Paddletek Bantam ALW-C - pickleball paddle review

Any Anna Leigh Waters fans out there? Today we're reviewing an update to the original 4-star Bantam ALW-C, the signature paddle of the women's world #1 teen sensation. Will the paddle live up to the hype?

It's been a good year for Paddletek. The Bantam TKO-C, a powerful all-court paddle, is one of the best paddles of 2024. Brandon Mackie and I tested the new ALW-C on the court for over 20 combined hours to see if this paddle is as impressive. Read on for our honest review of the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C.

If you want the go-to paddle of women's #1 Anna Leigh Waters, check out the new Bantam ALW-C from Paddletek. It reminds me of the Bantam TKO-C—that was the first paddle that ever blew my mind with how much topspin and power it can generate. The new ALW-C feels the same on spin—if anything it's more consistent.

While this doesn't hit as hard as the elongated TKO-C, it still provides plenty of offense without feeling "illegal" like the JOOLA Perseus 3. I also like how fast it plays. It has one of the lowest swing weights I've seen and you feel it at the kitchen—it swings fast and comfortably. I'd say it's the lightest powerful paddle you can find.

Watch my initial thoughts on the Bantam ALW-C:

Every paddle has its downsides. Similar to the TKO-C, this paddle can be hard to control because of the extra pop it has. I struggle avoiding pop-ups in dink rallies, especially with my backhand.

Due to the standard shape (it's just under 16" long), I also find myself hitting the edge guard on some pop-up poaches that I'd otherwise put away if I had the extra length of the elongated TKO-C (16.5"), or even a hybrid paddle like the Six Zero DBD (16.33").

For me, this is a strong launch from Paddletek. It was built for one of the most exciting pro players in pickleball history. It won't suit beginners but it's great for intermediate to advanced players who have no problem with control and are looking for more pop.

Brandon and I recommend both the 12.7 mm and 14.3 mm versions, depending on your play style. I preferred the 12.7 mm as I feel the extra pop outweighs the loss in control. If you want extra touch, try the 14.3 mm instead. Brandon prefers that model because he finds it less poppy.

Like the TKO-C and the previous ALW-C model, this paddle uses Paddletek's PT-700 unidirectional carbon fiber. This grips the ball so well, generating huge spin. There's also the proprietary Bantam core which gives you strong pop and power, especially with the 12.7 mm version.

I also want to mention the paddle shape. It has a standard (square) shape, meaning it's shorter, wider, and faster than an elongated paddle. Let's look at some of the other main features of the new ALW-C.

You get two thickness choices here. The 12.7 mm gives you more pop from the thinner core, while the 14.3 mm is more for control. Both are thinner than standard 14 and 16 mm paddles, which is unique to Paddletek.

See the section near the end of this review where we compare both models.

Plenty of people (Brandon included) noticed that the original ALW-C had a shorter 5" handle, even though ALW is famous for hitting two-handed backhand shots. Paddletek heard the call and extended the handle to a 5.25" one here.

While Brandon doesn't use this shot (and so didn't notice the change much), I personally like the handle. I've never hit two-handed backhands as consistently and powerfully as I do with this paddle. I almost feel like I can hit like ALW.

Paddletek is known for their lightweight paddles, including the Bantam TS-5 and the Phoenix Genesis paddle. The ALW-C keeps the low 7.5-7.8 oz static weight of the original model, and you can select which weight you want on that scale.

Combine this with a super-low swing weight (105) and you've got a quick paddle. I like this in hand battles at the kitchen because it moves fast and has great pop to put balls away. It also feels comfortable swinging at faster speeds and doesn't feel too heavy or strenuous.

If you want a slightly heavier feel, check out the Bantam TKO-C or Tempest Wave Pro-C, both of which weigh 7.8-8.2 oz.

The new ALW-C gives you a big jump in power compared to the old model, which scored 7/10. It hits about as hard as a standard-shaped paddle can. Power comes easy when putting overhead attacks away, driving third shots, and attacking at the kitchen.

Since it has a large sweet spot, I can generate consistent power even when I don't hit the ball perfectly. This helps me be more aggressive at the kitchen line. I can hit speedups more easily at my opponents and catch them off-guard to create pop-ups that are easy to put away.

Defensive counters are easier with this paddle than with more control-focused paddles like the Six Zero DBD. With the DBD, I feel like I have to use more energy to put counters down. However, with the ALW-C, I can easily fling the ball back at my opponent.

The extra pop means you sacrifice a little control compared to the earlier model, which scored 9/10. I find it pretty hard to control, especially when dinking or trying to reset in a defensive position when the ball comes at you fast. I have to alter my dinking significantly to keep from popping the ball up.

I don't get that feeling where the paddle absorbs the ball and pushes it back over the net like I get with control paddles like the PIKKL Hurricane Pro.

The ALW-C will challenge beginners and early intermediates on day one. As an advanced player (5.0 level), it took me a few hours of drilling to get into a rhythm where I could hit more finesse shots like dinks.

