What Is Paddletek, the Paddle Brand the World Champion Chose
Anna Leigh Waters, the undisputed queen reigning over the pickleball world.
The brand she has continued to favor for years is "Paddletek." Founded in 2010, this brand is committed to manufacturing within the U.S. and is known for craftsman-like manufacturing. Its stance of competing on honest performance rather than a flashy advertising strategy is why it earns immense trust from top pros.
Paddletek's forte lies in "control performance" and "softness of feel." With its proprietary polymer honeycomb core technology, it's designed to absorb the shock at the moment the ball hits the paddle and suppress vibration to the utmost. This earns fervent support from the senior crowd who want to prevent injuries like tennis elbow, and from players who value delicate touch shots.
The Appeal of the Bantam ALW Series That Anna Leigh Waters Chooses
The "Bantam ALW" series bearing the name of the world's No. 1 women's player. This model is packed with the secrets that support her playing style.
The Exquisite Balance of Light Weight and Handling
The ALW model's greatest feature is its lightweight design of 7.4 oz (about 210 g). This lightness makes handling on volleys and poaches outstanding. With a wide sweet spot that's strong against mishits, it's the perfect paddle for those who feel "I want power, but ease of use matters too."
Performance Differences by Thickness
The ALW series comes in two thicknesses, 12.7 mm and 14.3 mm. The 12.7 mm is a power-focused design, ideal for players who wield fierce drive shots as a weapon. The 14.3 mm, on the other hand, is control-focused, suiting tactical players who use a lot of delicate touch shots. Anna Leigh herself is said to switch between these two depending on the match situation and opponent.
The Durability and Power the Gen1 Structure Delivers
The Bantam series' greatest appeal is that it combines durability from the Gen1 structure with power performance rivaling the Pro4 and CRBN.
It has a lineup of models that balance strength standing head and shoulders above even recent power paddles with a ball feel everyone longs for. In particular, durability where the feel doesn't change even in long matches and practice is a very important factor for pro players. One reason Anna Leigh has used Paddletek for years is this "resistance to breaking."
Furthermore, Torsional Vibration Control technology minimizes wobble on off-center shots and expands the sweet-spot range in the left-right direction. This makes more stable volleys and drop shots possible, allowing aggressive play while reducing mistakes.
The Technical Features That Support Pro-Grade Performance
The Secret of the Polymer Honeycomb Core
Paddletek's specially made polymer honeycomb core has a soft touch on ball impact, supporting long, low-stress play. With a high-durability polymer honeycomb core and fiberglass face, it can balance both powerful smashes and delicate drops.
PT-700 Unidirectional RAW Carbon Fiber
The higher-end TKO-C model uses PT-700 unidirectional RAW carbon fiber. This material delivers top-class spin performance and controllable power, and was born through joint development with top pro Christian Alshon. The longer 16.5-inch (about 41.9 cm) design improves speed on impact and dramatically boosts a shot's power.
How to Choose the Bantam Model Best for You
ALW – The Balanced, All-Purpose Player
For volley-focused and control-oriented players, the ALW model is ideal. It's lightweight with excellent handling and has the trait of being strong against mishits thanks to its wide sweet spot. It's an all-purpose model recommendable to a wide range of players, from beginners and intermediates to advanced players.
ESQ – A Power-Leaning Model for Two-Handed Backhands
The ESQ model bases its performance on the ALW but lengthens the handle. It's an ideal spec especially for two-handed backhand players — the balance point is more toward the tip, and drives fly sharply. A good way to choose is: ESQ over ALW if you want to "push hard with drives," and ALW if you "emphasize handling and volleys."
TKO – A Drive-Focused Model for a One-Shot Kill
The most aggressive model in the series is the TKO. As the name TKO = Technical Knock Out suggests, its drive performance is overwhelming, with a firm ball feel and a strong sense of "hitting." That said, the sweet spot is somewhat narrow and there's a bit of a learning curve. It's a truly pro-grade one-shot weapon for players who "just want to attack!" and "drive-centered players."
Summary: The World Champion's Choice Will Change Your Play
Paddletek paddles are a brand that world No. 1 player Anna Leigh Waters has continued to trust for years.
Craftsman-like manufacturing committed to Made in USA, excellent control performance from proprietary polymer honeycomb core technology, and astonishing durability from the Gen1 structure. All of these are why it's supported by a wide range of players, from top pros to beginners and intermediates.
The three Bantam series models — ALW, ESQ, and TKO — each have a different character while sharing high quality and performance. Finding the one paddle that fits your playing style should deepen the fun of pickleball even further.
Why not step up to the next level with the paddle the world champion chose?
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