Are Franklin Pickleball Paddles Good?

You’re seeing Franklin paddles everywhere, but the reviews are confusing. Some say they’re old news, while others claim they’re back. You need to know if they’re a smart buy.

Yes, Franklin’s newest pickleball paddles are very good, but with an important catch. The 2024/2025 FS Tour¹ and C45 lines are competitive with modern paddles, offering excellent performance and value. However, you should avoid their older, outdated models which can’t compete on spin or forgiveness.

In my years working in paddle factories and now helping brands design their own lines, I’ve seen many companies try to reinvent themselves. Franklin is a classic example. For a while, their paddles fell behind the rapid pace of innovation in the industry. But I’ve looked at their latest models, the FS Tour and the C45², and it’s clear they’ve done their homework. They’ve adopted the modern technologies that win games, like thermoforming and raw carbon fiber. This article is my breakdown of their current lineup, based on the data and my own industry experience. I’ll tell you exactly which paddles are worth your customers’ money and which ones to leave on the shelf.

So, are Franklin paddles really good now?

Your customers are asking about Franklin, but you remember their older, less impressive paddles. You don’t want to stock a brand that’s already behind the times. Here’s the clear verdict.

Yes, their newest paddles are a major comeback. The FS Tour series brings top-tier forgiveness³ and stability at a great price, while the C45 is a speed demon for advanced players. Franklin has successfully adopted modern technology and is competitive again.

From a manufacturing standpoint, Franklin made a smart shift. They moved away from the "old tech" seen in their legacy STK line and embraced the current industry standard: thermoforming⁴ with foam-injected perimeters and genuine T700 raw carbon fiber faces. This is what gives modern paddles their signature combination of power, control, and a large, forgiving sweet spot.

I’ve seen this transition happen with many brands. The ones that succeed, like Franklin appears to be doing, don’t just copy the tech; they apply it to create paddles for specific player needs.

Franklin’s Current Lineup: A Quick Comparison

Which Franklin paddle is best for control and resets?

Your customers struggle with popping the ball up and losing dink rallies. They need a paddle that calms the game down and makes resets easier. I’ll show you the best Franklin for that job.

The FS Tour Tempo 16mm is, without a doubt, Franklin’s best paddle for control⁸ and resets. Its combination of high weight, a foam-injected perimeter, and a plush carbon face creates an incredibly stable and forgiving platform for the soft game.

When a player asks for a "control" paddle, what they’re really asking for is stability and predictability. They want a paddle that absorbs the pace of hard shots and feels solid even on off-center hits. The FS Tour Tempo 16mm delivers this better than almost any paddle near its ~$150 price point.

From a design perspective, Franklin achieved this through mass. It’s a heavy paddle out of the box, and that’s a good thing for control.

Why the FS Tour Tempo 16mm Excels at Control

• High Swingweight (~123): This is a measure of how heavy the paddle feels when you swing it. A high number means it has more mass behind the ball, which helps it resist twisting on impact. This is what players call "plow-through." It makes blocking hard drives and resetting the ball feel effortless.
• Foam-Injected Perimeter: This technology reinforces the edges of the paddle, enlarging the sweet spot⁹ and reducing the dead feel on off-center hits. For a player trying to dink consistently, this is a game-changer.
• Plush T700 Carbon Face: The 16mm core combined with the raw carbon face gives the paddle a soft, absorbent feel, allowing players to take pace off the ball and place their dinks and drops accurately.

Which Franklin paddle is best for quick hands and counters?

You have advanced customers who live at the kitchen line. They need a paddle that is lightning-fast for hands battles and can counter-punch with authority. A slow paddle just won’t cut it.

The Franklin C45 is the undisputed champion for quick hands and counters in their lineup. Its extremely low stock swingweight (~104) makes it one of the most maneuverable paddles on the market, perfect for fast exchanges at the net.

When I first saw the specs for the C45, I knew exactly what Franklin was trying to build. They created a "platform" paddle. Out of the box, it’s all about speed. The low swingweight and 7.6-7.9 oz static weight mean a player can change the paddle’s direction almost instantly. This is a huge advantage in those rapid-fire exchanges where a fraction of a second matters.

However, this speed comes at a cost. In its stock form, the C45 can feel unstable and lack power from the baseline. This is why I call it a "tinker’s paddle." It’s designed for players who enjoy customizing their gear. By adding a bit of lead or tungsten tape, you can transform it.

Stock vs. Weighted C45

• Stock C45:
  • Pros: Elite hand speed, very poppy at the net.
  • Cons: Small-feeling sweet spot, unstable against hard hitters, lacks power on drives.
• Weighted C45 (with 0.7-1.2 oz added):
  • Pros: Retains great hand speed, gains significant power and plow-through, sweet spot feels much larger and more consistent.
  • Cons: Requires experimentation to find the right balance for your game.

This paddle is a perfect product for a brand to offer to high-level players. It gives them a base to build their perfect weapon, tailored exactly to their preferences for balance and power.

Do Franklin paddles have good spin?

Your customers are obsessed with spin. They want a paddle that can make the ball dip on drives and kick on serves. A paddle that feels "flat" is a deal-breaker for them.

Franklin’s new FS Tour series produces good, competitive spin, with RPMs around 1,850-1,900. This is thanks to its modern T700 raw carbon face. However, their older STK models have outdated surfaces that generate much lower, average spin (~1,300 RPM).

In the factory, the difference between a high-spin and low-spin paddle is obvious. The best raw carbon faces, like those on the FS Tour, use a "peel-ply" manufacturing process. This creates a very gritty, textured surface that grabs the ball effectively. The older STK paddles use a simpler carbon fiber weave with a smooth finish, which just can’t generate the same level of friction.

