Franklin was once renowned as a leading paddle manufacturer, but in recent years, they have faded into the background. Despite high hopes for a comeback sparked by the release of the STK Carbon paddle in early 2023, it turned out to be a disappointment. The paddle fell short due to its poor spin capabilities and underwhelming performance on the court.
However, Franklin is starting on the right foot with their new FS Tour paddles. They have all the latest and greatest thermoforming and perimeter foam injection tech in them while also using a genuine raw carbon fiber grit. Overall, Franklin seems to have ticked all the right boxes with these paddles. Is Franklin back?
The FS Tour series consists of two shapes, the Dynasty (an elongated shape with a longer handle) and the Tempo (a standard shape with a shorter handle). Then each shape has a 16mm and a 14mm option. Additionally, the paddles are available in a variety of colors and come with some extras when you buy it like a paddle case and a paddle eraser. All packaged at an appealing price of $150.
After drilling and playing with all four variations for the past two weeks. Here are my thoughts on the performance of each version. I’ll start by talking about the tech and what Franklin did differently and then I’ll share my thoughts on each version. Finally, I’ll conclude by determining whether Franklin is back in business or if they will continue to remain on the fringes.
Looking for the right paddle to fit your game? Take our paddle fitting quiz for three recommendations that will match your style of play.
The Tempo is their standard shape with a shorter 5″ handle. I’m considering this paddle a control paddle. My 16mm came in at 8.9oz. This is the heaviest standard paddle I’ve ever played. Its swingweight was 123 which is far above any other standard shaped paddle you’ll find. The one I got was on the heavier end of their spec range but it was still within range.
Standard shaped paddles are naturally more forgiving and more maneuverable than elongated paddles. With all the extra weight added it felt extremely forgiving and stable and the natural maneuverability of standard shapes made the paddle not feel as heavy as the 123 swingweight suggested though it’s still a heavier paddle. I think the weight will be manageable for most but it is still heavy and if you’re sensitive to weight at all then you won’t like it.
The highlight of the paddle was its consistency and forgiveness. Plus, the added weight gave it a very pleasant, plush feel that was reminiscent of Gen 1 carbon fiber paddles. In addition to its nice feel, the paddle has a lower pop rating than the 14mm option meaning the ball doesn’t jump up off the face quickly making it more controllable and easier to keep the ball down on resets and dinks. However, it has a higher pop rating than most 16mm standard shaped paddles so it’s not without some countering ability.
On the offensive side the paddle had some decent power from the baseline on serves and drives. The heavy weight did its job there and the paddle carries through the ball well and puts some force behind it. It’s not a power paddle, though it’s on the higher end of power for the control category and is pushing the all-court category. When you combine its decent power and lower pop rating it gives you a nice combination of offensive and defensive capabilities.
My spin tests were coming in at an average of 1897 rpms which is a good result but nothing special. Anything around 1900 rpms gives you ample spin without complaints.
16mm paddles, particularly in a standard shape, are naturally more forgiving and less poppy so I think they went a little overkill on the amount of weight they added but the boost you get from the baseline in power was nice. I just would have appreciated a bit more maneuverability. Then again, you’d probably get that if you get one closer to 8.6 oz instead of the 8.9oz one that I got.
The bottom line: If you don’t mind the extra weight, there is a lot to like about this paddle. A nice combination of decent power and pop for a 16mm standard shaped paddle plus the forgiveness of the paddle is top tier.
And then spin wise my tests came in with an average of 1864 RPMs and didn’t play any different than the 16mm version. That is to say it felt like it was enough though it’s nothing to write home about.
The bottom line: 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. Its thinner frame moves easier and feels lighter than the 16mm option though it isn’t a super fast paddle. I think they got the extra weight right with this one.
I don’t see too many scenarios where I would recommend this paddle. The only way to justify the big weight would be for it to have a huge sweet spot and the power was insane. But it didn’t give me that so it didn’t make much sense. I wish they took 3 ounces off and kept it around 8.3-8.5oz and the benefits of that little extra weight would have been similar to what 8.8 ounces gives you but with better maneuverability.
The Bottom Line: This paddle is extra heavy and is more difficult to manage though there are some benefits to its extra heavy design if you can handle it though I don’t imagine there being too many players like this.
This is the 14mm in their elongated shape. Like all the other paddles in the series the extra weight makes it play differently than paddles with a similar shape and thickness.
Like the Tempo 14mm version, I like the added weight to their 14mm version. 14mm paddles benefit from added weight more than 16mm paddles do in most cases. Mine came in at 8.3 oz and has a swingweight of 124. The paddle still feels head heavy when you hold it but it’s definitely lighter than the 16mm version and more manageable than the 16mm.
I’m categorizing this one as a power paddle. It gives you good power and pop and carries through the ball well. Sometimes with 14mm paddles you can feel the paddle give way a little to the ball but that isn’t the case here, the ball just gets in the way of the paddle and that’s that.
It has decent forgiveness but it’s definitely a more advanced player paddle. The average sized sweet spot and bigger power and pop make it difficult to reign in if you aren’t a higher skilled player. But if you are a higher skilled player then you’ll love the offense this paddle brings. If you want some good power and pop but need something more forgiving then I’d recommend the Tempo 14 version over the Dynasty 14. But if you want bigger power and pop as well as a longer reach, then the Dynasty 14 is the way to go.
The extra weight also softens up the feel so that it doesn’t feel as stiff as your typical 14mm paddles do. I thought it had a pleasant, dense feel to it that I liked which is another benefit to added weight.
If you’re not afraid of a little extra weight then I think this is a great option for 14mm elongated paddles. The extra weight adds a bit more offense and improves the forgiveness which I think are both good things for it.
The bottom line: I liked this one compared to the many other 14mm elongated paddles out there. It gives you a softer feel and a little better sweet spot for paddles in the category. Though it’s still heavier and if easy paddle speed is something you value then I’d point you in a different direction.
It seems like more brands are starting to throw in some extras with your paddle purchase and Franklin is following suit. It’s a nice trend. Franklin took it a step further though. You get a really nice paddle case and a paddle eraser.
The paddle case has a leather look and feel to it and covers your entire paddle. It’s definitely a step up from the neoprene head cover most brands do.
If you haven’t used a paddle eraser before, they’re used to clean the ball dust off the paddle face that the grit picks up after a few games. Plus, their eraser has a clever string and carabiner attached to it so you can hang it from your bag for easy access. Paddle erasers have become a mainstay and I like their clever design.
And this all comes with the palatable price of $150. It’s a very attractive price point and the extra goodies make it look even better.
Looking for the right paddle to fit your game? Take our paddle fitting quiz for three recommendations that will match your style of play.
