Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C 12.7

$249.99

This paddle is lightweight and fast and then when you pair that with its very poppy nature you get a paddle that is deadly at the net.

Control: 80
Power: 87
Pop: 96
Spin: 98
Forgiveness: 84

Ratings are 1-100.

Buy From Paddletek

Category:Power Paddles

Overview

The Bantam ESQ-C was designed in collaboration with pickleball pro, Andrea Koop, to provide a combination of power, spin, and forgiveness. PT-700 unidirectional RAW carbon fiber is combined with our more powerful 12.7mm Bantam core to give serious players controllable power and spin capability. A 5 1⁄2” handle reduces wind drag and allows for a two-handed backhand, while a large, consistent sweet spot adds finesse to every shot.

Although this is power paddle it doesn’t create its power from thermoforming or using foam in the core. This means the core is less likely to break down and will last longer than paddles that use thermoforming or foam in the cores to generate power.

Paddle Specs

Length x Width	16″ x 8″”
Core Thickness	12.7 mm
Core Material	Paddletek Bantam Core
Facing Material	Unidirectional Raw Carbon Fiber
Weight	7.6-7.9 oz
Swingweight	104-107 (very low)
Twistweight	6.6-6.9 (high)
Handle Length	5.5″
Grip Size	4.25″

Our Review

The ESQ-C 12.7 is extremely lightweight, very poppy, has above average power, big spin and a good sweet spot. This is a rare combination of paddle characteristics and a very good combination for players who like to be aggressive at the net.

There aren’t many standard shaped paddles that come with some power and pop. But the ESQ-C 12.7 delivers in this department and is one of only a few standard shaped paddles I’d categorize as a power paddle. In my tests, it ranked in the top 10% for pop and the top 30% for power among the 150+ paddles I’ve evaluated.

It’s rare to find a standard-shaped power paddle, let alone one that is also this lightweight with an average swingweight of 106. This combo of being ultra lightweight and high in pop makes it one of the best offensive paddles I’ve ever used at the net. You can get your paddle into position quickly on counters and you find the ball out in front of you more often in fast hands exchanges. But not only are you in better position more often, you also have the pop to put some pace on the ball and win those fast hand exchanges.

Because it is so poppy though it is harder to control and keep resets and drops down. However, when you compare it to the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C 12.7 which is the elongated version of this paddle the pop is toned down some because of the wider face so it is easier to control in comparison to that one.

Ratings:

Control: 80
Power: 87
Pop: 96
Spin: 98
Forgiveness: 84

Reviewer: Braydon (4.8 DUPR)

Manufacturer Warranty

Paddletek as a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects and workmanship of the paddle. Warranty is non-transferable and only valid to the original purchaser.

What is not covered by the warranty?

Normal wear and tear, abuse and negligence. This includes the grip, edge guard and face materials.
Any modifications made to the paddle.
Fading of graphics.
Hitting other objects (other than the pickleball) such as the ground or other paddles (this can weaken the paddle or loosen the trim).
Not being the original purchaser.
Used in commercial applications or rentals.

Replacement paddles are not covered under warranty.

You can find additional warranty information here >>

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