Franklin Signature Pickleball Paddle vs JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm Pickleball Paddle — Pickleball Paddles Comparison UK 2026

Both endorsed by Ben Johns, both elongated, both 16mm with carbon fibre faces and roughly the same weight. The differences are subtle but real — and these days the prices are close enough that money shouldn't decide it.

The JOOLA Hyperion CFS at £149 has the Reactive Honeycomb polymer core and Carbon Friction Surface — broadly the better all-round paddle for spin, control and finesse.

The Franklin Signature at £140-160 leans into MaxGrit texture for aggressive spin and uses a polypropylene honeycomb core. It's a tournament-grade build aimed at advanced players who already drive the ball hard.

Key honest points:

• With the two now sitting at essentially the same money, the old value argument for the JOOLA has gone — this is a pure play-style call.
• Both feel stiff to players coming from softer paddles. The 16mm thickness is the reason.

For most players the JOOLA is still the more complete paddle. The Franklin is for someone who specifically wants the MaxGrit texture. Either way, you're spending similar money.