Franklin Sports Pro Pickleball Paddle Set Review: a solid carbon paddle that actually helps your control

I’ve been playing pickleball 2–3 times a week for a while now, and I’d mostly been using cheap loaner paddles or the classic $40 Amazon specials. I grabbed this Franklin Sports Pro Pickleball Paddle Set (the FS Tour Series, 16mm version) because I wanted to see if a carbon paddle at this price really made a difference for a casual but regular player. Short answer: yes, it does, but it’s not some magic wand either.

I used this paddle for about three weeks, mostly in doubles, with a mix of beginner and intermediate partners. I also let two friends try it who usually play with wood/composite paddles so I could compare opinions. We played indoors and outdoors, with different balls, just to see how it handled different conditions. I’m not sponsored, I paid for it myself, and I’m not a paddle nerd – I just want something that feels good and doesn’t mess up my shots.

The big thing I noticed pretty quickly is that it’s a lot more predictable than the cheaper paddles I was using. My dinks and drops stopped flying long as often, and I felt more confident aiming at the sidelines. At the same time, it still has enough pop that you can finish points when you get a high ball. It’s not the most powerful paddle I’ve tried, but it’s definitely easier to control, especially at the net.

It’s not perfect though. If you’re brand new and barely know how to hold a paddle, this might feel like overkill and a bit pricey. Also, if you’re a pure power player who just wants to crush every ball, you might want something even more aggressive. But for someone like me – past total beginner, not a pro, just wanting a serious step up from starter gear – it hits a pretty nice middle ground.

Price-wise, this Franklin FS Tour paddle set sits above the basic Amazon starter kits but below some of the really high-end paddles that cost a small fortune. From my point of view, it hits a reasonable middle ground. You’re paying extra compared to a $40–$60 paddle, but you actually feel where that money goes: better materials, more consistent performance, and a usable cover plus cleaning block instead of throwaway accessories.

If you’re a total beginner who’s not sure you’ll stick with pickleball, this might feel like overkill. You can absolutely start with something cheaper and see if you even like the game. But if you’re already playing once or twice a week and annoyed by dead spots, arm fatigue, or unpredictable bounce from your current paddle, this is a pretty solid upgrade without jumping into the top-tier pricing.

Compared to other paddles I’ve tried in this range, the Franklin holds its own. You get a real carbon fiber face, 16mm core, and a decent build that feels closer to what more serious players use. The fact that it’s USA Pickleball approved is a bonus if you ever end up in more formal play or local tournaments. The extras (cover and eraser) aren’t just filler; they’re actually useful for protecting and maintaining the paddle, which helps its value over time.

It’s not the cheapest, and it’s not the absolute best you can buy, but for a recreational or intermediate player who wants to take their gear up a notch without going crazy on price, it makes sense. I’d call it good value if you’re serious enough to use it regularly. If you just play once a month on vacation, you can probably save your money and go simpler.

Design-wise, this is clearly aimed at players who want a mix of reach and control. The paddle has that slightly elongated profile you see on more “pro-style” models. It’s not as extreme as some really long paddles, but you do get a bit more reach on volleys and overheads compared to a wide, stubby beginner paddle. For me, that extra reach showed up most when I was trying to poach in doubles or stretch for a dink that would normally fall just short.

The balance feels pretty neutral, maybe just a hair towards the head, but not enough to feel sluggish. With some cheap paddles, the head feels like a brick, and your wrist gets tired after a couple of games. Here, I could play for two hours straight without my arm complaining. Quick exchanges at the kitchen line felt manageable – I didn’t feel like I was fighting the paddle to get it into position. If you’re used to a super-light paddle, you’ll notice the extra stability, but it doesn’t feel like a club.

The blue color is honestly just nice to look at. It’s not screaming neon, more like a teal/blue that looks clean and modern. The branding is there but not overdone. If you care about looks, it’s a good compromise: not boring, not loud. The face has that raw carbon fiber texture, so it’s more matte than glossy, and you can feel a slight roughness when you run your fingers over it. That roughness is part of what helps with spin.

