Best Franklin Pickleball Paddles: Are They Good, and Which to Buy?

Our Top Picks

Franklin’s main paddle lines are the C45, the FS Tour (plus a lighter Featherweight) and the lower-priced Signature paddles. Every pick is on franklinsports.com and was sold new on Amazon on November 4, 2026, at or below Franklin’s price. Our paddle brands roundup picks the C45 Tempo 16mm for Franklin.

Related guide: Best JOOLA Pickleball Paddles: Which Line Fits Your Game?

Compare the 8 Franklin paddles

Each row is the version we link. Figures are Franklin’s unless a cell names another source; “USA Pickleball” is the approved-list entry and the date it was added. Face material, size and grip are in each review.

Are Franklin Pickleball Paddles Good?

Reviewers split by line. Pickleball Effect’s 2024 FS Tour review opens: “Franklin was once renowned as a leading paddle manufacturer, but in recent years, they have faded into the background,” then rates the 14mm FS Tours well. John Kew concludes that “Franklin’s C45 series hits a sweet spot between performance and playability.”

Related guide: Best CRBN Pickleball Paddles: Barrage, Genesis or X Series?

Pickleball Studio tested the C45 Hybrid 14mm (not a pick here): “Franklin gets close, but no cigar.” Its test paddles rattled and a face came away from the foam edge wall; Franklin replied it has “a less than 1% defect rate”.

On Reddit’s “Franklin Paddles kinda mid” thread, one owner liked the Dynasty 14mm after tuning, though it lacked pop for them; another’s C45 “broke in 2 weeks” and was replaced within a day.

Franklin’s Paddle Lines, Signatures and Warranty

Lines. The C45 comes in Dynasty (elongated), Tempo (traditional), Hybrid and Aurelius shapes. The FS Tour is heavier by Franklin’s figures (8-8.9 oz); the Featherweight is its 12mm spin-off. The Signature line splits by face material: Signature Carbon (raw carbon) and Signature Series (fiberglass with MaxGrit).

Signatures. Franklin’s pro paddles are C45s: Anna Leigh Waters’ Aurelius, Parris Todd’s 13.25mm, and Hayden Patriquin and Megan Fudge editions the approval list files as Dynasty editions. The list still carries “Ben Johns Signature Model” (added 2019-08-15) and “Ben Johns Signature 16” (2020-05-28); Franklin’s paddle pages show no Ben Johns paddle today.

Warranty by line. Franklin’s C45 and FS Tour warranty: “Franklin C45° and FS Tour paddles are covered for one (1) year from the original purchase date.” Its general warranty is “ninety (90) days”. Amazon’s listings say “90 Day Limited”. A warranty covers defects, not wear; see how long a paddle lasts.

Not picks. The Hayden and Megan Fudge editions are Dynasty editions close to pick 1 (the Hayden with a 4.15 in grip); the Parris Todd, Hybrid and FS Tour Dynasty 16mm are picks on our other guides; the Pilot’s page gives no size or grip. Another brand: Wilson paddles.

How These Franklin Paddles Were Picked

What a paddle had to show

• Shown on franklinsports.com as an adult paddle (no team-logo, wood, youth or set paddles).
• USA Pickleball approval checked, with the date each entry was added.
• Sold new on Amazon on 2026-11-04, at or below Franklin’s price; each review names the sellers we saw.
• Not a pick on our other guides, apart from the C45 Dynasty 14mm and Aurelius 14mm.

Where the figures and opinions come from

Where the figures and opinions come from

Figures are Franklin’s; where Franklin leaves one out, the review names its source. Franklin sent Kew the C45s with “no strings attached”; Kew, Pickleball Effect, Pickleheads and Pickleball Studio post Franklin discount codes, and Pickleball Union earns commissions.

Detailed Reviews

Franklin C45 Dynasty 14mm, Elongated C45

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. John Kew Pickleball: C45 Dynasty 14mm and 16mm, Tempo 14mm and 16mm.

Each C45 shape gets Franklin’s double-thermoformed unibody, PowerFlex core with an inner foam layer, and T700 face “applied at a 45 degree angle”; Franklin says the build and grip reduce vibration (our vibration roundup compares brands). John Kew tested this version: “The Dynasty 14mm lands on the power spectrum, at the low end of this category.” Other brands: our power paddle guide. Sold by Amazon.com on November 4.

Specs (Franklin C45 Dynasty, 14mm, Electric Mint)

• Weight: 7.5-7.9 oz (Franklin)
• Core: 14 mm PowerFlex polymer, inner foam layer (Franklin)
• Face: T700 carbon fiber, peel-ply texture at 45 degrees (Franklin)
• Size: 16.4 x 7.6 in; handle 5.6 in; grip circumference 4.3 in (Franklin)
• Warranty: 1 year (C45 and FS Tour)
• Approval: “C45 Dynasty 14MM”, added 2025-04-17

Franklin C45 Tempo 14mm, Traditional C45

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. John Kew Pickleball: C45 Tempo 14mm and 16mm, Dynasty 14mm and 16mm.