While the FS Tour’s spin is good and more than enough for most players, it’s worth noting that the C45’s spin is considered more "middling" by reviewers, even with its T700 face. This might be due to the specific 45-degree carbon layup they used. It’s not low-spin, but it doesn’t top the charts either.

Franklin Spin RPM Comparison

For retailers and brands, the lesson is clear: the surface material and texture are critical selling points. The "T700 Raw Carbon" on the FS Tour is a feature you should highlight, as it directly translates to on-court performance that players can feel.

Is the C45 too light?

You’ve seen the C45’s specs and its stock weight is under 8.0 oz. You’re worried it will feel like a toy and be unstable for your customers. Is this a design flaw?

Yes, for most players, the stock Franklin C45 is too light. It feels unstable and has a small sweet spot out of the box. However, this isn’t a flaw; it’s a feature for advanced players¹⁰ who want a blank slate for customization.

Think of the stock C45 as a high-performance race car chassis without the final tuning. It has an incredible engine (the poppy core) and a lightweight frame (the low stock weight), but it needs adjustments to handle the track. Its low swingweight (~104) and twist weight (~5.42) are numbers that confirm what players feel: it’s incredibly fast but twists in your hand on off-center hits.

This is where customization comes in. By adding weight, you are essentially "tuning" the paddle. You’re trading a small amount of that elite hand speed for huge gains in stability, power, and sweet spot size.

C45 Custom Setups That Work

Here are a few tested ways to add weight to the C45 to fix its stock-form issues:

• For Power & Stability: Place 0.2-0.3 oz of tungsten tape at the very top of the head (12 o’clock). This dramatically increases plow-through on drives and makes the sweet spot feel larger.
• For a Balanced Feel: Add 0.1-0.2 oz strips along the sides of the paddle (3 and 9 o’clock). This increases the twist weight, making the paddle much more stable on blocks and off-center dinks.
• The "Pro" Setup: Combine both. Start with weight at the top, then add small amounts to the sides until the paddle feels stable but still quick. Most players find a total added weight of 0.7-1.2 oz brings the C45 to life, pushing its swingweight into the 114-117 range—the sweet spot for an all-court paddle.

Should I avoid older Franklin models?

You see older Franklin models, like the Signature Carbon STK, for sale, sometimes at a discount. You wonder if they are a good value buy for customers on a budget.

Yes, in almost all cases, you and your customers should avoid older Franklin models like the Signature Carbon STK. The technology is outdated, and they can’t compete on spin or sweet spot size with modern paddles, including Franklin’s own FS Tour.

From an industry perspective, the paddle market moves incredibly fast. A top-tier paddle from two or three years ago is often just average today. The Franklin STK line is a perfect example of this. When it was released, it was a decent carbon fiber paddle. Today, it’s considered "old tech."

The main issues are its performance metrics, which are now well below the industry standard for a paddle costing over $100.

Why the STK is "Old Tech"

• Low Spin: With an average RPM of around 1,250-1,300, it produces significantly less spin than the FS Tour (~1,900 RPM) and other modern raw carbon paddles. This makes it harder to control drives and attack with serves.
• Small Sweet Spot: The STK lacks the perimeter foam injection found in new thermoformed paddles. This results in a sweet spot that feels small and unforgiving. Hits near the edge feel dead and result in a loss of power and control.
• Modest Power: For its 14.5mm thickness, the power is underwhelming compared to the pop you get from a modern thermoformed paddle.

Unless you can find an STK paddle for a very steep discount (well under $100), your customers’ money is much better spent on an entry-level raw carbon paddle from a modern brand or, ideally, the Franklin FS Tour, which offers vastly superior performance for a similar retail price.

FS Tour vs C45: which for a 3.5 player?

A 3.5 player asks you for a recommendation between the FS Tour and the C45. They want a paddle that will help them improve, but the choice is confusing.

For a 3.5 player, the Franklin FS Tour series is the far better and safer choice. Its forgiveness and stability are exactly what a developing player needs to build consistency and confidence in their game.

The primary goal for a 3.5 player is to reduce unforced errors. They need to master the third shot drop, dink consistently, and keep their blocks and resets in play. The FS Tour series is designed to help with exactly that. The high stability of the 16mm Tempo, in particular, acts like a safety net. It forgives slight mishits and makes it easier to absorb pace, allowing the player to focus on strategy and placement rather than just making contact.

The C45, on the other hand, is a paddle that can punish inconsistency. Its low stock weight and smaller sweet spot demand precise technique. While its hand speed is tempting, a 3.5 player will likely find it more frustrating than helpful, leading to more errors on blocks and drives.

A Simple Guide for the 3.5 Player

I would advise a 3.5 player based on their specific goals:

• If your main goal is consistency, control, and mastering the soft game: Choose the FS Tour Tempo 16mm. Its stability will simplify your resets and dinks immediately.
• If you feel your game is solid but you want more pop and finishing power: Choose the FS Tour Tempo 14mm. It’s a great all-court option that’s still very forgiving.
• If you are an aspiring 4.0+ player who loves fast hands and enjoys experimenting with lead tape: Only then should you consider the C45. But be prepared to spend time customizing it.

For a brand or retailer, guiding a 3.5 player to the FS Tour is good business. It’s a paddle that will actively help them win more games and enjoy the sport more, building trust in your recommendations.

Conclusion

Franklin is definitely back in the game. Their FS Tour series offers incredible forgiveness and value, while the C45 is a unique weapon for advanced players who love to customize their gear.

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