Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Pro-endorsed model against the cheaper carbon sibling in the same lineup. Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Franklin Signature Carbon STR takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Franklin Signature Carbon STR wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, spin and control on Paddle DNA against the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro, which costs $60.
Power
76 vs 70
Spin
80 vs 66
Control
83 vs 78
Forgiveness
Too close to call
85 vs 84
Hand speed
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro
104 vs 110 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro
$60 at IQ 74.7 vs $110 at IQ 79.8
Overall pick: Franklin Signature Carbon STR · $110 · IQ 79.8
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power76
- 78Control83
- 66Spin80
- 84Forgiveness85
- 86Sweet spot86
- 72Stability78
- 86Maneuverability82
- 74Pop76
- 72Touch79
- 76Consistency81
- 46Swing weight54
- 64Twist weight72
- 69Launch angle63
- 54Plow through64
- 78Softness82
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Franklin Signature Carbon STR specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro | Franklin Signature Carbon STR |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $60 — better | $110 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 74.7 | 79.8 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.7 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 13 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 104 | 110 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.6 | 6 — better |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 15.8 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 4.9 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured fiberglass | Raw carbon |
| Core material | Polymer honeycomb | Polymer honeycomb |
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 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
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is spin: Franklin Signature Carbon STR scores 80 against 66 for Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro — a 14-point gap. They are effectively level on pop, forgiveness, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro is $50 cheaper at $60.
Spin
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 14 points (80 vs 66).
Plow through
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 10 points (64 vs 54).
Swing weight
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 8 points (54 vs 46).
Twist weight
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 8 points (72 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
Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Franklin Signature Carbon STR is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 72 vs 64, stability 78 vs 72, consistency 81 vs 76. Twist weight 6 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Franklin Signature Carbon STR is a narrow pick at this level — spin 80 vs 66, touch 79 vs 72, control 83 vs 78. At 110 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Touch
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Franklin Signature Carbon STR is the clearer pick at this level — spin 80 vs 66, plow through 64 vs 54, power 76 vs 70. Swing weight 110 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Plow through
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Franklin Signature Carbon STR is a narrow pick at this level — softness 82 vs 78, twist weight 72 vs 64, forgiveness 85 vs 84. Its 16 mm Polymer honeycomb core at 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 launch angle (+6), maneuverability (+4). 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 Carbon STR
Take Franklin Signature Carbon STR if you want spin (+14), plow through (+10), swing weight (+8). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Signature Carbon STR review →Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Franklin Signature Carbon STR FAQ
- Which is better, the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro or the Franklin Signature Carbon STR?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (79.8 vs 74.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 14 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 Carbon STR. 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 Carbon STR?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR scores 76 for power against 70 for Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro. 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?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR 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 Carbon STR scores 80 for spin off its Raw carbon face, against 66 for the Textured fiberglass face on Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro. In practice a 14-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR, with the higher forgiveness score (85 vs 84). Its 6 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, $50 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. Franklin Signature Carbon STR: 16 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Raw carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR, 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?
- 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 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 8 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 Ben Johns Signature Pro to the Franklin Signature Carbon STR?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads on spin by 14 points; everything else is within 10 points. At $60 vs $110, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a hand speed vs plow through decision
Browse every head-to-head that splits on the same trade-off:
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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
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- Signature Carbon STR vs Prism Flash
- Signature Carbon STR vs Essentials 16
- Signature Carbon STR vs Radical Tour Ultra 16
Top alternatives to both
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro and Franklin Signature Carbon STR in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro and Franklin Signature Carbon STR. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.