Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Rally Meister Wood
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
- 70Power60
- 78Control40
- 66Spin20
- 84Forgiveness45
- 86Sweet spot40
- 72Stability70
- 86Maneuverability30
- 74Pop50
- 72Touch30
- 76Consistency45
- 46Swing weight95
- 64Twist weight50
- 69Launch angle60
- 54Plow through70
- 78Softness10
Specs
| $60 | Price | $11 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 mm | Core | 7 mm |
| 7.7 oz | Weight | 10 oz |
| 104 | Swing weight | 120 |
| 5.6 | Twist weight | 5 |
| standard | Shape | standard |
| Textured fiberglass | Surface | Screen print over satin varnish |
| 4.9 in | Handle | 5.25 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.
Rally Meister Wood verdict
A seven-ply maple paddle that exists for one reason: equipping a group for under $15 a head. It is heavy, harsh and spinless, and it is still the best wood paddle sold.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro scores 78 against 10 for Rally Meister Wood — a 68-point gap. They are effectively level on stability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Rally Meister Wood is $49 cheaper at $11.
Softness
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro leads by 68 points (78 vs 10).
Maneuverability
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro leads by 56 points (86 vs 30).
Swing weight
Rally Meister Wood leads by 49 points (95 vs 46).
Spin
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro leads by 46 points (66 vs 20).
Which one should you buy?
Rally Meister Wood
Take Rally Meister Wood if you want swing weight (+49), plow through (+16). Its swing weight of 120 kg·cm² and 7 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Rally Meister Wood review →Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro
Take Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro if you want softness (+68), maneuverability (+56), spin (+46). Its swing weight of 104 kg·cm² and 13 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro review →Rally Meister Wood vs Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro FAQ
- Which is better, the Rally Meister Wood or the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (74.7 vs 44.2), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro leads by 68 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro, at 104 kg·cm² swing weight against 120 for Rally Meister Wood. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Rally Meister Wood or the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro measures 70 on power against 60 for Rally Meister Wood. 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?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro at 78 versus 40. Its 13 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 Ben Johns Signature Pro scores 66 for spin off its Textured fiberglass face, against 20 for the Screen print over satin varnish face on Rally Meister Wood. In practice a 46-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro, with 5.6 twist weight against 5. 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?
- Rally Meister Wood costs $11, $49 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?
- Rally Meister Wood: 7 mm Seven-ply maple wood core with a Screen print over satin varnish face. Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro: 13 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Textured fiberglass face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Rally Meister Wood, at 5.25 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 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 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 10 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (104 vs 120) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Rally Meister Wood to the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro leads on softness by 68 points; everything else is within 56 points. At $11 vs $60, 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
Top alternatives to both
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Read the full reviews: Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro and Rally Meister Wood. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.