Franklin lists 15.7 x 7.9 in, a 5.1 in handle and a “Traditional Shape” (Kew calls it widebody). John Kew tested the Tempo 14mm and 16mm: “Dynasty paddles lean toward power, while Tempo paddles are built for control and speed. The 14mm models offer more pop and offense, while the 16mms feel a little softer and more forgiving.” He finds them “A bit underpowered for aggressive players”, with a handle short for two-handed shots (two-handed backhand guide). Sold by Amazon.com in our November 4 API check; a page view that day showed Tennis Express.

Specs (Franklin C45 Tempo, 14mm, Electric Red)

• Weight: 7.5-7.9 oz (Franklin)
• Core: 14 mm PowerFlex polymer, inner foam layer (Franklin)
• Face: T700 carbon fiber, peel-ply texture at 45 degrees (Franklin)
• Size: 15.7 x 7.9 in; handle 5.1 in; grip circumference 4.3 in (Franklin)
• Warranty: 1 year (C45 and FS Tour)
• Approval: “C45 Tempo 14MM”, added 2025-04-17

Franklin C45 Aurelius 14mm, ALW Signature Shape

Evidence: Independently reviewed, same series. Pickleheads: C45 Aurelius, thickness not stated.

Franklin calls Aurelius “The official shape chosen by Anna Leigh Waters”. Its main C45 page still says the ALW paddle “is pending approval for competitive play” (its ALW page says approved); the approval list added “C45 Aurelius 14MM” on 2026-03-05. Pickleheads, which does not say which thickness it played: “Her first signature Franklin paddle, the C45 Aurelius, is exactly what ALW wants out of a paddle – deadly fast, spinny, and controlled.” It adds: “I needed to add lead tape to shore up the forgiveness,” and tells beginners to pass. Sold by Amazon.com on November 4.

Specs (Franklin C45 Aurelius, 14mm, ALW White)

• Weight: 7.5-8.0 oz (Franklin)
• Core: 14 mm PowerFlex polymer (Franklin)
• Face: T700 carbon fiber, peel-ply texture at 45 degrees (Franklin)
• Size: 15.7 x 7.9 in; handle 5.1 in; grip circumference 3.9 in (Franklin)
• Warranty: 1 year (C45 and FS Tour)
• Approval: “C45 Aurelius 14MM”, added 2026-03-05

Franklin FS Tour Dynasty 14mm, Heavy Elongated FS Tour

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Pickleball Effect: FS Tour Dynasty 14mm (also Dynasty 16mm, Tempo 14mm and 16mm).

Franklin lists 8-8.4 oz, more than any C45 here, but no length or width; Pickleball Effect lists 16.5 x 7.5 in: “This is the 14mm in their elongated shape.” They called it a power paddle: “It has decent forgiveness but it’s definitely a more advanced player paddle.” The 16mm is in our heavy paddle guide. Sold by Amazon.com on November 4.

Specs (Franklin FS Tour Dynasty, 14mm, Pink)

• Weight: 8-8.4 oz (Franklin)
• Core: 14 mm polymer, high-density foam-injected perimeter (Franklin)
• Face: T700 raw carbon fiber (Franklin)
• Size: not published by Franklin (Pickleball Effect: 16.5 x 7.5 in); handle 5.6 in; grip circumference 4.3 in (Franklin)
• Warranty: 1 year (C45 and FS Tour)
• Approval: “FS Tour Dynasty 14MM”, added 2023-10-26

Franklin FS Tour Tempo 14mm, FS Tour Traditional

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Pickleball Effect: FS Tour Tempo 14mm (also Tempo 16mm, Dynasty 14mm and 16mm).

Franklin lists 8.2-8.5 oz and a 5 in handle “for a traditional shape”. Pickleball Effect, which lists 15.9 x 8 in: “This is the 14mm in their standard Tempo shape.” They rated it all-court: “It’s a player friendly 14mm option that is more forgiving than other 14mm paddles out of the box and has some offensive ability to it.” Spin: “nothing to write home about”. Sold by Amazon.com on November 4.

Specs (Franklin FS Tour Tempo, 14mm, Blue)

• Weight: 8.2-8.5 oz (Franklin)
• Core: 14 mm polymer, high-density foam-injected perimeter (Franklin)
• Face: T700 raw carbon fiber (Franklin)
• Size: not published by Franklin (Pickleball Effect: 15.9 x 8 in); handle 5 in; grip circumference 4.3 in (Franklin)
• Warranty: 1 year (C45 and FS Tour)
• Approval: “FS Tour Tempo 14MM”, added 2023-10-26

Franklin FS Tour Featherweight Tempo 12mm, Light 12mm Traditional

Evidence: Independently reviewed, exact model. Pickleball Union: FS Tour Featherweight Tempo 12.

