Engage Encore Pro EX vs Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Engage Encore Pro EX 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
- 70Power70
- 88Control78
- 74Spin66
- 89Forgiveness84
- 90Sweet spot86
- 80Stability72
- 84Maneuverability86
- 66Pop74
- 86Touch72
- 85Consistency76
- 50Swing weight46
- 74Twist weight64
- 68Launch angle69
- 60Plow through54
- 90Softness78
Specs
| $130 | Price | $60 |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm | Core | 13 mm |
| 7.8 oz | Weight | 7.7 oz |
| 105 | Swing weight | 104 |
| 5.9 | Twist weight | 5.6 |
| standard | Shape | standard |
| Fiberglass composite | Surface | Textured fiberglass |
| 5 in | Handle | 4.9 in |
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
Measured on the same 15-trait test, 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 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?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro measures 70 on power against 70 for Engage Encore Pro EX. That comes from a 13 mm Polymer honeycomb core swinging at 104 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- 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 a 8-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Engage Encore Pro EX, with 5.9 twist weight against 5.6. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Engage Encore Pro EX carries the higher forgiveness score (89) as a result.
- 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 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 unstable 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.
Also worth comparing
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- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Signature Carbon STR
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Prism Flash
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Read the full reviews: Engage Encore Pro EX and Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.