Franklin X-40 Performance Pickleball Paddle

Franklin own the X-40 ball, which is the official ball of USA Pickleball, and a lot of UK buyers see the name and assume the paddle inherits the same status. It does not. The X-40 paddle is a basic entry-level stick that exists to give beginners something cheap and recognisable to start on, and on those terms it is fine.

At around £35 in the UK on Amazon UK it undercuts the Joola Essentials, the HEAD Radical Tour and most other branded options. Build is the standard recipe at this price, polymer core, fibreglass-style composite face, no fancy materials. It is forgiving on mishits because the geometry is generous, but spin is modest and pop is muted compared to anything carbon-faced.

The honest test is how often you play. If you are dabbling once a fortnight at a community session, the X-40 will cover you for a year or more. If you commit to twice-weekly club sessions, you will start hearing the difference between this and a £90 paddle within six weeks, and the upgrade itch will come fast.

As a starter, a kid's paddle, a court loaner or a spare for visitors it is honest value. As a paddle to take into a 3.5 club ladder match, it is not enough, and the gap to a £90 Selkirk SLK Halo or a £65 Joola Solaire CFS 14 will be obvious within a session.