Franklin’s Amazon listing gives this Tempo a 5 in handle; its site lists the Dynasty’s only. Pickleball Union lists 15.9 x 8 in and a 4.3 in grip: “Today, I am sharing my review for the Tempo 12 (12 indicating the thickness in millimeters), which is the shorter of the two versions.” Its verdict: “3.75/5, a light, quick paddle that trades pop for control”. See also our light paddle guide. On November 4 the buy box was third-party seller Atlantic Coast Promotional; Amazon.com also offered it.

Specs (Franklin FS Tour Featherweight Tempo, 12mm, Black/White/Teal; Franklin and Amazon’s title: Blue)

• Weight: 7.3-7.6 oz (Franklin)
• Core: 12 mm polymer, high-density foam-injected perimeter (Franklin)
• Face: T700 raw carbon fiber (Franklin)
• Size: not published by Franklin (Pickleball Union: 15.9 x 8 in); handle 5 in (Franklin’s Amazon listing); grip circumference not published by Franklin (Pickleball Union: 4.3 in)
• Warranty: Franklin’s 1-year form names C45 and FS Tour, not Featherweight; Amazon: 90 days
• Approval: “FS Tour Tempo Featherweight 12MM”, added 2024-04-12

Franklin Signature Carbon 13mm Traditional, Raw Carbon, 13mm

Evidence: No independent test; maker specs. Source: Franklin Sports.

Franklin lists a T700 raw carbon face and a foam-infused edge guard. Its site gives one spec line for both shapes (16.5 x 7.5 in, 5.6 in handle, 7.5-8 oz); its Amazon listing for this Traditional says 15.9 x 8 in, 5.1 in and 7.7-8.1 oz in the listing’s spec line (its core bullet says 7.5-8.0 oz). The Elongated is in our 13mm paddle guide. Sold by Amazon.com on November 4.

Specs (Franklin Signature Carbon, 13mm Traditional, Blue)

• Weight: 7.5-8 oz (Franklin); 7.7-8.1 oz in the spec line of Franklin’s Amazon listing for the Traditional (its core bullet says 7.5-8.0)
• Core: 13 mm polypropylene, foam-injected perimeter (Franklin)
• Face: T700 raw carbon fiber (Franklin)
• Size: 16.5 x 7.5 in, handle 5.6 in (Franklin’s site, one line for both shapes); 15.9 x 8 in, handle 5.1 in (Franklin’s Amazon listing); grip circumference 4.25 in (both)
• Warranty: 90 days (Franklin general warranty)
• Approval: “Signature Carbon T”, added 2025-09-12

Franklin Signature Series Pro 16mm, MaxGrit Fiberglass, 16mm

Evidence: No independent test; owner reports. Reddit r/Pickleball: Signature fiberglass with MaxGrit, size not stated.

On Reddit, an owner of a “Franklin Signature fiberglass with maxgrit” (size not stated) wore the grit off in about six months “but I still got decent spin”; the same owner’s wife, not a spinner, kept the grit for a year. In a thread on cheap Franklin Signatures, one commenter wrote “They are old tech fiberglass paddles and are overpriced”, another “The spray on grit wears out super fast”. More: our budget paddle guide. On November 4 the buy box moved between Amazon.com, Jon’s Bargains and Two Trade.

Specs (Franklin Signature Series Pro, 16mm, Black)

• Weight: 7.9-8.3 oz (Franklin)
• Core: 16 mm polypropylene (Franklin)
• Face: fiberglass with MaxGrit texture (Franklin)
• Size: 16.5 x 7.5 in; handle 5.6 in; grip circumference 4.5 in (Franklin)
• Warranty: 90 days (Franklin general warranty)
• Approval: “Franklin Signature Series 16MM”, added 2022-03-02

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on how you play: for power, the C45 Dynasty 14mm or heavier FS Tour Dynasty 14mm; all-court, the FS Tour Tempo 14mm or C45 Tempo 14mm; light, the Featherweight Tempo 12mm.

Ratings vary by reviewer; our best pickleball paddles roundup sorts picks from many makers by playing style.

Our sources do not compare them head to head; our paddle brands roundup puts one paddle from each side by side.

Franklin files the Pilot and its sets under beginner, the Signature Series under intermediate, and the FS Tour, Featherweight and Signature Carbon under advanced. Other brands: our beginner paddle guide.

Final Verdict

The C45 Dynasty 14mm is the C45 Kew favoured; the C45 Tempo 14mm is its traditional twin. The FS Tour 14mms build weight in, the Featherweight takes it out, and the Aurelius suits players who tune paddles. On a budget: Signature Carbon or Signature Series Pro 16mm. More: the paddles hub.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.