Best Paddletek Pickleball Paddles

Anna Leigh Waters left for Franklin, her paddle got discontinued, and the whole carbon Bantam line dropped from $249.99 to $199.99. Here's every Paddletek model, and which one is worth buying now.

Best Paddletek Pickleball Paddles
Matt Khoury
By Matt KhouryFounder, Matt's Pickleball
Published Aug 25, 2026Updated Aug 27, 2026Independent editorial · No brand paid for or approved this article
Methodology640+paddles tested5.8M+YouTube views
Disclosure: Affiliate links are used throughout this site. Sponsored ad placements may appear on this page, but no brand paid for, reviewed, approved, or influenced this article.

Best Paddletek Pickleball Paddles — quick answer

My top 5 picks, ranked, with the measurement that sets each one apart:

  1. 1. Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C 12.7 — spin 2368 rpm (camera-measured)
  2. 2. Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C 14.3 — spin 2312 rpm (camera-measured)
  3. 3. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 — spin 2226 rpm (camera-measured)
  4. 4. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14.3 — spin 2192 rpm (camera-measured)
  5. 5. Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro-C 14.3 — spin 2286 rpm (camera-measured)

How these paddles are measured

The widebody Bantams got cheaper and nothing else changed

  1. 1. Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C 12.7 — Serve speed 60.1 mph (radar-gun tested, 43rd percentile) · Spin 2368 rpm (camera-measured, 93rd percentile) · Twist weight 7.1 (89th percentile) · Static weight 7.6 oz (3rd percentile) · Swing weight 105 (4th percentile) · Core 13 mm · Price $200
  2. 2. Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C 14.3 — Serve speed 60.3 mph (radar-gun tested, 50th percentile) · Spin 2312 rpm (camera-measured, 89th percentile) · Twist weight 7 (86th percentile) · Static weight 7.7 oz (8th percentile) · Swing weight 106 (5th percentile) · Core 14 mm · Price $200
  3. 3. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 12.7 — Serve speed 60 mph (radar-gun tested, 39th percentile) · Spin 2226 rpm (camera-measured, 37th percentile) · Twist weight 7 (86th percentile) · Static weight 7.7 oz (8th percentile) · Swing weight 105 (5th percentile) · Core 13 mm · Price $250
  4. 4. Paddletek Bantam ALW-C 14.3 — Serve speed 60.2 mph (radar-gun tested, 46th percentile) · Spin 2192 rpm (camera-measured, 23rd percentile) · Twist weight 7.1 (87th percentile) · Static weight 8.1 oz (64th percentile) · Swing weight 110 (20th percentile) · Core 14 mm · Price $250
  5. 5. Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro-C 14.3 — Serve speed 59.3 mph (radar-gun tested, 25th percentile) · Spin 2286 rpm (camera-measured, 70th percentile) · Twist weight 7.2 (89th percentile) · Static weight 8.3 oz (93rd percentile) · Swing weight 112 (34th percentile) · Core 14 mm · Price $150

The TKO and GTO builds bring the pop back

  1. 1. Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 12.7 — Serve speed 60 mph (radar-gun tested, 39th percentile) · Spin 2308 rpm (camera-measured, 88th percentile) · Twist weight 6.6 (67th percentile) · Static weight 7.8 oz (15th percentile) · Swing weight 118 (79th percentile) · Core 13 mm · Price $200
  2. 2. Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 14.3 — Serve speed 60.1 mph (radar-gun tested, 43rd percentile) · Spin 2222 rpm (camera-measured, 36th percentile) · Twist weight 6.4 (53rd percentile) · Static weight 8.3 oz (93rd percentile) · Swing weight 119 (84th percentile) · Core 14 mm · Price $200
  3. 3. Paddletek Bantam TKO-CX 12.7 — Serve speed 59.6 mph (radar-gun tested, 29th percentile) · Spin 2268 rpm (camera-measured, 54th percentile) · Twist weight 6.7 (73rd percentile) · Static weight 7.6 oz (3rd percentile) · Swing weight 113 (39th percentile) · Core 13 mm · Price $200
  4. 4. Paddletek Bantam TKO-CX 14.3 — Serve speed 59.9 mph (radar-gun tested, 36th percentile) · Spin 2302 rpm (camera-measured, 85th percentile) · Twist weight 6.4 (48th percentile) · Static weight 7.9 oz (26th percentile) · Swing weight 122 (92nd percentile) · Core 14 mm · Price $200
  5. 5. Paddletek Bantam GTO-C 12.7 — Serve speed 60.5 mph (radar-gun tested, 61st percentile) · Spin 2214 rpm (camera-measured, 32nd percentile) · Twist weight 7.1 (87th percentile) · Static weight 7.9 oz (23rd percentile) · Swing weight 115 (53rd percentile) · Core 13 mm · Price $200
  6. 6. Paddletek Bantam GTO-C 14.3 — Serve speed 60.4 mph (radar-gun tested, 54th percentile) · Spin 2267 rpm (camera-measured, 53rd percentile) · Twist weight 6.8 (76th percentile) · Static weight 8.1 oz (60th percentile) · Swing weight 120 (89th percentile) · Core 14 mm · Price $200
  7. 7. Paddletek Bantam GTO-C Kyle Yates 12.7 — Serve speed 60.5 mph (radar-gun tested, 61st percentile) · Spin 2198 rpm (camera-measured, 25th percentile) · Twist weight 7.9 (100th percentile) · Static weight 8 oz (57th percentile) · Swing weight 119 (83rd percentile) · Core 13 mm · Price $200
  8. 8. Paddletek Bantam GTO-C Kyle Yates 14.3 — Serve speed 60.4 mph (radar-gun tested, 54th percentile) · Spin 2247 rpm (camera-measured, 44th percentile) · Twist weight 6.8 (73rd percentile) · Static weight 8 oz (39th percentile) · Swing weight 119 (84th percentile) · Core 14 mm · Price $200
  9. 9. Paddletek Tempest TKO-C 14.3 — Serve speed 60.2 mph (radar-gun tested, 46th percentile) · Spin 2286 rpm (camera-measured, 70th percentile) · Twist weight 6.4 (44th percentile) · Static weight 8.2 oz (91st percentile) · Swing weight 122 (94th percentile) · Core 14 mm · Price $150