One small thing: the edge guard is fairly low-profile, which I like because it doesn’t feel like it catches the ball weirdly. But if you’re the type who constantly scrapes the court or the fence, you’ll want to be a bit careful – the protection is there, just not huge. Overall, the design is practical: long enough handle, slightly elongated head, neutral balance, and a clean look. Nothing flashy, just well thought out for actual play.

Comfort-wise, this paddle is pretty friendly, especially if you’re playing longer sessions. The 5.6-inch handle is a nice length – not tiny, not tennis-racket long. I use a one-handed backhand most of the time, but I do occasionally throw in a two-handed backhand on returns, and the handle length lets me do that without feeling cramped. If you have huge hands, you might still want an overgrip to fine-tune it, but out of the box it felt pretty natural to me.

The stock grip is cushioned and has a slight tackiness. It’s not super sticky, but it doesn’t feel slippery either, even when your hand gets a bit sweaty. After about an hour of play, my hand still felt secure. I didn’t get any blisters or hot spots, which I sometimes do with harder, thinner grips. The cushioning also helps with shock – off-center hits don’t buzz your hand as much as they do with cheaper paddles.

Vibration is pretty well controlled. On mishits near the edge, you still feel it (no paddle can hide that completely), but it’s more of a dull thud than a sharp sting. I’ve used paddles where a bad contact sends a shock right up into your wrist; this one is much more forgiving. If you have sensitive elbows or are prone to tennis elbow, the thicker core and carbon face combo is likely to be easier on your arm than a thin, stiff paddle.

After a couple of two-hour sessions, my main impression was just that I didn’t think about the paddle much, which is a good sign. My wrist wasn’t tired, my hand wasn’t sore, and I wasn’t constantly adjusting my grip. If you’re moving up from a heavy, unbalanced paddle, you’ll probably notice a decent comfort upgrade here. It’s not featherlight, but it’s balanced enough that it feels comfortable for regular play.

The big selling point here is the T700 raw carbon fiber surface and the 16mm polymer core. That sounds like marketing, but on court it basically means: more control, more consistent feel, and decent spin. Compared to the cheap fiberglass/composite paddles I used before, the ball comes off the face in a more predictable way. There’s less of that trampoline effect where some shots fly and others die.

The 16mm core is thicker than the usual 13–14mm you see on a lot of entry-level paddles. In practice, that thicker core gives you a softer, more controlled feel. When I was dinking or hitting drop shots, the paddle didn’t feel overly bouncy. I could take a decent swing and still land the ball in the kitchen without babying every touch. On hard drives, you still get enough pop to be dangerous, but it leans a bit more towards control than raw power.

The raw carbon face adds a bit of grip on the ball. I’m not some spin wizard, but I noticed my topspin drives dipping in a bit more, and my slice returns stayed lower. When I wiped the face with the eraser after a few games, the surface felt slightly rough again, and the spin came back a bit. It’s not night and day, but it’s noticeable if you’ve been playing for a while.

Build quality feels solid. The paddle is a one-piece, thermoformed style construction, so the handle and face feel like one unit, not like two pieces glued together. No weird rattles, no dead spots that I could find. After three weeks of use, including a couple of light taps on the ground and fence (my fault), there’s no sign of delamination or cracks. For the price, the materials feel honest: you’re paying for real carbon and a proper core, not just a fancy paint job.

Durability is always hard to judge long-term, but after a few weeks of regular play, this paddle is holding up well. No edge separation, no weird rattles, no soft spots. I’ve knocked it lightly on the court a few times going for low balls, and the edge guard has some tiny scuffs but nothing serious. The face itself doesn’t show any cracks or peeling, and the carbon texture is still there.

