally, I would consider using this paddle if it had a longer handle. The 5” is a little too cramped for my liking.
Sweet spot
The one particular thing of note is the sweet spot size.
Since these paddles utilize a gen 1 design and don’t have any foam, the sweet spots are noticeably smaller than gen 2 thermoformed paddles. This isn’t an issue if you’re used to a gen 1 paddle already, but just be aware that it is a noticeable trade off coming from gen 2.
I consistently found myself looking at the paddle wondering why a ball died during a reset which was a bit frustrating.
This is the largest draw back to these paddles in my opinion.
The one model that does a good job mitigating this issue is the ALW-C since it is a wider design and has a larger sweet spot as a result.
Durability
One final thing I want to mention is that while universally these PaddleTek models should be more durable than almost any gen 2 thermoformed paddle, the TKO-CX models have had an interesting issue that myself and several other reviewers have experienced.
Those weights placed at 3-9 sometimes come loose from the putty and start shaking inside the paddle. This can be a really annoying sound, but it also gives the paddle an annoying feedback. I have no doubt that PaddleTek would warranty this, but regardless it’s annoying that it is a potential issue to begin with.
This happened on our TKO-CX 14.3mm, but not our 12.7mm.
Closing Thoughts
PaddleTek found a way to make a gen 1 paddle for the modern era. The Bantam is powerful and has several options to fit your play style.
That being said, this paddle is a beacon of hope in a sea of core crushed “gen 3s”. If you want one, then here’s how to decide which Bantam to pick:
Choose the TKO-C if:
You like to customize your setup.
Don’t need an extra long handle for two-handers.
TKO-CX if:
You have large hands and need an even longer handle.
Can handle a higher swing weight.
Want a hard hitting paddle out of the box.
ALW-C if:
You don’t mind short handles.
Want a larger sweet spot with faster hand speed.
Need a small grip.
Any of the paddles in the Bantam Series will not disappoint. In the end, it’ll come down to your personal preferences on their slight variations.
The PaddleTek Bantam will perform like an elite paddle, meet your power needs, and last as long as you want it to. So in the end, this paddle is definitely worth the pricetag.
Interested in buying one?
If you plan to pick one of these up, you can use code PBSTUDIO to save 10% on your order with the link below.