I absolutely love the spin on these newer Bantam paddles—a huge improvement from the earlier ALW-C model which scored 8/10. I feel like I can serve deeper than ever. I often catch people off guard because they think my serve is going out, only for it to dip in at the last second.

I quickly mastered the "60% power" third-shot drive and got really good at dipping the ball at the returner's feet before they could get to the kitchen line.

Pop is the only thing stopping this paddle from being a 10/10 on spin like the Engage Pursuit Pro1 6.0, Six Zero DBD, or PIKKL Hurricane Pro. The ball simply hangs on the face for less time, and you get a little less spin as a result.

That extra dwell time helps grip the ball even harder, and that's missing here. This is most evident when slicing the ball, though the topspin and sidespin overshadow any struggles I have generating a good slice.

The shorter handle and lesser pop of the 2023 model made it slightly more forgiving, so we've gone down a half-point here. That said, forgiveness is still good as the wide face gives you a large sweet spot that is nicely spread out and feels consistent even when I don't hit the ball directly in the center.

However, the extra pop does reduce the forgiveness somewhat. If you're not holding the paddle at the right angle, you'll get a lot of pop-ups or drive balls into the net.

I really like the weight distribution, so I'm scoring it a lot higher than the older model (7/10), which felt too light and lacked power. This ALW-C feels very balanced and not too heavy but also sturdy at the same time. The swing weight is great and makes for easier kitchen battles.

If this were my permanent paddle, I'd add some lead tape near the base and at the sides to boost control, since it already has good pop and is lighter than your average 8 oz paddle.

The grip feels comfortable to me. It doesn't feel too bulky, doesn't get too sweaty, and isn't so thin that I need an overgrip. I wouldn't modify it if I were to keep this as my standard paddle.

Funnily, Brandon feels the complete opposite! He finds Paddletek grips too bulky, preferring the premium grips of JOOLA and Bread & Butter paddles. He gave the original ALW-C a 7/10 because the handle was also very short.

Durability also goes up a point from the last model. The quality seems really great and sturdy. After avoiding raw carbon for a long time, Paddletek is finally using it and it should make their paddles more durable.

Similar to the TKO-C (which I've had for longer), the texture of the paddle face holds up after a lot of usage and I'm not seeing a decrease in spin.

You shouldn't experience the core crushing issues of Gen 3 paddles like the JOOLA Scorpeus 3. This is because Paddletek uses a more traditional Gen 1 core.

The original ALW-C scored 8/10 for aerodynamics. While this new model has the same low weight (7.5-7.8 oz), it's even better because it brings in way more pop.

The low swing weight of 105 is in the third percentile, making this paddle much faster than most paddles. Brandon appreciated this too, especially on quick backhand rolls at the kitchen.

He said that the edgeless Six Zero DBD Infinity is the only other performance paddle he's tested that offers this combination of power, spin, and speed—though he'd give that one the edge on power.

Who uses the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C?

This is Anna Leigh Waters' signature paddle. She is a teenage sensation. At just 17 years old, she is currently the PPA women's world #1 in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.

The original ALW-C was a really lightweight paddle with great control and forgiveness, but it lacked power and high-level spin. The new ALW-C keeps the light weight but gives you a big boost in power and boosts the spin. With the extra pop, you do sacrifice control and forgiveness, though not a huge amount.

The other big difference is the longer handle. ALW is known for her two-handed backhand shots, so it was strange that the previous paddle had a short 5" handle. After comments from players, Paddletek introduced a longer 5.25" handle that lets you hit two-handers like ALW.

All of this makes the new ALW-C more suited to rising intermediates and advanced players, whereas the original model worked best for beginners. I think more players will like the new model. For me, it's a huge improvement.

It really depends on which is more suited to your game. Brandon doesn't feel a huge difference between the models. If he had to choose, he would take the 14.3 mm because it's slightly less poppy. He almost always plays with a 16 mm paddle so it's closer to his natural paddle size.

I actually prefer the 12.7 mm model because I like the extra pop, which outweighs the slight loss in control for me.

Rating:

At $250, the Bantam ALW-C is in the premium price range with paddles like the Engage Pursuit Pro EX 6.0 and the Selkirk LUXX Control. If you're just starting out, you can skip it and try the Bantam TS-5 or check out our list of the best beginner paddles.

Lower intermediate players who struggle with consistency will find the pop challenging. If that's you, I'd recommend the PIKKL Hurricane Pro or Pickleball Apes Pro Line Energy S.

That said, if you're used to poppy paddles and you're reaching that more experienced 4.0+ level, the Bantam ALW-C was built for you. It appeals to players who want an aerodynamic paddle with great spin and a nice handle for two-handed shots (especially if you're an ALW fan).

It's a well-built paddle with premium raw carbon. You're getting close to Gen 3 power without the durability concerns of Gen 3 paddles. That alone justifies the $250 price tag for us.

If the Paddletek Bantam ALW-C isn't for you, check out some other paddles I recommend:

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