The grip has held up better than I expected. With some paddles, the stock grip starts to loosen or flatten quickly, especially if you play several times a week. Here, it’s still in good shape – no unraveling, no major loss of cushioning. I’ll probably add an overgrip at some point just for hygiene and personal feel, but I don’t feel forced to do it immediately because the original grip is falling apart.

I also tossed it in my backpack a few times with only the provided cover on, and the cover did its job. No dings on the face, no big marks. The zipper still works fine and hasn’t snagged. It’s a small thing, but I’ve had cheap covers where the zipper dies in a week; this one looks like it’ll last a while, which matters if you’re carrying your paddle around a lot.

Obviously, I can’t say how it’ll look after a year of heavy play, but the overall construction feels solid. The one-piece design helps – there’s no sense that the handle might separate from the head. For the price range, I’d say the durability feels pretty reassuring. You’re not getting a fragile toy; it feels like something that can handle regular league nights or rec play without babying it.

On court, this paddle leans slightly towards control, with enough power to finish points when you need it. At the kitchen line, I felt very comfortable. Dinks stayed low, and I could aim cross-court or down the line without feeling like the ball was going to jump off the face. Drop shots from mid-court were easier for me compared to my older fiberglass paddle – the thicker core took some of the jump out of the ball and gave me a bit more margin for error.

In terms of power, it’s solid but not wild. If you’re coming from a really bouncy, thin paddle, you might feel like you have to swing a bit more to get the same put-away speed. But the trade-off is that you gain consistency. My drives were still fast enough to pressure people, and when I caught one clean in the sweet spot, it had plenty of pace. Where I noticed the difference most was on blocks and counters – the paddle absorbed pace well and let me redirect the ball without it sailing out.

Spin is decent thanks to the raw carbon face. I could get a reliable topspin on my drives and a nice bite on slices. I’m not pulling off crazy trick shots, but I did see more balls dipping in that might have gone long with a smoother-face paddle. The more I cleaned the surface with the eraser, the more consistent the spin felt over time, so that accessory is actually useful if you care about that aspect.

Where it shines is for intermediate-ish players who are starting to care about placement and consistency more than just bashing the ball. If you’re already very advanced and want a super aggressive, power-focused paddle, you might find this a bit too tame. But for doubles, especially, it felt very reliable: good for dinks, solid for thirds, and still capable of ending a point when someone floats one too high. It helped tighten up my game more than it boosted my raw speed, which I’ll take at this stage.

Out of the box, you’re getting three things: the FS Tour Series paddle (Dynasty/Tempo style, 16mm in my case), a padded cover, and a little “paddle eraser” that looks like a dense rubber block. That’s it – no balls, no bag, no random junk. Honestly, I prefer that. At this price, I’d rather the money go into the paddle than a bunch of low-quality extras I’ll toss in a drawer.

The paddle itself feels like a proper mid- to upper-range piece of gear, not a toy. It comes in at around 8–8.4 oz, which matches what they advertise. In hand, it feels slightly on the solid side of midweight – not heavy, but you notice there’s some mass behind the ball. The handle length is about 5.6 inches, which is nice if you like a bit more reach or occasionally use two hands on the backhand. The grip circumference is around 4.3 inches, so it’s more of a standard size – most adults should be fine with it.

The cover is actually decent. It’s padded enough that I don’t worry about tossing the paddle in my backpack with other stuff. The zipper feels normal, not flimsy. It covers the whole head and most of the handle, so you’re not just getting a token sleeve. I’ve had cheaper paddles come with covers that feel like they’ll rip in a month; this one feels like it will last a while.

The paddle eraser is basically a cleaning block for the carbon face. After a few sessions, the surface picks up ball residue and dust, and this block helps clear that off. It’s not some miracle gadget, but it does work – you can see the gunk come off and the texture feel a bit grippier again. If you’re lazy, you could skip it and just wipe with a damp cloth, but the eraser is handy and fits easily in a bag. Overall, the set is simple but focused on the essentials: paddle, protection, and basic maintenance.