Franklin Signature Pickleball Paddle

Franklin's signature paddle is the most overlooked premium pickleball paddle in the UK market, partly because Franklin do not have the brand recognition Selkirk and JOOLA enjoy here. That is a shame, because the MaxGrit surface is genuinely one of the most aggressive textures legal in tournament play.

The MaxGrit on the carbon fibre face produces noticeably heavier topspin than even the JOOLA Carbon Friction Surface — you can feel the ball climbing over the net on a third-shot drop in a way that is hard to replicate with other paddles in the £140-160 bracket. The polypropylene honeycomb core is firmer than the softer polymers in the JOOLA Hyperion, which means more put-away power but a slightly harsher feel on touch shots.

The elongated 16 inch shape is standard for the power-focused side of the market, with the 16mm thickness giving you the dwell time you need for control. The 215-225g weight is on the lighter side of competition paddles, which suits players who like to flick spin at the kitchen rather than muscle through resets.

Ideal player is the 4.0+ DUPR player who plays a heavy spin-and-pace style and wants the most aggressive surface they can buy without going to a fully customised paddle. Wrong owner is anyone still working on consistent contact — the firm core is unforgiving on mishits.

UK stock is intermittent. Total Pickleball and Pickleball Nation list it sporadically at £140-160, sometimes only via direct US import which adds duty.