Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Tennis-brand crossover paddles, compared by players coming from racquet sports. Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Babolat BALLR+ 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 75Power76
- 94Control83
- 90Spin80
- 76Forgiveness85
- 75Sweet spot86
- 77Stability78
- 86Maneuverability82
- 70Pop76
- 92Touch79
- 82Consistency81
- 58Swing weight54
- 65Twist weight72
- 46Launch angle63
- 70Plow through64
- 90Softness82
Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Franklin Signature Carbon STR specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Babolat BALLR+ 16 | Franklin Signature Carbon STR |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $120 | $110 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 — better | 79.8 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 110 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 — better | 6 |
| Shape | hybrid | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16.2 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit | Raw carbon |
| Core material | X5™ Polypropylene Honeycomb | Polymer honeycomb |
Babolat BALLR+ 16 verdict
Babolat brings its RPM tennis grit to pickleball on a 16 mm hybrid. The face texture is the story — it spins like a raw carbon paddle without the chalky wear pattern.
Franklin Signature Carbon STR verdict
Franklin's most credible performance paddle to date. It will not win a spin shootout, but the balance and build quality are honest for the money.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is launch angle: Franklin Signature Carbon STR scores 63 against 46 for Babolat BALLR+ 16 — a 17-point gap. They are effectively level on power, stability, consistency, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($120 vs $110) that it should not break the tie.
Launch angle
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 17 points (63 vs 46).
Touch
Babolat BALLR+ 16 leads by 13 points (92 vs 79).
Control
Babolat BALLR+ 16 leads by 11 points (94 vs 83).
Sweet spot
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 11 points (86 vs 75).
Which one is right for your level?
Each call below re-weights the Paddle DNA traits that matter at that level, so the winner can differ from the overall pick.
Beginner
New to 3.0 — still building a consistent contact point
Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Franklin Signature Carbon STR is a narrow pick at this level — sweet spot 86 vs 75, forgiveness 85 vs 76, twist weight 72 vs 65. Twist weight 6 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Babolat BALLR+ 16
Babolat BALLR+ 16 is a narrow pick at this level — control 94 vs 83, spin 90 vs 80, touch 92 vs 79. At 105 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Spin
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Babolat BALLR+ 16
Babolat BALLR+ 16 is the clearer pick at this level — touch 92 vs 79, spin 90 vs 80, control 94 vs 83. Swing weight 105 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Touch
- Spin
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81.6 vs 81 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — hybrid on the BALLR+ 16, standard on the Signature Carbon STR.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Babolat BALLR+ 16
Take Babolat BALLR+ 16 if you want touch (+13), control (+11), spin (+10). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Babolat BALLR+ 16 review →Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Take Franklin Signature Carbon STR if you want launch angle (+17), sweet spot (+11), forgiveness (+9). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Signature Carbon STR review →Babolat BALLR+ 16 vs Franklin Signature Carbon STR FAQ
- Which is better, the Babolat BALLR+ 16 or the Franklin Signature Carbon STR?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.9 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — launch angle — Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 17 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16, at 105 kg·cm² swing weight against 110 for Franklin Signature Carbon STR. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Babolat BALLR+ 16 or the Franklin Signature Carbon STR?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR measures 76 on power against 75 for Babolat BALLR+ 16. That comes from a 16 mm Polymer honeycomb core swinging at 110 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 at 94 versus 83. Its 16 mm core holds the ball on the face slightly longer, which is what makes resets and dinks land shorter.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16 scores 90 for spin off its Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit face, against 80 for the Raw carbon face on Franklin Signature Carbon STR. In practice a 10-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16, with 6.1 twist weight against 6. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Franklin Signature Carbon STR carries the higher forgiveness score (85) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- They are within $10 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16: 16 mm X5™ Polypropylene Honeycomb core with a Biaxial 3K Woven Carbon Fiber w/RPM Max Grit face. Franklin Signature Carbon STR: 16 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Raw carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Babolat BALLR+ 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Babolat BALLR+ 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 85 and sweet spot 86 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Franklin Signature Carbon STR rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR at 8 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (110 vs 105) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Franklin Signature Carbon STR to the Babolat BALLR+ 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads on launch angle by 17 points; everything else is within 13 points. At $120 vs $110, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a spin vs pop decision
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Read the full reviews: Babolat BALLR+ 16 and Franklin Signature Carbon STR. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.