Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro vs GAMMA Obsidian 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. GAMMA Obsidian 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Quick answer
GAMMA Obsidian 16 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
72 vs 70
Spin
74 vs 66
Control
86 vs 78
Forgiveness
88 vs 84
Hand speed
Too close to call
102 vs 104 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro
$60 at IQ 74.7 vs $150 at IQ 80.3
Overall pick: GAMMA Obsidian 16 · $150 · IQ 80.3
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power72
- 78Control86
- 66Spin74
- 84Forgiveness88
- 86Sweet spot86
- 72Stability78
- 86Maneuverability84
- 74Pop68
- 72Touch86
- 76Consistency84
- 46Swing weight62
- 64Twist weight72
- 69Launch angle46
- 54Plow through68
- 78Softness86
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro vs GAMMA Obsidian 16 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 | GAMMA Obsidian 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $60 — better | $150 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 74.7 | 80.3 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.7 | 7.7 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 13 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 104 | 102 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.6 | 6.2 — better |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 15.8 | 15.8 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 8 |
| Handle length(in) | 4.9 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Textured fiberglass | Textured graphite composite |
| Core material | Polymer honeycomb | Polypropylene 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.
GAMMA Obsidian 16 verdict
The softest paddle in this group and one of the lightest-swinging. Softness 86 plus a 102 swing weight is a recipe for confident dinks — provided you accept a low power ceiling.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is launch angle: Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro scores 69 against 46 for GAMMA Obsidian 16 — a 23-point gap. They are effectively level on power, maneuverability, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro is $90 cheaper at $60.
Launch angle
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro leads by 23 points (69 vs 46).
Swing weight
GAMMA Obsidian 16 leads by 16 points (62 vs 46).
Touch
GAMMA Obsidian 16 leads by 14 points (86 vs 72).
Plow through
GAMMA Obsidian 16 leads by 14 points (68 vs 54).
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
GAMMA Obsidian 16
GAMMA Obsidian 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 72 vs 64, consistency 84 vs 76, forgiveness 88 vs 84. Twist weight 6.2 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Consistency
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
GAMMA Obsidian 16
GAMMA Obsidian 16 is the clearer pick at this level — touch 86 vs 72, control 86 vs 78, spin 74 vs 66. At 102 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Touch
- Control
- Spin
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
GAMMA Obsidian 16
GAMMA Obsidian 16 is the clearer pick at this level — plow through 68 vs 54, touch 86 vs 72, spin 74 vs 66. Swing weight 102 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Touch
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
GAMMA Obsidian 16
GAMMA Obsidian 16 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 86 vs 78, twist weight 72 vs 64, forgiveness 88 vs 84. Its 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core at 7.7 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 (+23), pop (+6). Its swing weight of 104 kg·cm² and 13 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro review →GAMMA Obsidian 16
Take GAMMA Obsidian 16 if you want swing weight (+16), touch (+14), plow through (+14). Its swing weight of 102 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the GAMMA Obsidian 16 review →Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro vs GAMMA Obsidian 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro or the GAMMA Obsidian 16?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.3 vs 74.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — launch angle — Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro leads by 23 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16, at 102 kg·cm² swing weight against 104 for Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro. 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 GAMMA Obsidian 16?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16 scores 72 for power against 70 for Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro. That comes from a 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core swinging at 102 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16 at 86 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?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16 scores 74 for spin off its Textured graphite 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?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 84). Its 6.2 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, $90 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. GAMMA Obsidian 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Textured graphite composite face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16, 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?
- GAMMA Obsidian 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both are listed at 7.7 oz, though swing weight differs (104 vs 102) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro to the GAMMA Obsidian 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro leads on launch angle by 23 points; everything else is within 16 points. At $60 vs $150, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Signature Carbon STR
- Obsidian 16 vs Radical Tour Ultra 16
- Obsidian 16 vs Black Ace LG
- 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 16 Composite
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Encore Pro EX
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
- Obsidian 16 vs Radical Tour Ultra 16
- Obsidian 16 vs R1 Pulsar
- Obsidian 16 vs Tempest Wave V3
- Obsidian 16 vs Black Ace LG
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro and GAMMA Obsidian 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro and GAMMA Obsidian 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.