Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Franklin Signature 16 Composite
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro 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
- 70Power81
- 78Control83
- 66Spin68
- 84Forgiveness72
- 86Sweet spot70
- 72Stability67
- 86Maneuverability80
- 74Pop76
- 72Touch84
- 76Consistency74
- 46Swing weight66
- 64Twist weight50
- 69Launch angle52
- 54Plow through75
- 78Softness86
Specs
| $60 | Price | $70 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 7.7 oz | Weight | 8.1 oz |
| 104 | Swing weight | 110 |
| 5.6 | Twist weight | 5.6 |
| standard | Shape | elongated |
| Textured fiberglass | Surface | Composite/Fiberglass |
| 4.9 in | Handle | 5.6 in |
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.
Franklin Signature 16 Composite verdict
A fiberglass-faced elongated paddle at a rec-league price. Composite faces give up spin to carbon, but they hand back free pop that beginners actually benefit from.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is plow through: Franklin Signature 16 Composite scores 75 against 54 for Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro — a 21-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, pop, consistency, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($60 vs $70) that it should not break the tie.
Plow through
Franklin Signature 16 Composite leads by 21 points (75 vs 54).
Swing weight
Franklin Signature 16 Composite leads by 20 points (66 vs 46).
Launch angle
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro leads by 17 points (69 vs 52).
Sweet spot
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro leads by 16 points (86 vs 70).
Which one should you buy?
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro
Take Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro if you want launch angle (+17), sweet spot (+16), twist weight (+14). Its swing weight of 104 kg·cm² and 13 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro review →Franklin Signature 16 Composite
Take Franklin Signature 16 Composite if you want plow through (+21), swing weight (+20), touch (+12). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Signature 16 Composite review →Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Franklin Signature 16 Composite FAQ
- Which is better, the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro or the Franklin Signature 16 Composite?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (74.7 vs 73.5), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — Franklin Signature 16 Composite leads by 21 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro, at 104 kg·cm² swing weight against 110 for Franklin Signature 16 Composite. 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 Franklin Signature 16 Composite?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite measures 81 on power against 70 for Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro. That comes from a 16 mm Polypropylene core swinging at 110 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite at 83 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?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite scores 68 for spin off its Composite/Fiberglass face, against 66 for the Textured fiberglass face on Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro, with 5.6 twist weight against 5.6. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro carries the higher forgiveness score (84) 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?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro: 13 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Textured fiberglass face. Franklin Signature 16 Composite: 16 mm Polypropylene core with a Composite/Fiberglass face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite, at 5.6 in of handle against 4.9 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Franklin Signature 16 Composite avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 84 and sweet spot 86 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Franklin Signature 16 Composite 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 8.1 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (104 vs 110) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Franklin Signature 16 Composite to the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Franklin Signature 16 Composite leads on plow through by 21 points; everything else is within 20 points. At $60 vs $70, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Z5 Graphite
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Flare Graphite
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Signature Carbon STR
- Signature 16 Composite vs Perseus Pro IV 14
- Signature 16 Composite vs Perseus 14
- Signature 16 Composite vs Signature 13
- Signature 16 Composite vs J6CR
Top alternatives to both
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Read the full reviews: Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro and Franklin Signature 16 Composite. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.