Honeyfoam and Reserve trade the sweet spot for drive speed

  1. 1. Paddletek Honeyfoam TKO-X 16mm — Serve speed 60.8 mph (radar-gun tested, 83rd percentile) · Spin 2267 rpm (camera-measured, 53rd percentile) · Twist weight 6 (13th percentile) · Static weight 8.2 oz (82nd percentile) · Swing weight 113 (42nd percentile) · Core 16 mm · Price $250
  2. 2. Paddletek Honeyfoam TKO-X 14mm — Serve speed 60.4 mph (radar-gun tested, 54th percentile) · Spin 2278 rpm (camera-measured, 60th percentile) · Twist weight 6 (16th percentile) · Static weight 8.1 oz (71st percentile) · Swing weight 114 (44th percentile) · Core 14 mm · Price $250
  3. 3. Paddletek Reserve 16mm — Serve speed 60.8 mph (radar-gun tested, 83rd percentile) · Spin 2267 rpm (camera-measured, 53rd percentile) · Twist weight 6 (16th percentile) · Static weight 8.2 oz (89th percentile) · Swing weight 118 (76th percentile) · Core 16 mm · Price $250

Frequently asked questions

Is the ALW-C discontinued now that Anna Leigh Waters left?
Yes. Paddletek's own product page reads Discontinued and points at the Bantam EXL-C, a $199.99 widebody I haven't measured. It's supposed to the same thing. If you find an ALW-C it still holds up on stability. Spin was always where it fell short, and the ESQ-C costs the same $199.99 and spins far harder.
Honeyfoam or Bantam, is the foam actually an upgrade?
Depends what you wanted. Foam gives you a harder drive but not as much as the Bantams do, or did, back in the day. What you give up is a little bit of stability. Foam and the carbon Bantams now cost the same, $199.99 either way. If the big sweet spot is why you were looking at Paddletek, I think Honeyfoam is a step away from it.
Does Paddletek honor its limited lifetime warranty?
The guarantee covers manufacturer defects for the original owner, and it only activates if you register the paddle at paddletek.com within 14 days of purchase. It doesn't transfer, and it's valid in the US and Canada only.
Have the Bantams dropped in price?
Yes, across the whole carbon line. The ESQ-C, TKO-C, TKO-CX, GTO-C and the new EXL-C all list at $199.99, down from $249.99. The Tempest Wave Pro-C and Tempest TKO-C hold at $149.99. The Honeyfoam line has since come down to $199.99 as well. The only $249.99 paddle left is the Reserve, and it's sold out. None of the measurements changed, so the value case got $50 better without anyone touching the paddle. However, that price is still too high for what you're buying in this market.
Are Paddletek paddles legal for UPA-A tournaments?
Most of them are. Paddletek certifies to USA Pickleball across the line, and a lot of the Bantams and Honeyfoams carry UPA-A as well, including both ESQ-Cs and both ALW-Cs.
What is the difference between Bantam and Tempest?
$50, and less performance than that suggests. The Tempest Wave Pro-C at $149.99 is as stable as any Bantam widebody and more controllable than all of them. It feels and plays dense with very little feedback (especially compared to a Bantam). Where the Bantams win is the top end of spin, and the ESQ-C 12.7 is clear of everything. The Tempest is also the softer paddle by some margin, so if you drive the ball that gap matters. If you don't, the Tempest is the smarter buy.
Who plays Paddletek now that Anna Leigh Waters left?
Waters signed with Franklin in January 2026. Paddletek answered by adding Riley Newman, Zane Navratil, Connor Garnett and Max Freeman, who join Christian Alshon, Andrea Koop, Kyle Yates, Irina Tereschenko, Riley Bohnert and Rick Witsken. Newman moved over from ProXR, which Paddletek Group also owns.
Is the Paddletek Reserve the same paddle as the Honeyfoam TKO-X?
Yes. Reserve is the older name and Honeyfoam replaced it, The Reserve was a small-batch run at $249.99 and it's sold out. Honeyfoam is $199.99 and in stock.
Which paddle on this list has the highest measured spin RPM?
Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C 12.7 — 2368 rpm, camera-measured on the same protocol as every other paddle I test.
Which paddle on this list has the fastest measured serve speed?
Paddletek Honeyfoam TKO-X 16mm — 60.8 mph, radar-gun tested.
What is the cheapest paddle on this list?
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro-C 14.3 at $150.