Engage Encore Pro EX vs Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Engage Encore Pro EX takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Engage Encore Pro EX wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin, control and forgiveness on Paddle DNA against the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro, which costs $60.
Power
Too close to call
70 vs 70
Spin
74 vs 66
Control
88 vs 78
Forgiveness
89 vs 84
Hand speed
Too close to call
104 vs 105 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro
$60 at IQ 74.7 vs $130 at IQ 80.9
Overall pick: Engage Encore Pro EX · $130 · IQ 80.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power70
- 88Control78
- 74Spin66
- 89Forgiveness84
- 90Sweet spot86
- 80Stability72
- 84Maneuverability86
- 66Pop74
- 86Touch72
- 85Consistency76
- 50Swing weight46
- 74Twist weight64
- 68Launch angle69
- 60Plow through54
- 90Softness78
Engage Encore Pro EX vs Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Engage Encore Pro EX | Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $130 | $60 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 80.9 — better | 74.7 |
| Weight(oz) | 7.8 | 7.7 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 13 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 105 | 104 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.9 — better | 5.6 |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 15.9 | 15.8 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 4.9 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Fiberglass composite | Textured fiberglass |
| Core material | Control core | Polymer honeycomb |
Engage Encore Pro EX verdict
A soft, light, extremely forgiving paddle that has quietly become the default recommendation for players over 60.
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro verdict
A starter paddle with a famous name on it. Perfectly serviceable for the first few months of play, and easy to hand down once you upgrade.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is touch: Engage Encore Pro EX scores 86 against 72 for Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro — a 14-point gap. They are effectively level on maneuverability, launch angle, power, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro is $70 cheaper at $60.
Touch
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 14 points (86 vs 72).
Softness
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 12 points (90 vs 78).
Control
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 10 points (88 vs 78).
Twist weight
Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 10 points (74 vs 64).
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
Engage Encore Pro EX
Engage Encore Pro EX is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 74 vs 64, consistency 85 vs 76, stability 80 vs 72. Twist weight 5.9 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Consistency
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Engage Encore Pro EX
Engage Encore Pro EX is the clearer pick at this level — touch 86 vs 72, control 88 vs 78, spin 74 vs 66. At 105 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Touch
- Control
- Spin
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Engage Encore Pro EX
Engage Encore Pro EX is the clearer pick at this level — touch 86 vs 72, spin 74 vs 66, control 88 vs 78. Swing weight 105 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Touch
- Spin
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Engage Encore Pro EX
Engage Encore Pro EX is the clearer pick at this level — softness 90 vs 78, twist weight 74 vs 64, forgiveness 89 vs 84. Its 16 mm Control core at 7.8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro
Take Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro if you want pop (+8). Its swing weight of 104 kg·cm² and 13 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro review →Engage Encore Pro EX
Take Engage Encore Pro EX if you want touch (+14), softness (+12), control (+10). Its swing weight of 105 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Engage Encore Pro EX review →Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Engage Encore Pro EX FAQ
- Which is better, the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro or the Engage Encore Pro EX?
- Engage Encore Pro EX carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.9 vs 74.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — touch — Engage Encore Pro EX leads by 14 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro, at 104 kg·cm² swing weight against 105 for Engage Encore Pro EX. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro or the Engage Encore Pro EX?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 70 for power.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Engage Encore Pro EX at 88 versus 78. 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?
- Engage Encore Pro EX scores 74 for spin off its Fiberglass composite face, against 66 for the Textured fiberglass face on Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro. In practice an 8-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Engage Encore Pro EX, with the higher forgiveness score (89 vs 84). Its 5.9 twist weight against 5.6 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro costs $60, $70 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on whether you actually use the traits it trades away — check the head-to-head DNA bars above before paying up.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro: 13 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Textured fiberglass face. Engage Encore Pro EX: 16 mm Control core with a Fiberglass composite face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Engage Encore Pro EX, at 5 in of handle against 4.9 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Engage Encore Pro EX is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 89 and sweet spot 90 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro at 7.7 oz against 7.8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (104 vs 105) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro to the Engage Encore Pro EX?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Engage Encore Pro EX leads on touch by 14 points; everything else is within 12 points. At $60 vs $130, 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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