Quick Answer: The Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro-C is the current version of Paddletek’s control-series paddle — a 14.3mm core under a PT-700 raw carbon fiber face, priced at $149.99 on paddletek.com. It replaces the older Tempest Wave V, which Paddletek has discontinued (its old product page now 404s). If you want a crisper, more connected control paddle than a plush soft-core build, and you want it from one of pickleball’s original heritage brands, the Pro-C is the pick. Confirm you’re buying the “-C” generation, not older Pro clearance stock still floating around some resellers.
Paddletek is one of pickleball’s true heritage brands, credited with helping pioneer the polymer honeycomb “Bantam” core that most modern paddles now use, and its paddles are still handcrafted in Grand Ledge, Michigan. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s 2026 Single Sport Report, pickleball reached roughly 24.3 million U.S. players in 2025 — a wave of new and upgrading players who are searching for exactly this kind of established-brand control paddle. We checked Paddletek’s own current catalog against the Tempest naming players may already know, and confirmed the lineup has moved on: the Tempest Wave V is gone, and the Tempest Wave Pro-C is now the control-series paddle Paddletek actually sells.
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro-C specs at a glance
| Spec | Tempest Wave Pro-C |
|---|---|
| Face material | PT-700 unidirectional raw carbon fiber |
| Core | 14.3mm Tempest polymer honeycomb |
| Weight | 7.8-8.2 oz |
| Grip | 4 1/4" (medium) circumference |
| Extras | PT-07 Matrix Stabilization Layer, Shot Protection Edge Guard System |
| Price | $149.99 (official, paddletek.com) |
| Rating | ★★★★½ |
What we liked
Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro-C
- PT-700 raw carbon fiber face grips the ball for real spin on dinks, resets and blocks — not just flat, muted touch.
- 14.3mm core keeps the feel crisp and connected, firmer and more feedback-rich than a plush 16mm control paddle.
- PT-07 Matrix Stabilization Layer adds forgiveness on off-center contact without going soft.
- Shot Protection Edge Guard System damps vibration and protects the rim on mishits.
- $149.99 keeps it well under Paddletek's thermoformed Bantam TKO-C flagship, which runs closer to $180.
Warm up with a training podcast on the drive to the courts — start your free Audible trial and queue up something to listen to before you unwrap a new paddle. For the rest of Paddletek’s current lineup, see our best Paddletek pickleball paddle roundup.
What holds it back
- Firmer than a plush control paddle. The 14.3mm core is on the thinner end for a “control” paddle — players who want the softest, most forgiving dwell time may prefer a 16mm+ core instead.
- Naming confusion with the discontinued Pro (no “-C”). Some resellers are still clearing out the older Tempest Wave Pro at discount prices; it’s not the same paddle as the current Pro-C, and specs can differ.
- Direct-to-consumer-leaning availability. Like most modern paddle brands, the deepest selection and most reliable current pricing is on paddletek.com and Amazon rather than every local pro shop.
Tempest Wave Pro-C vs. Bantam TKO-C: which Paddletek to buy
| Tempest Wave Pro-C | Bantam TKO-C | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.99 | ~$180 |
| Core | 14.3mm Tempest honeycomb | 14.3mm Bantam honeycomb |
| Face | PT-700 raw carbon | Raw T700 carbon fiber |
| Series focus | Control | All-court power + spin |
| Best for | Placement-first, kitchen-line players | Aggressive drivers who still want spin |
Both paddles share Paddletek’s thermoformed-era build quality and a raw carbon face, but they’re tuned for different games. See how both rank against the rest of the brand in our best Paddletek pickleball paddle guide, or how control paddles compare across every brand in our best pickleball paddle for control roundup.
Who should buy the Tempest Wave Pro-C
- Control-first, kitchen-line players who want a crisper, more connected feel than a plush soft-core paddle, without giving up spin.
- Paddletek loyalists upgrading from an older Tempest Wave V who want the brand’s current control paddle rather than discontinued stock.
- Budget-conscious players who still want a heritage brand, since the Pro-C undercuts Paddletek’s own Bantam TKO-C flagship by about $30.
- Skip it if: you specifically want the plushest, most forgiving control feel — a thicker 16mm core paddle like the Vatic Pro Prism Flash is the softer option.
The bottom line
The Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro-C is the control-series paddle Paddletek actually sells in 2026 — a 14.3mm core, a PT-700 raw carbon face and a $149.99 price tag that undercuts the brand’s own Bantam flagship. The Tempest Wave V it replaced is gone from Paddletek’s own site, so if you’re shopping by an older name you knew, this is the paddle you’re actually looking for now. See how it stacks up against the full field in our best pickleball paddle pillar, or against every other current Paddletek model in our best Paddletek pickleball paddle roundup.